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Home » Our Ski Resorts » Skiing in Bulgaria » Borovets

Hidden amongst the pine forests covering the northern slopes of Bulgaria's Mount Musala, Borovets is the biggest and oldest ski resort in the country. Like many resorts in Bulgaria, Borovets has had a lot of money invested in lift and facility upgrades, and this continues today. This means that now you can experience the same cheaper prices with better skiing and a much more modern resort.

The resort sits on the highest peak in the Balkan Peninsula, surrounded by the Rila mountains - making for stunning scenery. The slopes are grouped in three regions - Sitnqkovo & Martinovi Baraki, Markudjjk and Qstrebec. With an excellent ski school and over 200 instructors, Borovets is a great place to head to learn to ski or snowboard. There are great nursery slopes near the centre of the village, and fantastic slopes all over the mountain for intermediate skiers. But for the experts, the terrain can be a little limited.

The nightlife is fun and lively, in buzzing cafes, bars and clubs set in beautiful pine forests. You'll also get to check out traditional Bulgarian music and dancing. The area is full of history with beautiful attractions like the monastery built in the 10th century. One wall in particular is covered in beautiful paintings and brilliant frescoes. Borovets isn't as attractive as many of the big alpine resorts and it can still be found lacking in grooming and expert terrain, but for those who want to learn to ski in a fun, friendly town and experience a little culture outside their own on a budget - Borovets is a great choice. Go now before it gets too popular.

Borovets ski ratings:

Beginner

Intermediate

Expert

Après Ski

Family Skiing

Ski Schools

Resort Size 

All Bulgaria ski resorts: 

  • Bansko

    Bansko Skiing Holidays

    After multi million dollar investment, Bansko now offers skiers a modern resort with quick lifts at an affordable price

  • Borovets

    Borovets Skiing Holidays

    This hidden gem is the oldest ski resort in Bulgaria, nestled within pine forests offering affordability & buzzing nightlife

  • Pamporovo

    Pamporovo Skiing Holidays

    The sunniest ski resort in Bulgaria, Pamporovo offers wide open slopes for intermediate snowboarders  

 

More on Borovets:

Borovets for Different Ski Abilities

Beginner skiers

The instructors at Borovets; ski school are well known for their friendliness and skill - they'll have you looking good on the slopes in no time. The nursery slopes sit at the base of the Martinovi Baraki area, and once you've mastered these there are plenty of easy slopes for you to branch out onto. Try the pistes near the Sitnyakovska chairlift or at the top of the Yastrebets Mountain.

Intermediate skiers

The big selection of wide-open runs at Borovets suit intermediate skiers well. These are the kind of runs that will build your confidence especially if you haven't been skiing for too long. There are great slopes to be found above the tree line in the Markoudjik sector, and the efficient lift system will take you quickly all over the resort. You'll get to experience all kinds of terrain, from wide sunny bowls to long swooping trails through the trees. Make sure to try the long downhill run from the top of the gondola.

Expert skiers

Expert skiers can test themselves on the World cup competition run, some off-piste and the other pistes on Qstrebets, but apart from that they'll have to make do to the more challenging intermediate runs. This isn't too much of a hardship though - the scenery is beautiful.

Borovets Ski Schools

The largest ski school is Borosport, with more than 200 instructors, many of whom speak English. The school has a great reputation as friendly, warm and skilled.

 Après Ski and Off the Mountain Activities

 Après Ski

There are bars, pubs, cafes and night clubs galore in Borovets, which always seems to be buzzing. The resort is known for its nightlife as much as it's skiing - and you can have a great night out without breaking the bank. The happy hours are legendary and you'll find a wide variety of bars and clubs from chilled, relaxed places to sip a cocktail to late night dancing havens. Mamacitas, Bonkers disco and Buzz bar are always full of people. For those wanting something more low key, you can check out Bulgarian national folk music and horo dancing at many restaurants. You can also eat home cooking at in a local Bulgarian home. There is a variety of restaurants serving a mix of Bulgarian dishes and international food. Most are cosy and good value rather than upmarket haute cuisine. Try the pasta and pizza at La Bomba Venecia, or go really traditional at Hrima.

Off mountain activities

The area around Borovets is packed with natural and historical beauty. Definitely take some time off the slopes to take in the sights. Check out the ancient Rila Monastery and take a day trip to Sofia. The 2,200 year old city has stunning architecture including beautiful churches and cathedrals. There are stunning scenic winter walks, skidoo safaris, tennis courts, bowling, wine tasting, horse-drawn sleigh rides, quad biking, tobogganing and spa treatments.

How to get to Borovets

by air

The nearest airports to Borovets are Sofia (70km, 1 hr 30 mins coach) or Plovdiv (130km, 2 hrs 30 mins coach).