Hotels
Ski holidays in Bulgaria: Bansko, Borovets or Pamporovo?
Bulgaria is one of the cheapest places to ski in Europe, and the three big resorts are very different. Here is how Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo compare, how to get there from the UK, and the hotels we would book in each.
7 November 202610 min
Picolo Editorial
Ski holidays in Bulgaria have a simple appeal. Lift passes, ski hire and dinners cost far less than in the Alps, and the resorts are a short flight from the UK. But Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo are three very different places. Choosing the right one matters more than choosing the hotel.
In short: ski holidays in Bulgaria
Biggest resort: Bansko, with about 75 km of pistes and a gondola from the town.
Closest to Sofia: Borovets, about 70 km from the airport.
Best for beginners and families: Pamporovo, the gentlest of the three.
Flying from the UK: Sofia for Bansko and Borovets, Plovdiv for Pamporovo.
Our first choice: Check availability and prices at Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena in Bansko.
The three resorts at a glance
Bansko: 75 km of pistes, 14 lifts, 990 to 2,530 m. About 160 km from Sofia airport, 2.5 to 3 hours.
Borovets: 58 km of pistes, 13 lifts, 1,315 to 2,550 m. About 70 km from Sofia airport, 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30.
Pamporovo: around 30 km of pistes, 13 lifts, 1,473 to 1,926 m. About 80 km from Plovdiv airport, around 1 hour 30.
Bansko: the biggest, and the liveliest
Bansko is an old town at the foot of the Pirin mountains, with cobbled streets, taverns and a gondola that runs from the edge of town up to Banderitsa. It has the most pistes, the highest top station and the best après-ski in Bulgaria. The gondola queue in the morning is the main drawback. Read our full Bansko ski guide.
Where to stay: Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena is next to the gondola station, with ski-in access, a spa and a pool. Guests rate it 9.4 out of 10. Amira Boutique Hotel, rated 9.2, is a smaller, quieter choice nearby.
Check availability and prices at Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena
Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena
The view of the Pirin mountains from Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena in Bansko. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Borovets: the closest to Sofia
Borovets is Bulgaria’s oldest ski resort, in pine forest on the slopes of the Rila mountains. It is only about an hour and a quarter from Sofia airport, which makes it the best choice for a short break. The pistes are varied, and the top reaches 2,550 metres.
Where to stay: Rila Hotel Borovets has ski-in access, a spa and a pool, and guests rate it 9.0 out of 10.
Rila Hotel Borovets
Rila Hotel Borovets, with ski-in access at the foot of the slopes. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Pamporovo: gentle slopes and Plovdiv nearby
Pamporovo lies in the Rhodope mountains, with wide, gentle pistes through the forest. It has fewer runs and less vertical than Bansko and Borovets, but it is quieter, sunnier and well suited to beginners and children. Plovdiv airport is only about an hour and a half away.
Where to stay: few hotels in Pamporovo have enough reviews on Hotels.com for us to recommend them yet. Many British skiers combine a week in Pamporovo with a night in Plovdiv. We stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Plovdiv Center. Read our Plovdiv travel guide and the list of the best hotels in Plovdiv.
Getting there from the UK
For Bansko and Borovets, fly to Sofia and take a transfer. Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Plovdiv, about four times a week in November 2026, which suits Pamporovo. Plovdiv is also an option for Bansko if the flight times suit you, but the drive is about two and a half hours.
Picolo would choose
Picolo would choose: Bansko for a group of mixed abilities, Borovets for a long weekend and Pamporovo for a family with young children.
Why: Bansko has the most terrain and the best evenings, Borovets the shortest transfer and Pamporovo the gentlest slopes. The trade-off: Bansko gets busy in peak weeks, so book early.
Frequently asked questions about ski holidays in Bulgaria
Which is the best ski resort in Bulgaria?
Bansko is the biggest and best known, with about 75 km of pistes and a top station at 2,530 metres. Borovets is the closest to Sofia airport and has the most varied terrain for its size. Pamporovo is the gentlest and suits beginners and families, and it is the closest resort to Plovdiv airport.
Which airport do you fly to for skiing in Bulgaria?
Fly to Sofia for Bansko and Borovets. Borovets is about 70 km from Sofia airport, and Bansko about 160 km. For Pamporovo, Plovdiv airport is closer, at around 80 km or about an hour and a half by road. Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Plovdiv, about four times a week in November 2026.
Is skiing in Bulgaria cheap?
Bulgaria is cheaper than the Alps. A day pass in Bansko cost about 33 euro in the 2025/26 season, according to the resort. Food and drink are also cheaper than in France or Austria. Bulgaria has used the euro since 1 January 2026, so prices are easy to compare.
When is the ski season in Bulgaria?
The season usually runs from mid-December to early April. Bansko opened the 2025/26 season on 13 December. Snow is most reliable from January to March, and Bansko and Borovets reach higher than Pamporovo, which helps late in the season. Christmas, New Year and February half-term are the busiest weeks.
Sources
Piste lengths, lifts and altitudes come from Skiresort.info, and distances from Sofia airport from App Savvy Traveller. The distance from Plovdiv airport to Pamporovo comes from Skiresort.info. The 2025/26 lift pass price and gondola hours come from Bansko Ski. Flights come from FlightConnections, and hotel ratings from Hotels.com, all last checked on 7 November 2026. Check prices for the 2026/27 season before you book.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
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Picolo Editorial