Which ski resort in Bulgaria to choose? ​Map of ski resorts in Bulgaria: a choice to your liking, pocket and interests.

Bulgaria, in addition to a beach holiday on the Black Sea coast, is well known for its ski resorts. Located in various mountain ranges, the ski resorts in Bulgaria are nevertheless quite similar to each other. The average height of the ski areas is at the level of 1.5-2.5 kilometers above sea level, and the slopes of the mountains themselves are overgrown with spruce forests, among which ski slopes lie. Each resort has ski schools, rental of the necessary equipment, as well as kindergartens where you can leave your kids for the day. Local ski resorts in many aspects of the service resemble Andorran ski resorts, while they are cheaper for vacationers.

The main winter ski resorts in Bulgaria are Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo. There is also a small ski resort Vitosha, located 15 km from Sofia, on the eastern slope of Mount Cherni Vryh. It has 6 ski slopes with a total length of 25 km and a cross-country ski trail of 15 km. Due to the steady strong winds in Vitosha, skiing or snowboarding with a kite wing is in some demand. 2 chairlifts, one gondola and 6 tow lifts provide uninterrupted skiing for tourists, but it can’t cope with the influx of tourists on weekends and holidays, so those who want to ski quietly should pay attention to the larger ski resorts in Bulgaria.

Ski Bulgaria.

The best ski resorts in Bulgaria are located in 3 mountain ranges, Rila, Rhodopes and Pirin. The largest mountain range in Bulgaria, the Rhodope Mountains, are known not only for their legendary historical past, but also for many natural attractions, such as “Chudnite Mostove” (“Wonderful Bridges”), the unique caves of Haramiyskaya, Yagodinskaya and Devil's Throat, open to tourists. In the Rhodopes there is a ski resort Pamporovo, and in addition to the winter resort, there are such popular balneological resorts in Bulgaria as Velingrad, Devin, Bratak and Bratsigovo.

The Rila mountain range is not as large as the Rhodopes, but it contains the highest peak in Bulgaria, Musala (2925 m). In the mountains, at an altitude of more than 2 km, there are many lakes, from which many rivers of Bulgaria originate. Rila is home to the ancient Rila Monastery (X century) and the Rila National Park. Not far from it is the ski resort Borovets. Also in the Rila Mountains there are balneological resorts Sapareva Banya, Dolna Banya, Kostenets.

The Pirin mountain range is located in southwestern Bulgaria, the highest mountain Vihren reaches 2914 m. The Pirin National Park, listed by UNESCO as a cultural heritage, is located in the mountains. Here is the oldest tree in Bulgaria and, perhaps, in Europe - Baikusheva Pine. The popular ski resort of Bansko is located in Pirin.

Borovets.

The total length of ski slopes is about 60 km. There are 3 areas for skiing in the resort: Martin's Barracks - Sitnyakovska Skala (1337-1780 m), Markudzhik (2144-2550 m) and Yastrebets (1340-2369 m). Each of them has an interesting slope for both beginners and experienced skiers. For snowboarders, there is a snow park with a half-pipe and various attractions. Near the hotel "Rila" there is an illuminated track for night skiing, open until 10 pm.

• Easy "blue" tracks - 3 pcs.
• Difficult "red" tracks - 13 pcs.
• Increased complexity "black" tracks - 4 pcs.
• The total number of lifts - 13 pcs.
• The cost of a ski pass for 1 day is 27 euros.
• The cost of a ski pass for the weekend is 17 euros.

Pamporovo.

A distinctive feature of the resort is a high television tower located on top of Mount Snezhanka. Pamporovo is also known as a resort with the largest number of sunny days per year - in addition to the pleasure of skiing, those who wish can also get an even sun tan. The region for skiing is located at an altitude of 1926 to 1446 meters. The total length of the ski slopes is about 37 km. Night skiing is provided on a specially illuminated track until 10 pm. In the town itself there are 2 ski stations with lifts. You can go down to one of them, located near the Malina Hotel, along a long and calm 5-kilometer trail, along the way enjoying the beauties of a snow-covered forest.

