A brief overview of the ski resorts in Bulgaria. Winter Bulgaria: a guide to ski resorts The most modern ski resort in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is famous for its ski resorts, which are gaining great popularity today. These resorts are relatively inexpensive, which is a plus for many of our compatriots, plus there is practically no language barrier for us in Bulgaria, and we can feel almost at home here. This makes Bulgarian ski resorts an ideal place to explore alpine skiing and other winter sports.

One of the best ski resorts in Bulgaria is Bansko.

Certainly the most famous Bulgarian ski resort. For the last several years, it has been ranked first in the ranking of budget ski destinations in Europe. Although in Bulgaria it is considered an expensive resort.
Bansko is located at an altitude of 930 meters above sea level. From Sofia to the resort of Bansko 150 kilometers. From Plovdiv 187 km.
Trails. Trails of varying difficulty for skiers and snowboarders: 6 “blue” - for beginners and beginners, 9 “red” - for intermediate and advanced levels and 2 “black” - for extreme professionals and those who consider themselves such. Two running tracks at the resort and one 2 km from the resort. Kindergarten and children's school.
The length of the tracks is 75 kilometers.
Lifts. There is one gondola lift, 4 chairlifts for 5 chairlifts. Lift operating hours from 8-30 to 16-30 Sports equipment rental (15-30 euros per day). Russian speaking instructors for beginners.
Ski passes. The cost of a ski pass for one day is 58 levs. Starting from the second day there is an increasing discount.
Length of the season. From December to mid-April. The official opening is mid-December, but depending on snow, some trails may open earlier. Read more about pistes and ski passes.
Housing. Huge selection of accommodation. A total of 371 options. 5 stars – 6 hotels, 4 stars – 52 hotels, 3 and 2 stars – 165 hotels, apartments, guest houses and 179 other options. Choosing the appropriate option will not be difficult. .
Nutrition. Cafe on the slopes. Large selection of restaurants at the resort itself. Most apartments have their own kitchens. Lots of supermarkets and grocery stores.
Leisure. Spa hotels and thermal springs in the surrounding area and in neighboring resort towns. Neofit Rilski House Museum, Velyanova House. Climbing to Vihren Peak.
The historical center of the city is a living museum of the architecture of everyday life of the Bulgarian Renaissance. Interesting excursions to monasteries in the Bansko area. Active recreation: weekend routes, ice skating rink, sledding, etc. Rila Monastery is an hour's drive away. And of course, nightlife is present in all its glory.

For a detailed review of the resort, see.

Pamporovo.

The southernmost resort in Bulgaria. And the sunniest. The Greek border is 175 kilometers away.
The resort is located in the Radop Mountains at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level.
From Sofia to the resort 230 kilometers. From Plovdiv 82 kilometers. Thessaloniki (Greece) 290 kilometers.
Trails. 2 “green” for beginners, 4 “blue” for beginners, 6 “red” for intermediate and advanced and 3 “black”, one suitable for giant slalom. There is night skiing. The length of the longest route (green) is four kilometers.
Three running tracks with a length of 39 kilometers. Kindergarten and children's school.
The total length of the tracks is 30 kilometers.
Lifts. There is one gondola lift, 5 chair lifts and 13 rope lifts. Lift operating hours from 8-30 to 16-30 Sports equipment rental (15-30 euros per day). Russian speaking instructors for beginners.
Ski passes. The cost of a ski pass for Pamporovo and the neighboring resort of Mechi Chal for one day is 58 levs (29 euros). Discount for children. More details
Length of the season. From December to mid-April. The official opening is mid-December (for the 2019 season - December 10).
Housing. The resort offers 69 accommodation options.
Five stars – 3 hotels, 4 stars – 10 hotels, 3 stars – 29, 2 stars and no stars – 26 options. You can stay in the neighboring town - the resort of Chepelare (10 km away, there is a free bus). The best spa hotels in Pamporovo. Hotels for families with children
Nutrition. As in any popular tourist place, there is a huge selection of restaurants. You can have breakfast at the hotel. Have lunch on the slope. And dine wherever and with whomever your heart desires.
Leisure. If you still have strength and desire after the slopes, then nightclubs and discos. As well as spa treatments in Pamporovo or mineral pools in Devin. Bachkovo Monastery, Trigrad Gorge, Yagodinskaya Cave, Rozhen Astronomical Observatory, cave with the romantic name “Devil's Throat”.

