Bansko Ski Holidays

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Bansko

Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena

Hotel Lion - Bansko

Belvedere Holiday Club

Hotel Mura

Belmont Aparthotel

Hotel Bisev

St Ivan Rilski Hotel, Spa & Apartments

St George Ski & Holiday

Grand Montana

Hotel Perun Lodge

Pirina Club Hotel

Hotel Bansko

Vihren Palace Hotel

Hotel Premier Luxury Mountain Resort

MPM Sport Hotel

MPM Hotel Guinness

Apartments Winslow Highland

Hotel Katarino

Hotel Pirin

Hotel Evelina Palace

Winslow Infinity & Spa Apartments

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Thinking of Bansko?

Situated at the base of the beautiful Pirin Mountains, Bansko is Bulgaria’s largest and most popular ski resort.

With a season that stretches from December to April, Bansko offers everything you’d expect from a Balkan resort: it’s cost-effective, relatively small and particularly great for beginner and intermediate skiers.

We currently have loads of amazing package and accommodation-only deals for Bansko live and bookable on igluski.com, from budget-friendly apartments to luxurious (but still affordable) hotels.

Resort Statistics

Level	Rating	Runs
Beginners		5
Intermediates		8
Advanced		1
Snowboarders
Total Runs		14

Good for

Families
Groups

Resort features Ice Rink Nightclub Health Spa Bowling Skidoo Gym Traditional village resort Lively après ski Resort bus Supermarket Tourist Office Heli-Skiing

Read all Bansko reviews

Resort Statistics

Resort Altitude	935m
Highest Lift	2560m
Total Piste	70km
Longest Run	16km
Directions of Slopes	N
Uphill Capacity	14200
Total Lifts	24
Gondolas/Cable cars	1
Chairlifts	7
Drag Lifts	16
Snow Parks	1

What is Bansko like as a ski resort?

With 75km of pistes, including Bulgaria’s longest continuous run, Bansko has plenty of terrain to keep beginner and intermediate skiers occupied.

The last decade has seen significant investment in Bansko’s infrastructure, which has improved the lift system and the supply of quality hotels and restaurants. As a result, visitors can enjoy an experience that’s not dissimilar to the Alps but at a much more accessible price point - and that includes lively après bars with cheap drinks and music.

The town itself is situated at 935m above sea level, but it has a lift going all the way up to 2,560m. Up there, on a clear day, you’ll be blessed with breathtaking views of Pirin National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Top reasons to go to Bansko

Here's why we think you should head to Bansko this winter.

Affordable: If you’re used to skiing in the Alps, you’ll be amazed at how far your money goes in Bansko. For a six day trip, you’ll spend £230* on your lift pass, £65* on all your ski gear, and as little as £300* on your accommodation. Drinks and food are a bargain too.

Beginner-friendly: As well as the high proportion of nursery and blue slopes, beginners will love the experienced, English-speaking instructors and prices: 5 days of lessons cost under £200*.

Pretty: The cobbled streets and rugged 19-Century stone buildings of the Old Town, as well as the natural beauty of the UNESCO-listed mountains, make Bansko a beautiful destination.

Family-friendly: With generally quiet and gentle slopes, under six lift passes for less than 50p a day, and a week’s worth of kids ski gear rental for under £40*, families are well-catered for.

Decent Après: Bansko puts a Bulgarian spin on the Alpine tradition, with cheap beer, DJs, and shots of fiery rakia, a Balkan staple.

Relatively snow sure: With north facing slopes, a peak height of 2,560m, and 90% snow cannon coverage, snow conditions in Bansko are pretty reliable.

*Prices used for demonstration purposes and subject to change.

What is the accommodation like in Bansko?

Bansko has apartments and hotels to suit all needs and budgets, whether you’re a couple looking for luxury or a group on the hunt for a bargain.

There aren't many Alpine-style chalets in Bansko. Instead, you’ll find a great range of affordable and comfortable three to five star hotels - even the five star hotels offer great value with prices starting from just over £600 for six nights - as well as self-catered and half board apartments that are perfect for small groups and families.

What’s Bansko’s apres scene like?

There’s a handful of lively bars in Bansko that host lively après ski parties, as well as places you can drop by for a quiet pint.

Happy End Bar is one of the most popular, and probably the most authentic Alpine-style après around - it’s open until 2am. Later in the night, you should head to Amigo, a good spot for live music that doesn’t close until 4am. If there’s a match you don’t want to miss, try Lion’s Pub or Hub 360, both of which have big screens for sports. Head to a mehana (tavern) in the old town for authentic Bulgarian food, drinks, and music.

If you’re in Bansko as a family, the Queen’s Pub is a good option. It always has entertainment from 7pm, including a kid-friendly magician, followed by music and dancing. Food and drink is a little on the pricey side, but it does have options for children.