• Light "green" tracks - 5 pcs.
• Medium difficulty "blue" slopes - 7 pcs.
• Difficult "red" tracks - 4 pcs.
• Increased complexity "black" tracks - 3 pcs.
• The total number of lifts - 18 pcs.
• The cost of a ski pass for 1 day is 26 euros.

Bansko.

The ski area at the resort is located at an altitude of 930 to 2560 meters. The total length of the tracks is approximately 65 km. On Chalin Valog (1467 m) there are mostly easy and medium difficulty routes, the slopes of Shiligarnik (1725 m) and Banderishka Polyana (1635 m) will appeal to more experienced vacationers, but the longest routes are located on the slopes of Mount Todorka and start at an altitude 2560 m. There is also a ski park for snowboarders and routes for fans of cross-country skiing.

• Easy "blue" tracks - 6 pcs.
• Difficult "red" tracks - 7 pcs.
• Increased complexity "black" tracks - 2 pcs.
• The total number of lifts - 13 pcs.
• The cost of a ski pass for 1 day is 28 euros.

Ski season in Bulgaria.

As a rule, in all ski resorts in Bulgaria the season starts from mid-December and usually lasts until mid-March. In Bansko, the ski season can continue until mid-April, and even in May you can sometimes go skiing due to the fact that its slopes go mainly to the north, and the snow depth is 1.5-2 meters. The peak of the season in Bulgaria falls on February - the temperature is below freezing all the time, the snow cover is the most stable, and the risk of coming to a snowless resort is minimal. You can get to the ski resorts through the Bulgarian airports in Sofia or Plovdiv, or by international train. Do residents of Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries need a visa to Bulgaria? Yes, you need it, but getting it is quite simple both on your own and with the help of a travel agency when buying a tour.

Winter holidays are starting to gain a lot of 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 days off.

Secondly, the world is promoting sports, including its winter sports, and a healthy lifestyle. Athletes and lovers of skiing from the snowy slopes 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 affinity of the Russian and Bulgarian languages, the territorial proximity of the countries, the traditional friendship of the two peoples, the 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 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 only gaining popularity. The latter, for example, include Dobrinishte in the Pirin Mountains (165 km from the capital), which is considered in Bulgaria not only as a ski resort, but also as a spa resort with 17 thermal springs, where people come to treat and prevent many diseases.

When choosing where it is better to go on vacation to resorts in Bulgaria, keep in mind that in new, developing complexes, prices for ski passes and hotel accommodation are set lower than in already promoted, popular resorts. This is because the infrastructure there is only at the development stage, and they need to compete with such resorts as Borovets, Vitosha, Pamporovo and Bansko. They are the main direction of the winter tourist flow.

Pamporovo

This resort is located in the Rhodopes, at a distance of more than 220 km from Sofia. From the 2016-2017 season, Pamporovo will be joined by the neighboring young resort of Chepelare, and they will operate under the single name Pamporovo-Mechi chal, with a shared ski pass. Chepelare is located 6 km from Pamporovo and is the highest mountain town in Bulgaria, and its ski resort is the youngest.

The ski resort of Pamporovo is located in the south of the country, so the winters here are mild, the temperature during the day rarely drops 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 pistes with a total length of 17 km, with a height difference of up to 500 m. Gentle, green pistes are suitable for beginners and skiers who are uncertain about skiing. More experienced skiers try themselves on steep slopes, on blue and red slopes. And those who are confident in their abilities and skills choose black slopes or hilly slopes, for example, the Wall.

Kids train under the supervision of instructors or parents on children's slopes, snowboarders - in a snow park with a half-pipe and springboards. Cross-country skiers can try their hand at cross-country trails 30 km long, and freeride fans can descend on untouched snow from the top of Snezhanka. Cable cars are capable of lifting up to 8,500 people per hour.

Now 7 mountain slopes of Chepelare resort with a total length of more than 15 km and a cross-country ski track of 30 km are added to the slopes of the ski resort of Pamporovo.

