Skiing in Bulgaria uncovered

If sunning yourself on a beach all day isn’t your thing, then a fast-paced, adrenaline rush of a holiday might be up your street.

Skiing holidays offer a huge range of activities and things to do. As well as taking to the slopes, you’ll find spas, restaurants, and plenty of après ski (partying to you and me)! So even if you are not a hardcore skier or boarder, you will still find plenty to keep you busy on the mountain.

And while you’d be forgiven for thinking a skiing holiday meant a trip to an Alpine region of France, Italy, Switzerland or Austria, there are opportunities to take the less-travelled too. Bulgaria is a fantastic destination for original ski breaks.

Why Bulgaria?

Bulgaria is fast becoming the budget traveler’s go-to destination for economical ski holidays. A sign of Bulgaria’s growing popularity is highlighted by it being voted 5th in Lonely Planet’s Top 10 places to visit. Due to its recent influx of tourists, Bulgaria’s ski resorts are catering for a more international crowd, with a range of accommodation from cheap and cheerful hostel type accommodation, to luxury resorts.

Where to go

Bansko is Bulgaria’s most popular ski resort. It is the most modern ski-centre in Bulgaria and, in the last couple of years this resort has undergone a major investment, with new hotels and facilities being completed or under construction.

Bansko now offers the most luxurious hotels and resorts of all Bulgaria’s ski destinations. And what’s more, it has the best snow record and ski season running, running from around 15th Dec up until 15th May.

Other resorts include:
– Borovets, Bulgaria’s largest ski resort with a buzzing nightlife
– Sunny Pamporovo, which is one of the most southerly ski resorts in Europe, offering a relatively temperate climate that doesn’t affect snow quality
Just 10km away, Chepelare offers small town charm with beautiful scenery including a serene river running through the resort, a mass of fir trees and mountain springs dotted around.

How to get there

So we know that skiing in Bulgaria is worth it, now how do we get there?
Due to its relatively new status as a popular European ski resort, flights to Bulgaria are reasonably priced. Most of the budget airlines fly to Bulgaria’s five main airports.

The closest to the ski resorts are Sofia and Plovdiv airports. It is possible to make your own way from the airports to the resorts, however if you are looking for a cheap ski holiday, it is worth looking into a deal which includes your transfer, as booking these separately can be costly.

With so much to offer, from low-cost holidays to luxury breaks, Bulgaria is a hidden gem in Eastern Europe. If you’re looking for a taste of something different this winter, then hitting the slopes of Bulgaria is a sure-fire way to beat those winter blues.