The skiing in Bansko was named the best in Bulgaria in the prestigious World Ski Awards 2023 (for the 11th time running!). The fantastic mixture of great skiing, a modern après-ski scene and a traditional and historic town setting makes Bansko a gem in the European skiing scene.
The skiing in Bansko Bulgaria is suitable for all ages and abilities and makes this Bulgarian hotspot a great choice for your next ski holiday.
As a non-Euro country as well, the prices in the Bansko ski resort are much lower than many more famous resorts in Europe.
So let’s take a deeper look into skiing in Bansko!
The Town of Bansko
The town of Bansko in Bulgaria is located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains around 900 metres above sea level in south west of the country.
It’s a small town with a population of around 15,000 and has been transformed in the past 10-15 years from a farming community to an international destination for both summer and winter tourism.
The old town of Bansko itself is a UNESCO-protected area with cobbled streets and ancient architecture. In contrast, at the other end of town where the gondola takes the crowds up the mountains, it has become a modern and vibrant resort town.
The contrast between the more touristy Gondola area and the historical and traditional old town is what I think sets Bansko apart as a ski resort .
By the gondola, you’ll find lots of bars and restaurants as well as access to some great skiing up in the mountains.
However, things get a little more traditional as you walk down Pirin Street to the old town, which are littered with traditional Mehanas (Bulgarian tavernas) and beautiful and historic architecture.
In the winter, skiing in Bansko is very popular and a fixture on the European skiing scene for its low prices and good quality facilities at the ski resort area. There are also many other great things to do in Bansko in winter.
The Bansko winter resort is well set up to welcome skiers and snowboarders with modern facilities, good slopes, good accommodation and a great food and drink scene.
By June, the mountains are transformed into beautiful hiking trails, ATV routes, rock climbing locations and various other excursions. I have a blog on the best of Bansko in summer if you’re visiting in the warmer months.
The town of Bansko can broadly be divided into three areas, which broadly are all connected by Pirin Street.
At the top of Pirin Street is the main ski area by the crossroads, are many of my favourite restaurants in Bansko. This is the main area to experience the Bansko nightlife.
At the other end of Pirin Street is the old town with its beautiful old church, cobbled streets and traditional Mehanas. In between these two parts is the informally known mid-town with a good mix of the old and new.
Skiing in Bansko
The skiing in Bansko has improved dramatically over the past decade with the installation of a modern gondola, a fast network of ski lifts, and some great pistes, with over 90% of those pistes complete with snow cannons to ensure good snow conditions whatever the weather!
As a result, the Bansko Resort is consistently voted as the best Bulgaria ski resort, and for good reason!
If you are planning on skiing in Bansko, you will be welcomed with 75 kilometres of piste, located within the Pirin National Park. The Bansko ski map comprises 18 ski slopes including 2 orange ski roads/beginner slopes, 6 blue runs, 11 red runs and 2 black runs.
The “ski road” which runs from the top of the mountain down the 14 kilometres to the town of Bansko is a great way to head home/to the bars (!) after a day on the slopes.
Access to the main ski resort Bansko is via the Gondola, which departs from the town of Bansko and passes through a mid-station at Chalin Valog before reaching the main resort.
At the mid-station, you have a red and a black run to try which are both serviced by a chair lift that returns you to the mid-station.
Once off the gondola at the top, you are in the main ski area in Bansko. Here you will find 5 bars and restaurants for a warming coffee, a celebratory beer or some energy-boosting food!
Also here you will find the beginner slopes and the meeting point for all lessons. There are also two chairlifts taking you high up the mountain and to all the other pistes that skiing in Bansko has to offer.
The town of Bansko is located just over 900 metres above sea level. The mid-station (Chalin Valog) is around 1,500 metres above sea level, the top of the gondola at around 1,700 metres and the highest point of the ski resort is at 2,600 metres above sea level.
This gives very good snow coverage, especially at the top of the mountain, as well as some amazing views over Bansko and the surrounding mountains!
There are also some good off-piste areas should you want to take part when skiing Bansko. It is always recommended that you take a guide when skiing off-piste but whilst skiing in Bansko you will see plenty of off-piste just off the main ski pistes which you can try without too much danger!
Bansko Ski Map
For anyone considering skiing in Bansko, take a look at the Bansko Ski Map. One of my favourite things about skiing in Bansko is that after a few days you become very familiar with the slopes and where all the chairlifts lead to.
