Winter holidays are starting to gain more popularity around the world, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, borders between states are being erased; people can fly from one country to another (and return back) within just two or three weekends.
Secondly, the world is promoting sports, including winter sports, and a healthy lifestyle. Athletes and lovers of snow skiing can choose any country and mountain, depending on their desires and capabilities - the Alps, the Caucasus, the Tatras, the Apennines, the Urals, the Carpathians.
Bulgaria has become one of the most popular destinations for foreign trips to ski resorts for Russian residents. The similarity of the Russian and Bulgarian languages, the territorial proximity of the countries, the traditional friendship of the two peoples, relatively low prices for holidays - all this attracts thousands of tourists to Bulgaria in winter.
The best ski resorts in Bulgaria – which one is better?
There are quite a lot of ski resorts in Bulgaria. There are large ones with a rich history, and there are very young or small winter sports complexes that are just gaining popularity. The latter, for example, includes Dobrinishte in the Pirin Mountains (165 km from the capital), which in Bulgaria is considered not only a ski resort, but also a SPA resort with 17 thermal springs, where people come for the treatment and prevention of many diseases.
When choosing where it is better to go on holiday to resorts in Bulgaria, keep in mind that at new, developing complexes prices for ski passes and hotel accommodation are set lower than at already promoted, popular resorts. This happens because the infrastructure there is only at the stage of development, and they need to compete with such resorts as Borovets, Vitosha, Pamporovo and Bansko. They are the main destination of the winter tourist flow.
Pamporovo
This resort is located in the Rhodope Mountains, more than 220 km from Sofia. From the 2016-2017 season, the neighboring young resort of Chepelare will join Pamporovo, and they will operate under the single name Pamporovo-Mechi Chal, with a common ski pass. Chepelare is located 6 km from Pamporovo and is the highest mountain town in Bulgaria, and its ski complex is the youngest.
The Pamporovo ski resort is located in the south of the country, so winters here are mild, with daytime temperatures rarely dropping below -7°C. The highest point of the resort is Mount Snezhanka (1926 m) with a TV tower on top, and its center lies at an altitude of 1650 m. The season lasts from December to early or mid-April, depending on the weather.
In total, Pamporovo has 8 trails with a total length of 17 km, with a height difference of up to 500 m. Gentle, green trails are suitable for beginners and athletes who are not confident in skiing. More experienced skiers try themselves on steep slopes, on blue and red slopes. And those who are confident in their strength and skills choose black trails or bumpy slopes, for example, “The Wall”.
Children train under the supervision of instructors or parents on children's slopes, snowboarders - in a snow park with a half-pipe and jumps. Cross-country skiing enthusiasts can try their hand at 30 km of cross-country trails, while freeride fans descend on untouched snow from the top of Snezhanka. Cable cars are capable of lifting up to 8,500 people per hour uphill.
Now, to the slopes of the Pamporovo ski resort, 7 mountain trails of the Chepelare resort with a total length of more than 15 km and a cross-country ski trail with a length of 30 km are added.
Tourists usually come to Pamporovo through Plovdiv airport, which is 85 km away. You can stay in hotels built within walking distance from the ski slopes, or a little further. The choice of hotels is large, there are several dozen of them, so you can book a room to suit every taste.
Numerous restaurants, national taverns serving local wine, discos where ski parties and show programs are held. The excursion bureaus offer educational trips to the Museum of Speleology and the Ski Museum in Chepelare, to the Rila Monastery, to the original village of Shiroka-Lyka, to the “Wonderful Bridges” - rock arches on the Chernatitsa ridge.
Borovets
This large winter sports center is located much closer to Sofia, only 73 km. Borovets was opened at the end of the 19th century as a vacation spot for the royal family on the northern side of the Rila Mountain. Now it is developing at a rapid pace; hotels in the town can simultaneously accommodate up to 10 thousand guests. The center of the resort is located at an altitude of 1390 m, and the highest point in its vicinity is Musala Peak (2925 m) - the highest in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, the former Stalin Peak.
The ski resort of Borovets in Bulgaria has become the venue for numerous international competitions in winter sports: biathlon, snowboarding, ski jumping and alpine skiing. The season lasts from November to April, the temperature during this period is -6°C, the snow layer reaches 1.5 m. All slopes are groomed daily by snowcats, many slopes have artificial snow-spraying devices, lighting for night skiing and protective nets at dangerous turns.
