Skiing in Bansko - Bulgaria
Did you know that Bulgaria is home to one of the best Ski Resorts in Eastern Europe?
That’s right, Bansko Ski Resort represents some of the best-value skiing conditions in Europe!
We absolutely loved skiing in Bansko (or, in our case, snowboarding), which is why we have created this article on everything you need to know about Skiing in Bansko.
This wonderful Bulgarian Ski Resort is the perfect budget-friendly winter getaway destination in Europe.
No wonder it makes our list of the best ski resorts in Europe for couples!
Living our best life while skiing in Bansko
In this article, we will outline the different ski passes available in Bansko, highlight the different skiable terrain in Bansko and even give you suggestions of where to stay in Bansko for your winter skiing holiday.
So, let’s dive into: Skiing in Bansko
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission, if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
Skiing in Bansko: Piste Map, Ski Passes and Quick Facts
Bansko Piste Map
Here’s a picture of the entire Bansko Ski Piste so you see what runs you will hit first.
Bansko Ski Piste Map (photo from Bansko Ski)
*blue runs 3 and 11 have been upgraded to blue/red on newer piste maps
**the Tzarna Mogila chair (and red run 14) are permanently closed due to avalanche risk
Bansko Skiing Quick Facts: Things to Know Before Hitting the Slopes
Skiing (or snowboarding) in Bansko is the main motivation of visiting this Bulgarain Mountain town during the Winter. We loved skiing in Bansko, but with that being said, there are a few things you should know before hitting the slopes.
So here are a few handy things to know for skiing in Bansko which we hope you will find useful:
Bansko features 1 Gondola, 6 tow lifts (button and bar) and 8 chairlifts
Ski Area split into Blue Runs (Beginner/Easier - 20km), Red Runs (Intermediate/Medium - 24km) and Black Runs (Expert/Hard - 4km)
The 10km Ski Road is a red run that takes you from the main Gondola Station on the mountain into Bansko Town
Bansko Snowpark is found underneath the Plato chair on Blue/Red run 11 and features several rails, boxes and kickers for freestyle riders to enjoy
Bansko Ski Passes Overview
Bansko Ski passes are some of Europe's most affordable ski passes. A 1-day Adult Ski Pass in Bansko begins from 96 lev (£42/$54), with a 2-day Adult Ski Pass beginning at 180 lev (£79/$100).
If you want to visit Bansko long-term, a seasonal Ski Pass costs 1700 lev (£743/$950) and is valid for the duration of the ski season in Bansko.
As you can gather, skiing in Bansko is very affordable compared to other European ski resorts. For context, we were recently skiing in Zermatt, where a basic 1-day ski pass began at 83 CHF (£73/$94).
Worth noting: it is cheaper to buy two 2-day passes (180 lev each = 360 lev total) than it is to buy one 4-day pass (370 lev). You pay extra for the convenience of not having to buy a separate ski pass every other day.
Good to know: for the most accurate price breakdown, we suggest heading to the Bansko Ski Website and putting in your intended skiing dates.
Bansko Ski Lessons and Rentals
You only have to walk down the main street in Bansko to realise there are a staggering number of options for ski lessons and rentals.
Our personal favourite option is Tsakiris Ski & Snowboard Rental, a 2-minute walk from the valley gondola station.
For rentals, they have a wide selection of beginner, intermediate and advanced ski/snowboard set-ups and they let you leave your gear in the shop overnight to save you walking all the way back to your hotel/apartment.
An entire ski set-up (skis, boots, and poles) for one day costs only 30 lev (£13/$17), which is amazing value!
They also provide ski/snowboard lessons. A private 2-hour lesson costs 190 lev (£83/$106), which is incredible value when compared to skiing in other European resorts.
Top tip: reserve your ski rentals online before you arrive in Bansko to save an extra 15%!
Skiing in Bansko: Everything You Need To Know
Below, we have highlighted the pros and cons of skiing in Bansko, provided tips for skiing in Bansko, and also given you a heads-up on the best Aprés Ski options in Bansko.
Before we head any further, though, we would like to give you a few pointers about skiing in Bansko by explaining what we got up to on the mountain.
In general, you should head to the top of the Plato chair early in the morning when it’s sunny to get the freshest tracks of the day. Particularly on a powder day, this is the place to be!
Our favourite combination of runs began at the top of Plato and went Blue/Red 3 - Blue 10 - Red 12. Then, you can jump on the Mosta chair to take you to the top of Blue 10 again. We lapped these runs over and over again during our skiing trip in Bansko and absolutely loved it!
The more advanced terrain is found on the frontside of the mountain (right hand side on the piste map) with a few challenging red runs and the leg-burner Black 9. It’s the steepest run in Bansko but a great way to test yourself if you feel up to it.
Blue skies at the top of Plato
In general, the food options are relatively good throughout the mountain. The Goat at the top of the Shiligarnik chairlift hosts a canteen-style set-up with trays, typical in most ski resorts.
