Forecast today: Clear skies
It now boasts the region’s best lift system and a nice 48km network of pistes. In recognition of this development, Bansko now hosts annual World Cup races and quite rightly has shifted a lot of its former reputation as a bargain basement resort. Yes prices are still cheap, but you get great value for money and the quality of every facet of the resort has significantly improved – from the standards of accommodation to the quality of the food.
This has not resulted in a complete loss of Bansko’s identity however, with the centre of town holding on to its cobbled streets, cosy bars and locally inspired restaurants. The town is lively and there is a good après ski scene, no doubt fuelled somewhat by the low prices, making this a really good all round resort for a great value ski holiday.
The only way up the mountain is via the main access gondola, which quickly whisks you up to Bundarishka at 1635m. Here, the best beginner zone can be found on a gentle plateau – there is another small sector in the town, but the snow is more reliable further up. Longer blues are available via the Kolarski Express above Shiligarnika.
For more confident skiers and boarders, the revamped Todorka chair and the two Banderitza quads serve wide, open reds, which are a blast first thing in the morning with fresh corduroy. These finish steeply at the foot of the World Cup piste, but apart from that there is little to interest advanced skiers. Some off piste is available, especially if you hire a guide and go ski touring, but thick trees low down and cliffs high up limit the available terrain.
Bansko is a big resort town with a historic, traditional centre. It is dominated by old stone buildings, capped with terracotta tiles, and the cobbled streets make it an attractive place. A lot of accommodation in small, locally run B&Bs or in self-catered apartments is on offer here. This part of town is also home to the cosiest and most traditional bars and restaurants in town, where a good meal will set you back a fraction of the cost of a meal in the Alps.
Newer hotel developments have sprung up around the base of the gondola, several of which are well appointed and home to pools and spas. This is where the après ski activity is focussed and it does get very lively, with the party often continuing on well into the night.
Wed 18 Dec | Thu 19 Dec | Fri 20 Dec | Sat 21 Dec | Sun 22 Dec | Mon 23 Dec | Tue 24 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Fri 27 Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||
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AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Clear skies |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair | Mainly fair |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Generally clear |
Light snow |
Light snow | Snow |
Light snow |
Freezing fog | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Snow shower |
Snow |
Snow | Light snow |
Occasional snow |
Freezing fog | Partly cloudy |
Freezing fog |
Light snow shwr | Light snow shwr |
Occasional snow |
Light snow shwr | Freezing fog |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.8 cm | 4.2 cm | 13.2 cm | 2.2 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 4.5 cm | 16.2 cm | 18.4 cm | 5.3 cm | 0.8 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.6 cm | 2.9 cm | 4.1 cm | 0.8 cm | 1.3 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | -0.4°c | -1.9°c | -5.4°c | -0.2°c | -1.5°c | -5.3°c | -1.7°c | -3°c | -3.8°c | -6°c | -9.5°c | -10.2°c | -7.8°c | -8.9°c | -10.5°c | -7.2°c | -7.7°c | -7.1°c | -10.7°c | -13.2°c | -13.3°c | -10.9°c | -11.7°c | -9.6°c | -7.7°c | -8.8°c | -8.2°c | -8.3°c | -9.8°c | -10.2°c |
Min temp | -5.7°c | -5.5°c | -5.9°c | -4.8°c | -5.7°c | -6.1°c | -6.4°c | -5.7°c | -5.2°c | -9.5°c | -11.3°c | -11.6°c | -11.7°c | -12.1°c | -12.1°c | -9.9°c | -9.1°c | -8.5°c | -13.5°c | -14.5°c | -14.4°c | -14.9°c | -13°c | -11.7°c | -9.8°c | -10.1°c | -9.3°c | -10.6°c | -11.7°c | -11.5°c |
