Skiing in Bulgaria? Here are the pros and cons

Most Dutch people leave for a skiing holiday to the Austrian, Swiss or French Alps. This is of course logical and their right, as this is still home to the biggest and best ski resorts in the world. But sometimes it is nice to look a little further from home, to the country called Bulgaria.
In Bulgaria today you will find ten like Austria, for example, many ski resorts that are becoming more and more famous. Vitosha, Borovets, Bansko and Pamporovo are some examples, of which Bansko is the biggest. And let's talk about just that in this article!

Bulgaria has long been known as a poor and deprived country. And of course it is a bit less developed than Western Europe, but it is far from what it used to be. Everything is being modernised and the roads are getting better and better.
Bansko is easily reached via Sofia airport and via the A3 motorway and the 19 via Blagoevgrad. But of course you will still encounter the occasional pothole in the road, unfortunately.

So why choose Bulgaria over the Alps? We have listed several reasons for that:

1. It is cheap. Bulgaria is logically a lot cheaper than the Alpine countries. As a result, you can still eat out here for a few euros per person or have a nice drink on the terrace for a bargain. Not to mention petrol prices, public transport and ski lifts!
2. It's something different. Always going to the same area can be fun, of course, but maybe you want a change. Then Bulgaria is an excellent destination, with other beautiful landscapes, a different culture, different prices and new adventures!
3. It is often just as beautiful. Bulgaria is also home to a huge number of high mountain peaks. You will also find 'just' mountain lakes, a huge variety of trees and forests, rich nature and even wild bears, snakes and wolves. It really is (almost) as beautiful as the Alps!
4. Bulgaria is quieter. Although it is cheaper, Bulgaria really is a lot quieter than the Alps. Firstly, fewer people live there, and secondly, it is less well-known among winter sports enthusiasts. This makes for some resorts where you can really ski in the peace and quiet of nature.

But of course, skiing in Bulgaria also has some drawbacks:

1. Many Bulgarians are poor. Although the streets are generally very safe, you may encounter beggars or other poor people asking for money or living in huts. There is also a lot of rubbish in nature in many places.
2. The roads are worse. The roads in Bansko are good, but in other places (including around Bansko) the roads can be poor. There may be big holes or stones in or on the road.

What winter sports areas are there in the Bansko region?

Most tourists who go on winter sports in Bansko also only stay in Bansko. This makes sense, as Bansko is the tourist and economic hotspot of the region.
Nevertheless, the villages in the region are also definitely worth visiting, especially when you consider that beautiful ski slopes can be found here too.
Now you must be thinking: which ones are they?
Read on to discover more about the ski resorts in the Bansko region!

1. Bansko

Bansko is a popular winter sports destination in Bulgaria, located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains. It has been Bulgaria's best ski resort for years and is even considered the best in the entire Balkans. Consequently, many tourists flock to Bansko all year round.

Bansko therefore has a lot to offer. For instance, its location is also stunning, in the south-west of Bulgaria, in the Blagoevgrad region, not far from the border with Greece.
About 150 kilometres from the capital Sofia, the resort is located in the beautiful mountains of the Pirin, Rila and Rhodopes.
All around, you can see vistas and views of the snow-capped mountains, which makes for a spectacular sight. Ideal for photographers!

 

Skiing and snowboarding are not expensive in Bansko, compared to, say, the Alps. You might think then that the facilities are also less, but this need not be the case.
Nightlife in Bansko is lively, with plenty of bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Popular après-ski activities include sampling the local cuisine and the famous Bulgarian wine. There are also many ski rental options.
The resort is Eco-Friendly and has modern ski lifts and facilities, including the Gondola lift connecting the town to the ski area.

Bansko is known for its excellent skiing conditions, with more than 70 km of ski runs and 14 lifts.
The ski season usually runs from December to April.

In addition, Bansko regularly organises events and festivals, including music festivals and sports competitions, also in winter. And how about the FIS Ski World Cup, which is often organised in Bansko?

Overview of Bansko's ski slopes and lifts

2. Semkovo Mountain Resort

Semkovo is a small village in the Rila Mountains. It is an hour's drive (37 kilometres) away from Bansko.
So it is not around the corner and so it is also less known to tourists. Nevertheless, many tourists do come to this ski resort.

To get to Semkovo, you drive up a mountain road via Belitsa. This road has new asphalt in the summer of 2023, so this is good to drive on, although you do climb dozens of metres.

As Semkovo is near Belitsa, there is more to do besides skiing. This is because it is also home to the Rila Fun Park (an amusement park) and the bear park, where neglected bears are taken care of and allowed to live a new, free life.