What activities are there to do in Bansko?

If you’re not a skier or if you’re just looking for an alternative activity for the day, Bansko has plenty on offer.

If you still want to explore the majestic mountains, book a snowshoe expedition in Pirin National Park and discover frozen waterfalls and ancient forests. Some trips also include a rejuvenating dip in the thermal springs.

You could also explore the surrounding area on horseback or on an ATV. Or for something more cultural, book a tour to Rila Monastery, one of Bulgaria’s most important historical and architectural sites, which dates back to the 10th Century.

Skiing in Bansko

Discover what it's like to ski in Bankso.

Is Bansko a good place to ski?

Bansko is the largest ski resort in Bulgaria, and offers decent variety across its 75km of pistes.

Beginners especially will enjoy its long, winding blues, and intermediates are well catered for by the 8 red runs. There’s only one black run, so expert skiers won’t find much to challenge them in the way of terrain, but the snow park offers enough sizable jumps and rails to please adrenaline junkies. More advanced skiers could also venture into the backcountry, but we’d advise booking onto a dedicated tour as the avalanche risk can be high after fresh snow and during the warmer months.

There are now 14 lifts in Bansko, including 9 chairs, 4 drags, and one gondola, which usually quietens down after the early rush.

Is Bansko snow sure?

Bansko has many snow sure qualities, including a max resort height of over 2,500m (where the snow depth can be upwards of 125cm), a northerly piste orientation (which shelters the snow from the sun) and 90% snow cannon coverage.

By February, the snow has accumulated enough to provide optimum coverage for the pistes. For example, current snow depth is between 11cm on the lower slopes and up to 90cm on the upper slopes.

Is Bansko suitable for beginners?

Yes, Bansko is suitable for beginners thanks to its gentle, tree-lined runs, top quality, English-speaking instructors, and very affordable lessons and rental prices.

If you’ve had a look at a ski map of Bansko, you’ll have noticed there aren’t any green runs. However, the nursery slope area at the top of the gondola is the perfect place to learn the basics, and the 7km Ski Road (marked out in orange) down from Banderitsa Polyana is a really pleasant beginner-friendly piste down to the resort centre.

Family skiing in Bansko

Bansko is a dream for families, especially those with younger children who are skiing for the first time.

Lift passes for under 6s are under 50p* a day, and they’re only £20* a day for ages 7 to 11. At £150* for 5 days, kids group lessons are also much cheaper than they are in the Alps, and you can rent ski gear for under £40* for the week.

As mentioned above, the nursery area provides a safe environment for kids to learn, and the blues are gentle enough for little skiers. On top of that, because it’s known as a beginner-friendly resort, there’s a more relaxed vibe on the slopes than there can be in larger ski areas.

*Prices used for demonstration purposes and subject to change

Bansko ski holidays FAQs

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions around skiing in Bankso.

When’s the best time to go to Bansko for skiing?

Bansko’s season runs from mid-December to mid-April, with peak snowfall around February. However, thanks to this combination of snow and regional holidays, this is also when the slopes are busiest.

Is Bansko expensive?

Bansko is getting more expensive as it becomes more developed but it’s still significantly cheaper than most Alpine resorts. Many big ticket expenses like accommodation and lift passes can be less than half as much as they are in France or Austria.

Which is better - Bansko or Borovets?

It depends what kind of ski trip you’re after. Bansko is more of an all-rounder resort that’s suitable for families and groups of friends. Borovets has a bit of a reputation as a party town and often attracts stag and hen groups. Both have a good range of runs, but Bansko is bigger.

How much is a pint of beer in Bansko?

You should expect to pay around 4 Lev for a pint of beer in Bansko, which is equivalent to £1.74.

Which airport do you fly into for Bansko?

Fly into Sofia, the Bulgarian capital. From there, the transfer time is around 3 hours. You could also fly into Plovdiv for a slightly shorter transfer (2 hours 30 minutes), though flights aren’t as regular.

Bansko SKI PASS PRICES

The prices for the Bansko lift pass, for the Winter 24/25 ski season can be found below.

Number of days	Adult price	Child price	Senior price
6	€290.00	€121.00	€223.00

Prices are normally based on a full area lift pass and child ages vary by resort. The above are guides, so please call one of the Iglu team for prices for your holiday.

Customer Reviews

Bansko Reviews

Lovely resort - 09/03/2020

Overall

We were a group of 16 adults and 3 children and Bansko was the perfect resort for us. Bars and restaurants are very welcoming and family friendly and the skiing was excellent, with plenty of blue and red runs for the skiers among us.

Apres Ski: 5/5

Nicola Bonfield

bankso - 12/10/2014

Overall

really good

Apres Ski: 5/5

eddie

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