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Bansko Ski Holidays

At a glance

  • Great value
  • Traditional architecture
  • Bulgarian ‘Mehanas’ cuisine

Great for

  • Beginners
  • Night Skiing
  • Cheap ski holiday

Ski Holidays in Bansko

Experience the exhilarating skiing and vibrant après ski that is making Bansko one of the fastest up and coming ski resorts in Europe. Sample some of the best of Bulgarian food and soak up the traditional architecture, before making the most of the efficient ski system and admiring the breathtaking views.

  • Flight Time
  • 3 hours
  • From London
  • Nearest Airports
  • Sofia, Plodiv
  • Time zone
  • GMT + 2 hour
  • Language
  • Bulgarian
  • Currency
  • Bulgarian Lev
  • Ski Season
  • Dec - April

Bansko Stats

Top Altitude
2600m
Bottom Altitude
936m
Resort Altitude
936m
Total Piste
75km
Longest Run
16km
Slope Orientation
N
Vertical Drop
1664m
Skiable Vertical
1664m
Night Skiing
Yes
Glacier Skiing
No

Sitting at the base of the mighty Todorka peak in the Pirin Mountains, lies Bansko, Bulgaria's newest resort which is quickly becoming one of the country's most popular ski destinations. Given the rustic mountain charm, fantastic skiing on offer and lively après ski, it comes as no surprise that the resort is continuing to draw in and churn out happy skiers. And in case this wasn't enough, you'll pay a fraction of the price of a similar holiday in France or Switzerland.

Don’t let the resort’s popularity put you off though – Bansko is now a World Heritage Site, thanks to its rich culture and tradition, which have succeeded in fighting off the commercial feel that comes with so many modern ski resorts. Bansko also comes with the added bonus of soaring North-facing slopes with high altitudes, meaning waking up to fresh powder and a long ski season. With a Funpark to keep the freestyle skiers and snowboarders happy and floodlit slopes for late-night returns to the village, this really is a perfectly rounded resort. Non-skiers are also sure to find something here to keep them entertained. You can choose from ice-skating and ski-doo rides, kicking back in a relaxing spa or simply admiring the traditional architecture and culture found in the village centre. A highlight in the resort centre is the beautiful village square, which includes the Virgin Mary Church, with magnificent woodcarvings dating back to the 6th Century.

The resort’s nearest airport is in Bulgaria’s bustling capital Sofia. The transfer may be a 3-hour drive between the two, but close your eyes and think of the fresh powder that awaits and the journey will fly by. So as not to waste any more time between you and the slopes, the lift system is efficient, modern and very quick, whisking you up the mountain in less than 20 minutes.

Winter Sports Ratings

Beginners

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboarding

Bansko Transfer Times

Sofia 3 hrs

The nearest airport to Bansko is Sofia at 170 km or about 3 hours by car

What's the ski area like in Bansko?

Bansko has in recent years been home to the FIS Alpine World Cup, which can go some way in demonstrating the quality of the snow and the condition in which they are maintained. If it's good enough for the pros, it's certainly good enough for us!

Which other ski resorts are near to Bansko?

The nearest ski resorts to Bansko include Semkovo, Kulinoto.

Ski Area Facts

LocationBulgaria, Pirin Mountains.
Established2003
Downhill75km
Lift Pass£119 (adult 6 day)

Beginner Slopes

22km30%

Intermediate Skiing

34km45%

Advance & Expert Terrain

26km35%

Snowboarding Trails

75km100%

What is Bansko like for Beginner skiers?

Beginners are well looked after here, whether this is your first time skiing or you're a couple of ski sessions left from the reds. New skiers, especially the little ones, can make the most of the Pirin or Ulen ski schools, before venturing out onto the gentle blues, like the Plato slope and the long, picturesque return on the Bansko slope.

What is Bansko like for Intermediate skiers?

The reds here will offer a good challenge to most intermediates, whilst some of the more difficult blues under the Mosta lift will keep them more than happy. The pistes here are wide in general, always well maintained, and covered mostly by the resort's snowmaking capabilities. Amongst these painstakingly maintained reds, highlights include the long descent from Bansko's highest lift on the Bunderitsa slope.

What is Bansko like for Advanced skiers?

Expert skiers may be uninspired by the black runs in terms of difficulty, but this is more than made up for by the magnificent views and scenery found on the Tomba slope – named after Alberto Tomba, Olympic slalom gold medalist. Should the advanced skier still have a thirst for something more testing, the two ski routes at the top and bottom of the Mosta lift are perfect, particularly the twists and turns through the tree-lined 2 ski route. If the fantastic slopes haven't satisfied your need for speed during the day, fear not, as the pistes are all bordered by floodlights which light up the snow and let you ski late into the night.

What is Bansko like for snowboarding?

