Bansko

Bansko rightly holds the title of Bulgaria’s top resort and it offers fantastic value for money, especially as the ski area and town have seen huge sums of money invested recently.

weather Forecast today: Generally clear

Max temp: 3.4 °c
Min temp: -5.1 °c
Last snowed: Sat 21 Dec

Last Updated: Sun 22 Dec

weather Forecast today: Generally clear

Max temp: 3.4 °c
Min temp: -5.1 °c
Last snowed: Sat 21 Dec

Last Updated: Sun 22 Dec

41%Beginner

51%Intermediate

8%Advanced

Since the access gondola was installed in 2003, Bansko has gone from strength to strength.

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.

Beginner
Fast lifts
Intermediate
Resort Activities
Advanced
Aprés
Snow
Value

Pros and cons

Great lift system and lots of snowmaking
Bansko offers excellent value, both on and off the slopes
Lively town with good après ski and lots of bars and restaurants

Extent of the local pistes is still somewhat limited
Few challenges for advanced and expert skiers and boarders
Queues likely at the gondola and key lifts during holiday weeks and at weekends

On the Slopes

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.

In the Resort

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.

Getting to Bansko

Regular flights get you to Sofia and from here the drive to Bansko takes between two and three hours, traffic and road conditions dependent.

Sofia airport: 2.5hours

Season Dates

Opens: Saturday 14 December 2024
Closes: Sunday 13 April 2025

Bansko Piste Map

Top (2560m)

	Sun 22 Dec			Mon 23 Dec			Tue 24 Dec			Wed 25 Dec			Thu 26 Dec			Fri 27 Dec			Sat 28 Dec			Sun 29 Dec			Mon 30 Dec			Tue 31 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	Clear skies	Clear skies	Light snow	Snow	Snow shower	Light snow shwr	Light snow	Occasional snow	Light snow	Freezing fog	Light snow	Light snow shwr	Light snow	Light snow	Light snow	Snow grains	Snow grains	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Occasional snow	Mainly cloudy	Rather cloudy	Partly cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	1.1 cm	14.5 cm	14.2 cm	2 cm	3.6 cm	0.5 cm	0.9 cm	0.9 cm	2.6 cm	2.4 cm	3.5 cm	4 cm	1.6 cm	1.2 cm	1.4 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-7.3°c	-8.6°c	-12.8°c	-7.1°c	-7.4°c	-6.9°c	-8.9°c	-10.3°c	-10.8°c	-8.4°c	-9.7°c	-10°c	-8.6°c	-9.9°c	-9.5°c	-8.5°c	-9.9°c	-10.6°c	-8.5°c	-10°c	-11.6°c	-7.9°c	-9.4°c	-11.2°c	-6.7°c	-7.9°c	-10.4°c	-7.5°c	-8.6°c	-10.7°c
Min temp	-13°c	-13.1°c	-13.5°c	-10.9°c	-9°c	-8.9°c	-10.7°c	-11.7°c	-11.7°c	-10.8°c	-11.4°c	-10.9°c	-10.5°c	-10.9°c	-10.5°c	-11.3°c	-11.4°c	-11.6°c	-12.2°c	-12.5°c	-12.5°c	-12.4°c	-12.5°c	-12.5°c	-11.8°c	-10.8°c	-11.6°c	-12°c	-11.6°c	-11.6°c
Feels like temp	-13°c	-13.6°c	-17.9°c	-16.8°c	-15.8°c	-13.7°c	-10.7°c	-15.3°c	-16.9°c	-16.2°c	-15.1°c	-16.6°c	-16.6°c	-16.9°c	-16.9°c	-17.7°c	-16.3°c	-17.3°c	-17.6°c	-14.4°c	-17.3°c	-12.4°c	-9.4°c	-12.5°c	-11.8°c	-8°c	-10.8°c	-12°c	-8.6°c	-11.6°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-7.3°c	-8.6°c	-12.8°c
Min temp	-13°c	-13.1°c	-13.5°c
Feels like temp	-13°c	-13.6°c	-17.9°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light snow	Snow	Snow shower
Wind
Snow expected	1.1 cm	14.5 cm	14.2 cm
Max temp	-7.1°c	-7.4°c	-6.9°c
Min temp	-10.9°c	-9°c	-8.9°c
Feels like temp	-16.8°c	-15.8°c	-13.7°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light snow shwr	Light snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	2 cm	3.6 cm	0.5 cm
Max temp	-8.9°c	-10.3°c	-10.8°c
Min temp	-10.7°c	-11.7°c	-11.7°c
Feels like temp	-10.7°c	-15.3°c	-16.9°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light snow	Freezing fog	Light snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.9 cm	0.9 cm	2.6 cm
Max temp	-8.4°c	-9.7°c	-10°c
Min temp	-10.8°c	-11.4°c	-10.9°c
Feels like temp	-16.2°c	-15.1°c	-16.6°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light snow shwr	Light snow	Light snow
Wind
Snow expected	2.4 cm	3.5 cm	4 cm
Max temp	-8.6°c	-9.9°c	-9.5°c
Min temp	-10.5°c	-10.9°c	-10.5°c
Feels like temp	-16.6°c	-16.9°c	-16.9°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light snow	Snow grains	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	1.6 cm	1.2 cm	1.4 cm
Max temp	-8.5°c	-9.9°c	-10.6°c
Min temp	-11.3°c	-11.4°c	-11.6°c
Feels like temp	-17.7°c	-16.3°c	-17.3°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Partly cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-8.5°c	-10°c	-11.6°c
Min temp	-12.2°c	-12.5°c	-12.5°c
Feels like temp	-17.6°c	-14.4°c	-17.3°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	-7.9°c	-9.4°c	-11.2°c
Min temp	-12.4°c	-12.5°c	-12.5°c
Feels like temp	-12.4°c	-9.4°c	-12.5°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.1 cm	1 cm
Max temp	-6.7°c	-7.9°c	-10.4°c
Min temp	-11.8°c	-10.8°c	-11.6°c
Feels like temp	-11.8°c	-8°c	-10.8°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Mainly cloudy	Rather cloudy	Partly cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-7.5°c	-8.6°c	-10.7°c
Min temp	-12°c	-11.6°c	-11.6°c
Feels like temp	-12°c	-8.6°c	-11.6°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

