Skiing in Bulgaria (Bansko)

I’m looking at booking a last minute, few days skiing in Bansko in February.  I was a relatively good skiier but haven’t been for 10years or so, and MrsReady has been once before but picked it up quite quickly.  It looks a decent place, not the biggest/highest ski area but it’s a relatively cheap deal and on paper looks perfect to dust down the Salopettes and ease back into it.

Anyone been?

Went years ago.

Not a huge ski area but certainly enough to keep you entertained, what is there is well maintained.

When I went the town was a bit dodgy with quite a few strip clubs and big fellas in dark coats, it had a proper Eastern Bloc feel. I suspect that will have changed now though.

I haven’t been there for a while but when I went last (outside of ski season) it was pretty tired looking.
Main issue I believe (unless this has changed) is the one old gondola from the town up to the ski area, where there are morning queues into the hours just to get to the beginning of the days skiing.

a lad i ride with goes at least once a year, 2.5 euros a pint

There are a few who have who kick around on the annual ski thread. As far as I’ve read, it’s decent if you go with reasonable expectations and they are having good weather (as it’s not all that high it doesn’t always get a lot of snow). However, I’m commenting based on others opinions rather than my own, not very helpful.

We went in 2020 just before lockdown. Gondola queues could be long, but we got there at 7am for open and got onto a gondola within 10 mins or so. We had a great time – good snow, cheap beer, nice hotel plenty of slopes for novices like us.  Food was mainly different forms of fried meat; I think if you were veggie or even worse Vegan you’d struggle to eat.

I’d happily go back.

A strong avoid from me. It’s cheap for a reason, and if you want to rekindle the love, go somewhere that is lovely. If i’m spending hard-earned I want to know i’ll be skiing not queuing

This tells you all you need to know about the gondola – https://skibansko.bg/blog/surviving-bansko-gondola-queue/  not a huge improvement by the looks of it. Never been, just horror stories from a mate who went and drank a lot of Eu2.5 pints in town cos the gondola wasn’t even working a couple of days. Put him off skiing and don’t think he’s bothered since

I’ve been to Bansko many times and loved it. You can live like a king on very little money. The last few times I went, there were a number of dodgy looking clubs opening up in the town (2016 was my last visit), but the regular places were still great with food and drink at unbelievable prices.

The ski area is great, all the complaints about the gondola queues are valid….if you don’t rock up to the gondola until later in the morning. We never had more than a five minute wait in the mornings because we made sure we were there early to get the fresh snow and powder. I loved the place and would go back in an instant…if my wife would let me.

Here’s the one thing, and I know the folk who know me are smirking and waiting for it…

Make sure you’ve got good holiday insurance before you go. I’m eternally grateful that I did because I had a bad accident on the slope (broken back), was treated superbly on the mountain, but once into the Bulgarian health system it got very frightening. Incredibly dedicated health care staff working with zero resources. It’s not a rich country, you’re getting your holiday on the cheap, but be aware that if it goes tits up, you’re not going to get the care and support you’d expect elsewhere.

My OH went there with her kids the week before Xmas jsut gone..
Had a great time. Got up early and no issues with teh queues.. had a lovely time by all accounts.

DrP

This tells you all you need to know about the gondola – https://skibansko.bg/blog/surviving-bansko-gondola-queue/ not a huge improvement by the looks of it. Never been, j

That’s pretty damming TBH. Would put me right off.

I went years ago sometime 2016-2018.  It’s fine not great.  It’s cheap so your money goes a long way.

Theres only 1 main gondola going up and I think 1 run coming back down.  So in the morning there are huge queues to go up and the 1 run is very busy in the evening with folks of all abilities.

Infrastructure was a mix of some old lifts and some brand new lifts, there was certainly signs of new investment, don’t know if that carried on?

The bars are “stag party” type bars and strip clubs.  So not great for a normal chill with the Mrs / Family in the afternoon … but then that might have been the crowd I went there with wanting that stuff so thats what I got to experience.

Snow was good when I went there, not a massive area but good enough for a short trip or as a beginner.  Found the hospitality and quality of service on the mountain restaurants was very good and warm.

Can’t comment on the skiing, but was there in the summer MTB’ing with out the park mtb’ing, really liked the town, food was great and, as others have said, not expensive, unlike Alpe D’Huez, where I’ve just had a week with the family and spent a small fortune!!?

Don’t miss some of the great spas with natural outdoor hot springs, must be a treat to unwind in  after a long day on the slopes!!

I went some 20odd years ago, booked it last minute. It was one of those bad snow years and Bulgaria looked to have some decent snow, according to the reports. They had a snow covering but it was so cold it was like concrete.

I’ve been quite a few times and never had a bad experience, and always lucky to have decent snow, it seems to be pretty good this year.

The main Gondola can be a nightmare, but as others have said, get there when it opens and you’ll be OK. Once you’re up the mountain it’s fine and the infrastructure is pretty good. There used to be a webcam on lift queue.

If you’re not going as a package, TSAKIRIS Ski & Snowboard Bansko is great for hiring kit and for a small fee they’ll give you a lift up the mountain in the morning.

The ski area isn’t huge and the runs will all be pretty cut up by mid afternoon, another reason to get up early.

There are some decent bars in the newer part of town. Also some great places to eat in the old town.

Must admit, we did try Andorra as another lower cost option and preferred it there. Not as cheap but a much bigger ski area.

I was there a few months ago, biking not skiing. They were making improvements to the main streets which were looking good. There were lots of nice restaurants with good, cheap food and beer.

I never noticed any strip clubs. Might have to look harder next time 😉