**Updated 8 January 2024**
Skiing in Borovets is one of the most popular winter sports destinations in Europe and for good reason. It offers affordable prices, great apres ski and fantastic great skiing for all levels and ages.
Whilst we were skiing in Bansko we headed to Borovets in Bulgaria for a few days. We’d heard lots of good things and fancied attempting some different runs!
We were definitely not disappointed and I definitely recommend skiing in Borovets. It’s a great and inexpensive alternative to other ski resorts in Europe.
There is something for everyone. There are lots of beginner slopes for those learning to ski, and red and black runs for more experienced skiers. When the sun goes down, you can also go night skiing in Borovets!
Throw in some great bars and restaurants, swimming pools and spas and plenty of entertainment for the kids and you have a great ski holiday option.
I have put together this guide to help you plan the best Borovets ski holiday. I hope it helps!
Want to know more about skiing in Bulgaria? Check out my other blogs:
- My Guide to the Best Bulgaria Ski Resorts
- My guide to Skiing in Pamporovo
- My Complete Guide to Skiing in Bansko
- The Best Bansko Hotels
- My top 10 things to do in Bansko in Winter
Borovets in Bulgaria
Borovets is the oldest Bulgarian ski resort and historically the most popular destination for skiing in Bulgaria.
Located in the Rila Mountains, Borovets is a mountain resort rather than an established town like Bansko. All of the bars, restaurants and hotels are located within easy reach of the gondola and the ski slopes.
As well as skiing in Borovets, the resort offers a lot of fun activities for the summer. Mountain biking, hiking and mountaineering are all popular during the warm summer months.
Borovets is located within the Sofia province. It’s easily accessible for those arriving at Sofia airport, the largest and most popular airport in Bulgaria. I have more information on getting to Borovets later in this blog.
Skiing in Borovets
Skiing in Borovets has been one of the most popular winter destinations in Bulgaria.
As a purpose-built ski resort, it’s very well serviced by lots of bars, restaurants and hotels. Prices are very inexpensive and the resort is great for both families and those looking for a good après-ski scene.
Borovets has a good selection of all-inclusive hotels as well. You can find inexpensive hotels that provide both breakfast and dinner if you want ultimate convenience on your ski holiday!
There’s also a good selection of spas and swimming pools to help you relax after a day of skiing in Borovets!
In total, there are 58 kilometres of slopes when skiing in Borovets. This includes around 25 kilometres of green/blue (easier) runs, 30 kilometres of intermediate runs and 5 kilometres of difficult/black runs. So a good range of pistes for all levels.
There are 13 ski lifts that service the pistes. This includes 1 gondola, 4 chairlifts, 7 drag lifts and a magic carpet (travelator).
Equally, Borovets is the only resort in Bulgaria that offers night skiing so it is a unique experience if you are skiing in Borovets.
The 2022-23 Borovets ski season ran until 16th April 2023.
Borovets Ski Map – Skiing in Borovets
If you are planning to go skiing in Borovets then check out the Borovets ski map in advance.
There is a very helpful interactive version of the Borovets ski map on the Borovets website. On the interactive Borovets ski map, you can click on each of the runs to learn about length and difficulty of the runs.
You can download the Borovets ski map before you head out skiing in Borovets here.
Alternatively, download the My Borovets app which will give you an up-to-date version of the Borovets ski map. It’ll also provide snow condition and lift updates amongst other helpful things!
The Borovets ski map shows that the resort is split into three ski centres. They all have different pistes and cater for different levels of skiers.
The three ski areas are the Markudjik Ski Centre, the Yastrebets Ski Centre and the Sitnyakovo Ski Centre. The Borovets ski map shows that these are all linked by the Musala ski pathway. Let’s take a look at each in turn so you know where to head when you arrive.
Skiing in Borovets – Markudjik Ski Centre
The highest ski centre in the Borovets ski resort is Markudjik. You can access Markudijik from the top of the Yastrebets gondola. If you follow the gondola on the map all the way to the top, you’ll see the Markudjik ski centre is shown to the left.