Snowboarders can make the most of the wide slopes and boarder-friendly lifts, but the main highlight is undoubtedly the Snow park, built for the Burton AM tour in 2006 it's had some updates since, but remains a great place to hone your freestyle skills. The park is next to the Plato 1 slope and includes lines of kickers, rails and boxes and a few smaller jumps.

What is Bansko like for off-piste skiing?

Bansko has some of the best freeriding in Bulgaria. For intermediate's wanting powder skiing , the rights side of the Plato ski run is a great place to start. There are big open faces for the experts, like the north face od Mt Todorka. The best way to enjoy the freeriding is of course to get a local guide who will find terrain that will match your desires and skill.

What is Bansko like for cross country skiing?

There are about 5km of prepared trails for cross-country skiing.

Bansko Restaurants

A living and breathing town, Bansko is the liveliest of the Bulgarian resorts so you can bank on vibrant après ski here.

Le retro will give you a little piece of France. If you want a taste of the Orient go to the Kempinski Hotel’s sushi bar and Teppanyaki grill; but for an authentic taste of traditional Bulgarian grub, head for one of the many ‘Mehanas’ in the village. A Mehana is a Balkan take on a ‘tavern’, easily spotted with their homely feel, lively violinists, and of course fantastic food, all 3 of which you’ll find at the Tavern Matsurev Han or the Baryakova.

Where to eat in Bansko and on the mountain

Bansko Après Ski

After you’ve stuffed yourself silly with veal and steaming stews, it’s almost time for a drink, although we’d highly recommend a rest section between the two! Either find yourself a quiet pub (we like JJ Murphy’s) or head down to Lion’s pub for a pint of the local brew, served best with a side of live Premier League football. If you can resist the temptation to go and belt out some Queen at the Karaoke Bar, and just want to party late into the night, the ever-popular Happy End bar is the place for you.

Bars Late Night Clubs and Cafes in Bansko

Irish Harp Bansko Brian at the Irish Harp undoubtedly has the best collection of rare whiskies for miles. You’ll also find the best beer in Bulgaria and incredible Irish Coffee’s – made with powers gold Irish whiskey, quality cream and lavazza coffee beans. Screens show sky sports, the 6 nations and Cheltenham race festival. Food wise, they take bookings (the steaks are imported from county Kildare) but walk-ins are also welcome.

Bansko Activites for Non-skiers

After you’ve recovered from the night with a hangover-busting Bulgarian breakfast, should you somehow fancy a day off from skiing, there’s plenty on offer. For a truly unforgettable, hair-raising experience, try out paraskiing from the Todorka peak. For something a little more relaxed, there’s ice skating, rejuvenating spa treatments, or just admiring the village’s beautiful architecture, including the iconic 6th century Virgin Mary Church.

Zara SPA SPA treatments incl. different type of massages (classic oil, sports, medical, hot stone massage, etc.) turkish bath (peeling and foam massage, face mask) Special 2 hours package including sauna, Turkish bath (peeling and foam massage), face mask, whole body oil massage, face massage with chocolate! Free shuttle service, coffee and tea! 90 leva per a person!

Clothing Food & Souvenir Shops

There are numerous souvenir shops. Payment is normally required in cash rather than by credit card.

Ski Bansko Traventuria Premium and basic ski and snowboard packages are available for adults and children for 2-5 or 6-9 days. Equipment to hire includes skis and poles, snowblades, helmets and goggles. Our equipment and lift pass packages are excellent value for money and save you the hassle of buying things separately. All of our packages include mountain insurance.

Pirin 2000 Ski School & Hire Although predominantly a ski school, Pirin 2000 also offer equipment hire for adults and children. With a choice of VIP Premium skis, ski boots and poles, Economy skis, poles and ski boots, and snowboards and child-sized versions, you can select a type to suit you. If you’re booking lessons with Pirin 2000 as well, you can get a 10% discount on the entire package.

Bansko Package Ski Holidays

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Best Time to Visit Bansko

Bansko has more reliable snow than the other Bulgarian resorts - its high altitude (reaching a lofty 2600m) and North-facing slopes mean the ski season usually goes on into late April, the slopes well shielded from the spring sun, and preserving your precious powder. If you’re planning a last-minute break early in the season, it’s best to check recent conditions – 90% of the ski area is covered by snow cannons if the snow gods need a helping hand, meaning you should find good coverage. You’ll probably find the best conditions between February and March if you want to book somewhere in advance. Should the temperatures somehow prove a little too high for the snow to last all day long later on in the season, make the most of it in the morning before soaking up some rays on 180° Restaurant’s outdoor beer garden. Many skiers opt to take the gondola from the main ski centre down to town to avoid the lower slopes later on in the day.

What's Bansko like at Christmas?