Borovets.

Borovets is the oldest ski resort in Bulgaria.

Borovets is located at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level.
73 kilometers from Sofia. From Plovdiv 130 kilometers..
Trails. 24 trails of varying degrees of difficulty. Blue - 3, red -18, black -3. Special trails for snowboarders. The running track is 35 kilometers. Two ski jumps with a height of 50 and 75 meters. Night ski trail.
Three ski areas: Martinovo and baraki-Sitnyakovo, Yastrebets and Markudzhik, united by ski lifts. There is a kindergarten and a children's school.
The total length of the tracks is 59 kilometers.
Lifts. Gondola lift, 3 chair lifts, 10 rope tows.
Lift operating hours are from 8-30 to 16-30 Sports equipment rental. Russian speaking instructors for beginners.
Ski passes. The basic cost of a ski pass for one day is 58 levs (28 euros). And of course there are a lot of options: for half a day, for children, etc. Read more about.
Length of the season. From early December to early April. The official opening is mid-December.
Housing. Hotels 5 stars - 3, 4 stars - 18, 3 stars -15, 2 stars 6, no stars (i.e. apartments, villas, etc.) -25. Alternatively, you can stay in the neighboring town of Samokovo, 9 kilometers away. Every half hour there is a minibus going back and forth. Best hotels near the ski lift
Nutrition. Cafe on the slope. Large selection of restaurants at the resort itself. There are grocery stores, but not many.
Leisure. The main leisure activity is, of course, active recreation. In addition to the slopes, you can go sledding or just skiing. You can also visit the former royal residence (Tsarska Bistritsa) located on the territory of the resort, and go to the Rila Monastery (40 km from Borovets). A couple of discos, a nightclub.

Dobrinishte.

Dobrinishte is a satellite resort of Bansko.

If you don’t want fuss and crowds of people, then this is the place for you - in Dobrinishte. If you just want to learn how to stand on skis, then here too. An “advanced” skier will be bored here.
From the resort of Bansko to Dobrinishte it is seven kilometers. You can only get there by taxi or car. There is no public transport. Due to its relative remoteness, even in high season there are few people on the slopes. Read more about the resort.
Trails: 1 black, 2 red, 5 blue. Lift operating hours: from 8-30 to 16:00. Total length of trails: 5 km. Sports equipment rental. Russian speaking instructors for beginners. There is no children's school.
Ski pass The cost on a weekday is 32 leva. On weekends 60 lev.
Lifts depending on the route: double chairlifts or rope tows.
Length of the season. From December to mid-April.
Housing. The choice compared to Bansko is not great. 4 stars -2 hotels, 3 stars -2 hotels, 2 stars 6 hotels, apartments 21 options.
Nutrition. You can easily find good and inexpensive cafes and restaurants.
Leisure. There are two spa hotels and thermal mineral springs in the area. For everything else in Bansko. Fortunately, it’s just a stone’s throw away, six kilometers away.

Chepelare.

Chepelare is a satellite resort of Pamporovo.

From Plovdiv 72 kilometers, from Sofia 222 kilometers and most importantly just 10 kilometers from Pamporovo. More suitable for beginners.
Trails 2 green for beginners, 4 blue, 5 red, 1 black. There is opportunity for snowboarding.
For cross-country skiing enthusiasts, the track is 30 kilometers long. The total length of the trails is 14 km. Ski school for children and ski kindergarten.
Lifts. There are two chairlifts. Two rope tows. Lift operating hours from 8-45 to 16-30 Ski equipment rental (15-30 euros per day). Russian speaking instructors for beginners.
Ski passes. General ski pass from Pamporovo 58 levs (28 euros). Read more about the resort.
Housing. 4 stars – 2 hotels, 3 stars – 12 hotels, no stars – 12 options. And of course, don’t forget Pamporovo is nearby.
Nutrition. Cafe on the slope. Mehani, Bulgarian restaurants at the resort itself.
Leisure. Rozhen Astronomical Observatory, a famous speleology museum located in a cave. Nightclubs and other interesting life in Pamporovo.

Panichishte.

Panichishte is a place where both children and adults can start skiing for the first time.