In Borovets, 25 trails of varying difficulty with a total length of more than 50 km are available for skiing: 7 green, 5 blue, 9 red, and 4 black trails have been prepared for the most experienced athletes. 12 lifts help tourists climb the mountain: rope tows, chairlifts and a cable car with closed cabins. In addition to downhill skiing, there are also trails for cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and skating rinks for ice skaters.
The infrastructure of the Borovets ski resort is one of the most developed in Bulgaria. There are sports equipment rental points, as well as ski schools for adults and children. Instructors conduct individual or group lessons in skiing, snowboarding and ski jumping, and you can choose a Russian-speaking instructor. The town has shops, ATMs, pharmacies and medical centers.
The nature in the vicinity of the Borovets ski resort amazes everyone who comes to Bulgaria. Dense coniferous forests, numerous snow-capped mountain peaks and about 190 picturesque lakes. At excursion points you can choose a trip to the royal hunting residences, to the Rila Monastery, walking or skiing to the mountains and lakes, sleigh rides, snowmobiles, and helicopter flights.
Bansko
The ancient town in southwestern Bulgaria has become another resort on the list of places where it is better to go on vacation in winter. Almost the entire economy and infrastructure of Bansko is tied to serving tourists who come to the ski slopes at the foot of Mount Todorka (2746 m) in the Pirin massif, which is 160 km from Sofia. International alpine skiing competitions are held here. Research by some companies is called the resort of Bansko in Bulgaria is one of the most affordable places for winter holidays in the world (only prices were taken into account, not taking into account the quality of the holiday). In recent years, large amounts of money have been invested in its development.
The slopes in Bansko lie at altitudes between 2560–1100 m. There are 15 slopes for all levels of skiing: 6 for beginners, 7 for advanced skiers and 2 for experienced athletes. The total length of the descents is about 70 km. In addition, there are cross-country ski trails and a fan park with jumps for snowboarders. All ski areas are grouped into three zones. 12 chairlifts and rope tows and 1 gondola cable car with cabins for 8 people lift skiers to the beginning of the descent. The snow on the slopes is regularly compacted and leveled with snowcats. Powerful floodlights allow you to ride on some slopes until late in the evening.
The ski season in the resort of Bansko in Bulgaria lasts from December to April , the thickness of the snow cover reaches 2 m. The highest occupancy of hotels and ski slopes is observed during the New Year holidays; at this time it is recommended to book hotel rooms in advance. But even in the summer, tourists come to Bansko for mountain biking and hiking in the mountains. In the warm season, the natural views of the Pirin Mountains delight the eye, and your health can be improved at the local mineral springs.
Those who come to the Bansko resort in Bulgaria stay either in large city hotels or in small cozy family hotels. Walking along the narrow cobbled streets of the city, you can get acquainted with Bulgarian architecture from the 18th century to the present day: with peasant houses built of natural stone, with an ancient church and modern buildings. You can have a snack while walking in small restaurants with low prices.
The only things better than mountains are mountains!
Where is the best place to relax in Bulgaria with children?
The most convenient in terms of accessibility is the Vitosha resort, which lies near the capital of Bulgaria, just 20 km from Sofia. This distance attracts not only foreign tourists who come here for a few days or weeks. Local residents also have the opportunity to come to the ski resort in just half an hour to an hour by their cars or by public transport. Unique nature, clean air, developed infrastructure of the sports complex and proximity to Sofia answer the question of where it is better for professional athletes or families with children to relax near the capital of Bulgaria.
The slopes of the resort on Mount Vitosha lie at an altitude of 2200-1600 m and are intended for beginner skiers and experienced athletes. The length of the ski slopes is 29 km (the longest is 5.2 km), the length of the flat ski tracks is 11 km. A comfortable climb uphill is provided by 12 lifts. The resort operates a school of instructors, where mentors with many years of experience teach children from 6 years of age and adults in group and individual lessons.
If the proximity of the capital of Bulgaria is not important for tourists with children, then the choice of where is the best place to vacation as a family becomes somewhat more complicated. The fact is that all the largest ski resorts in the country - Bansko, Pamporovo and Borovets - are focused not only on professional sports, but also on family vacations. Therefore, the difficulty lies in the need to choose a suitable resort. Here we can only advise you to put together all the components of a comfortable holiday for a family: proximity to the capital or airport, prices for ski passes and children's entertainment, availability of places in those hotels where there are nannies or animators, etc.