There’s no better way to celebrate Krimbo than waking up to a white Christmas in Bansko. The mix of great skiing and enchanting village surroundings combine here perfectly, to give you that magical festive feeling.
Christmas Ski Holidays

What's Bansko like in the New Year?

New Year’s Eve in Bansko is an unforgettable way to welcome in the coming year. Fireworks illuminate the night sky before revellers party on into the early hours. Recover the next day with jaw-dropping views and exhilarating skiing.
New Year Ski Holidays

What's Bansko like in Half-Term?

Give the kids that February Half-term break they’ve been wishing for here in Bansko. Whether they’re new to the snow or ready to tackle some blues, this resort has something for the whole family, all topped off by some great Bulgarian food to recount the days’ adventures!
Half Term Ski Holidays

What's Bansko like at Easter?

The North facing slopes mean the snow is still usually in great condition during Easter in Bansko. Enjoy the fantastic views from over 2000m altitude, and experience the thrill of skiing in the sun well into the off-peak season.

Bansko Snow Conditions

Snow Report, History & Forecast

View our detailed Bansko snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Bansko snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Bansko snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.

  • Sunny skies Today
  • Sunny skies Saturday
  • Patchy moderate snow Sunday
  • Sunny skies Monday
  • Light snow Tuesday
  • Moderate snow Wednesday
  • Current snow depth at top
    159 cm
  • Alternate Text
  • Current snow depth at base
    20 cm

Ski Accommodation in Bansko

We have 3816 ski holidays in Bansko. Search all Bansko ski deals or pick your preferred accommodation type below:

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Bansko is a great place for a family ski trip, owing largely in part to the fantastic learning facilities and family-friendly hotels. The ski schools pride themselves on years of teaching experience and English proficiency, and not only guarantee your kids will learn loads but will have the time of their lives doing so! If the skiers in your family are a little past the nursery slope stage, there are some great confidence-building slopes here, namely the Plato slope, and the long winding blue under the Shiligarnik lift.

As far as accommodation goes, the Hotel Sport Bansko is in the perfect location for any families with learners, just a stone’s throw from the ski school meeting point. Most of the other accommodation is all fairly localised around the village centre, not far at all from the lifts. The Hotel Pirin’s large rooms and modern facilities also make it a great choice for families. Any teens travelling with the family will be glad to know there is WiFi available in most if not all of our hotels, so your Facebook addiction need not suffer whilst you’re away! Should the young adults be able to tear themselves away from their technology for long enough, we’re sure they’ll enjoy the Funpark under the Plato lift, complete with rails and jumps to show off some moves.

For the best value for you and your family, book a package including flights accommodation and transfers, or alternatively look for our self-drive or independent travel offers.

Travelling in a group can often be difficult; there may be skiers of different standards, non-skiers, trouble finding accommodation big enough, and of course organising the trip itself! With Sno and Bansko, all these troubles can be cast out the window. We’ll save you the hassle of booking the trip, whilst the resort ensures there’s something to keep everyone happy! Skiers of different levels will all be kept entertained, whether you’re still on your pizza slices and French fries, zooming down off-piste ski routes under the Mosta lift or even sharpening up some snowboarding tricks in the Funpark. Should any non-skiers be able to resist the temptation to learn how to ski here, there’s some ice-skating, snowmobiling, even paintballing all on offer, and don’t overlook just relaxing in the hotel spa and soaking up the old town’s culture! Whatever it is you’re doing, one of Bansko’s many bars or restaurants provide the perfect place to sit and recount the day’s adventures.

Another important aspect of a group ski holiday is having a great place to stay, and Bansko are far from short on these. Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena provides a stay with all the facilities you could possibly want, and should be big enough to accommodate any last-minute additions to your group. Apartments like the Grand Montana can give a great group feel to the holiday, as well as being a perfect set off point to explore the village. Booking our flights, transfers and accommodation packages gives you best value for money and saves you the most hassle, but if you’re up for the challenge of organising a self-drive or independent travel group trip, our other deals will suit you too.