Calling Panichishte a ski resort is of course a stretch. Rather, this is a place where you can relax in the mountains and start skiing for the first time for adults, and most importantly for children. Located in the Rila Mountains at an altitude of 1,400 meters. From Sofia to the resort 83 kilometers.
Trails. Five blue trails for beginners and slightly advanced ones. The trails are not big and easy. Running track. 5 km. And the most interesting thing is the toboggan run - quite long, 1100 meters.
Lifts. There is a drag lift for each route. Rental available. Russian speaking instructors. Children's school.
Ski passes. The cost is the same for both adults and children - 10 levs (5 euros).
Length of the season. From December to mid-April.
Housing. The choice is very modest. One four-star hotel and several cozy guest houses. You can stay in the neighboring town of Separeva Banya (10 km), which is known as a balneological resort and combine business with pleasure.
Nutrition. No one has ever gone hungry in Bulgaria. And Panichishte is no exception. Cafes, restaurants of different price categories.
Leisure. Spa treatments in Sapareva Banya. There, in addition to treatment with mineral waters, you can admire the erupting geyser. Nearby are the Rila Lakes and the Rila Monastery.

Vitosha.

The highest mountain resort in Bulgaria is Vitosha.

Vitosha is the most Bulgarian resort in terms of skiers, as it is located next to the capital. Located at an altitude of 1800 meters. It is 10 kilometers from Sofia.
Trails. 13 trails of varying lengths. Two black, 4 red and 7 blue. The running track is 11 kilometers. Length of trails: 29 km
Lifts. One gondola, 4 chairlifts, 5 rope tows. Equipment rental. Instructors for beginners and children. Children's school.
Ski passes. 36 levs (18 euros) for adults and 20 levs (10.27 euros) for children.
Length of the season. As elsewhere in Bulgaria, from mid-December to mid-late April.
Housing. There is a small choice of hotels directly next to the slopes. But Sofia is nearby.
Nutrition. There is a cafe on the slopes. Bulgarians come here for the whole day, so there are plenty of cafes and restaurants.
Leisure. Sofia is nearby, so if you want, there is something to see and do. Nearby is the ancient Dragalevsky convent.

Malyovitsa.

People come here not to have a good ride, but to relax in solitude and learn how to ride. Or if mountaineering interests you more than skiing. Malyovitsa is better known as the center of Bulgarian mountaineering. The Malovitsa resort is located at an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level. From Sofia to the resort it is only 90 kilometers. And from the resort of Borovets 40 km.
Trails. The choice of trails is modest. There are only four of them, but for all levels of difficulty. One for beginners. Two are more advanced and one is black.
The total length is 4 kilometers.
Lifts. Five rope tows. And of course, no queues. Professional instructors for beginners.
Ski passes. 25 leva for adults and 15 leva for children. (25 and 15 euros.)
Length of the season. From December to early April.
Housing. What kind of resort is this and the choice of accommodation. There is one hotel with 180 beds near the slopes. You can stay in the village of Govedartsi, two km from the slopes.
Nutrition. The same can be said about restaurants. What resort has so many restaurants.
Leisure. Everything related to mountaineering. Mountaineering Museum. Alpine wall into the room. Even a real climb to Mount Malovitsa.

Uzana.

From Uzna to Sofia - 220 kilometers. From Plovdiv 202 kilometers. Uzana is located 22 km from the city of Gabrovo
Trails. The two ski areas are not connected to each other. A total of 9 tracks. Eight small ones of varying difficulty from green to red and one more, truly red, 1 kilometer long. The total length of the trails is 3 km.
Lift. 4 rope tows. Equipment rental 20 lev. Instructors for individual and group lessons.
Ski passes. A day ski pass costs 15 leva for adults and 8 for children.
Length of the season. Mid-December - early April.
Housing. One three star hotel and six small family hotels in the surrounding area.
Nutrition. There isn't much choice. But you won't remain hungry
Leisure. Skis, sleds, fresh air. Ethnographic Museum "Etara". Sokolsky Monastery. A few kilometers away are the towns of the Bulgarian Renaissance – Bozhentsi and Tryavna.

Semkovo.