Each of the above-mentioned resorts has all the conditions for the stay of children of different ages: children's beds and playrooms in hotels, children's menus and special chairs in cafes and restaurants, educational schools for children in sports complexes. Large hotels employ nannies who watch the children while parents play sports on the mountain slopes, and animators who entertain the children during the day or evening.
Since not all children can or want to ski, skate or snowboard, there are ice slides for them, from which they can have fun sliding down on sleds, ice skates or “cheesecake” tubing. Children's sports equipment is always available at rental points, including skis, skates, snowboards, boots, sleds and tubing.
When choosing the best place to vacation with children in Bulgaria, do not forget to check when is the best time to do it. A massive influx of tourists at all resorts is observed from Christmas until mid-January and in the first days of March, when Bulgarians celebrate the beginning of spring. A large number of athletes and vacationers, fireworks, noisy parties, queues for ski lifts and rental shops - children will not be very comfortable in such an environment.
How to become a skier
Most of the territory of sunny Bulgaria is occupied by mountains. In this regard, ski tourism is developing dynamically in the country. Active recreation lovers from different countries come here. Ski resorts in Bulgaria have been very popular among fans of this sport from all over the world for many years.
Resorts in Bulgaria
It is important for skiers that when they come to this country, they can ski down real mountains. For example, on the Rila ridge (2925m) there are magnificent trails that can be overcome not only by professionals, but also by beginner athletes. The infrastructure here is well developed; vacationers have comfortable hotels with excellent service, numerous restaurants and cafes, and recreation centers. The most famous and popular resorts in Bulgaria are located in the south of the country - Vitosha, Bansko, Pamporovo, Borovets. Thousands of tourists vacation here throughout the season. They are happily received by hospitable Bulgaria. Which resort should you choose? We will try to understand this issue in our article.
Borovets resort
The history of this oldest Bulgarian resort begins in 1896. Today it is the largest ski center in Bulgaria in terms of capabilities and length of slopes. It is located 73 km from the capital of the country and 126 km from the city of Plovdiv, at an altitude of 1359 m. The resort was built on the northern slope of Rila Mountain.
Climate
Winter here is mild and snowy. In January it is very comfortable here - frost is no more than 4 degrees. There is no wind. Anyone can practice skiing from December to mid-April.
From November to May the snow cover reaches one and a half meters. The available trails are designed for athletes with different levels of training. They meet all the requirements of international standards.
If your winter holiday destination is Bulgaria, the Borovets ski resort is the ideal place. And for both beginners and experienced athletes. Snowboarders can also have a great time here. Special trails have been prepared for them. And those who want to start learning the basics of alpine skiing will find a ski school known even in Europe.
The resort is equipped with systems that produce snow. Some trails are illuminated at night. There are three ski areas here - Martinovi Baraki, Markudzhik, Sitnyakovo and Yastrebets.
Martinovi Baraki and Sitnyakovo are merged. In this zone, 4 tracks have been created for experienced skiers and professionals.
The Hawk zone is designed for more experienced athletes. Here you can often watch various competitions, including international ones.
The Markudjik region is considered to be the most mountainous. This is a ski area for skiers with at least minimal experience.
Attractions
In the vicinity of Borovets you can see the Rila Monastery, the royal residence “Bistritsa” and the picturesque town of Melnik.
Resort Bansko
It is located at the foot of the Pirin ridge and is part of the reserve of the same name, which is under the auspices of UNESCO. Bansko is an ancient city with a large number of museums and historical monuments. Tourists who come here enjoy visiting them.
Every year Bulgaria improves the maintenance of ski slopes, new comfortable hotels appear at the resorts, due to which the number of tourists increases every year.
Here you can ski all winter long. The ski resort of Bansko (Bulgaria) has slopes that stretch for 56 km.
For skiers without experience, the Shiligarnika, Todorka, Plateau routes are suitable. There is also a specialized sports school. For children over 4 years old, a ski kindergarten is open, located at the Banderishka Polyana station. There is a children's lift, carousels for kids, and moving paths. Equipment rental is available.