Alternatively, the Bla-Bla restaurant, next to the Shiligarnik and Todorka chairlifts, serves delicious Bulgarian barbeque-style meals for a good price (Well, a good price for a ski hill, anyway).
In general, though, to save money, we tended to bring our own sandwiches and snacks up the mountain and just buy a drink every now and then to keep us going.
When we visited, it was a bluebird day one day and a complete whiteout the next - we recommend bringing a couple of different pairs of goggle lenses to cover all eventualities!
As we always recommend, please please please wear a helmet when on the slopes! We still can’t believe that people opt against wearing them when skiing/snowboarding!
Great photo spot at the top of the Plato Chairlift
Pros and Cons of Skiing in Bansko
Pros of Skiing in Bansko:
It’s incredibly cheap! Bansko is one of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe. An entire ski set-up for the day, including advanced boots, skis and poles, cost just 30 lev (£13/$17)!!
You can take a taxi to the chairlifts - for around 10 lev (£4/$5) each, you can jump in a 20-minute shared taxi from the gondola station in Bansko town, all the way to the main chairlifts on the mountain.
Great for intermediates - the mixture of mainly blue and red runs makes Bansko a great ski resort for intermediate riders.
Lots of bars and restaurants near the Gondola Station in town - this means you don’t have to walk far from the Gondola before finding something to eat and drink. Our personal favourite was The Station.
Cons of Skiing in Bansko:
Not super ideal for beginners - there are no green runs in Bansko, the beginner/bunny slope is small, and the 2 main blue runs (5 and 10) can be quite challenging for beginner’s
Everybody skis the same run at the end of the day - unless you’re skilled enough to take the Black 9 run on the frontside of the mountain, you will have to ski Blue 1 in order to reach the main gondola station. This run is extremely crowded towards the end of the day and get very icy due to a lack of sunlight. It’s an annoying run, so we recommend only taking it once at the end of your ski day
There isn’t a huge variety of skiable terrain - Bansko is only home to around 14 runs, so if you ski here for a week, you are going to repeat lots of the same runs
Bansko Aprés Ski Scene
The Bansko Aprés Ski Scene is very lively. Below we’ve highlighted a few of our favourite Aprés Ski Bars in Bansko so you can know where to head first.
Our favourite On-mountain Aprés Bars
The Goat - found at the top of the Shiligarnik chairlift, The Goat is a great outdoor bar perfect for a midday Aprés Ski session. When it’s particularly cold, you can even go inside and warm up by the fire!
180 Bar - near the bottom of the Shiligarnik chairlift is the 180 bar. It has a huge wooden terrace area to sit as a group, includes table service, and serves a hige variety of food and drink.
Our Favourite Aprés Bars in Town
Happy End - go anywhere in the centre of Bansko and you’ll be able to hear Happy End. Found a few steps away from the main Gondola Station, it is the first port of call when it comes to Aprés in Bansko.
Amigos - if you’re looking for more of a pub vibe that is slightly less hectic than Happy End, we’d recommend Amigos, just off the main street in town.
Orla enjoying a hot wine at the 180 Bar on the mountain
Tips for Skiing in Bansko
Buy your ski passes at the self-serve ticket machines the night before - as is the case at all ski resorts, the lines for ski pass purchase are very long each morning. Outside the main Gondola station in town, you’ll find handy self-serve ticket machines where you can purchase a ticket the night before you ski. We got into the habit of going out for dinner in town and buying our ski pass for the next day on the way home.
The Gondola Station line is busiest between 9:00-10:00 am - during these peak times, the line for the gondola can stretch across the car park. You’ll be waiting upwards of 45 minutes to get to the gondola, which takes another 30 mins to reach the mountain. Try to arrive early, around 08:30ish, or get extra sleep and get there after 10 am for no lines.
Take a taxi for 10 lev each to the top to avoid larger queues - at peak times, the line just isn’t worth waiting in. In these instances, there are a number of shared taxis/minivans waiting to whisk you to the top of the gondola. They all generally cost 10 lev per person, and the journey takes around 20 minutes along the windy mountain roads.
Kempinski Spa Day Pass - the Kempinski Hotel near the Gondola Station is a wonderful 5-star ski-in ski-out hotel. It may not cater to cheaper skiing budgets, but it does offer unlimited Spa Access through its day-pass service. Simply wander in the front door, follow the signs, and ask for a day pass once you reach the spa. For 70 lev (£30/$40), you have access to all the indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, saunas and even the ‘snow room’.
Riding the chairlift in Bansko
Where is Bansko? How to get to Bansko!
Bansko is a ski town nestled in the Pirin Mountains in South-West Bulgaria. It is located roughly 100 miles south of Sofia (Bulgaria’s capital city), which is the best airport to fly into when visiting Bansko.
In terms of getting to Bansko from Sofia, the easiest option is to rent a car at Sofia Airport and drive directly from there. Bansko has plenty of parking options, so this is the most flexible option.