This makes getting around very easy as well as meeting up with friends at your favourite bar or restaurant on the slopes!
Download the Bansko ski map (below) or, as I have done, save the piste map as the background on your phone so you can get used to the layout in your first few days!
For an interactive version of the Ski Map, head over to BanskoSki – ski map Bansko.
Alternatively, download a version of the Map from Piste Maps – ski Bansko.
I have written a separate blog on all the different types of lift passes, so take a look at my Bansko Ski Map blog for more details on all the different runs within the ski resort.
Want to know more about Bansko? Check out my other blogs:
Bansko Ski Pass – Skiing in Bansko
There are various types of Bansko ski pass when skiing in Bansko from single-day lift passes all the way through to season passes.
The following prices apply for the rest of the 2021/22 ski season. For conversion: 1 Euro = 2 BGN (halve the prices below!), 1 GBP = 2.35BGN (halve the price and take off a little extra!).
The most basic Bansko ski pass is a return gondola ticket which costs 36BGN for an adult, 24BGN for children aged 7-12 and 1BGN for children under 7 years old. This ticket entitles you to a return trip on the gondola but does not provide access to any of the ski chair lifts.
It is therefore not suited to skiing in Bansko but is a good option for any non-skiers that want to ride up to the top and see the ski resort in all its glory!
After that, the Bansko ski pass prices are as follows:
| Passes | Adults | Students | Children(7-12 years old) | Passes |
| Half-day lift pass Issued only between 12:30 – 16:30 | 61 BGN | 54 BGN | 33 BGN | 1 BGN |
| 1 day | 79 BGN | 70 BGN | 43 BGN | 1 BGN |
| 2 days | 151 BGN | 137 BGN | 79 BGN | 2 BGN |
| 3 days | 229 BGN | 206 BGN | 115 BGN | 3 BGN |
| 4 days | 303 BGN | 272 BGN | 140 BGN | 4 BGN |
| 5 days | 381 BGN | 339 BGN | 163 BGN | 5 BGN |
| 6 days | 452 BGN | 407 BGN | 191 BGN | 6 BGN |
| 9 days | 678 BGN | 610 BGN | 253 BGN | 9 BGN |
| 13 days | 949 BGN | 852 BGN | 378 BGN | 13 BGN |
| Lift pass “Bansko-twenty” 20 days which don’t have to be consecutive | 1015 BGN | 960 BGN | 565 BGN | 20 BGN |
| Seasonal lift pass | 1500 BGN | 1400 BGN | 1300 BGN | 100 BGN |
I have written a separate blog on all the different types of lift passes so take a look at my Bansko Ski Pass blog for more details.
Buying a Bansko ski pass for skiing in Bansko
Bansko ski passes are available for purchase from the kiosks at the gondola lift in Bansko town and are also available from some of the hotels in Bansko.
I would recommend if you can, that you buy your Bansko ski pass the day before you want to start skiing. The cash desks are open 8.30 am to 4.30 pm from Sunday to Wednesday and then from 8.30 am to 11 pm from Thursday to Saturday.
You will need to take along your passport or some photo ID when you buy your ticket, and the cash desk will accept cash or card for payment.
Skiing in Bansko – Opening and Closing Times
The 2021/22 season for Bansko skiing is scheduled to finish on 10 April 2022.
During that period, the gondola – that is the cabin that transports you from Bansko town to the main ski area – opens at 8 am and runs continuously throughout the day until 5.30 pm. The last gondola down the mountain is at 5 pm so try not to miss this if you don’t want to ski down.
If you do miss it then all is not lost – you can ski down the ski road which will take between 15 minutes to an hour depending on your ability. The ski road is lit so the dark shouldn’t create a problem on your way back into town!
The chairlifts run from 8.30 am until around 4.30 pm. Again, if you don’t time it right and the chairlift you are aiming for is closed when you get there, you should be able to ski back down to the main ski area at the top of the gondola.
From here you can take the gondola down (until 5 pm) or ski down the ski road. Make sure you check the Bansko ski map so you don’t end up having to come down a red/black run to get home if that is outside of your comfort zone (but of course, if you do get stuck, you can always walk down – no judgment here!)!