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 for every taste.

Numerous restaurants, national taverns serving local wine, discos where ski parties and shows are held. The tour desks offer study tours to the Speleology Museum and the Ski Museum in Chepelare, to the Rila Monastery, to the original village of Shiroka Laka, to the "Wonderful Bridges" - rocky arches on the Chernatitsa ridge.

Borovets

This major winter sports center is much closer to Sofia, only 73 km away. Borovets was discovered at the end of the 19th century as a place for the royal family to relax on the northern side of Rila Mountain. Now it is developing at a rapid pace, the hotels of 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 Mount Musala (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 winter sports competitions: 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 tracks are processed daily by snow groomers, many slopes have artificial snow sprayers, lighting for night skiing and protective nets on dangerous turns.

In Borovets, 25 slopes 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 slopes have been prepared for the most experienced athletes. 12 lifts help tourists climb up the mountain: rope tows, chairlifts and a cable car with closed cabins. In addition to skiing, there are also trails for cross-country skiing, for downhill snowboarding, and ice rinks for skaters.

The infrastructure of the ski resort Borovets is one of the most developed in Bulgaria. There are sports equipment rentals, as well as ski schools for adults and children. Instructors conduct individual or group lessons in skiing and snowboarding, ski jumping, and you can choose an instructor who speaks Russian. The town has shops, ATMs, pharmacies and medical centers.

The nature in the vicinity of the ski resort of Borovets 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, hiking or skiing in the mountains and lakes, sleigh rides, snowmobiles, helicopter flights.

Bansko

The old town in southwestern Bulgaria has become another resort in 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) of the Pirin massif, which is 160 km from Sofia. It hosts international ski competitions. Research by some companies Bansko resort in Bulgaria is one of the most budget places for winter holidays in the world (only prices were taken into account, not taking into account the quality of rest). In recent years, a lot of money has 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 skiers. The total length of the slopes is about 70 km. In addition, there are cross-country ski trails, a fun park with ski jumps for snowboarders. All ski areas are grouped into three zones. By the beginning of the slopes, skiers are lifted by 12 chairlifts and drag lifts and 1 gondola cable car with cabins for 8 people. Snow on the slopes is regularly compacted and leveled by snow groomers. Powerful spotlights allow you to ride on some tracks 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 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 local mineral springs.

Those who come to the resort of Bansko 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 old church and modern buildings. You can have a snack during the walk in small restaurants with low prices.

Only mountains can be better than mountains!

Where is it better to relax in Bulgaria with children

The most convenient in terms of accessibility is the resort of Vitosha, which lies near the capital of Bulgaria, just 20 km from Sofia. This distance attracts here not only foreign tourists who come for a few days or weeks. Local residents also have the opportunity to arrive at the ski resort in just half an hour or an hour in their cars or by public transport. The unique nature, clean air, well-developed infrastructure of the sports complex and proximity to Sofia give the answer to 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, designed for beginners and experienced skiers. The length of the ski slopes is 29 km (the longest is 5.2 km), the length of the flat ski track is 11 km. A comfortable climb uphill is provided by 12 lifts. The resort has a school of instructors, where mentors with many years of experience teach children from 6 years old 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 it is better to relax with 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 one can only advise to sum up all the components of a comfortable vacation for the family: proximity to the capital or the 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 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, training schools for kids in sports complexes. Large hotels have nannies who look after the children while the parents go in for sports on the mountain slopes, and animators who entertain the children during the day or in the evening.

Since not all children can or want to ski, skate or snowboard, ice slides are provided for them, from which they can have fun riding sleds, ice rinks or "cheesecake" tubings. The rental points always have children's sports equipment, including skis, skates, snowboards, boots, sleds and tubing.

When choosing where it is better to relax with children in Bulgaria, do not forget to clarify when is the best time to do this. A massive influx of tourists in all resorts is observed from Christmas to mid-January and in the first days of March, when the Bulgarians celebrate the beginning of spring. A large number of athletes and vacationers, fireworks, noisy parties, queues for lifts and rental points - children in such an environment will not be very comfortable.