What to see
The center of Bansko is a historical museum of Renaissance architecture. This ancient city contains more than 140 unique historical and cultural monuments. Anyone can take a fascinating tour of the city’s monasteries. The ski resort of Bansko (Bulgaria), like no other, is suitable for families with children. All conditions have been created here for them to have a fun time.
Resort Pamporovo
If you are interested in ski resorts in Bulgaria, you should definitely visit Pamporovo. It is located near Plovdiv (85 km), in the south of the country. There is a pleasant, mild climate here. Many clear and sunny days. Greek myths claim that the musician and singer of ancient times, Orpheus, was born in these places.
Today, in terms of attendance, Pamporovo is quite a worthy competitor to famous European resorts. On its territory there are several dozen magnificent trails, both for beginners and professionals.
Ski resorts in Bulgaria (reviews from tourists confirm this) attract families with children. A lot is being done here to organize recreation for young tourists and introduce them to skiing.
The ski areas of this complex are located on the slopes of a mountain with the cute and cute name Snezhanka. The trails are laid at an altitude of 1500 to 2000 meters. Many of them are recommended exclusively for professionals, while others are very simple, designed for beginners. They are distinguished by gentle terrain and large width of slopes.
Fans of freeride and snowboarding can also have a good time here. Special areas are reserved for them. There are also tracks for giant slalom. But they are intended for specialists of a narrow profile. Fans of off-piste skiing are delighted to explore virgin lands.
Those who are just learning the science of skiing can attend a specialized school in Pamporovo, where an experienced instructor will introduce them to the secrets of this sport. Prices for holidays and services at this resort are significantly lower than at many European resorts.
Where to stay
The best ski resorts in Bulgaria have a huge number of hotels of varying levels of comfort. This will allow everyone to choose a room in accordance with their financial capabilities. In Pamporovo, the Perelik, Orlovets, and Snezhanka hotels are especially popular. Each of these hotels offers its guests a variety of entertainment options, along with traditional hotel services. All hotels are located near the ski lifts.
Pamporovo has many luxurious restaurants and cozy cafes where you will be offered excellent Bulgarian cuisine.
Holidays in the Vitosha-Aleko complex
Mount Vitosha is part of the Bulgarian National Park. Residents of the capital love to relax here. In this area there is snow 150 days a year, and the average winter temperature does not exceed -6°C. The World University Games were held in these places twice.
A small tourist complex is located on the southern outskirts of Sofia. It is the highest ski resort in Bulgaria. Its 29 kilometers of slopes are created at an altitude of 1650-2290 m. The lift goes to the base in 25 minutes.
For cross-country skiing enthusiasts, there are 11 km of excellent ski trails. Their total length is just over 4,500 m. The tracks can accommodate 3,600 people per hour.
There are three lift zones on Vitosha. All of them are serviced by different companies. Therefore, you need to buy a separate ticket for each of them.
Ski resorts in Bulgaria (you can see photos of some of them in our article) have a large number of large and small restaurants. Vitosha was no exception. Here, at the foot of the mountain, you can visit cozy cafes and enjoy Bulgarian cuisine, visit discos and bars in the evening.
Tourists are especially delighted with traditional winter carnivals and original ski evenings, exciting competitions for those who have started skiing for the first time.
There are routes for rock climbers on the eastern slopes of Vitosha. In addition, here you can see the longest cave in Bulgaria, Duhlata. Its length is 17.5 km. It has seven levels and six rivers flow through it.
Malyovitsa - a piece of paradise
If you are planning to spend your vacation in a quiet place, but at the same time go skiing, then the ski resorts in Bulgaria will provide you with such an opportunity. It is enough just to come to a remote corner called Malyovitsa - a small resort where you can have a great rest with your family or alone.
A little history
In the 1950s, activists and skiing enthusiasts decided to set up an extreme sports training school in the area. She became the only one in the Balkans. Future instructors and mountain guides gained experience here. Since then, there have been excellent slopes with a total length of 4 kilometers and five lifts.
Resort today
The Rila Mountains, or rather their Bulgarian part, “hide” the beautiful mountain Malyovitsa in the northwest. This is where the resort we are describing is located. It is located at an altitude of about 1800 meters. The climate at the foot of the mountain is mild - cold northern winds do not reach here. The best time to relax in this place is February. At this time, a lot of snow falls here, and the air does not cool below 10 degrees.
