Altitude:
Resort — 925m
Max — 2,600m
Skiing: 70km
Transfer time:
Sofia - 2h15; Plovdiv - 2h40;
Best for
Après ski
Low budget
Beginner friendly
Nightlife
Non skiers
Find your way around on and off the piste:
Bansko piste and resort mapATOLprotected
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Fancy hitting the slopes without forking out a fortune? If so, you can't beat ski holidays in Bansko. The resort - the biggest in Bulgaria - is perfect for a cheap ski getaway and has a nice range of slopes to suit every level of skier.
The resort town is effortlessly picturesque thanks to its centuries-old heritage, plus you'll find around 70km of prime pistes to tackle across the majestic Pirin Mountains. The majority of the runs here are blues and reds, making it an ideal option for newbies to skiing or family groups. After more of a challenge? You'll still have opportunities for off-piste exploits with a guide.
Bansko itself is a pretty unique mountain town and has loads to keep you entertained off the slopes, including the UNESCO World Heritage Pirin National Park. Sample traditional Bulgarian cuisine, buy a round of pints for an absolute steal and then fall asleep at a luxurious hotel where rooms cost a fraction of those in more mainstream resorts. What's not to love?
Skiing in Bansko
With its great snowfall and modern network of lifts, Bansko is the ideal spot for a first snow sports adventure. The resort's pistes are spread across two sections of a larger ski area, with most of the runs geared towards novice skiers or people who have only been on a few ski holidays in the past.
Most of the runs in Bansko end at the gondola station, making it a good pick for mixed ability groups who still want to grab lunch or get their après ski on together. As there's only one set of lifts to take you to the top of the slopes, it's a good idea to set off early or to wait for the mid-morning rush to end to avoid queuing.
This is a great ski resort to visit if you're a complete beginner, with over a third of Bansko's slopes being easy blues (including the longest slope at the resort). Great nursery slopes can be found at the top of the main gondola and we can even set you up some extremely affordable lessons with one of the resort's awesome English-speaking instructors. Due to Bulgaria's budget-friendly prices, Bansko is an ace option if you're not yet hooked on skiing. It's got everything you'll need for a fantastic first week on the slopes, plus you'll be able to get your skills up to scratch for future trips to more premium resorts in France or Italy.
For those with a little bit more skiing knowledge, Bansko is a dream destination. There's a solid number of red runs to choose from, although you'll likely end up repeating your favourites as it's definitely possible to complete all of them in a day if you're speedy. Bansko's après ski scene is also an excellent way to pass the time and much cheaper than Alpine resorts.
While Bansko is better matched to less experienced skiers, you'll still find a few challenging runs to pique your interest. The Tomba black run (which has been used for World Cup events) is a must, with some steep sections which can be even tricker if it's icy. As Bansko is blessed with great snowfall and plenty of snow cannons, the off-piste skiing is some of the best in the Balkans. We can even hook you up with a local guide to show you the best routes.
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"Excellent service and effortless for me"
The whole thing was very smooth and effortless and it was really handy to have Packed on whatsapp meaning you could as a question anytime and it was fairly informal too! I will definitely be recommending Packed to others!
Simon Prince
"So helpful! Got back to me in a day with several options"
They were so helpful and quick to respond. Provided me with a variety of options that were so nice and everything sorted.
Trusted Customer
"Excellent"
Excellent service, very responsive and knowledgeable. Second time using these guys and all has gone well both times. Definitely recommend, see you again next year!
Oliver Salisbury
"TOP customer service!!!"
I approached Packed with a work project, searching for a Ski trip for 50 people. Right from the beginning the customer service was super, within a couple of days I had 2 trips that fitted the criteria perfectly. Due to the nature of my job I was unable to progress quickly and was back & forth with questions and requests, but nevertheless Ed Mellor continued to be professional, extremely helpful and patient. There was never a delay is receiving responses to my many emails.
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"Responsive and helpful, thank you!"
Excellent response times, nice query too small and just made my life so much easier. Thank you!
Bhargav Trivedi
Great team, great service. Will definitely use again.
Lewis Jones
"Simple, fast and super helpful"
I saw an advert on Instagram and thought it’d be worth a shout as I was having a hard time booking a ski trip for myself and 6 mates. From start to finish it was easy messaging through WhatsApp and they found brilliant deals for us. Would happily recommend to anyone thinking of using them. Ed was fantastic and super fast to reply and keep my up to date
Trusted Customer
"Excellent service - 1st class"
Would absolutely recommend. It made booking a group holiday so much easier and completely removes the hassle. will definitely be using again.
Trusted Customer
I've booked with My Swft for the last 3 years, 4 holidays in total. This year was even better. The new online booking is really simple to be able to share with the group and get people to choose a location. Then everyone managing their own booking makes it even easier for the group leader!
Adam Burrage
"Fantastic Service"
Fantastic service for all aspects of the holiday. Made our leaves easy.
Melissa Harris
"Excellent service and highly recommend!"
Very good service from the team at MySwft. Very responsive to messages and would highly recommend using them...I certainly will be again!
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Bansko ski resort
Bansko is pretty big by ski resort standards, with the town itself split into two main areas. At the heart of the older side is the charming UNESCO-listed Old Town that boasts cobbled streets and dozens of heritage sites. Bansko's so-called 'new' town is where the party's at though, with the resort's main strip of shops, eateries and bars running right through the centre.
Due to the sheer size of the resort, you might have to walk a bit to reach the gondolas if you've chosen accommodation around the outskirts. Nevertheless, there are handy buses you can hop on if you're trying to save time or are a little too tipsy to stumble back to bed in the dark. Most of the accommodation provides private transfers to and from the lifts.
When it comes to eating and drinking, Bansko has a huge selection of venues. The vibe is much more Eastern European than your typical Alpine resort, with bars and clubs typically cheap and cheerful - and a whole lot of fun. What's more, Bansko's proximity to the Pirin National Park affords you awesome views of forests which are rumoured to house bears and wolves.