How to become a skier

More than 30% of the territory of Bulgaria is occupied by mountains. Over the past few years, Bulgarian ski resorts have experienced rapid development and modernization: guests are expected to have a developed mountain infrastructure, modern ski lifts, long runs, a network of comfortable hotels and cottages ready to accommodate a large number of people.

Popular ski resorts in Bulgaria

The main ski resorts in Bulgaria: Borovets, Bansko and Pamporovo. They are ideal for beginners, as they are equipped with the necessary sports equipment for the “first steps”, and they also have a staff of experienced instructors.

This is the largest and most popular ski resort in Bulgaria, which is over 100 years old. The resort is located near Sofia - only 73 km from the capital, on the northern slopes of the Rila Mountains at the foot of the Musala Range, on which the highest mountain peak in Bulgaria is located at an altitude of 2925 m.

"Borovets" - the "oldest" Bulgarian resort

How to get there

You can get to the resort from the city of Samokov by bus, which departs every half hour, covering only 12 km. Or from the capital, Sofia.

Weather at the resort in winter

Nestled in ancient pine forests at an altitude of 1390 meters above sea level, the resort offers an unforgettable holiday on its property with the highest pistes at 2600 meters. season lasting December to April the climate is mild with an average temperature of -4.8ºC. Fresh, clean air, intoxicated with a coniferous aroma, undoubtedly has a healing effect.

Tracks

The excellent equipment for skiing and snowboarding attracts thousands of mountain lovers from Bulgaria and abroad every season. They have at their disposal trails of a common 45 km long of varying length and degree of difficulty, grouped into three regions:

• "Sitnyakovo" (12 tracks);
• Alpine "Markudzhik" (4 tracks);
• "Hawk" (3 tracks). The tracks here are the best, which is why all the competitions in the resort are held here. It has hosted the Alpine Skiing World Championship twice.

Borovets has the best biathlon tracks in Europe.

Borovets - Alpine type resort and provides very good conditions for winter sports: day and night skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, ski jumping and biathlon, snowmobile, etc.

All trails are divided by difficulty level.: for beginners, for confident skiers and for advanced athletes. All of them meet high international standards. More than 200 experienced instructors are at the service of beginners, some of them are former professional athletes.

This young and rapidly developing ski resort is located near the town of the same name. at the foot of the Pirin Mountains. The mountains have a predominantly alpine character, the highest peak in the area is Vihren, 2914 m. You can get to it from Sofia, having passed 160 km south.

The resort "Bansko" is famous for its developed infrastructure and hotel chain

Resort weather

Slopes of Bansko

The ski slopes are in two main ski centers: Chalin Valog for beginners (1100-1600 m) and Shiligarnika for experienced and advanced skiers and snowboarders (1700-2500 m). They are about 10 km just above the town on the northern slopes of Pirin and are easily accessible within a 25-minute ride on the new lifts, the starting station of which is located near the Kempinski Grand Arena Hotel (2 km from the town). General length of tracks is 70 km. Also Bansko has Treadmills with a total length of 5 km

Snowboarders can get their adrenaline pumping in the park with jumps and obstacles while honing their skills and practicing new tricks. On Shiligarnika highway competitions are held daily.

Resort facilities

The total length of equipment with gondola lifts is 26 km. The resort offers an 8-seater cable car, one triple lift, 10 children's lifts. Huge monitors with images of different routes are installed at the starting station of the lift in order to inform tourists about the wind speed and the current air temperature on the slopes.

The season is on mid-December to mid-April. The average monthly winter temperature is not lower than -3°C.

ski area

All pistes in Pamporovo are safe and well maintained. More than 100 highly qualified ski instructors are available to teach both beginners and experienced skiers and snowboarders.

Ski slopes any level of difficulty. All of them 9 total length 15 km. They are located within 1926 m - 1450 m above sea level on the northern, eastern and western slopes of the Snezhanka peak. The most difficult ski run is "The Wall". All main routes start from the peak of the mountain, where the memorial TV tower is located.

