Bulgaria – Europe’s Best Value Ski Destination
Bulgaria is home to some of the best ski resorts in Central & Eastern Europe, offering world-class facilities, untouched mountain scenery, excellent snow conditions, great hospitality, unique cultural heritage and amazing value for your money. The three biggest ski resorts Bankso, Borovets and Pamporovo are perfect for beginner and intermediate ski & snowboard lovers and travellers who want to escape from the busy winter resorts in France, Austria and Switzerland. What’s more, all ski resorts in Bulgaria make for unforgettable and affordable family ski holidays, offering excellent ski schools for adults and children with friendly English-speaking ski instructors, that won’t break the bank. Take a look at our guide which will help you choose the best resort in Bulgaria for your unforgettable ski holiday:
Bansko
Bansko has benefited from a multi-million-euro investment and boasts the most up-to-date ski facilities in Bulgaria. It also has the best snow record and the longest ski season in the country. Winner of World Ski Awards’ “Best Ski Resort In Bulgaria” from 2013 to 2018, Bansko offers 16km of uninterrupted ski runs, excellent snow conditions and an interesting combination between the virgin nature of Pirin Mountain and the atmosphere of an ancient Bulgarian town.
It is located at the foothills of one of the most beautiful Bulgarian mountains – Pirin, which is a national preserve, included in the ‘World Natural Heritage’ list. Among other Bulgarian mountain resorts, Bansko offers what is probably the most lively apres-ski, because it is a combination of a modern mountain resort and a living rustic town with a population of about 10,000 people. Almost a hundred ‘mehana’ dining places offer traditional local cuisine dishes, in the atmosphere of traditional songs and dances, performed by local artists. The resort is also popular for its nightlife and shopping facilities.
World Class Ski Facilities
Bansko hosted the men’s giant slalom in February 2012 and the FIS World Cup ladies’ downhill and super G and men’s giant slalom and slalom.The two ski centres are situated about 10 km above the town. They are easily accessible from Bansko for approximately 25 minutes ride on the Gondola lift. The total length of the marked pistes is 70 km. Snowboarders will love the Extreme Fun Park the only one aprt of the world-famous Burton Fun Park in East Europe and the first one on the Balkans. Enthusiasts can build jumps according to their abilities and taste and take part in different competitions organized on the new piste on Shiligarnika. The total length of the lift equipment in Bansko is 26 km. 8-seats Gondola cabin lift and 5 high speed quads by Dopplemayer, one 3-seat lift by Poma, 7 drags and 10 children drags operate in Bansko. Alpine and biathlon competitions take place regularly.
Location & Climate
Bansko is situated in Southwestern Bulgaria, 150 km south of Sofia. It has a short hot summer and long mild winter. The average temperature during January, the coldest month, is – 1.9°C. Snow falls are abundant, providing a constant winter snow cover up to 2 m thick. The skiing season along the Pirin slopes starts at the beginning of December and ends in mid-April.
Bansko is perfect for…
All winter sports lovers will like Bansko as it has 33% ski runs for beginners, 50% for intermediate skiers, 11% advanced ski runs and 6% ski runs for experts. It’s the perfect ski resort for adults and children wanting to learn to ski & snowboard or improve their skills while at the same time experience the local culture. It’s also the best resort for snowboarders and freestyle riders and skiers.
Borovets
Borovets is the oldest and the biggest mountain resort in Bulgaria. It is located at 1,350m above the sea level on the northern slopes of Rila mountain among age-old pine woods, at the foot of peak Mousala (2925 m) the highest one on the Balkan peninsula. Borovets was developed into a modern ski resort of high class with premium 4* & 5* hotels, restaurants, pubs, cosy taverns, shops and of course an excellent network of ski runs and lifts along the slopes of the mountain. The resorts has twice hosted World Cup Alpine skiing rounds.
Winter sports paradise
Borovets offers excellent opportunities for winter sports: alpine skiing, snowboarding, ski running, freestyle, freeride and ski touring. With stunning winter landscapes, bright sunny skies and a total of 24 ski trails, Borovets boasts over 58 km of ski runs in impeccable mountain terrain. Crystal Ski – member of TUI Ski, has awarded Borovets for being voted second in the category “Best ski resorts for adult ski school” by the guests of the global Tour Operator. Over 150 ski trainers contribute to the school’s rank and recognition, as the top ski school in the country and among the best in Europe.
Location & Climate
Borovets is easily accessible, being at a distance of 73 km from Sofia. The climate in the resort is soft, the winter is mild with plenty of snowfall. The slopes of Borovets have a permanent snow cover from November to May, more than 1.5 m thick. The average temperature during the coldest month January is – 4.6 ° C. The ski season normally starts in mid-December and ends in April.
Borokids – Snow park for children
Borokids Park is a purpose built space with expert English-speaking ski instructors, dedicated to children and their discovery of skiing and all winter sports. The “magic” conveyor belt, carousel and ski slalom will help your children learn the basics of winter sports in just 4-5 days. The snow park has 8 runs with electrical light for night skiing. The kids’ park is located in the heart of the resort, at the foot of the slope, in front of Rila Hotel.
Borovets is perfect for…
The trails are designed for all levels of difficulty and load, equally suitable for beginners, experts and everyone in between. The resort is particularly popular among families, beginner and intermediate skiers.
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Pamporovo
Pamporovo is a popular ski & snowboard resort located in the heart of the beautiful Rhodope Mountain, home of mystical Orpheus. It’s Europe’s southernmost ski resort and is the sunniest compared to the other two big Bulgarian ski destinations, with plenty of snowfall throughout the entire ski season – up to 2 meters height in the winter. Ski resort Pamporovo is praised by many international ski organizations and institutions, among which, Neilson Holidays – as Best European resort for ski beginners, with the Best ski school in Europe, Pamporovo PLC, for winter 2010/2011.
One Resort, Two Ski Areas
In 2016 a unique merge joined two winter resorts Mechi Chal, which features nearly 20 km of different difficulty tracks and ski slopes, and Pamporovo into one ski area, called ‘Pamporovo-Mechi Chal, favourable for developing not only the traditional skiing, but also the biathlon, cross-country skiing and snowboarding. The union turned the two ski areas into the largest ski region on the Balkans, creating the biggest sports centre in the area. The two resorts are interconnected via public ski busses and hotel shuttles and present excellent opportunity for travellers who want to experience both. 
Location and Climate
It’s located about 260km from the capital Sofia, 90km from Bulgaria’s second biggest city Plovdiv (direct flights from London available) and its altitude is 1,650m. The climate of Pamporovo is very pleasant due to its soft winter and around 120 days of sunshine during the ski season. The ski seasons last from mid-December to mid-April and the average temperature is – 3°C.
Pamporovo is best for…
The gentle profile of the mountain with its rounded slopes and summits makes Pamporovo particularly suitable for beginner skiers and families. The more difficult ski runs( about 20%) are excellent choice for advanced and expert skiers. Lifts (chair lifts): 7 ; Drag lifts: 6; Capacity: 13,000 people / hour; Ski Runs – Green: 18%, Blue: 44%, Red: 20%, Black: 18%. Children area with 24-meter conveyor belt
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Sounds good? A quick, free call on 0800 707 6229 or email could bring you huge savings on Bulgaria Ski Holidays