The Gondola can get very busy during peak holidays and so it is best to get to the Gondola early, at around 7.45 am, to get yourself in the queue and head up the mountains as soon as the Gondola opens.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi up the mountain to the top of the Gondola for around 40BGN (£17) per taxi or 10BGN (£4.30) per person.
The queue for the gondola is prolific in Bansko, with people sometimes having to queue for an hour to get on the gondola. The good news is that once you are up the mountain, there are rarely large queues for the chairlifts, and you will get on these easily.
One thing you may want to consider is purchasing a VIP pass which allows you to bypass the queue or get yourself a taxi up the mountain to save yourself the queuing time.
Take a look at my Bansko Ski Pass blog which has more details and tips on avoiding the Gondola queues during peak season.
Bansko Ski Hire – Skiing in Bansko
The good news is that the Bansko ski rental options are plentiful and competitively priced!
I would definitely recommend Tsakiris Bansko for all your Bansko ski rental needs. They are located very close to the gondola, offer a range of options from beginner to premium, offer repairs and regular waxing and will store your shoes whilst you ski during the day.
They also offer very cheap season rental options if you are skiing in Bansko for the whole season!
What really stands out are the staff, who are super friendly and always willing to help and Tsakiris Bansko is, in my view, the best place for Bansko ski hire.
Check out their latest prices and Bansko ski hire options at Tsakiris Bansko.
There are various other options in and around the gondola if you prefer to check out the other Bansko ski hire options. Ski Mania is also very popular and offers one-to-one or group skiing lessons as well.
For more information on the best Bansko ski hire options check out my blog post on the best Bansko Ski Rental.
The Weather when Skiing in Bansko
Given the height when skiing in Bansko, it has the longest ski season and the best snow record anywhere in Bulgaria. Snow is often seen from December and can last as long as May.
In addition, over 90% of the pistes in Bansko are serviced by snow canons, meaning the snow is generally very good throughout the season.
Generally, when skiing in Bansko you can expect average temperatures in the town below 7°C and an average low of -5°C.
The good news is that when skiing in Bansko you can expect a lot of sunshine! From my experience, generally, the weather in Bansko is either overcast when it is snowing (approximately once per week-every 10 days) or otherwise clear blue skies and sunshine.
It is obviously colder with no cloud cover but the sun certainly makes it very pleasant and even feel warm enough to sit outside and enjoy a drink on the pistes or in the après bars!
Bansko Snow Report
If you are planning to come skiing in Bansko then take a look at the Bansko snow report to get a good idea of the conditions that await you.
I would recommend taking a look at this Bansko snow report which gives you a 6-day weather forecast as well as in-depth information about the amount of snow falling, the last significant snowfall and estimates of the current depth of the snow on the pistes.
You have to sign up to access all the information but most of it is free to registered users and the information provided is very helpful.
If you don’t want to sign up, check out the free snow forecast Bansko.
Bansko Ski Webcam
A feature of the ski resorts in the Alps and now available when skiing in Bansko as well, the Bansko ski webcam is a great way to keep an eye on the conditions on the slopes from the comfort of your phone or laptop!
The best place to view the Bansko ski webcam is on the Bansko Ski website and this feed will give you a good idea of the conditions up the mountain before you head out skiing in Bansko.
In particular, keep an eye on the wind conditions at the top of the mountain as it can be quite exposed up there and strong winds will result in some of the higher lifts (Banderitza 2 in particular) being closed.
Restaurants in Bansko
There is a huge range of restaurants in Bansko to choose from after you have enjoyed a day skiing in Bansko!
Bansko is broadly split into three sections for restaurants and nightlife. The most touristy part of town is around the gondola and crossroads. From there, heading south from the crossroads on Pirin Street you have mid-town and then the old town.
The busiest and most expensive restaurants are located in the tourist part, as you would expect, whereas the most authentic and local restaurants are located in the old town where you will find some very cheap places to eat.
Here I pick out a few of my favourites but keep your eyes peeled for a more in-depth blog on the restaurants in Bansko coming soon!
Ginger Bar and Restaurant
Ginger is one of the most convenient restaurants in Bansko! Located right at the crossroads it is impossible to miss and is very close to the gondola and the majority of the ski rentals so whether you have skied down to the town for lunch or you have just dropped off your skis after a long day of skiing in Bansko, Ginger will be one of the first places you see!