The Semkovo resort is also very well known among digital nomads, due to its stunning location in the middle of the vast nature of the Rila region. In addition, the cable internet there is of excellent quality and there are good facilities for skiing, snowboarding and hiking.

A map of the ski slopes in Semkovo

Semkovo Mountain Resort consists of 7 ski runs totalling 4 km. They are mainly short runs that are especially suitable for beginners and children.

The slopes are very well maintained and there is snow all winter long. In addition, there are at least three well-maintained ski lifts.

3. Dobrinishte

Dobrinishte is a village about 8 km east of Bansko. The village is known for its thermal baths, spring water and ski slope.
There is a central square with shops, restaurants and hotels. It is a cosy village with nice people where many tourists come every year.

The ski area contains 5 km of slopes, one chairlift and three ski lifts. There are also blue, red and black ski runs, most of which are red. The resort is suitable for all skill levels and is also great fun for children!
One drawback of the resort, however, is that it is relatively far away from the village, some 11 km. You have to follow a mountain pass to get there.
An advantage of this is that it is in the middle of nature and high up in the mountains, making it very quiet and pleasant skiing.

Overview of Dobrinishte's ski slopes

There are hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and much more in Dobrinishte. The village is popular among many Bulgarians and two swimming pools can be found in the village with spring water up to 40˙C!

Also, there are many water sources throughout the village with spring water from the ground and the mountains, which many say has several health benefits. Just outside the village, there is a spring with silver water which is said to be good for the eyes.

4. Kulinoto Ski Slot

Kulinoto Ski Slot is the ski resort of Predel, which is about 20 kilometres from Bansko.
It is a very small resort with two ski lifts. It is known as a cheap ski resort. A single lift ticket will not cost much more than one euro!
It is therefore considerably cheaper than Bansko and, of course, ski holidays in the Alps.

Located in the middle of the Pirin forests, Kulinoto is best known among locals for relaxing and unwinding. The first slope was built with volunteer work from the locals, so there are few facilities.
However, they do include a restaurant, a teahouse, a barbecue and the slope is well maintained by two bullys.
Ski equipment can also be bought or rented here. Also, some overnight accommodation can be found in the village of Predela, which is about 2 kilometres from the slopes.

The resort is particularly intended and equipped for families with children and novice or inexperienced skiers. It is quiet, small-scale and the slopes are relatively flat. For children, this is a great place to stand on skis for the first time!
Here you will find the perfect practice conditions before you start the real thing!

Kulinoto future plans

There were plans to turn Kulinoto Ski Slot into a major ski resort. This was a proposal by one of the largest and most influential companies in the region; Balkanstroy. They even got a permit from the Razlog municipality for this, however, it never came to fruition.

The plans included building a chairlift and expanding the existing slopes of a total of 900 metres to several kilometres and linking to the adjacent Pirin Golf Resort.
There would be hotels, restaurants, a new car park and snow cannons. Bike paths and tourist attractions would also be built along the main road (the 19 towards Blagoevgrad).

However, it never materialised and, frankly, we don't think it will. This is for several reasons, the main one being that nature would be affected and because of this there will be protests from environmental organisations.

But the plans are great, of course. Let's hope they will be pulled out one day!

Lodging in the region: the best accommodation near the slopes

Bansko offers a wide range of accommodation options, ranging from luxury hotels to cosy guesthouses and flats.
Many of the accommodations are located near the ski slopes, while others are among meadows, forests or near the golf course (Pirin Golf).
Whatever kind of accommodation you are looking for, Bansko and its surroundings are the place to go. There are plenty of hotels, guesthouses and other accommodation in the region.

Using the tool below, you can find cheap accommodation in the region of Bansko. Just enter Bansko (or the village where you want to stay, such as Dobrinishte) and select the period, and you will get a comprehensive list of the best accommodation in the region!

How to get to Bansko? The cheapest plane tickets

Bansko can be reached by car or bus from Sofia. Sofia Airport is the nearest airport, which is about 2 hours away by car.
Transfer services are available from as little as €80 from the airport to the ski resort. You can also rent a car for a reasonable price.

Want to go on a ski holiday? Let us help you!

Do you want to go on winter sports in this beautiful region in the sunny south of Bulgaria? You can find the best hotels, air tickets and car rentals in Bulgaria through the likes of Expedia.

We can help you book an all-inclusive ski holiday. We have several connections in the area, allowing us to offer you a great holiday at a good price!
And the great thing is: you don't have to do anything yourself!

Enter your wishes and details below and together we can look at the possibilities for the best holiday!