News & TipsBulgaria as a top destination for beginners in skiing
Before you leave
Being a newbie in skiing can be a little intimidating – all your friends and family are packing up their ski equipment, excitedly getting ready to hit the slopes. Meanwhile you’re dreading the moment you’re going to face the downward slope (which always looks a little too steep) because you have only skied a few times before or even never. Also, skiing is not like riding a bicycle – if you don’t do it for a while, you need at least a day to get back into it.
The only way to get over this uneasiness is to enroll in a good ski school with a professional teacher who will show you step-by-step how to stay in control of your skis. As my ski teacher in Bulgaria taught me, it’s all about learning how to fall. Once you master this technique, the fear goes away because you know you always have a plan B.
Bulgaria's growth as a ski destination for beginners
I’ve been skiing in Bulgaria since I was 6 years old and those early childhood memories will always hold a special place in my heart. Since then, which is about 30 years ago, Bulgaria’s ski resorts have seen a huge growth in terms of infrastructure, hotel base and variety of winter activities. Some visitors just want to have fun and enjoy the night life; others are real ski enthusiasts that only stop for a lunch break in one of the many restaurants on the ski slopes. However, when it comes to families with children, adults with no previous experience in skiing or children's winter camps, a significant part of the tourists come to Bulgaria because of its reputation as a top budget ski destination for beginners. Here’s a breakdown of the 3 most popular ski resorts in Bulgaria and why you should choose them:
Bansko
Bansko is without a doubt the most popular ski resort in Bulgaria for tourists. It’s close to Sofia (2 – 2,5 hrs) and to get there, you drive almost entirely on a highway. It also has many mineral springs nearby in the towns of Banya and Dobrinishte, which makes it a perfect ski & SPA getaway.
This is the case with all the winter resorts, but because in Bansko there is only one main cabin lift (the 8-seater Gondola) that takes everybody up to the slopes, even to the beginner ones, it can get a bit packed, especially in the morning. While Bansko offers some very good ski schools, I would choose to plan my vacation during the workweek to avoid all the stress of the morning rush. Once you get the hang of carrying your skis and walking with your ski shoes, you’ll be ready to join the rest of the eager crowd.
Borovets
Borovets is perhaps the number 1 favorite resort for Sofia’s ski enthusiasts because it’s only 1-1,5 hr away. Many locals go early in the morning and come back in the evening without needing to spend the night. The resort also boasts a very long-standing ski school tradition as it is the oldest and also the highest ski resort in Bulgaria.
Another plus of coming here is that there are plenty of options for beginners all over the resort. Unlike Bansko, the different lifts are more spread out and there are plenty of places in the lower areas where people can learn the basics without needing to get on the Gondola. Starting with the basics on the slope in front of Hotel Rila, which is the official Borosport School Area, the students can then go to a variety of blue/green ski runs even all the way to the Markudjik peak, which is on 2550m.
My personal favorite - Pamporovo
Saving the best for last, I can’t help, but be prejudiced about this resort. Maybe precisely because it’s harder to reach than all the others (4hrs driving from Sofia), it has kept a more cozy, less crowded feel, which is perfect for people who are just starting out with skiing. Additionally, all the slopes are nestled in beautiful pine forests, which makes the whole experience that much more tranquil. Every time I come to ski here, it never ceases to amaze me how beautiful and serene the nature is. All the trees covered in snow – it just makes you want to put on your skis and explore.
The ski schools and teachers here are some of the best in Bulgaria and definitely worth driving the distance. In any case, the swerving road up the Rhodope Mountain is part of the resort’s charm, raising the anticipation with each turn. I would recommend to book at least 5 nights in a hotel here (during the peak season, this is the minimum anyway), so that you can have at least 4 full days of ski lessons to build a solid foundation.
In any case, when it comes to skiing, what’s most important is to keep practicing as often as possible. If you’re interested to start this journey, we have some excellent ski packages ready for the 2025-26 season, which can be easily arranged with private or group ski lessons. If you have any questions, we are one call or e-mail away!