Feels like temp | -5.7°c | -1.9°c | -5.4°c | -4.8°c | -1.5°c | -5.7°c | -6.4°c | -6.7°c | -5.2°c | -12°c | -15.6°c | -17.8°c | -11.7°c | -13.7°c | -12.1°c | -14.9°c | -15.2°c | -12°c | -18.1°c | -20.3°c | -20.1°c | -20.6°c | -19°c | -18.5°c | -16.6°c | -15.9°c | -15.6°c | -17.1°c | -16.3°c | -17.3°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Clear skies |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | -0.4°c | -1.9°c | -5.4°c |
Min temp | -5.7°c | -5.5°c | -5.9°c |
Feels like temp | -5.7°c | -1.9°c | -5.4°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Mainly fair |
Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | -0.2°c | -1.5°c | -5.3°c |
Min temp | -4.8°c | -5.7°c | -6.1°c |
Feels like temp | -4.8°c | -1.5°c | -5.7°c |
Wed 18 Dec | Thu 19 Dec | Fri 20 Dec | Sat 21 Dec | Sun 22 Dec | Mon 23 Dec | Tue 24 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Fri 27 Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Clear skies |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair | Generally clear |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Mainly fair |
Occasional rain |
Rain | Rain and snow |
Occasional snow |
Broken clouds | Generally clear |
Clear skies |
Generally clear | Occasional snow |
Rain and snow |
Rain and snow | Light snow |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear | Broken clouds |
Broken clouds |
Light snow | Snow grains |
Rather cloudy |
Rather cloudy | Mist |
Partly cloudy |
Mist |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.9 cm | 0.8 cm | 0.1 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.4 cm | 1.7 cm | 4 cm | 2 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 1 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.2 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 11.4°c | 11.4°c | 4°c | 11.1°c | 11.1°c | 3.1°c | 9.9°c | 9.9°c | 4.9°c | 2.1°c | 2.1°c | -0.2°c | 2.6°c | 2.6°c | -2.5°c | 2.8°c | 2.8°c | 1.1°c | -0.7°c | -0.7°c | -4.1°c | -0.9°c | -0.9°c | -3.5°c | 1.4°c | 1.4°c | -1.3°c | 1.5°c | 1.5°c | -2.5°c |
Min temp | 1.4°c | 4°c | 2.7°c | 2.2°c | 3.1°c | 1.1°c | 0.7°c | 4.4°c | 3.3°c | 1.3°c | -0.4°c | -2.2°c | -4.3°c | -2.5°c | -3.1°c | -1.9°c | 0.4°c | -0.7°c | -3.1°c | -4.2°c | -5.3°c | -6.3°c | -3.8°c | -4°c | -3.2°c | -1.6°c | -2.5°c | -3.4°c | -2.5°c | -3.5°c |
Feels like temp | 1.3°c | 10.8°c | 3.7°c | 2°c | 10.4°c | 2.9°c | 0.6°c | 9.4°c | 4.7°c | -1.4°c | -1.4°c | -4.1°c | -4.3°c | 2.4°c | -2.5°c | -1.9°c | -0.1°c | 1°c | -7.3°c | -4.7°c | -7.9°c | -10.6°c | -5.1°c | -7.7°c | -7.3°c | -2.2°c | -5.1°c | -7.2°c | -2.1°c | -6°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 11.4°c | 11.4°c | 4°c |
Min temp | 1.4°c | 4°c | 2.7°c |
Feels like temp | 1.3°c | 10.8°c | 3.7°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 11.1°c | 11.1°c | 3.1°c |
Min temp | 2.2°c | 3.1°c | 1.1°c |
Feels like temp | 2°c | 10.4°c | 2.9°c |
Snowfall | Last Snowfall | 15/12/2024 |
---|---|---|
Next 3 days | 26.6 cm | |
Depths | Upper piste depth | 130 cm |
Lower piste depth | No information | |
Snow conditions | Snow quality | Hard packed |
Lifts | Lifts open | 12 out of 14 |
Resort opening date | Fri 06 Dec 2024 | |
Resort closing date | Sun 13 Apr 2025 |
Updated 17/12
A mild and fairly settled week is in store across Eastern Europe and the Balkans this week, with plenty of sunshine and positive temperatures at mid-mountain level across the region.
Things turn unsettled as the weekend moves in, with temperatures falling the right side of freezing at this time. At least -10°C can be expected overnight at mid-mountain across the region. Alongside this, a few flurries of snow will move in; 15cm in Bulgaria on Saturday, a handful of centimetres in the northwest of the region, and a few floccons elsewhere. This will continue into the new week, possibly bringing snow for Christmas week.
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Useful Links – Other Eastern Europe
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