Bansko: the biggest ski resort in the Balkans

Bansko is of course mainly known for skiing. This is what most tourists come to Bansko for in winter.
But did you know that Bansko itself is not the only place where you can ski? There are at least three other resorts in the region that are gaining popularity!

These are the 4 biggest ski resorts in the Bansko region

1. Bansko

The biggest is, of course, Bansko itself. Finally, Bansko is the tourist attraction of the region. This is where almost all tourists come to ski, snowboard and hike. Both in winter and summer, it is a lively place with tourists from all over the world.

Bansko is an Eco Friendly all-season resort, which means you can come here all year round to enjoy the best activities and breathtaking nature.
It has even been voted the best ski resort in Bulgaria and even the entire Balkans for years in a row!

You will find more than 70 kilometres of slopes in this resort. This is more than the other well-known resorts in Bulgaria, such as Vitosha, Pamporovo and Borovets.

Bansko's slopes are known for their excellent quality. There is always snow in winter and the slopes are excellently maintained by the many piste bullys.

In addition, the town of Bansko is very cosy with a nice atmosphere, especially in high season and around the holidays in December.
In winter, all restaurants, hotels and shops are open. There is also plenty of après-ski options and the nightlife in Bansko is vibrant with its many clubs.

There are more than enough accommodation options, as Bansko is literally full of hotels and bungalows. There is also a campsite.

One advantage of skiing in Bansko is that it is very cheap, although this is true for the whole of Bulgaria. A downside to this is that it does take a lot further than, say, the French or Austrian Alps.
Still, it is a very good alternative to the always crowded and expensive Alps!

Weather forecast Bansko

2. Semkovo

Semkovo is located near Belitsa an hour's drive from Bansko. It is best known among digital nomads.
This is because it is in the middle of the nature of the Rila Mountains, making this village an oasis of peace and quiet. Also, the cable internet here is of good quality.
But Semkovo is a good year-round holiday destination, as it is close to the Bear Park (a park with rescued dancing bears) and the Rila Fun Park (an amusement park). You can also ski there on a total of 4 km of slopes.

It is Bulgaria's oldest ski resort, but there is little evidence of that today. The lifts and facilities are modern and of good quality.

Semkovo is a lot cheaper and quieter than Bansko, while (the quality of) the facilities is very good.
There are many hotels, guest houses and restaurants.

There are several lifts in Semkovo that are generally well maintained. The piste is also always beautifully groomed.

3. Dobrinishte

After Bansko, Dobrinishte is the largest ski resort, even bigger than Semkovo. The village of Dobrinishte is just 6 km from Bansko, while the chairlift and ski slope are 10 km further up the mountain. You have to follow a mountain pass to get there.
An advantage of this is that it is surrounded by nature and high in the mountains, making it very quiet and pleasant skiing in the fresh mountain air and with beautiful views.

The resort starts at the Gotse Delchev Hut and at the top is the Bezbog Hut. It consists of over 5 km of ski slopes and several restaurants, hotels and 4 lifts.
Also in the village are thermal baths and water springs with hot water up to 40˙C!

Half of the resort consists of red runs, 40% of blue and 10% is black.

Weather forecast Dobrinishte

4. Kulinoto Ski Slot

Kulinoto Ski Slot is located near the village of Predela and has about one kilometre of slopes with two lifts.
So it is not extremely large and also not particularly popular with tourists. It is mainly used by the 'locals' who come here to ski in the peace and quiet of nature to unwind during a fun activity.
There is a restaurant, though, and the slopes are well maintained by bullies.

The resort is particularly designed and equipped for families with children and novice or inexperienced skiers. It is quiet, small-scale and the piste is relatively flat.  For kids, this is a great place to get on skis for the first time!

There were plans by Balkanstroy (one of the largest companies in the region) to turn this single piste into a stunning resort. There would be new lifts, including a brand new chairlift, and the slope should be extended to the adjacent Pirin Golf Resort.
There would be hotels, restaurants, a new car park and snow cannons. Bike paths and tourist attractions were also supposed to 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.
This, of course, is very unfortunate. So let's hope this will still happen in the future!

Want to know more about winter sports in the Bansko region? Then read our extensive article on skiing in Bansko!

These are the 5 best winter activities in Bansko besides skiing

There is a huge amount to do in the Bansko region. Among other things, the area is known for its breathtaking nature and mountains. There is plenty to do in both winter and summer.

In winter, many winter sports enthusiasts flock to Bansko. Scots, English, Russians; in winter, this mountain town is a lively place.

Skiing, cross-country skiing, ski races, spas: you'll find it all here! No wonder Bansko is always popular with tourists.
But there are also fun winter activities in the surrounding villages, however, this is less known to the general public.

1. Discover the charms of Bansko!

Holy Trinity Church

Besides skiing, Bansko is also known as a historic mountain town with unique and historic architecture. Bansko's old town is full of historical buildings and sights, such as the Holy Trinity Church and many traditional restaurants.