In addition to skiing, you can go mountaineering here. This is a great place for beginner mountain climbers.
Dobrinishte
Ski and spa resort located at an altitude of 830 meters in the Pirin Mountains. The most suitable period for skiing is from December to April.
There are two lifts. The length of the trails is 3.2 km. The height of Bezbog peak is 2645 m.
Panichishte
A small mountain resort located in the Rila Mountains at an altitude of 1400 meters, near the town of Separeva Banya. You can ski here from December to March. There is a toboggan run 1130 meters long. It is possible to rent the necessary equipment.
Chepelare
The resort is located at an altitude of 1100 meters, 8 km from Pamporovo, in the Rhodope Mountains, in the picturesque Chepelarsk valley. There are most sunny days here. Ski season is from December to April.
The length of the tracks is 8.4 km.
Resorts of Bulgaria: reviews from tourists
I would like to immediately note that everyone who was lucky enough to relax in this hospitable country in winter was captivated by its beauty. As tourists note, all ski resorts in Bulgaria are distinguished by the highest level of service, not inferior to their European counterparts, and in some ways even superior to it. On any of them you can stay in hotels from 2* to 5*. But the most important thing is that in each of them you are greeted and served throughout your stay so warmly and professionally that you get the impression that you were expected here.
Many who have visited the ski resorts of Bulgaria address warm words to the security services, which carry out their difficult round-the-clock service on all slopes.
Russian tourists thank the Bulgarians for the opportunity to relax with their children and show them the fabulous beauty of this country.
Bulgarian chefs also receive a lot of warm words, as they surprise even sophisticated tourists with their skills.
Thanks to its developed ski resorts, Bulgaria is an attractive place not only for a beach holiday, but also for a winter holiday. Below we will look at a kind of rating of the most popular Bulgarian ski resorts.
1. Bansko
It is the best ski resort in Bulgaria. It is divided into tThree ski areas, depending on the degree of difficulty. If Shiligarnika is offered for exploration to those who feel confident enough on skis, then Chalin-Valon is specially equipped for beginner skiers, and Banderishka Polyana will appeal most to fans of cross-country skiing. The total length of the trails is 56 km. The season in Bansko lasts from November to April, during which time, in addition to the main activity for which everyone comes to ski resorts, you can visit local attractions - museums, monasteries and an ancient town. For those who are slightly tired from skiing on high mountain trails, relaxation is offered in the form of a visit to local healing springs. Bansko is quite loyal to tourists and offers many hotels, restaurants and quiet cafes with local flavor.
2. Borovets
This is the oldest and, accordingly, the largest of the Bulgarian ski resorts. You can get to it by bus or by personal transport from Sofia. For the convenience of everyone, free buses run between hotels and ski lifts. The resort's ski areas are divided into easy, suitable for training Sitnyakovo, as well as more difficult Yastrebets and Markudzhika. In Borovets there are twenty-kilometer-long trails for those who prefer cross-country skiing, as well as serious jumping hills of fifty and seventy-five meters in length. In addition to skiing entertainment, those interested are offered a tour of the local beautiful lakes, as well as mountain peaks, accompanied by experienced guides. For lovers of selfies and Instagram, there is a special entertainment - a photo safari.
3. Vitosha
To get to this place you need to spend twenty-five minutes in the lift. Mount Vitosha is the highest ski resort and also a national park in Bulgaria. The main season here takes place in December and January, but for everyone it lasts until April. Four and a half thousand meters is the total length of all the trails located in the resort. The longest slope reaches almost three thousand meters. Accommodation at the resort is provided by several local hotels with a decent degree of comfort, as well as rented housing from local residents - rural houses and even huts, for lovers of extreme pastime. During the season, the local administration organizes carnivals to please visitors, so in between exploring the next snow-covered slope, you can take part in one of the celebrations in order to get acquainted with the culture and flavor of the local residents.