The height above sea level is 1750 meters. The distance from Semkovo to the Bulgarian capital is 160 kilometers.
Trails. Seven tracks. The total length is 4 kilometers. Three green and blue for beginners. Two red for intermediate levels and one red and black for advanced.
Lift. There are eight rope tows for seven slopes. Ski and equipment rental.
Ski passes. 18 leva for adults and 12 for children.
Length of the season. Late December – April.
Housing. One large hotel with 193 beds and several family hotels nearby.
Nutrition. Full board in hotels.
Leisure. A unique “Park of Dancing Bears”, where retired circus bears live. Excursions to the picturesque surroundings.

In one line we will list other places in Bulgaria where you can have a good rest in nature and do a little skiing: Kulinoto, Osogovo, Berkovska Platina, Pyrshevitsa, Beklemeto. There are good options for beginners and, most importantly, budget ones.

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 within a 2-3 minute 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 a relatively mild and long winter, 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 in Pamporovo There are three black runs and a giant slalom track.

Bulgaria is famous not only for its Black Sea coast, but also for its ski resorts. Bulgarian ski centers have a developed infrastructure and offer excellent conditions for winter recreation. The most famous ski resorts in Bulgaria are Bansko, Borovets, Vitosha, Pamporovo, etc.

Bansko

The main ski resort in Bulgaria, Bansko, is located 160 kilometers south of Sofia, at an altitude of 936 meters, at the foot of the Pirin mountain range. Pirin National Park is included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. In Bansko, where the elevation difference is 930-2560 meters, tourists will find tracks for every taste, both for beginners and experienced skiers and snowboarders.

Bansko is famous for the longest ski season in Bulgaria - from mid-December to mid-April. Solid snow cover up to 2 meters thick lasts from November until the end of April. But if there are problems with natural snow, snow cannons will help lengthen the ski season.

Bansko's 15 ski slopes are well equipped and safe. Their length is 75 km. The resort itself is divided into three skiing areas: Chalin-Valog, Shiligarnika and Banderishka Polyana.

Chalin-Valog is suitable mainly for beginner skiers and training. Shiligarnika offers longer and more varied pistes for intermediate skiers. Banderishka Polyana is ideal for cross-country skiing. The Banderitsa and Tsarna Mogila routes are intended for experts.

Snowboarders will enjoy the fun park and half-pipe. There is a vast area for freeride. A lift or snowmobile will take you to the beginning of the descent. Bansko has cross-country ski trails, a biathlon shooting range, and a stadium for winter sports.

There is a ski school at the resort. For the youngest skiers (over 4 years of age), a kindergarten with a ski track, carousel, and children's lift is organized.

The town of Bansko itself is very old and cozy, with dozens of architectural monuments. In the city itself you can see the Church of the Holy Trinity (1835), the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary with a carved wooden iconostasis (mid-18th century), and the bell tower (1866). The museums of wall paintings and wood carvings are worth visiting. You can go on excursions to Sofia, Plovdiv and Melnik, visit the Rozhen, Rila and Bachkovo monasteries.

You can’t help but visit the local national-style restaurants (mekhan in Bulgarian), relax in cafes and numerous taverns. Nightlife lovers will have fun at the discos. In addition to skiing, Bansko is famous for its healing thermal springs.

Borovets

Borovets is located on the northern slopes of Mount Rila, at the foot of the highest peak in the Balkans, Musala (2925 meters), 72 kilometers from Sofia and 10 kilometers from Plovdiv. This is the oldest and largest ski resort in Bulgaria. Skiers start flocking here as early as November. In December, there is one and a half meters of snow on the local slopes. In January, the temperature here almost never drops below -5°C. Snow on the slopes lasts from December until the end of April.

The ski infrastructure of Borovets includes 24 slopes with a total length of 58 km. These are trails of varying degrees of difficulty and load, for both beginners and experienced athletes. The trails are distributed in three ski areas: Sitnyakovo - Martinovi Baraki, Markudzhik and Yastrebets. The zones are interconnected by a system of lifts and transitions.

The maximum elevation difference is 1209 meters. Cross-country ski trails - 18 km. There are toboggan and biathlon tracks for training and competitions. Two ski jumps were built: 50 and 75 meters. There are 16 lifts (including three portable mini-lifts).