Fortunately, Ginger also offers some great food and drink choices. It’s a large restaurant with outdoor seating and an upper terrace which is the perfect place to sit when the sun is shining (which is most of the time in Bansko!). Alternatively, it has a cosy indoor area for warming up if you get cold!
The food is very good and the variety is huge. Ginger offers international cuisine from pizzas and burgers to salads and soups as well as plenty of grilled meat options which are very popular in Bulgaria. The pizzas are highly recommended!
Ginger also has live music in the evenings so you can enjoy your dinner with a good covers artist to serenade you while you dine!
Castello Restaurant
Castello is one of the best-looking restaurants in Bansko! This Greek restaurant is located just along the crossroads in an incredible stone building. It has been tastefully restored and fitted out with lots of space inside to create a cosy but high-end atmosphere.
The food is very good with plenty of Greek-inspired dishes and flavours and it is a great place to get some good seafood in Bansko which is not always easy to find.
The wine is also delicious and all reasonably priced; definitely a good place for a well-priced treat meal!
The Bears
The Bears is located just down from Ginger and is another very good restaurant in Bansko close to the gondola and the heart of the action.
The Bears offer an international menu with a Bulgarian influence and is a good place for lunch or dinner. Great soups and salads offer healthier options for lunch and the grilled meat selection is very good.
Steak House Lazur
If you want steak whilst in Bansko then Lazur is the place to go!
Located in mid-town, next door to George & Mary, the variety and quality of the steak here is unmatched. It is hugely popular with locals and tourists alike and for a specialist steak restaurant, the prices are very reasonable compared to restaurants back home.
Pair the steaks with the delicious local wine and you will have a meal to remember. The menu does offer food beyond steaks including pasta and salads if some of your group prefer something else!
George & Mary Family Restaurant
This place is incredible and certainly one of the best restaurants in Bansko! This family restaurant is located next door to Lazur and offers a cosy atmosphere with high quality and a modern finish. The food presentation is excellent as is the food itself.
George & Mary’s offers a range of international cuisine including a very popular BBQ offering. The drinks are equally good and the prices are very reasonable; this is the type of place you would return again during your trip!
Vezyuva House Mehana
If you want to try a traditional Bulgarian restaurant not too far from the tourist area then we would certainly recommend Vezyuva House. Perfectly located between mid-town and the tourist area this little gem is set back slightly from the main road.
The inside of the restaurant is very traditional with dark wood and cosy colours. The staff are really friendly and the menu is in both Bulgarian and English, offering a range of traditional Bulgarian and Bansko specialities.
The BBQ section is highly recommended as are the vine leaves as a starter. Beers and wine are very good and the prices are very low. It’s a great place to go for a more traditional Bulgarian feast!
Baryakova Mehana
This cosy mehana located in Old Town really does traditional Bulgarian food and atmosphere the best! Huge portions for an unbelievably low price.
The menu is predominantly meaty (as traditional Bulgarian fare is) so may not be the best choice for vegetarians, but for a lovely, affordable meal by an open fire – this is your place.
Après-ski and Nightlife in Bansko
As with the restaurants in Bansko, the busiest of the Bansko nightlife is located near the gondola and around the crossroads at that end of town.
Here is a selection of the options available depending on what you feel like doing after a good day skiing in Bansko!
Happy End Bar
After a day skiing in Bansko, the place to go for some Bansko après ski is Happy End. Located just off the end of the ski road, it’s the first place you see when you hit the town after skiing down the ski road!
If you arrive at the bottom of the ski road after 3 pm it is probably the first place you will hear as well!
Happy End is covered but an open bar with lots of outdoor heaters and some great music. The music changes each day but is guaranteed to be loud and catchy! The drinks selection is great and the crowd are nearly all in their ski gear (and often ski boots).
The later you stay, the more likely you are to see at least a few people dancing on the tables. A great place to unwind after a day skiing in Bansko and to set you up perfectly to enjoy the Bansko nightlife!
Pirin 75
This place reminded us of a classic French après bar. The dark wood and moody lighting, paired with a delicious glass of red wine really made you feel relaxed and cosy!
The staff are really friendly, and later in the evening they have live DJs and it gets super busy – with even the outdoor tables packed!
Queen’s Pub
Queen’s pub is a huge bar towards the top end of Pirin Street and a minute from the crossroads. They offer a good selection of food and drink with lots of booths to sit in but are known for their evening entertainment which provides a more family-friendly version of the Bansko nightlife.