The Markudjik ski centre is probably the smallest centre in Borovets. As you’ll see on the Borovets ski map, it includes two red runs, one black run and a blue run. One chairlift and 2 button lifts service these runs.
The button lift to the far left of Markudjik ski centre is an experience in itself! It is the fastest and most wild button lift I have ever ridden! It is certainly an experience!
The runs in the Markudjik ski centre are relatively short as you can see from the Borovets ski map. As they are located at the top of the mountain, they are also the most remote. This means this area has some of the quietest skiing in Borovets.
They’re also the most prone to the weather. So when you get off the gondola do look left to check visibility and wind. Even if it is clear lower down the mountain, it can be windy over here.
If you get good weather, these are a good selection of runs for experienced skiers. They are nice and open runs with great views down the mountain. There are also some good off-piste areas between the pistes.
Given its location, there are fewer bars and restaurants up here than at the other two ski areas.
Skiing in Borovets – Yastrebets Ski Centre
If you take the Yastrebets gondola up the mountain and head right instead of left at the top you’ll enter the Yastrebets ski area.
The Yastrebets Ski Centre largely comprises 3 different red runs. The two runs shown to the right of the Yastrebets Express chairlift, are Yastrebets 3 and Popangelov.
These end at the bottom of the Yastrebets Express, so you can head back to the top without having to ride the gondola.
The third run is Yastrebets 1, shown on the Borovets ski map between the gondola and the Yastrebets express lift.
Whilst the map looks like this run misses the Yastrebets Express, it doesn’t! Take a left turn three-quarters of the way down this run and you’ll end up at the Express lift again. This avoids heading all the way back to the gondola.
When we were skiing in Borovets, this was our favourite part of the Borovets ski map. The runs are very long and nice and wide.
They run down through the trees and are generally quieter than Sitnyakovo ski centre. By quiet, I mean we had these runs to ourselves for much of the day when we visited in March.
As this ski area only has red runs, it means (or it should mean!) that the other skiers are also competent skiers which makes for some nice runs down the slopes!
There is also a great place for lunch here, the Finish Line. This popular lunch stop is located on the run down from either Yastrebets 3 or Popangelov runs towards the Yastrebets Express lift. It’s super cosy inside and the food is good (the mish-mash and ratatouille were good!).
Skiing in Borovets – Sitnyakovo Ski Centre
The main ski centre in Borovets is the Sitnyakovo ski centre, shown on the Borovets skip map to the left of the gondola and centred around the Sitnyakovo and Martinovi Express chair lifts.
This is the perfect ski centre for beginners and those wanting to find their feet as there are plenty of green and blue runs here. There are also some red runs and one black run and so if you are a group of mixed ability then this is the perfect starting place.
The other benefit to the Sitnyakovo ski centre is that you do not need to queue for the gondola to reach it. As you will see from the Borovets ski map, the Sitnyakovo and Martinovi express chairlifts start at roughly the same level as the gondola.
The Sitnyakovo ski centre is also where night skiing takes place. You’ll see the nightskiing pistes shown on the Borovets ski map with lightbulbs.
At the bottom of the Sitnyakovo ski centre, you’ll find various hotels (including the famous and luxurious Rila Hotel) as well as the majority of the bars and restaurants in Borovets. So this is the perfect place to head for lunch or for some well-earned après-ski drinks!
The main downside to this ski centre is its popularity! As the most beginner-friendly area and the one located in the heart of the bars, restaurants and hotels it can get busy. That said, the queues on the chairlifts are often shorter than the gondola lift queue.
The other downside is the height. As Sitnyakovo ski centre is located lower down the mountain than the other two ski centres, it gets slightly less snow than the other two. Sitnyakovo usually gets cut up quicker than the other centres due to the amount of people.
That said, it is a great place to learn and also great if you want to avoid the gondola. It is the best place to end the day with the bars and restaurants on the slopes and is home to night skiing.
Skiing in Borovets – The Musala Pathway
The key to the Borovets ski map is the Musala pathway. The Musala Pathway connects the three ski centres together and is a picturesque green/blue run through the trees.
The start of the Musala pathway is at the Markudjik ski centre. You can take the Musala pathway from here to either the Yastrebets ski centre or the Sitnyakovo ski centre.