The park for snowboarders is divided into three parts: Pro Lane (for advanced riders, pipes, twelve-meter jumping table), Middle Part (multifunctional area, slopestyle trail, jib line) and Beginners Lane (suitable for children).

You can stay at the resort in any of the many hotels. Guests are offered a variety of skiing and snowboarding courses. After skiing, skiers can have a delicious meal and have fun in local bars, taverns and restaurants serving national Bulgarian cuisine. Partygoers go to nightclubs, some continue to exercise at the fitness center, or visit the swimming pool. Other entertainment options include sleigh rides, panoramic helicopter tours, trips to Rila and Sofia, excursions to Bistritsa, Sitnyakovo and Sargyol - the former hunting residences of the Bulgarian kings.

Vitosha

The Vitosha ski resort is located at an altitude of 1800 m in the national park of the same name, not far from the Bulgarian capital. The center of Sofia - which is only about 20 km - can be easily reached by public transport in a maximum of half an hour.

The Vitosha mountain range is one of the highest ski resorts in Bulgaria. Snow here lasts 120-150 days a year, falls in December and does not melt until late spring, the thickness of the snow cover reaches 1.5 m. The average air temperature is -6°C.

Vitosha offers excellent conditions for slalom and cross-country skiing. The total length of the Vitosha ski slopes is 4500 m, they can accommodate up to 3600 people per hour. The longest slope in the resort (2800 m) pleases with equipped “red” and “black” slopes, and the peak of Cherni Vrah with a maximum skiing altitude of 2290 m is suitable only for experienced skiers. However, there are also plenty of “blue” and “green” trails on Vitosha. From the mountain itself there is a magnificent panorama of the city for viewing and photography.

Vitosha has six main trails (in order of decreasing difficulty): Stenata, Romanski ski run, Vitoshko Lale, Cherni Vrah, Green ski run and Selimitza - Konyarnika. For lovers of virgin lands there are 11 km of flat ski tracks. Unlike other ski resorts in Bulgaria, the slopes of Vitosha are located above the forest belt, so it is possible to ski on virgin soil. In addition to ski slopes, Vitosha offers rock climbing routes and numerous hiking trails. At the Aleko ski center, children from 6 years old can be taught. You can also rent ski equipment here.

Among non-sports entertainments, Bulgarian cuisine is also worth noting. The resort has a great variety of taverns, bars, coffee shops and restaurants. If you don’t want to stay at the resort overnight, you can get to the capital very quickly. Popular excursions around Sofia, trips to the Rila and Bachkovo monasteries, to Plovdiv and the museum city of Koprivshtitsa.

During the winter season, the administration of Vitosha National Park organizes carnivals for guests. Themed ski competitions are held for athletes, and serious competitions are organized for more experienced climbers.

Dobrinishte

Dobrinishte is a small and quiet ski resort located at the foot of Pirin Mountain, in the south-eastern part of the Razlozh Valley, at an altitude of 850 meters above sea level. Its value is its beautiful untouched nature in the alpine spirit and the abundance of healing mineral springs. The resort is located 165 km from Sofia and 6 km south of Bansko.

The resort is suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers. The skiing season lasts from December to April. There are 4 trails in Dobrinishte, their total length is 7 km, the elevation difference is 950 m. The highest point is 2500 m, the lowest is 1150 m. There is one chair lift, its capacity is 500 people per hour.

There is a rental service, there is a sports center and a school for beginners. To improve your skiing level, you can take a couple of lessons from an instructor, and your little ones will be taught skiing at a special children's school.

In Dobrinishte there are slopes for downhill, slalom and giant slalom, the elevation difference is from 150 to 960 m, the length is from 700 to 5600 m, the average slope is from 22% to 30%.

The tourist infrastructure of Dobrinishte is represented by cafes, nightclubs, taverns and restaurants in traditional Bulgarian style with local delicacies. Fans of spa treatments will appreciate the local mineral springs and thermal pools. There is a fitness center and sauna.

From Dobrinishte you can reach two superbly equipped chalets - “Gotze Delchev” and “Bezbog”, providing guests with everything they need for accommodation and skiing and mountaineering. The huts are connected by a two-seater chair lift.