They often have a magician in the evening to entertain the kids so this can be a perfect place to head with a family after a meal (or even join Queen’s pub for dinner, the food is pretty good).
After the magician, they often have a ballet performance followed by the Master of the Dance; a traditional Bulgarian folk dance.
Check the boards outside Queens Pub to find out which nights the live performances are on; they vary but are generally on a few nights a week and make for a good alternative to the other live band options in town.
Aside from the entertainment, Queens Pub also has various pool tables and darts boards as well as the sport on the many screens around the place, although again not always with any commentary!
Morris Bar
If you are after live sport with English commentary then Morris Bar is the place to be! Many bars in the tourist area advertise that they show premier league football (for example) but when you head in there is likely to be music on in the background rather than any commentary.
Morris Bar has plenty of screens for watching the sport and the super friendly staff will be more than happy to find whatever sport you want to watch.
They also have a pool table and darts board, and the drinks are super cheap – 3BGN (£1.30) for a large local beer is difficult to beat in this part of town!
Amigos
Located in the tourist area just across from Ginger and Three Bears, Amigos is a good option at any time of day, but it comes alive after 9.30 pm when the live band starts up!
The Bansko nightlife between say 9 pm and midnight centres around live music and many of the bars in the tourist area offer a band or singer each night.
At Amigos, expect a good crowd for probably the best band in town and plenty of covers of popular rock and indie classics. They play a good set too, often going on until around midnight.
Drinks are well priced, the staff are friendly, the various screens will show sport (although often without commentary as mentioned above!) and they do a decent selection of pub food!
Flash Club
If you have spent some time in Happy End and then enjoyed an evening with the band in Amigos then chances are it’s gone midnight and you are looking for somewhere to carry on the party in Bansko!
There are a few late-night bars/clubs in and around the tourist part of Bansko but Flash is probably the pick of them for the late nightlife in Bansko scene.
It is located further along Nayden Gerov (the same road as Three Bears and Amigos, and right next to Ivan’s Food House) and comes with an 8BGN entry fee (which can be negotiated if you’re up for it!).
Once inside, this will be the closest thing to a club Bansko has with dancers on the stage, drinks offers, good music and a dance floor.
It’s good fun and again not altogether surprising to see a few people still in their ski gear in here! Flash goes on until the early hours although if you arrive here after experiencing the other nightlife in Bansko then time may simply slip away!
Getting from Sofia to Bansko
If you are going skiing in Bansko then chances are you will travel by plane to the capital city of Sofia. From there, it is around 160 kilometres and around a 2.5-hour drive from Sofia to Bansko.
The roads are surprisingly good given the location of Bansko in the mountains, with a new highway covering most of the journey and then clear mountain roads leading up to Bansko.
If you have hired a car then the journey is straightforward and generally, snow will not be an issue. There is not often much snow on the road up to Bansko and it is cleared regularly when it does snow.
If you aren’t going to hire a car then there are a couple of good options to make the trip from Sofia to Bansko.
Private Transfer from Sofia to Bansko
A private transfer or taxi from Sofia to Bansko will cost between 120-150BGN (£50-65) each way. The benefit of a private taxi over a public bus or a minibus service is that the driver will monitor your flight and so will account for any delays in the departure or arrival of your flight.
If you are interested in a private transfer from Sofia to Bansko then we recommend Steve Transfers Company who provided us with an excellent service when we landed in Bulgaria.
They can also arrange transport to and from local points of interest from Bansko including hot springs and baths.
Bus from Sofia to Bansko
There is a shuttle bus service from Sofia to Bansko which departs from Sofia airport and heads to Bansko in around 3 hours. The bus is operated by Traventuria by way of a minibus and they also organise private transfers if you prefer.
For booking a bus from Sofia to Bansko I would recommend the Busbud website where you can see the departure times and prices easily. You can also check out the options on the Traventuria website directly if you prefer.
Head to the Slopes!
Bansko is a great place for both beginners learning to ski, and advanced skiers to both enjoy and be challenged! Whilst we have heard that skiing in Bansko is not the easiest, particularly to learn, I had a blast learning to ski here.
If you are planning to ski in Bansko Bulgaria, and have any questions, pop them in the comments below and we’d be more than happy to help!
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