As you’ll see from the Borovets ski map, the Musala pathway is shown as a purple dotted line and runs all the way to Sitnyakovo ski centre.
If you want to head to Yastrebets instead, then peel off the pathway and take the yellow path shown on the map as crossing under the Yastrebets gondola.
As well as being super useful in connecting the ski centres, the Musala pathway is also good fun!
For more adventurous skiiers, there are also little runs off either side through the trees. Expect lots of little jumps and tree runs which can make the run down even more fun!
Want to know more about Bansko? Check out my other blogs:
- My Guide to the Best Bulgaria Ski Resorts
- My Complete Guide to Skiing in Bansko
- The Best Bansko Hotels
- My top 10 things to do in Bansko in Winter
Borovets Ski Pass – Skiing in Borovets
As with the other resorts in Bulgaria, there are a variety of Borovets Ski Pass options depending on how long you are skiing in Borovets.
The cheapest Borovets Ski Pass is a return ticket on the Gondola Yastrebets or the nearby Quad chair Sitnyakovo Express. This does not include access to any other lifts in the Borovets ski resort and so is primarily for people who wish to head up the gondola on foot.
After that, the Borovets ski passes are sold on a per-day basis, from a 1-day to a 7-day pass.
There’s also a 6-day Borovets ski pass which can be used on 6 non-consecutive days which is a good option if you are in Borovets for more than a week but unlikely to ski every day.
For those skiing in Borovets for the whole ski season, there are two season passes available with a cheaper option if you wish to buy a weekday-only pass.
The prices also vary by age and the full set of prices per age group is set out in the table below. Children under 7 years of age can use the Borovets ski resort for free which is great news for those with little ones!
As I mention below, Borovets offers night skiing during the ski season. This is only included with the season passes otherwise you need to buy a separate Borovets ski pass to enjoy the night skiing.
The full price list for the Borovets ski passes is as follows:
| Borovets Ski Pass 2022 | Adults | 14-22 years and seniors (65+) | 7-13 years old |
| Gondola-only Ticket (return) | 25 BGN | 25 BGN | 15 BGN |
| Morning lift pass (8.30am – 12.30pm) | 75 BGN | 55 BGN | 45 BGN |
| Afternoon lift pass (12pm – 4.30pm) | 65 BGN | 50 BGN | 40 BGN |
| 1 day | 90 BGN | 70 BGN | 55 BGN |
| 2 days | 170 BGN | 135 BGN | 105 BGN |
| 3 days | 250 BGN | 195 BGN | 155 BGN |
| 4 days | 330 BGN | 260 BGN | 205 BGN |
| 5 days | 405 BGN | 315 BGN | 250 BGN |
| 6 days | 500 BGN | 380 BGN | 300 BGN |
| Night Skiing | 55 BGN | 55 BGN | 35 BGN |
| Ski Pass 2023-24 | Adults | Children/Youth (7-22 Years) | Seniors (75+) |
| Season Pass | 1700 BGN | 1000 BGN | 1200 BGN |
| Weekday Season Pass (Mon-Fri, outside holidays) | 1000 BGN | 600 BGN | 600 BGN |
As with the Bansko ski passes, the Borovets ski passes all include insurance and mountain rescue for anywhere on the marked pistes and the chairlifts.
All Borovets ski passes and chairlifts are hands-free as you would expect at a modern ski resort and which means there is no awkward fumbling for your lift pass at the gates!
There are additional discounts for family passes and full details and terms and conditions can be found on the Borovets website.
Skiing in Borovets at Night!
Borovets is the only ski resort in Bulgaria that offers night skiing. If you are skiing in Borovets then I would definitely recommend trying this at least once.
As I mention above, you need a separate Borovets ski pass to go night skiing. The lifts all close at the end of the day by 4.30 pm, even those used for night skiing.
Night skiing takes place from 6.30 pm to 10.00 pm throughout the ski season. There are 4 slopes in total that are illuminated and accessible for night skiing. These are shown on the Borovets ski map by a lightbulb symbol.