Pamporovo

The ski resort Pamporovo is located in the south of Bulgaria, in the Rhodope Mountains at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level. Distance to Sofia - 260 km, to Plovdiv - 85 km, to Chepelare - 10 km. The resort is located at the foot of the Snezhanka peak (1926 m). The gentle slopes of Snezhanka make Pamporovo especially convenient for children and beginner skiers. At the same time, there are difficult tracks, such as the Grand Slalom. Off-piste skiing is also possible.

The resort ranks first among the mountain resorts in Bulgaria in terms of the number of sunny days. The tourist season begins in December and lasts until the end of April. The ski slopes at the resort are laid at altitudes from 1400 to 1926 m.

More than one hundred qualified instructors speaking different languages teach beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. You can rent ski equipment and purchase a ski school and lift pass.

The ski slopes in Pamporovo are very diverse. Among them there are “green” (for beginners), “blue” and “red” (for more advanced), and “black” - for seasoned athletes. There is also a giant slalom course. The microclimate in Pamporovo contributes to frequent and heavy snowfalls, and the snow cover reaches at least 2 meters during the season. At the same time, the air temperature here, even in the coldest winters, does not drop below -7°C - this is due to the proximity of the Aegean Sea.

Pamporovo has many nightclubs and traditional Bulgarian taverns. Large selection of hotels for every taste. Pamporovo is a good place for a romantic holiday for two; all conditions for a family holiday are also created here.

Malyovitsa

The Malyovitsa ski resort is located 92 km from Sofia, 40 km from Borovets. Malyovitsa is located at an altitude of 1,700 m in the northwestern part of the Rila Mountains. The ski season here lasts from December to March.

Everyone can find a route to their liking - beginners and experts, skiers and climbers. Vacationers are offered six drag lifts and routes of varying difficulty. There are four runs: the longest black run Uleq - 1200 m; blue track Rajdavica - 900 m, Govedarci - 900 m; track Mecha Polqna (Bear’s Meadow) - for beginners. Lifts - 5 (bar lifts, two of them for beginners). The total length of the trails is 4 km. There are ski and ski equipment rental points.

Malyovitsa is the center of Bulgarian mountaineering and mountain tourism. There is a training center for mountaineering and ski instructors here. At the Malyovits Training Center “Hristo Prodanov”, named after the Bulgarian climber who conquered Everest, Bulgarian athletes and instructors improve their skills.

You can climb Mount Malyovitsa (2,729 m) in 2-3 hours along a marked path. Many mountain hiking routes begin in Malovice. From here you can go to the Rila Monastery and see the seven Rila Lakes.

Après ski is represented by restaurants, a discotheque, a cafe, a games room, and a gym. There is an artificial alpine wall and a mountaineering museum.

Panichishte

The Panichishte resort is located on the border of the Rila National Park, about 10 km from the town of Sapareva Banya and 80 km from Sofia. Panichishte is located at an altitude of about 1400 m above sea level. The ski season lasts from December to March. You can stay in Panichishte in hotels, villas or tourist centers.

The resort has trails for both children and beginners, as well as professionals. The routes are as follows: Bekyara, 470 m long (tow lift - 280 people per hour); Ajdena with a length of 400 m (tow lift - 250 people per hour). Three more trails with lengths of 400, 300 and 950 m with towing lifts. There is a children's ski track with a length of 200 m. There are cross-country ski tracks (5000 m). A special place is reserved for sledding with a track length of 1130 m.

Après ski entertainment includes a sauna, fitness center, swimming pool, tennis court, restaurants. There is a rental and ski school, you can rent equipment and take lessons from qualified instructors.

Panichishte is not only a ski resort, but also a popular sports center. Prices here are perhaps the most affordable in Bulgaria. Next to the resort is the Rila National Park. From Panichishte you can climb to the Rila Lakes, go to the Rila Monastery, to the Skakavitsky Waterfall, etc.

Near Panichishte is the town of Sapareva Banya - a balneological resort with mineral waters, a popular place for health tourism. Here is a source with the hottest mineral water in Bulgaria. The geyser in the center of the resort erupts every 20 seconds, the stream shoots to a height of 18 m. In the evening the lights turn on.

Chepelare

The small ski resort of Chepelare is located at an altitude of 1150 m in the Rhodope Mountains, 75 km south of Plovdiv and 10 km north of the resort of Pamporovo.

