Bulgaria Ski discussion board
Where to ski in Bulgaria
Author:Jude
posts : 101 (Intermediate)Date : 11-08-11 02:09Where to ski in Bulgaria
Kia oraA mate and I are heading over to ski in Feb (we are from New Zealand). Our trip is primarily to Russia/Iran but we have 4 days spare in Instanbul and was wondering if it was worth heading to Bulgaria for a few days skiing. Which resort is closest to Sofia and best value for money? The Kiwi peso doesn't go far. We will be flying in and out of Istanbul.
Info appreciated.
re: Where to ski in Bulgaria
Hi Jude,It's a shame you aren't coming in march because we have a kiwi coming to visit us then out of Christchurch.
The closest skiing to Sofia is Vitosha a short bus ride out of town (or a pretty cheap taxi). The best skiing close to Sofia is in Borovets about an hours drive away. I can point you in the direction of some really nice accomodation that won't break the bank if you'd like.
Kev
Where to ski in Bulgaria
Hi Jude,
Vitosha may be closes to Sofia but think ski pass is same as Borovets and only has half the runs - the accommodation and restaurant / mountain prices are also nearly twice the price, so you will end up spending more money even though the resort is closer. ..you can also do the whole resort in less than half a day, so if you want to spend a few days skiing then you would go to Borovets - or even Bansko Pamps even though they are further away.
When in February are you coming? If ...
Vitosha may be closes to Sofia but think ski pass is same as Borovets and only has half the runs - the accommodation and restaurant / mountain prices are also nearly twice the price, so you will end up spending more money even though the resort is closer. ..you can also do the whole resort in less than half a day, so if you want to spend a few days skiing then you would go to Borovets - or even Bansko Pamps even though they are further away.
When in February are you coming? If ...
Hi Jude,
Vitosha may be closes to Sofia but think ski pass is same as Borovets and only has half the runs - the accommodation and restaurant / mountain prices are also nearly twice the price, so you will end up spending more money even though the resort is closer. ..you can also do the whole resort in less than half a day, so if you want to spend a few days skiing then you would go to Borovets - or even Bansko Pamps even though they are further away.
When in February are you coming? If it is around half-term then all accommodations etc are very expensive, with prices elevated by around 50% so could make it more expensive for you.
If you are interested in bansko email Nightmuffy (regular poster on here) and she can help with all things Bansko related. In terms of Boro, we are based / work there so send us an email and we can give you current prices or wait for one of the regulars to come on and post as many of them have been coming to Boro for years and know all about the resort and can offer impartial / first-hand experience info etc etc
Vitosha may be closes to Sofia but think ski pass is same as Borovets and only has half the runs - the accommodation and restaurant / mountain prices are also nearly twice the price, so you will end up spending more money even though the resort is closer. ..you can also do the whole resort in less than half a day, so if you want to spend a few days skiing then you would go to Borovets - or even Bansko Pamps even though they are further away.
When in February are you coming? If it is around half-term then all accommodations etc are very expensive, with prices elevated by around 50% so could make it more expensive for you.
If you are interested in bansko email Nightmuffy (regular poster on here) and she can help with all things Bansko related. In terms of Boro, we are based / work there so send us an email and we can give you current prices or wait for one of the regulars to come on and post as many of them have been coming to Boro for years and know all about the resort and can offer impartial / first-hand experience info etc etc
re: Where to ski in Bulgaria
hi jude,
Kaz seems to agree with me and the origiinal question was what is closest to Sofia. Vitosha had much better snow management than borovets last year by all accounts. There is really good and cheap accomodation available as long as you know where to look. My wife and I also live here and are looking forward to taking the overnight train to Istanbul in the spring. We'd really appreciate your recommendations as we haven't been before. You can email me by clicking on my name above.
I ...
Kaz seems to agree with me and the origiinal question was what is closest to Sofia. Vitosha had much better snow management than borovets last year by all accounts. There is really good and cheap accomodation available as long as you know where to look. My wife and I also live here and are looking forward to taking the overnight train to Istanbul in the spring. We'd really appreciate your recommendations as we haven't been before. You can email me by clicking on my name above.
I ...
hi jude,
Kaz seems to agree with me and the origiinal question was what is closest to Sofia. Vitosha had much better snow management than borovets last year by all accounts. There is really good and cheap accomodation available as long as you know where to look. My wife and I also live here and are looking forward to taking the overnight train to Istanbul in the spring. We'd really appreciate your recommendations as we haven't been before. You can email me by clicking on my name above.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kev
Kaz seems to agree with me and the origiinal question was what is closest to Sofia. Vitosha had much better snow management than borovets last year by all accounts. There is really good and cheap accomodation available as long as you know where to look. My wife and I also live here and are looking forward to taking the overnight train to Istanbul in the spring. We'd really appreciate your recommendations as we haven't been before. You can email me by clicking on my name above.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kev
re: Where to ski in Bulgaria
Sorry Jude if I got your meaning wrong....whilst I did point out Vitosha was not the closest, I picked up on the second part of the question which was best value for money as thought this may be more important for you as you pointed out the peso doesn't go far!! I have to say though we are certainly not experts on Vitosha so if you decide to stay there you will need help on this side of things. There are a couple of posters on here who post more once the season starts and they will be ...