Alternatively, arranging a semi-private transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko is also a great option. Many hotels in Bansko offer this service for an additional cost, or, as we did, you can book a transfer through Traventuria.
Ski Accommodation in Bansko
One of the major draws of skiing in Bansko is the abundance of cheap and cheerful accommodation options. Regardless of your budget, you will likely find something that suits you in Bansko.
That being said, we are big fans of renting AirBnbs when we go skiing. It means you have your own space to relax in and unwind after a long day at the slopes.
Both times we’ve skied in Bansko, we have stayed in an AirBnb.
However, we understand that this isn’t for everybody’s liking, so we have done our best to suggest the best hotel accommodation options for your next Bansko skiing holiday.
Heads up: it is worth noting that because Bansko is so cheap to eat, drink and ski-in, many budgets will be able to stretch to nicer accommodation options because you will save so much money elsewhere
Best Ski-in Ski-out Hotel in Bansko - Kempinski Hotel
Kempinski Hotel - best ski-in ski-out accommodation in Bansko
The Kempinski Hotel is arguably the grandest hotel in Bansko. As one of the premier Winter hotels within the Balkans, the Kempinski is the perfect place to stay after a busy day on the slopes.
The hotel is found less than 100m from the Valley Gondola Station in Bansko and is directly next to the Ski Road, meaning it has that lucrative Ski-in Ski-out access that we all crave.
While the rooms themselves are fairly standard, it is the additional services within the hotel that really set this place apart.
The hotel plays host to the Sushi and Teppanyaki Bar, one of the finest places to eat in Bansko, and the Piano Bar, an ideal setting for a relaxing Aprés ski cocktail in the evenings.
All of this is wonderful of course, but really the State-of-the-art Kempinski Spa is the star of the show here. From Finnish saunas to Snow Rooms, Outdoor Jacuzzis to Experience showers, the Spa at Kempinski has it all!
Best Apartment-Style Hotel in Bansko - St George Ski & Holiday
St George Ski & Holiday Hotel - best apartment-style accommodation in Bansko
The St George Ski & Holiday Hotel is the perfect option for those looking to stay on a half-board basis during their skiing holiday in Bansko.
Modern apartment-style rooms are the main attraction of St George, with apartments catering for up to 4 people. It is kind of the best of both worlds - you get the space of an Airbnb, with the added benefit of free access to all hotel amenities.
St George provides complimentary ski storage for all guests, as well as offering ski lift pass purchases on site.
Throw into the mix a wonderful buffet-style breakfast included every morning and you soon begin to realise why St George is such a great option for ski accommodation in Bansko.
Frequently Asked Questions about Skiing in Bansko
How much do ski passes for Bansko cost?
A 1-day Adult Ski Pass in Bansko begins from 96 lev (£42/$54), with a 2-day Adult Ski Pass beginning at 180 lev (£79/$100).
A seasonal Bansko Ski Pass costs 1700 lev (£743/$950) and is valid for the duration of the ski season in Bansko.
Worth noting: it is cheaper to buy two 2-day passes (180 lev each = 360 lev total) than it is to buy one 4-day pass (370 lev). You pay extra for the convenience of not having to buy a separate ski pass every other day.
Is Bansko good for beginner skiers?
Generally, Bansko is not a great resort for beginner skiers. There are no green runs in Bansko and while there is a bunny slope, it is very short, dangerously overcrowded and almost always icy.
Just to the right of the main gondola station on the mountain is quite a substantial button lift though, so provided you can use that as a beginner, you may find joy in learning to ski in Bansko.
Can you snowboard in Bansko?
Absolutely! In fact, we snowboarded the entire time we were in Bansko. The snow conditions and groomed slopes make it easy to be a snowboarder in Bansko.
Many of the easier runs (E.g. Blue 1, Blue 5, Blue 10) feature longer flatter sections that will require a bit of speed on a snowboard. This isn’t easy for beginner snowboarders so you may find yourself unstrapping and skating from time to time in Bansko.
Worth noting: the ski road from the mountain into town features several long, flat sections. We wouldn’t recommend taking this route as a beginner snowboarder, but intermediate-advanced riders will have no problems.
What is the best month to ski in Bansko?
We visited Bansko in early March and were fortunate that the conditions were excellent and the crowds were manageable. In general, the best month to ski in Bansko is February, but if you want to avoid the masses, then early March or Late January may prove a wise decision.
Is Bansko good for non-skiers?
Generally, there isn’t too much to do in Bansko for non-skiers during the Winter. There are a number of bars, restaurants and spas in the town, but aside from that, it isn’t the greatest non-skier-friendly resort in the world.
Orla strapping in at the top of Blue run 1
There we have it, folks, our round-up of everything you need to know about skiing in Bansko, Bulgaria. We loved our time skiing in Bansko and hopefully this article has provided you with everything you need to know about skiing in Bansko so you can plan your next skiing holiday in Europe.
In this article, we outline exactly how to become a ski instructor this winter season courtesy of The Winter Sports Company.