Chepelare is the highest mountain town in Bulgaria. This is an ideal place for a family holiday, offering relaxing time in nature. Because Since the resort is small, the prices here are slightly lower than in Borovets and Pamporovo. Skiing season is from December to April.

There are many small 2 and 3 star hotels in Chepelare. There is a piste for children and beginners, and a ski school is open. There are about 30 km of cross-country ski trails. There is a biathlon track (5 km), and conditions have been created for slalom. A double chairlift connects the city of Chepelare with the peak of Mechi Chal (1,873 m), where the starting points of the ski slopes are located. The lower station is located 1.5 km south of the city, next to the road to Pamporovo.

The total length of the trails (there are only two) is 8.4 km. Chala track (the most difficult) - 3250 m long, 50 m wide, drop 720 m. Tourist track (medium difficulty) - 5150 m long, 25 m wide, drop 720 m. Ski competitions are held in Chepelare: Chepelare Cup , Orion Cup and others.

In addition to the skiing itself, there is a lot to see in the vicinity of Chepelare. 15 km from the town there is the Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory, the largest in southeastern Europe. In Chepelare it is worth visiting the Church of St. Atanas (1834), visiting the Museum of Speleology and Bulgarian Karst Deposits, and the Museum of Skiing and Skiing. The Bachkovo Monastery of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is interesting (founded in 1083). You can even spend the night in the monastery; many tourist routes start from here.

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 residents of Russia. 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 is because the infrastructure there is only in the development stage, 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 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 up the mountain 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 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

Bulgaria specifically, but about the best ski resorts in Bulgaria in general. We want to tell you right away that Bulgaria is not only excellent ski resorts and wonderful seaside resorts, Bulgaria is also excellent wine, which you can try at these very resorts, Bulgaria is the highest class service, Bulgaria is mineral springs and treatment many diseases. In general, Bulgaria is a very interesting and multifaceted country. In addition, Bulgaria can be visited not only by tourists for the purpose of relaxation, it can be visited by pilgrims who want to touch religious shrines, because Bulgaria is an Orthodox country and there are many ancient temples and churches on its territory.

Before we start talking about ski resorts in Bulgaria, let's say a few words about the documents you will need to travel to this country. It should be said right away that getting a visa to Bulgaria is as easy as shelling pears; according to documents, this European country is the absolute leader in terms of minimalism. In order for you to travel to Bulgaria you will need a passport, several photographs and a form that you will fill out when applying for a visa.

Actually, you don’t need any more documents; the cost of opening a visa is 35 euros. Thanks to this minimalism in terms of documents, visas are always opened on time and there is no need to send or make additional documents, so you will not be late for your vacation. We would like to immediately warn future tourists that they should not apply for a visa in advance, the fact is that the visa is issued for six months, but the visa is issued from the moment the documents leave the embassy, and not from the moment they cross the border.

Therefore, there is no point in getting a visa 3-4 months before the trip, and the best option is when you open a visa 20-30 days before the trip. If you have already had one before, then you can ask and most often your request will be granted and a visa will be opened not for 6 months, but for 12. And in Bulgaria there is now a support system for family holidays, so if you have children and If you go on vacation with them, then they will issue you a visa for the same year.

Thus, it is very profitable to purchase a tour and open a visa in the winter, and in the summer to enter Bulgaria again with the same visa. But that’s not all, a Bulgarian visa works wonders and you can use it to go on holiday to Moldova, Romania and even Cyprus. But you cannot enter the territory of Schengen states with a Bulgarian visa; a Bulgarian visa is a national one.

Ski resort Bansko in Bulgaria

The first resort that we will talk about today is Bansko. This ski resort in Bulgaria has its own unique and interesting history, but we have already talked about it. Let us only recall that this city became a resort only at the end of the last century and since then it has been actively developing. Bansko is interesting because it differs from other European ski resorts.

If anyone has been to ski resorts before, then he knows that usually the resort looks like several dozen hotels, bars, restaurants, and slopes around them. The ski resort of Bansko in Bulgaria 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 look at the map of Bansko, you can see that part of the city is mapped schematically, but the other part is highlighted in color; this is the old part of the city, with its unique architecture and ancient monuments. Moreover, recently artifacts were found on the territory of the old town in Bansko that confirm that there were settlements here a thousand years ago.