Sorry Jude if I got your meaning wrong....whilst I did point out Vitosha was not the closest, I picked up on the second part of the question which was best value for money as thought this may be more important for you as you pointed out the peso doesn't go far!! I have to say though we are certainly not experts on Vitosha so if you decide to stay there you will need help on this side of things. There are a couple of posters on here who post more once the season starts and they will be your best bet as they are based in Sofia but work in Vitosha and are very good at helping forum posters out..
If you do decide on Borovets, then let us know - also bear in mind weekends (although busy) are only half the usual price for lift passes so you may want to combine your days skiing with the weekend. Alternatively after 12 every day, you can buy a half-price lift pass, so again you may want to do that to save money.
Kas
If you do decide on Borovets, then let us know - also bear in mind weekends (although busy) are only half the usual price for lift passes so you may want to combine your days skiing with the weekend. Alternatively after 12 every day, you can buy a half-price lift pass, so again you may want to do that to save money.
Kas
re: Where to ski in Bulgaria
It has to be said that Bansko is possible to do all the available runs in one day.We met a group one was a good and he went off on his own as he was more advanced than us and wanted to try out as much of the mountain as possible.
We met up at the Apres Ski around 4.30pm he had done the entire mountain including a lunch break.
We on the other hand had done possibly 6 runs in the morning then 5 in the afternoon.
re: Where to ski in Bulgaria
Vitosha/Borovets bit like comparing Tamworth and Landgraaf!seriously, if youre very short on time Vitosha is a nice break, and is great for a day out, but if you want to do more than a day go to Borovets, lot more variety, lot more slopes, and all the nightlife is at the bottom of the slopes.
re: Where to ski in Bulgaria
Borovets in a day has also been done
re: Where to ski in Bulgaria
You can ski all of the bulgarian resorts in a day if you REALLY wanted to!!!But apart from the challenge WHY would you? Enjoy the slopes people.
I have skiied at Vitosha and Borovets and Pamps and Chepelare
all offering different things mainly in the apres ski you will enjoy any if just going for the day for more than a day would do boro so you get the night life its AWESOME.
Boon
re: Where to ski in Bulgaria
You can come to Bansko, and trek for a day, before you even start to ski... one of the last wildernesses in Europe, and little or no regulation... The piste ?? 50 odd km or so, skied in a morning, in fact, you spend longer on the lifts... the off-piste ? i have spent half a day walking out 
I thought Vitosha was 35lv for a day pass ???, i know prices are not going up this year, skis/poles/boots are 20lv per day...
The area accessed from both Simeonovo and Dragalevski in the foothills of ...
I thought Vitosha was 35lv for a day pass ???, i know prices are not going up this year, skis/poles/boots are 20lv per day...
The area accessed from both Simeonovo and Dragalevski in the foothills of ...
You can come to Bansko, and trek for a day, before you even start to ski... one of the last wildernesses in Europe, and little or no regulation... The piste ?? 50 odd km or so, skied in a morning, in fact, you spend longer on the lifts... the off-piste ? i have spent half a day walking out
I thought Vitosha was 35lv for a day pass ???, i know prices are not going up this year, skis/poles/boots are 20lv per day...
The area accessed from both Simeonovo and Dragalevski in the foothills of Vitosha, the total piste length is around 30km, with the top skiing at Cherni Vrah at 2290m... Can get very busy, especially at weekends, the lifts generally are dated, but still serviceable. You can drive up to the base of the Aleka area, the old cobbled road is always cleared for ski buses... I personally did not find it that expensive, but a snack was not really experiencing what was available, there seemed to be plenty of huts offering their wares...
I thought Vitosha was 35lv for a day pass ???, i know prices are not going up this year, skis/poles/boots are 20lv per day...
The area accessed from both Simeonovo and Dragalevski in the foothills of Vitosha, the total piste length is around 30km, with the top skiing at Cherni Vrah at 2290m... Can get very busy, especially at weekends, the lifts generally are dated, but still serviceable. You can drive up to the base of the Aleka area, the old cobbled road is always cleared for ski buses... I personally did not find it that expensive, but a snack was not really experiencing what was available, there seemed to be plenty of huts offering their wares...