4. Pamporovo
Pamporovo - excellentBulgarian resort for ski holidays with a mild winter climate and a lot of sunny days during the season. More than two dozen hotels open their welcoming doors, while those hungry for the slopes flock to the local slopes, which total 25 km in length (plus 30 km for cross-country skiing). As many as four slopes are equipped specifically for those who have decided to take up skiing for the first time and do not feel entirely confident on snowy roads. However, the resort administration has not forgotten about confident users - Mount Snezhanka is suitable for those who are already stable on skis and confidently roll down the mountain slopes, while professionals can test themselves on the Stenata track. In addition to the main activities, which are skiing, Pamporovo offers a variety of shopping outlets in the central hotel "Perelik", as well as excursions to nearby cities and settlements, including ethnic villages and castles with monasteries.
5. Dobrinishte
Twelve kilometers from Bansko there is another good ski resort in Bulgaria, which, in addition to skiing, also offers visitors many spa treatments - this is Dobrinishte. With a total length of seven kilometers, there are four main routes with varying degrees of descent steepness, length and inclination. In addition, Dobrinishte is ready to teach the basics of skiing to beginners, even children - there are several ski schools. Mineral springs and the Bezbog National Park are what surround the resort. And the main focus in the form of alpine skiing is accompanied by entertainment in the form of many restaurants and establishments with local cuisine, which everyone should try, as well as bars, cafes and nightclubs - for those who are not ready to break away from the bustle of the city for a long time.
6. Chepelare
This is the youngest of the Bulgarian ski resorts, but this does not mean at all that it does not provide worthy competition to its older and experienced comrades. Three hundred sunny days a year – isn’t this the main attraction of Chepelare? Seven ski slopes together give a total length of twelve kilometers. The trails are equipped for both beginners and those who are professional skiers. A ski school and cross-country trails are a worthy addition to the slopes. Comfortable hotels in the Chepelare resort are ready to accommodate a sufficient number of people, but if you need entertainment besides skiing, you will need to go to the nearest large settlement. This place is designed for those who come to ride.
Ski resorts in Bulgaria have traditionally been and, of course, remain one of the most popular and accessible for Russian winter sports enthusiasts. The advantage of ski resorts in Bulgaria, in addition to their low cost, is the presence of slopes that both beginners and children can ski on, the absence of a language barrier, a good selection of inexpensive hotels and apartments, and a minimum set of documents for obtaining a visa. Bulgaria is not only excellent ski resorts, it is also excellent wine, which you can try at these very resorts, it is the highest class service, it has mineral springs and the treatment of many diseases. In general, Bulgaria is a very interesting and multifaceted country. In the last few years, ski resorts in Bulgaria have begun to develop rapidly and many tourists have already appreciated their advantages.
Bansko is the most equipped resort.
One of the main ski resorts in the country is Bansko, located 220 km from Sofia. “Bansko appeared on the map of ski resorts in Bulgaria in the early 90s. The very fact that the resort is located on the territory of the Pirin National Park, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, already makes Bansko incredibly attractive for tourists who appreciate the beauty and grandeur of nature. The Pirin mountain range of the same name as the park is headed by the highest peak Vihren (2915 meters), at the foot of which there are about 200 stunningly beautiful lakes. 56 km of prepared trails, 13 lifts. Decent skiing altitudes: 930 - 2560 m above sea level. The resort offers all the possibilities for different categories of skiers. For the little ones there is a special kindergarten where children will be taught to ride in a playful way. Beginners will be offered the services of Russian-speaking skiing and snowboarding coaches. As for the slopes, they are designed to meet the needs of skiers of different levels of skiing. A special pride in Bansko is the unique ski track, which goes 16 kilometers into the forest (virgin skiing). Ski slopes are located south of Bansko, on the spurs of Mount Todorka. Near the top station of the ski lift there is the only Halfpipe in Bulgaria. Bansko is famous for its longest and snowiest season, which lasts from December 15 to May 15. It is divided into three ski areas, depending on the degree of difficulty. If Shiligarnika is offered for exploration to those who feel confident enough on skis, then Chalin-Valon is specially equipped for beginner skiers, and Banderishka Polyana will appeal most to fans of cross-country skiing. Bansko is interesting because it differs from other European ski resorts. It is a full-fledged city with thousands of residents, its own attractions, skating rinks, clubs, casinos, shops, bus stations and so on. The main attraction of Bansko is the old town; it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and has existed on earth for centuries. If you want a quiet, measured holiday, then you need to choose a hotel in the old part of the city. If you are an adherent of more modern entertainment and recreation. Then you need to settle in a new part of the city. There are nightclubs, restaurants, bars, discos and life there is vibrant day and night, regardless of the time of year. And closer to the ski lifts. In order to go skiing you don’t need to go anywhere, the ski lift up the mountain is right in the city, you can come by taxi from the old town or walk and end up on the ski slope. If you don’t want to spend money on a taxi or walk to the ski lift, then you can use the services of a ski bus, they drive like a minibus around the city and collect at stops who want to go to the ski lift, this pleasure costs 1-2 euros per person. In addition, many hotels provide ski bus services for their guests free of charge. Hotels in Bansko also have one interesting feature – saunas. Hotels provide saunas to their guests free of charge, but to other tourists for a fee. After a great ride, Bansko offers you to relax in cozy local restaurants. They are called “mekhana” here. There are several hundred of them in Bansko! Or you can party in one of the city's nightlife establishments. Shopping lovers can buy goods in local sports stores much cheaper than in Russia.