And not far from Bansko there are even ruins of Roman baths, but we’ll talk about them another time. There are several hotels in the old town; it is interesting that these hotels are located in old buildings. It is impossible to repair buildings so that they stand out from the general background, nor to build new ones. Therefore, tourists have the opportunity to live in a real ancient environment, in a real ancient building. Due to the fact that it is impossible to repair old buildings and build new ones in the old city, the city has a slightly neglected appearance, but this does not spoil it at all.

Everything here is steeped in antiquity, cobbled streets that snake between houses, house-museums in which famous writers, artists and other cultural figures lived, and much more. We can say that the old city itself is one big museum. If you decide to stay in such an old hotel, then do not be surprised that at night you can hear quiet steps, creaking floorboards, it may well be that the spirits of their former owners are still walking around these old houses. If you want a quiet, measured holiday, then you need to choose a hotel in the old part of the city.

If you are a fan of more modern entertainment and relaxation. 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 it’s closer to the ski lifts there, because we came here to ski.

Many who like to travel by car noted several years ago that Bansko has very bad roads, this was indeed true, for the reason that buildings are built much faster than roads are laid. Since last year, the authorities of the resort town of Bansko have solved this problem and now the roads in the city are excellent, except for the old part, everything there remains as it was hundreds of years ago, paving stones and narrow streets.

Another feature of the Bansko ski resort in Bulgaria is that 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. There are no fences or closed doors. You can easily live in a boarding house, but if you want, you can go to the sauna of the most expensive 5-star hotel for a small fee, and no one will kick you out of there.

Borovets: ski resort in Bulgaria

The next ski resort in Bulgaria that we will consider is Borovets. This is also one of the best ski resorts in Bulgaria. Borovets is a ski resort for professionals, for professional skiers, this is a resort for those people who have been skiing for several years. The resort is located near the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, only 72 kilometers and this is a huge plus, because buses regularly run from Borovets to Sofia.

This is very convenient, because for literally 5-6 euros you can literally get to the capital in an hour and go shopping, sit in a restaurant, visit a nightclub, and so on. In general, enjoy the capital's life to the fullest. But this is also a disadvantage, because thanks to its proximity to the capital, the resort has a very poorly developed infrastructure in terms of entertainment. It is clear that there is bowling alley and bars, but everything is not as developed as in Bansko.

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. Moreover, the slopes are very difficult, confusing, there are several ski areas and it is at this resort that the Olympic team trains. All professional skiers from the Balkans come to Borovets.

Tsars skated here, the Romanovs skated here, in the Soviet era the resort was dispossessed and opened to party leaders, but the resort was not particularly popular among these “sports” guys, apparently due to the complexity of its slopes. There were also not enough vouchers from trade unions here, and the resort began to be popular with athletes, sports facilities began to cost, and sports teams began to come here.

It was this fact that left its mark on the resort. A lot of sports teams come here for training and camps. 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.

Ski resorts in Bulgaria: Pamporovo

The last ski resort in Bulgaria that we will talk about today is. This resort is the southernmost in Bulgaria and has an essentially Mediterranean climate. Unlike Borovets, this resort has a homely feel. This resort is located in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria, if you believe local legends, then this is where the singer Orpheus lived and this is where the god Dionysus, who is the god of winemaking and fun, was worshiped.

And it was from this resort that winemaking in exactly the form that we know in Greece came to them. It turns out that the Bulgarians taught the Greeks how to make and drink wine. Now imagine how long you lived in delusion and thought that all these holidays and rituals that were in Greece came from the Bulgarians.

The most interesting thing is that the Bulgarians remember this and if you stop any local resident on the street and ask him a question about these events, he will tell you in great detail how and what happened, and he will definitely say that all these customs and holidays were brazenly stolen from the Bulgarians by the Greeks. Maybe we won’t argue with the local population about this anyway. But let's move away from mythology a little and return to our resort, so, as we have already said, it is located in the Rhodope Mountains and this is what left its mark on the resort.

These 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, this resort is home to a very large ski school for children.

Therefore, if a future skier is growing up in your family, then you should go to this resort in order to develop the talents of your child. 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. Usually chosen by people who do not ski professionally, the slopes here are generally very simple, but you can immediately see that the slope at the resort is made 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.

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