There are 5km of slopes in total and include a mixture of green, red and black slopes. The slopes are all located near the main centre of the Borovets ski area. There is one chairlift, the modern Martinovi Baraki Express, together with a couple of button lifts.
The prices for the separate night skiing lift passes are shown in the section above. If you buy a season pass (either the full season pass or the weekday pass), then night skiing is included with your pass.
Night skiing is a great experience. It is a surreal feeling to be skiing in the darkness and with the pistes illuminated by floodlights.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants at the bottom of the night skiing slopes so when you are done, you can ski straight into one of these for a well-deserved drink!
Borovets Hotels
As Borovets is a purpose-built ski resort, there are a number of good-quality hotels built within easy reach of the slopes and the nightlife.
Largely, the Borovets hotels are large of similar quality and are generally very good value. A large number of the Borovets hotels include at least breakfast in the cost of a room. Some also offer dinner as well.
You will also find a number of Borovets hotels with a swimming pool, spa facilities and/or gyms as well as many child-friendly Borovets hotels with games/toy rooms to keep children entertained.
I have picked out two Borovets hotels in this blog but read my blog on the Best Hotels in Borovets here for more recommendations!
The first one I recommend here is Borovets Flora Apart Hotel which is where we stayed when we went skiing in Borovets.
The second is the famous Hotel Rila Borovets which towers over the bottom of the Borovets ski resort and is, in my view, the best hotel in Borovets.
Borovets Flora Apart Hotel
The Borovets Flora Apart Hotel was our chosen destination when we went skiing in Borovets. It’s part of the neighbouring Flora Hotel.
It had everything we needed and was clean and quiet and so I definitely recommend it as a good value option in Borovets.
The hotel is located only 50 metres from the gondola which is ideal for skiing in Borovets. It’s also close to the bars and restaurants in Borovets so the location is great.
The Borovets Flora Hotel is split between 2 connected buildings and 5 apartment buildings. The main buildings contain the hotel rooms, the bar and the pool and spa facilities.
The 5 apartment buildings house studio and apartment rooms and are located near the main hotel building. We stayed in a very comfortable studio which was warm, spacious and clean and was perfect for our stay.
We chose to include breakfast which included a good variety of fruit and cereals, cold meats and cheese and cooked food options. Tea, coffee, pastries, cakes and FRESHLY MADE PANCAKES(!!) were also available and so there should be something for everyone!
Entry to the spa and pool facilities is free if you are a guest in the main hotel and have a surcharge if you are staying in the apartments. It was around 15BGN per person to use. The sauna and steam rooms are very relaxing relaxing after a day of skiing in Borovets.
You can check prices, reviews and availability and book here.
Hotel Rila Borovets
At the top end of the Borovets hotels spectrum is the Hotel Rila Borovets, a luxury spa hotel.
This huge hotel dominates the skyline at the bottom of the Borovets ski resort and offers a luxurious option to the Borovets hotels offering.
Hotel Rila Borovets is located 200 metres from the gondola but a matter of metres from the chairlifts Martinovi Baraki and Sitnyakovo Express chairlifts which are shown on the Borovets ski map (and which host the night skiing).
This hotel offers 180 superior double rooms, 116 signature doubles, 100 superior family rooms, 23 deluxe suites and various maisonettes all the way up to the presidential maisonette. As a result, availability at the Hotel Rila Borovets should not be a problem!
Hotel Rila Borovets also has an indoor heated swimming pool, 2 hot tubs, a gym and thermal relaxation zones.
The hotel offers ski-in and ski-out accessibility and can assist with booking ski hire, lift passes and Borovets ski school lessons.
There are 3 restaurants and has the best après-ski bar in the terrace lounge which overlooks the slopes. Once you are fed and watered, there is even the After Eleven nightclub if you have the energy left!
If you’re after a luxury option, then this is an incredible place to stay – you can book here.
Restaurants in Borovets
There are plenty of Restaurants in Borovets to choose from and they are all located conveniently close to the slopes.
One of the most popular restaurants in Borovets, and my personal favourite, is Mamacita’s Mexican restaurant. This little gem is always busy and so I would definitely book a table in advance to ensure you get yourself a seat.
