Let's tell you about popular ski resorts in Bulgaria: for beginners and professionals, for families with children and young people. How to arrange a budget ski vacation.
Travelers from Europe and other parts of the world have only recently begun to discover Bulgaria as a resort created not only for beach relaxation.
The country is located at the foot of the Balkan Mountains, so the centers of classic winter recreation here have every right to be and thrive. The mild climate contributes to this.
Winter weather conditions
Average winter temperatures in Bulgaria range from 0 to +5°C. The snow cap on the mountain slopes can last 130 days a year, from November to April.
But the high season for skiing and other winter activities in Bulgaria is in January and February.
Popular ski resorts in Bulgaria
Bansko
Bansko is a small cozy town, which is ideal for family vacations. This ski resort is located in the southwestern part of the country and is part of the Pirin National Nature Park. Its unique mild climate with abundant snowfalls allows skiing from late November to early May.
Characteristics
The total length of the slopes of Bansko is 56 kilometers. The height difference does not exceed one kilometer. There are such pistes in the resort:
red (11 pcs);
blue (8 pieces);
black (2 pieces);
Green runs are not equipped at the resort.
Bansko has the following number of lifts:
4 rope tow lifts;
8 chairlifts;
1 cabins.
Night skiing is allowed in the town. For this purpose, Bansko is equipped with many floodlights for the dark time of day.
Prices
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Ski pass in high season (January - February) costs 35 EUR per day. In the low season it costs 30 EUR.
Renting equipment and a one-time lesson of an instructor will cost 10 EUR.
How to get there
The town of Bansko is 160 km from Sofia and 220 km from Plovdiv (another major airport in the country).
Daily, in addition to transfers booked in advance on the Internet, there are shuttle buses to Bansko from the bus stations of these cities.
At a distance of 1 km from the resort is the railroad station of Gara Bansko, which is connected by rail to all major population centers of the country.
What to see
Bansko is not only a ski resort, but also a town, much of whose architecture dates back to the 18th century. This is why it is a cultural monument in itself. Travelers are also sure to stop by the main cathedral of the district - The Church of the Holy Trinity.
Walking through the mysterious streets of this charming town, we recommend checking out one of the wine cellars. It's both a tasting center and a restaurant at the same time.
The city also has discos and bars that appeal to young people.
Those who have already put their skis down for the holidays will find these recreational activities suitable:
Hiking in the mountains and city with a guide or on your own;
extreme paragliding;
spacious family ice skating rink.
Borovets
A couple of centuries ago Borovets was the hunting grounds of the Bulgarian tsars. But the Soviet regime opened this settlement for all comers and made it accessible to the masses.
Since the middle of the XX century the first steps to equip the mountain slopes of Rila as a ski resort began. Not far away is Musala, the highest local peak. The main thing that distinguishes Borovets from other Bulgarian centers of winter recreation is the variety of slopes and infrastructure. This town is suitable for both family and youth vacation.
Characteristics
Together on the territory of the ski resort is equipped with 24 tracks with a total length of 46 kilometers. Tourists will appreciate these species of descents:
9 reds;
8 blue;
6 green;
4 black.
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The courses are divided into threezones:
The first ("Barracks") is designed for mass skating.
The second ("Hawk") is suitable for those who are already quite confident on skis.
The third zone is the snowiest slopes for boarders and extreme downhillers.
The majority of lifts are rope tows (7 pcs.). There are also 4 chairlifts and 1 cabin.
There are opportunities for night skiing. At the base of Borovets constantly operates ski school, where there are not only instructors for beginners, but also those who train Olympic athletes.
Prices
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Ski pass in high season costs 25 EUR per day. In low season it is 20 EUR.
Equipment rental and a one-time instructor lesson cost about 7 EUR.
How to get there
Borovets is located 70 kilometers from Sofia.
To get from the capital to the ski resort, you can book a transfer in advance on the Internet or choose public transportation (rail or bus).
What to see
The following types of infrastructure have been created for a comfortable vacation in Borovets:
SPA and fitness center;
Pool;
Numerous restaurants with national cuisine;
bars and discos.
For those who want to remember their winter vacation with more than just skiing, there are the following options:
horseback riding and sleigh rides;
Hiking tourism on mountain trails;
Panoramic tours by helicopter;
visiting Sophia and other tourist centers of the country.
Other ski resorts in Bulgaria
The following winter recreation centers are also popular with tourists.
Vitosha
This is a ski resort in the northwest of the country, located on the territory of the nature park of the same name. Vitosha has been very crowded in the last few years, with increasing numbers of tourists coming here not only from Europe, but also from the USA and even Australia.
Characteristics
It resembles Borovets with a variety of pistes (red, blue, black) with a length of 29 km and infrastructure for every taste.
Prices
In the resort you will have to pay only 13 EUR for a ski pass per day.
How to get there
The resort can be reached in an hour by bus from Sofia: the town is located 20 km from the capital.
Pamporovo
Pamporovo is a resort with a capricious climate. Even in the high season it can suddenly rain. The unpredictability of skiing in the town is more than compensated by the presence of balneological health centers near the local thermal springs.
Characteristics
The slopes of Pamporovo are ideal for families with children who have taken their children on a winter vacation for the first time.
There is a full-fledged ski school and even a kindergarten ready to take a small guest by arrangement for a few days.
Prices
Prices for a ski pass are equal to 20 EUR, which is below the national average.
How to get there
The town is located at a distance of 85 km from Plovdiv. It is 260 km from Sofia, so tourists are much more likely to get to the resort by transfer from Plovdiv.
What to see
The most popular excursion routes offered in Pamporovo are one-day tours to Sofia and other ancient Bulgarian cities.
Budget ski vacations
In addition to the ski resorts mentioned above, there are also tiny villages that provide skiing opportunities:
Chepalare 70 kilometers from Plovdiv;
Dobrinishte 165 km from Sofia;
Malovitsa at a distance of 130 km from Sofia;
Panichishte 77 from Sofia.
The total length of the slopes here does not exceed 10 km. The infrastructure is just beginning to develop.
The main advantage of rest in such towns is a significant savings - the price of a daily ski pass in the high season is 10 EUR.
This budget vacation option is suitable for those who prefer a long vacation in a secluded, quiet place.
