The Best ski resort in Eastern Europe?
Nestled at the foot of the Pirin Mountains and next to Pirin National Park, Bansko is considered the best ski resort in Bulgaria. With the magnificent mountain peaks of Vihren and Todorka as its backdrop, reliable snowfall from December to April and a combination of traditional and modern Hotels, it’s one of Eastern Europe’s best-skiing destinations.
Todorka Peak (2746m)
This review will show you the most important things you need to know before heading to Bansko. We will share clever tips to help you make better decisions, save lift queue time and money, and have an enjoyable holiday in Bansko.
Ski area
Bansko has 70km of piste, rising from town level at 936m to an altitude of 2600m, and with reliable snow cover between December and April. It has a relatively modern ski lift system that will get you anywhere you need. Bansko is a small ski resort that offers great value for money. It has 8 blue runs, including 2 ski roads for those completely new to skiing. For more advanced skiers, it offers 8 red runs and the black Tomba run, named after the former World Cup alpine ski racer Alberto Tomba.
A relatively modern ski lift system that will get you anywhere you need. Banderitz 2 and Plato lifts.
70km of piste, rising from town level at 936m to an altitude of 2600m. Bandseritza 2 and Todorka chairlifts. runs 2 & 4 reds. 3 & 5 blue in the distance.
Half of Bansko’s runs are blue. For newbies, it’s best to start at the ski trails, but if you have some runs under your belt, you can take the shiligarnik, Mosta and Plato lifts, which will lead you to the major blue runs: 11, 3, 5 and 10.
If you are in need of a ski school, check out Pirin 2000, Bansko’s ski school, located only meters away from the gondola. The prices vary depending on whether you go one on one or with a group. 6 days of school in a group of up to 8 people will only cost you 155 euros in total if you choose the 2 hours a day option or 242 euros for 4 hours a day. However, for 6 days of school in a one-on-one session, 4 hours a day will set you back 785 euros, which can be expensive for some, but well worth it. 4 hours of private lessons for 2 people will cost 200€ and an additional 30€ for each further person which is 65€ per person for 4 hours of private lesson. Bear in mind that these are prices for mid-season and prices during the high season do get about 10% higher. The high season is from Dec 22nd until Mar 7th.
shiligarnik 4-seater chairlift on the left. Todorka 6-seater chairlift in the distance
If you are advanced or intermediate, then the Banderitza lift and the 6 -seater Todorka are your best friends for the stay. They can get you anywhere on the west side of the resort, where nearly all of the red runs are, plus the only black run. Bansko has 14 lifts, including one Gondola, six 4-seaters and two 6-seaters. Bansko doesn’t offer much space for advanced skiers, but the slopes are well-groomed, and plenty of snow canons keep them fresh.
the Banderitza 1 4 -seater chairlift
Bear in mind that due to the small ski area and the cheap prices, the slopes can get really packed during holidays and weekends. Really really packed. So get to the slopes bright and early for open runs and fresh snow.
Unlike its low-cost competitor, Gudaury, Bansko doesn’t have as many options for free riders. They do exist if you know where to look, but that should only be attempted with the help of a local guide.
off-piste only with a qualified guide here.
6 days of skipass for adults will cost you 230 euros for adults and just shy of 100 euros for kids 7 to 12 years old. The local currency is the Bulgarian Lev which is around half a Euro.
To get to the ski area, all the town, which is quite big for a ski resort, has to take the long gondola which takes a 27-minute ride to Bunderishka Polyana, the base of the main part of the ski area at 1600 meters. From here you can take the Banderiza 1 & 2 lifts to get to the top. To ski down from here you take ski road number 1 which is a 10km long easy blue run.
The long gondola. a 27-minute ride to Bunderishka Polyana.
The queue to the gondola can take up to 2 hours(!) In the high season. On these days the town organizes several ski buses that carry people to the top station, which is a 20 minutes ride, but the line to the ski bus is also 45 minutes. There are other tricks to avoid the 2 hours queue, which we will reveal in the insiders’ tips chapter later in this review.
the queue to the gondola and bus station
Where to stay in Bansko?
Bansko is big. Of course, the best location is next to the Gondola on Pirin Street, but after saying so, you must know that most hotels, for sure at the 4-star
and above Hotels have free shuttle service to the lift and back. You can also leave your gear at the Gondola building for extra cost.
The best hotel here and the best-situated hotel is Kempinski*****. Ski in and right on the main lift. Click here for the best deals on Kempinski Hotel*****.
A much Cheaper 5-star recommended option, 400 m from the lift, is Amira Boutique Hotel*****. It has a free shuttle service to the lift. Click here for the best deals on Boutique Hotel Amira*****.