Equipment

The resort is equipped with the most modern sports equipment and equipment, 14 reliable lifts promptly deliver tourists to different parts of the resort.

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 that you can try in these very resorts, Bulgaria is a service of the highest class, 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 in order to relax, 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 the ski resorts in Bulgaria, let's say a few words about the documents that you will need to travel to this country. It should be said right away that opening a visa to Bulgaria is as easy as shelling pears; according to the 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, some photographs and a questionnaire that you fill out when applying for a visa.

Actually, you do not need any more documents, the cost of opening a visa is 35 euros. Thanks to such 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 you should not apply for a visa in advance, the fact is that it opens a visa for six months, but a visa is issued from the moment the documents left the embassy, ​​and not from the moment they crossed the border.

Therefore, it makes no sense to apply for 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 it 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. Also, a family vacation support system is now working on the territory of Bulgaria, so if you have children and you go on vacation with them, then the same visa will be opened for you for a year.

Thus, it is very profitable to purchase a tour and open a visa in the winter, and in the summer to enter Bulgaria with the same visa again. But that's not all, the Bulgarian visa works wonders and you can go on vacation to Moldova, Romania and even Cyprus. But it is impossible to enter the territory of the Schengen states with a Bulgarian visa, the 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 with you. We 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 tracks around them. The ski resort of Bansko in Bulgaria is a full-fledged city with thousands of inhabitants, its 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 more than one century.

If you look at the map of Bansko, you can see that it, 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. And recently, artifacts were found on the territory of the old town in Bansko, which confirm that the settlements were here a thousand years ago.

And not far from Bansko there are even the ruins of Roman baths, but we will talk about them another time. There are several hotels on the territory of the old city. 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; it is also impossible to build new ones. Therefore, tourists have the opportunity to live in a real ancient setting, in a real ancient building. Due to the fact that it is impossible to repair old and build new buildings in the old city, the city has a slightly neglected appearance, but this does not spoil it at all.

Everything here is saturated with 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 rest, 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 seething day and night, regardless of the time of year. And it’s closer to the ski lifts, because we came here to ski.

Many who like to travel by car noted a few years ago that the roads in Bansko are very bad, this was indeed the case, 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 beautiful, except for the old part, everything remains there, like hundreds of years ago, paving stones and narrow streets.

Another feature of skiing Bansko in Bulgaria is that in order to go skiing you don’t need to go anywhere, the ski lift is right in the city, you can come by taxi from the old town or walk and already be on the ski slope . If you do not want to spend money on a taxi or stomp to the ski lift on foot, then you can use the services of a ski bus, they drive like a fixed-route taxi around the city and collect at stops those who want to get to the ski lift, this pleasure costs 1-2 euros per person.

In addition, many hotels provide ski bus services for their guests for free. And hotels in Bansko have one interesting feature - saunas. Hotels provide saunas to their guests for free, but to other tourists for a fee. There are no fences or closed doors. You can live in a boarding house, but if you want to 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, which we will consider 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 more than a year. The resort is located not far from the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, only 72 kilometers, and this is a huge plus, because buses run regularly from Borovets to Sofia.

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

There are practically no local residents there either, there is a small village near the resort, where the resort workers come from, but there are very few locals in the resort itself. This resort is only for skiers, there is very little off-piste entertainment, but the slopes here are of a variety of difficulties. Moreover, the tracks 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.

The tsars skied here, the Romanovs skied here, in the Soviet era the resort was dispossessed and opened to party leaders, but the resort was not particularly popular with these “sporty” guys, apparently due to the complexity of its routes. There was also a lack of vouchers from trade unions and the resort became popular with athletes, sports facilities began to cost and sports teams began to travel here.

It was this fact that left its mark on the resort. A lot of sports teams come here for training and training camps. There are very few free services in Borovets hotels, there may be pools, jacuzzis, saunas, but you have to pay for everything else. 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 in this resort, they are not very different from other resorts in Bulgaria.