Borovets is the oldest resort in Bulgaria
The resort is located closest to Sofia (73 km). This is also one of the best ski resorts in Bulgaria for those people who have been skiing for several years. There are practically no local residents there either; there is a small village next to the resort, where resort workers come from, but there are very few locals in the resort itself. This resort is designed for skiers only, there is very little off-piste entertainment, but there are slopes of a wide range of difficulties. 46 km of trails with an elevation difference of 1193 meters. The resort is universal for skiers and snowboarders. The season lasts from December to April. The resort's ski areas are divided into easy, suitable for training Sitnyakovo, as well as more difficult Yastrebets and Markudzhika. In Borovets there are twenty-kilometer-long trails for those who prefer cross-country skiing, as well as serious jumping hills of fifty and seventy-five meters in length. In addition to skiing entertainment, those interested are offered a tour of the local beautiful lakes, as well as mountain peaks, accompanied by experienced guides. For lovers of selfies and Instagram, there is a special entertainment - a photo safari. At the Borovets resort you will be greeted by the good-natured owners of 20 hotels of different levels and two cottage villages. Most hotels are located around the lower cable car stations. Free buses run from remote hotels to ski lifts. There are very few free services in Borovets hotels; there may be swimming pools, jacuzzi, saunas, but you will have to pay for everything else. The hotels in this resort are mostly 4-star, but if you wish, you can find cheaper or more expensive accommodation options. As for the prices at this resort, they are not very different from other resorts in Bulgaria.
Pamporovo is the southernmost resort in Bulgaria
Ski resort in the Rhodope Mountains, located at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level, 85 km from Plovdiv. This resort is the southernmost in Bulgaria and has an essentially Mediterranean climate. Unlike Borovets, this resort has a homely feel. The Rhodope Mountains are densely covered with forests, and they are low and not rocky. These mountains in the area of the resort are absolutely passable, so this resort has a lot of trails for cross-country skiing, so if you don’t like downhill skiing, but rather long distance running, then this resort is simply made for you. In addition, it is at this resort that there is a very large ski school for children. Moreover, you can go here even with very young children, there is a so-called ski kindergarten and ski nursery, what does this mean, and this means that children under 4 years of age are taught to ski here. This resort is usually chosen by people who are not professional skiers. Basically, the slopes here are very simple, but you can immediately see that the slope at the resort is towards snowboarding. There are a lot of snowboard jumps here, there are sledding tracks here, in general, the tracks at this resort are very diverse and any tourist will find something suitable for themselves. The ski season starts in December and lasts until the end of April. The height of the slopes is from 1.4 thousand m to 1926 m. At the top of Mount Snezhanka there is a television tower, which offers a magnificent view of the mountain peaks. The resort's climate is characterized by fairly mild winters, with a lot of sunny days. The resort occupies a leading place among all ski resorts in Bulgaria in terms of the number of sunny days. For lovers of ski holidays, there are 37 km of slopes with a height difference of 480 meters. (plus 30 km for cross-country skiing). As many as four slopes are equipped specifically for those who have decided to take up skiing for the first time and do not feel entirely confident on snowy roads. You can stay in Pamporovo in 5* hotels, 3* hotels, or in an inexpensive private guesthouse. After skiing, you can dance at the disco in the Pamporovo Hotel or the Perelik Hotel. The Rozhen Hotel has a nightclub called Race. Large hotels have their own swimming pools and billiard rooms. But of course there is no such active nightlife as in Bansko. We talked about the three main Bulgarian ski resorts. There are other resorts in Bulgaria - Chepelare, Vitosha, Dobrinishte. They are not so large, and mostly Bulgarians themselves ride there.