As the name suggests, this is a Mexican restaurant with the traditional décor to match.
The food is incredible, the drinks are delicious and the live music that accompanies it is infectious! You may start your time here focused on the food but by the end, you will be unable to resist a little singalong with the great house band!
Throw in some sombreros handed out by the staff and you have a Mexican haven in the middle of the Balkans!
If you want a more traditionally Bulgarian restaurant in Borovets then I would suggest Bistro Salamander. It is on the same street as Mamacita’s and is directly opposite the night skiing slopes.
You can expect traditional décor and a roaring fire when you head inside. The staff are really friendly and the food is very good. If you want some traditional Balkan fare and hospitality then I would definitely recommend this great restaurant in Borovets.
Borovets Weather
The Borovets weather is ideal for a ski resort with a good mix of snow and sunny days.
The coldest month of the year is January when the average temperature is -3°C. The Borovets weather gets warmer as the ski season goes on with February averaging -1.5°C and March a toasty 2.5°C!
The average snowfall during those winter months is around 20-25cm per month with an average of 2-3 snow days per month. The most snowfall, historically, actually falls towards the end of the season with average weekly snowfall in March of 33cm and an average of 3.6 snow days per week.
When it is not snowing, you can expect the weather to be bright and sunny with plenty of bluebird days in between. This all adds up to some great snow conditions when skiing in Borovets.
If you are looking for up-to-date Borovets weather before you head out then take a look at the Accuweather forecast.
For the latest Borovets snow forecast then head over to Snow Forecast for the latest information.
Borovets Webcam
If you are going skiing in Borovets then keep an eye on the Borovets webcam to check out the conditions on the slopes. I definitely have a look each morning to help me decide how many layers I need to put on before I head out!
The Borovets webcam can be found on the Borovets website and show various sites within the Borovets resort including the top of each of the chairlifts.
You can also take a look at the Borovets webcam, together with the Borovets ski map, to try and visualise the resort before you arrive!
I would also recommend downloading the My Borovets app before you arrive. This will give you access to the Borovets webcam through the app.
The app also gives you up-to-date information about which slopes are open, which chairlifts are operating, the current weather and the Borovets snow forecast. You can download the My Borovets app from your app store on either IOS or Android.
Getting to Borovets
Getting to Borovets is not too difficult considering it is a ski resort located in a mountain range! The main roads between the major airports and cities to Borovets are relatively new and in good condition. So even in the middle of the snowy season, the roads are accessible and easy to navigate.
Most people heading out skiing in Borovets will be arriving at either Sofia airport or Plovdiv airport.
Borovets to Sofia, or vice versa, is only 75 kilometres and just over 1.5 hours to drive. Most of the drive is on a motorway and so as I mentioned the drive is quite straightforward if you are planning to hire a car.
Equally, there is plenty of parking in Borovets and many hotels offer parking with their rooms.
If you want to arrange a private transfer for the journey from Borovets to Sofia, then a good option is Chris Borovets Transfers which offers return transfers from €80. Chris Borovets Transfers is run by an English couple who specialise in transfers from Sofia to Borovets.
They can also assist with day trips to surrounding tourist spots near Borovets and have plenty of recommendations for activities away from the slopes!
If you are arriving at Plovdiv airport then the drive is slightly longer at 125 kilometres which will take around 2.5 hours to drive. Again the roads are well maintained and accessible even in snowy conditions and so hiring a car is a viable option.
If you prefer a private transfer then I would suggest Around Bulgaria which offers a transfer from Plovdiv from €75 or from Sofia for €65 each way.
Have a ball in Borovets!
I hope you have found this guide to skiing in Borovets helpful. Borovets is a great resort for a skiing holiday, whether as a group of friends, a couple or a family with children. It is also very inexpensive compared to its counterparts in the Alps so makes for a nice change!
If you do head out skiing in Borovets then I hope you have the best time. If you have any queries or questions just let me know and I would be happy to help.
Please do follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and/or Facebook to keep up with my adventures in Bulgaria and around the world! I will continue to produce more blogs to hopefully help you make the most of your travels!
For now, for more inspiration for skiing in Bulgaria read my other blogs below!
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