Pirin Street is Bansko's main shopping street, which is always very pleasant. There are many (souvenir) shops and restaurants here.
I bet you won't make it to the end of this street without buying a souvenir!

Also located on this street is Bansko's only ice rink. Here you can enjoy skating, close to the ski lift!
Or discover Bulgarian culture in the many museums found throughout the city.

And how about the many traditional restaurants? The so-called 'Mehana' are traditional Bulgarian restaurants serving typical Bulgarian dishes. Ideal for further exploring Bulgarian culture and cuisine!

2. FIS Ski World Cup Bansko

Almost every year, the Ski World Cup is organised in Bansko by FIS (Fédération Internationale de Ski). For a weekend, the world's best skiers then come to Bansko to show their skills to the public.
This is often televised in Europe, usually on Eurosport.

In February 2024, the Men's Slalom and the Men's Giant Slalom were organised in Bansko. This attracted several hundred spectators to admire the best skiers!

The World Cup is always a big event in Bansko that involves months of preparations.
During the preparations for the races and the race itself, the race track is closed to visitors.

3. Hiking in the snow and nature

Hiking can be done the whole way through. And how beautiful is it to do so in a thick layer of snow on the mountain?

You can walk up via Bansko's valley slope (watch out for skiers!) or go up by Gondola. You will arrive at the Banderishka Meadow, where there are many hiking trails. Here are excellent conditions for snow hiking!

Want to go professional? Then book a trekking tour and head out with a guide. Such a trek takes at least 3 hours and shows you a real winter wonderland with breathtaking views and unique natural phenomena.

The prices of these vary widely, from €50 to €200. It depends partly on the group size and the duration of the tour.
If you want to do this, it is advisable to have some hiking experience, as it is a lot heavier than a 'normal' hike.

But you can also take it slower. In the valley, there is little or no snow 8 out of 10 days in winter. However, the sun does show itself regularly. Ideal hiking conditions, then!

The valley has many forests, moors, lakes, chapels and special hiking trails. So you can have fun here even in winter.

And do you need inspiration for a nice hiking route around Bansko? Feel free to contact us or grab a hiking app.

4. Spas and hot springs

Besides being a skiing and hiking resort, Bansko is also internationally known as a spa. And you can do this all year round, too!

In particular, the villages of Banya and Dobrinishte just a few kilometres from Bansko are well-known in this area. In these villages you will find hot springs with spring water of up to 40˙C that have been used since ancient times.

To capitalise on this, spa hotels with wellness areas and swimming pools can be found everywhere here to give you a unique spa experience at any time of the year.

Even the outdoor swimming pool in Dobrinishte is filled with this warm water, making it open as usual even in winter.

Just think how nice it is to dive into a warm pool in winter temperatures and snow!

5. The Rhodopes Narrow-gauge Railway

The Rhodopes Narrow Gauge Railway Line is a railway line that runs from Dobrinishte via Bansko, Razlog, Belitsa and Velingrad to Septemvri. This is a total of 125 km through the Rhodopes and Rila mountains.

The railway has been an important link between Septemvri and Bansko since its construction from 1921. It serves many mountain villages.
Today, it has also become a popular tourist attraction, attracting many tourists every year.

It is not just another railway line. What is special about this line and the trains on it is that it goes high through the mountains, with the most beautiful views and sights. In addition, it was built entirely by hand (!) by hundreds of workers and volunteers from Dobrinishte.
The track gauge is also special. Because of the mountainous terrain through which the railway passes, a uniquely narrow track of only 760 mm width was chosen during construction. Hence the name 'narrow gauge railway'.

Due to the narrow track, the trains running on it are also not commonplace. These are special wagons that are thoroughly serviced every five years.
These wagons are equipped with toilets, power sockets, tables, padded seats with armrests, LED lights and windows that you can open to enjoy the stunning views, fresh mountain air and the sound of the train wheels!

The carriages are pulled by old German diesel locomotives. This makes you feel like you are going back in time as soon as you see the train standing or moving.

The total journey from start to finish takes just under 5 hours. This is due to the speed of the train, which is not that high because of the mountainous terrain and many tunnels along the way.

But of course, you don't have to stay seated for the whole ride. You can get on and off whenever you want.
And will you continue as far as Septemvri or get on here? This is where trains go to major cities, such as Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna.

We have driven this route several times ourselves and it is definitely recommended! The nature and views are stunning, the staff are nice and the old trains, villages and little stations take you back in time.
It is known as one of the most beautiful railway lines in Europe. This makes for a unique experience for young and old alike!

Want to know more about this train? Then read this article with information on tickets, prices and more.

Conclusion: will you come and experience Bansko too?

Bansko is a true paradise in winter and a true Valhalla for winter sports enthusiasts. But Bansko is known not only as a ski resort, but also as a health resort, for its beautiful surroundings and nature and its many hiking trails.

In this article, you have read about the best activities in Bansko in winter. But Bansko is also an attractive holiday resort in summer. In this article, you will read about the 7 best summer activities in Bansko.

When will you visit Bansko?