In recent decades, ski tourism has been developing very actively in the mountainous part of Bulgaria, and if earlier holidays in Bulgaria were clearly associated with seaside holidays, now the phrase alpine skiing in Bulgaria has become familiar and widespread.
Basic, most famous and popular ski resorts in Bulgaria - Bansko, Borovets, Pamporovo. On ski resorts in Bulgaria, active renovation of the hotel base and mining infrastructure is underway. New trails are being built and modern lifts manufactured by Western companies are being installed. Compared with ski resorts in Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland ski resorts in Bulgaria They have a shorter total length of pistes, with predominantly slopes of medium and low difficulty, which is suitable for beginner skiers and snowboarders, and intermediate skiers. Although the “black” routes in Bulgaria there is also, for example, the famous Tomba track in Bansko or the “black” route “Fonfon” in Borovets. The advantage of ski resorts in Bulgaria is the low price of ski tours to Bulgaria. The cost of tours to Bulgaria is much cheaper than to Austria, France, Italy and other European countries.
Brief description of popular ski resorts in Bulgaria
Resort Bansko
Resort Bansko(950-2525 m) - located in the southwestern Bulgaria at the foot of the majestic Pirin mountain range in the territory of the Pirin National Park, listed by UNESCO as a world natural heritage. The nearest airports are Sofia (180 km) and Plovdiv (220 km). The main difference between the resort Bansko from most ski resorts in Eastern Europe, such as Borovets And Pamporovo V Bulgaria, Jasna V Slovakia, is that the resort Bansko- this is not just a dozen hotels under the mountain, it is a very beautiful old town, with preserved buildings from the 17th-19th centuries, with many restaurants, shops, etc. The only significant drawback of the resort Bansko, is that from almost all hotels you need to get to the lower gondola lift station either by hotel transport or by taxi (from 3 to 10 minutes). According to experts, in terms of ski infrastructure, in terms of the quality and quantity of slopes and lifts (total length of slopes is 56 km), in terms of apres ski infrastructure Bansko- best ski resort in Eastern Europe
Tourists choose Bansko also because it has the longest ski season in Bulgaria- from December to May, heavy snowfalls and stable snow cover.
Borovets resort
Borovets resort(1300-2560 m) is located on the northern slopes of the Rila Mountains at the foot of the highest point of the Balkans, peak Musala (2295), the nearest airports are Sofia (73 km) and Plovdiv (120 km). ski resort Borovets- oldest in Bulgaria, the first skiers appeared here about 90 years ago, and the first modern ski lifts were built in 1969-1970, and 11 years later the Alpine Ski World Cup stage was already held here. Today, all three ski areas of the resort: Sitnyakovo-Martinovi baraki, Yastrebets and Markudzhik are united into a single ski area with a total length of pistes of 42 km. As part of the unique Super Borovets project, with the financial support of the European Union and Great Britain, new hotels were built at the resort and old ones were reconstructed. Most hotels Borovets located either directly on the slope or 2-3 minutes walk.
Borovets famous for its beautiful landscapes, unique climate (January temperature does not fall below -5 C.), clean air with the aromas of pine forests.
Resort Pamporovo
Resort Pamporovo(1420-1925 m) - the southernmost ski resort in Bulgaria located on the slopes of the Rhodope Mountains, at the foot of the Snezhanka peak (1926 m), on which a television tower is installed, not far from the border with Greece. The nearest airports are Plovdiv (85 km), Sofia (260 km). Proximity Pamporovo to the Aegean Sea predisposes to relatively mild and long winters, with bright sunshine and abundant snow. Total amount of skiing in Pamporovo relatively small - about 20 km of slopes; from almost all hotels you need to get to the ski lifts by ski bus (3-10 minutes). It is believed that the resort Pamporovo ideal for beginners and inexperienced skiers, for family holidays, for those who see skiing for the first time, and for those who come to the mountains just to relax. For experienced skiers Pamporovo there are three black runs and a giant slalom run.