Ski resorts in Bulgaria: Pamporovo

The last ski resort in Bulgaria, which we will talk about today, is this. This resort is the southernmost in Bulgaria and here, in fact, the Mediterranean climate. Unlike Borovets, this resort is distinguished by home comfort. This resort is located in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria, according to local legends, it was here that the singer Orpheus lived and it was here that the god Dionysus, who is the god of winemaking and fun, was worshiped.

And it was from this resort that winemaking in 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 anyway. But let's leave a little bit of mythology 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, not rocky. These mountains in the resort area are absolutely passable, so this resort has a lot of trails for cross-country skiing, so if you like not skiing from the mountain, but running long distances, then this resort is just right for you. In addition, it is in this resort that there is 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, which means that children under the age of 4 are taught to ski here. Usually people who do not ski professionally choose for themselves. Basically, the tracks here are very simple, but you can immediately see that the slope at the resort is made towards snowboarding. There are a lot of jumps for snowboarding, there are trails for sledding here, in general, the trails in this resort are very diverse and any tourist will find something suitable for himself.

Thanks to the developed ski resorts, Bulgaria is an attractive place not only for a beach holiday, but also for a winter one. Below we consider a kind of rating of the most popular Bulgarian ski resorts.

1. Bansko

It is the best ski resort in Bulgaria. It is divided intori ski areas, depending on the degree of difficulty. If Shiligarnika is offered for development to those who feel confident enough on skis, then Chalin-Valon is specially equipped for beginner skiers, and Banderishka Polyana will be most liked by cross-country skiers. The total length of the tracks is 56 km. The season in Bansko lasts from November to April, at this time, in addition to the main occupation, for which everyone comes to ski resorts, you can visit local attractions - museums, monasteries and the ancient town. For those who are a little tired from skiing on high-altitude slopes, relaxation is offered in the form of a visit to local healing springs. Bansko is quite loyal to the tourist and offers many hotels, restaurants and quiet cafes with a 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 private transport from Sofia. For the convenience of all comers, free buses run between the hotels and the ski lifts. The ski areas of the resort are divided into easy, suitable for training Sitnyakovo, as well as more complex Yastrebets and Markudzhika. There are tracks in Borovets with a length of twenty kilometers for those who prefer cross-country skiing, as well as serious springboards for jumping fifty and seventy-five meters long. In addition to skiing, those who wish are offered an excursion to the local most beautiful lakes, as well as mountain peaks, accompanied by experienced guides. For lovers of selfies and Instagram, there is a special entertainment - 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 - this is the total length of all the tracks 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 accommodation 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 snowy slope, you can take part in one of the festivities in order to get acquainted with the culture and color of the locals.

4. Pamporovo

Pamporovo is excellentresort in Bulgaria for a ski holiday with a mild winter climate and a large number of sunny days per season. More than two dozen hotels throw open their hospitable doors, while thirsty mountain slopes flock to the local slopes, the total length of which is 25 km (plus 30 km for cross-country skiing). As many as four tracks are equipped specifically for those who have decided to turn to skiing for the first time and do not feel completely confident on snowy roads. However, the resort administration has not forgotten about confident users either - Mount Snezhanka is suitable for those who are already skiing steadily and confidently rolling along the mountain slopes, while professionals can test themselves on the Stenat track. In addition to the main activities, which are skiing, Pamporovo offers a variety of shopping outlets in the central Perelik Hotel, as well as excursions to nearby cities and towns, 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 of tracks, there are four main tracks with varying degrees of slope steepness, length and inclination. In addition, Dobrinishte is ready to teach the basics of skiing to beginners, up to children - there are several ski schools. Mineral springs and the Bezbog National Park are what surrounds the resort. And the main direction in the form of 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 compete with its older and more experienced comrades. Three hundred sunny days a year - isn't this the main attraction of Chepelare? Seven ski slopes together give twelve kilometers of total length. The tracks are equipped for both beginners and those who ski professionally. A ski school and cross-country trails are a worthy addition to the slopes. Comfortable hotels in the Chepelare resort are ready to accept a sufficient number of people, but only 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.