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Bansko
Reviews
Great
2
Good
4
Okay
5
Meh
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Poor
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3.6
out of 5
I don’t think we will go back to Bansko… The skiing’s is brilliant but the town isn’t. It’s almost like Benidorm with neon lights everywhere. The slopes are amazing though, it’s just the town that we didn’t like. + more
Torie Peters,
3 out of 5
Bansko’s skiing isn’t particularly exceptional, but my boy hadn’t been before and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is skiing for the first time. I wouldn’t go for advanced skiing. The cost of living is cheap as chips – a bottle of premium beer costs 50p and you can get a great meal for £10.... + more
Mr. Thomas,
3 out of 5
I’d recommend Bansko to beginner – intermediates as a nice place to play around. If you’re above this level it can get a bit repetitive for a whole week, but I knew that before we arrived (Bulgaria isn’t like France in terms of big ski areas). We had two beginner skiers with us and it was good for them, wit... + more
Sarah, Hampshire
4 out of 5
I honestly really enjoyed our week here! I’ve skied a lot in Italy and Austria – Mayrhofen is my favourite – and Bulgaria wasn’t bad at all. We like to visit different places but we’ll definitely come back here in a few years’ time. There are plenty of restaurants with such a lot of variety when it come... + more
Lily, Greater London
5 out of 5
The snow wasn’t very good while we were here. We were very disappointed with the lift system, we wouldn’t come back to Bulgaria. We had to queue for around an hour at the gondola to get up onto the slopes. It was about 12 or 13 degrees at the bottom, so there was no snow. The resort is good value, but we woul... + more
Michael Schofield, Nottingham
3 out of 5
We preferred our holiday to Borovets in Bulgaria. In comparison Bankso is very much still in development. The buildings and the roads are still under construction. A lot of the pavements into town were broken and had potholes. The skiing was good. We didn’t have any snowfall while we were there, in fact I thi... + more
Mr. Jones, Northamptonshire
3 out of 5
It’s the perfect place to go for beginners! It was our first time on real ski slopes and we did quite a bit of research to work out where was good to go. I couldn’t fault it. There are good slopes to learn on. The ski school was very good; our instructor was great and spoke good English (we used Ulen ski scho... + more
Oliver Marlow, Buckinghamshire
3 out of 5
It’s a good resort, we’ve been before. It’s probably best for intermediates to advanced level. If you are in the ski school then you can jump the queues. Some of our party used the ski school and they found it good. + more
David Kinsey, Cheshire
4 out of 5
I would definitely go back to Bansko, everything is really reasonably priced - I’ve been to France before and it’s much cheaper than there. The skiing is probably not as good as France but it was everything we needed. It’s definitely enough skiing for a week, but if you stayed any longer than a week you woul... + more
Mr Ryan Gamble, Durham
4 out of 5
The skiing was brilliant; I’ve been to more challenging places in terms of slopes like Val d’Isere but for what it was, it did the job pretty well and we were really impressed with what was on offer. It’s bang on for a nice cheap ski holiday, not top of the range lovely powder like you get in Val d’Isere an... + more
Jake Self, Trowbridge
4 out of 5
If you're going to learn to ski or with small kids, Bansko is perfect, however if you’re intermediate above you’d probably get bored (I did pretty much all the area in half a day). For beginners, the main run that links back down from the top station is really good as it’s nice and long whereas on the nurser... + more
Andrew Furlong, Hayling Island
5 out of 5
The slopes were marked up wrongly as to difficulty, they were a lot more difficult than they looked. They were also really busy to the point of being dangerous and there were horrendous queues for the lifts. We were all so disappointed and really fed up and the people I went with said they would never go there ... + more
Sally Cartwright, Orpington
2 out of 5
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Ski Extras

How much is a ski pass in Bansko

Maximum and minimum adult Bansko lift pass prices ranged from BGN272 to BGN272 for 6 days access to the Bansko ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Bansko holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.

Lift Tickets Child Adult Senior
1 Day Price BGN1 - BGN32 BGN46 - BGN46 N / A
6 Day Price BGN6 - BGN132 BGN272 - BGN272 N / A
Age Range N / A N / A N / A
Bansko Packages + Extras

Getting to Bansko

Most of our ski holidays to Bansko packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Bansko from nearby airports

How long does it take to fly to Bansko from the UK?

Flights from London take about 3 hours to Sofia, Plodiv. This table shows approximate transfer times to Bansko from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.

Airport Distance Transfer Time
Sofia 170 km 3 hours
Packages with Plane Train or Car

How long does it take to drive to Bansko from the UK?

Browse our self-drive ski holidays which include your car channel crossing, or go choose accom-only and book your car ferry or tunnel later.

Self-Drive Ski Holidays
↑ INCL CAR ↑↓ WITHOUT ↓
Accommodation-Only

How long is the transfer from nearest Bulgaria train station to Bansko?

The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Bansko transfers.

Station Distance Transfer Time
? ? km ?
Ski Train Holidays

Bansko Maps

Bansko piste map
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Going to Bansko under your own steam

For independant travel to Bulgaria, compare accommodation only with Bansko self-drive packages which include Eurotunnel or ferry.

Accomm-Only & Self-Drive

See driving directions to and from Bansko in Bulgaria.

Enter your start location and click "Get Directions" to view the route:

More Bansko Information

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Bansko Ski Holiday Resources

Need help choose your Bansko ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!

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Similar Ski Resorts to Bansko in Bulgaria

Bulgaria Ski Holiday Resorts

Every Sno holiday packaged with flights is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. All our suppliers are ATOL bonded, so your money is safe. In addition to this, payments for your holiday are held in trust, by NatWest bank and the Travel Trust, who insure every booking against supplier failure.

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