A cheaper option than this is Hotel St George****. It is located 600 m from the ski lift but also has its own free shuttle service to the lift. Click here for the best deals on Hotel St George****.
We recommend not booking Halfboard in 4-star/fewer hotels. Many times, the dinner can be disappointing. Bansko has many good restaurants. It turns out tastier and cheaper.
The town
Bansko is a resort town with a traditional centre that still has old stone buildings and cobbled streets that create a vintage vibe. In the old town, you can find an old church from the 12th century. A lot of accommodations are small B&B, still locally owned, while self-catered apartments are available as well. The old town is also home to cosy, traditional bars and restaurants where a good meal will set you back a fraction of what it would cost in Western resorts.
in the old town, you will find traditional restaurants
What is typical here is the Machana – traditional restaurants that change into dancing halls as the evening progresses and the rakia, the local drink, flows.
The rakia, the local drink
A long pedestrian street with some shops connects the old centre and the new centre. Newer hotel developments with pools and spas have sprung up around the base of the gondola. This is where the nightlife activities take place. It does get pretty lively as you’ll often party on well into the night.
A long pedestrian street with some shops connects the old centre and the new centre.
APRÈS SKI & NIGHTLIFE
Like the resort itself, Bansko’s apre scene is small, but it gets the job done. The midway area is where most of the action happens. You can get a drink and some food at the buderishka station which has 5 spots side by side: The tea bar kettle, the barrels, the alpine bar, the V.I.P and the sticks, making Buderishka plateau the main place for refuelling during the day for those red and black run lovers. If you’re a beginner, The Shiligarnika station has you covered with the Bla bla and the alpine bar, or you can head up the hill with the Shiligarnik lift for a quick bite at the Kozela.
Bansko’s apres scene is small, but it gets the job done. Bunderishka station.
But where Bansko really excels, certainly for a modest resort, is the nightlife. When the site is packed, the night comes alive, and young people from all over get the bar hopping going.
Nightlife. Where Bansko truly excels
Here are some of our favourite spots to hit After dinner at one of Bansko’s warm and folksy restaurants: the amigo is a good place for an early drink. It has live shows of cover bands that play mainstream classics with a fun vibe.
The disco is a bit more wild, with more upbeat music and drinking contests.
The oxygen is a great spot for some hardcore dancing and drinking.
The flash club has a bit more of a bling vibe to it, like a New York or London club.
If you’re all worn out, and all that drinking made you hungry, Bansko has you covered with some late-night spots, especially for those with a sweet tooth.
If you’re looking for a night out, but not the dancing type, hop on to the Platinum casino for a bit of thrill. The platinum casino has everything to offer, from roulette to blackjack tables and slot machines.
Platinum casino
HOW TO GET TO bansko
The closest airport to Bansko is Sofia Airport. If you travel by car the trip should take about 2 to 2 and a half hours.
Here’s a link to the best online flight engine.
Here’s a link to the best online car rental website.
We will get a small commission if you buy through our links. This way, you will support us in making better videos for you and future tools on the website.
Traventuria operates a bus from Terminal 1 to Bansko Bus Station once daily. Tickets cost up to 25 euro and the journey takes 3h 40m.
Pros: Bansko has value for money in all areas, from the cost of accommodations to a pint of beer which is a nice seaway to its second pro, its vivid Nightlife scene, making it great for families and younger crowds alike.
Cons: It has a Small ski area, which makes it very limited for expert skiers and the fact that it can get really crowded rather quickly, makes it less desirable for those who can afford more expensive resorts that offer more pistes to explore.
RATINGS
So here are our ratings for Bansko:
Beginners: 8
Intermediate: 5.5
Advanced: 5
Snowboarders: 5.5
Freestylers: 4.5
freeriders:5
Apre Ski: 7
Nightlife: 8.5
Resort Charm:6
Value for Money: 9
Total score: 5.7
INSIDER TIPS
As we promised before, here are the tricks to avoid the long line to the lift.
One way is to add money and buy a VIP skipass. A 6 day VIP skipass will cost you around 330 Euros, but do check before you go, as the price does change from season to season.
A second option is to purchase tuition. The ski school has its own line, which is way smaller, but it does get you faster up the hill. Another idea is to take a taxi to the top station. It costs around 20€, in the local lev currency.
the infamous gondola
Bansko is a compact ski resort that can get you that ski fix you need without burning a hole in your wallet. It offers great value for Families and Young skiers looking for their night to be as fun as their days.
If you are looking for a cheap ski destination, you should check out our great review about Gudauri.
Ski Resorts Video Community will be happy to read about your Bansko experience:
-
- Amigo
-
- in the old town you will find traditional restaurants