Resort (990m)

	Sun 22 Dec			Mon 23 Dec			Tue 24 Dec			Wed 25 Dec			Thu 26 Dec			Fri 27 Dec			Sat 28 Dec			Sun 29 Dec			Mon 30 Dec			Tue 31 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	Generally clear	Clear skies	Generally clear	Light rain/snow	Rain and snow	Rain and snow	Snow grains	Rather cloudy	Partly cloudy	Rather cloudy	Rather cloudy	Light snow	Light snow	Occasional snow	Light snow	Rather cloudy	Rather cloudy	Broken clouds	Broken clouds	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Broken clouds	Rather cloudy	Partly cloudy	Partly cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.6 cm	2.2 cm	0.3 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.4 cm	0 cm	0.8 cm	0.8 cm	0.8 cm	1.4 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.2 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	3.4°c	3.4°c	-2°c	3.1°c	3.1°c	1.5°c	1.2°c	1.2°c	-2.9°c	1.2°c	1.2°c	-1.5°c	1.7°c	1.7°c	-1°c	0.7°c	0.7°c	-3°c	0.5°c	0.5°c	-4.3°c	1.2°c	1.2°c	-4.3°c	2.2°c	2.2°c	-3.2°c	2.7°c	2.7°c	-2.9°c
Min temp	-5.1°c	-2.3°c	-3.1°c	-2.1°c	1.1°c	-0.2°c	-0.9°c	-2.9°c	-4.3°c	-4.4°c	-1.9°c	-2.3°c	-2.4°c	-1.3°c	-2.2°c	-3.9°c	-3.2°c	-4.5°c	-5.6°c	-4.3°c	-6°c	-6.4°c	-4.3°c	-5.3°c	-5.9°c	-3.2°c	-4.4°c	-5.2°c	-2.9°c	-3.9°c
Feels like temp	-5.1°c	3.1°c	-2°c	-5.2°c	0°c	1.4°c	-0.9°c	-1.7°c	-6°c	-4.4°c	-2°c	-5°c	-6.1°c	-1.7°c	-4.6°c	-7.9°c	-2.7°c	-6.6°c	-9.1°c	-2.1°c	-4.3°c	-6.4°c	1.1°c	-4.3°c	-5.9°c	2°c	-3.2°c	-5.2°c	2.5°c	-2.9°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	3.4°c	3.4°c	-2°c
Min temp	-5.1°c	-2.3°c	-3.1°c
Feels like temp	-5.1°c	3.1°c	-2°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.6 cm	2.2 cm
Max temp	3.1°c	3.1°c	1.5°c
Min temp	-2.1°c	1.1°c	-0.2°c
Feels like temp	-5.2°c	0°c	1.4°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.3 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm
Max temp	1.2°c	1.2°c	-2.9°c
Min temp	-0.9°c	-2.9°c	-4.3°c
Feels like temp	-0.9°c	-1.7°c	-6°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.4 cm	0 cm	0.8 cm
Max temp	1.2°c	1.2°c	-1.5°c
Min temp	-4.4°c	-1.9°c	-2.3°c
Feels like temp	-4.4°c	-2°c	-5°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.8 cm	0.8 cm	1.4 cm
Max temp	1.7°c	1.7°c	-1°c
Min temp	-2.4°c	-1.3°c	-2.2°c
Feels like temp	-6.1°c	-1.7°c	-4.6°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.2 cm	0.2 cm	0 cm
Max temp	0.7°c	0.7°c	-3°c
Min temp	-3.9°c	-3.2°c	-4.5°c
Feels like temp	-7.9°c	-2.7°c	-6.6°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	0.5°c	0.5°c	-4.3°c
Min temp	-5.6°c	-4.3°c	-6°c
Feels like temp	-9.1°c	-2.1°c	-4.3°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	1.2°c	1.2°c	-4.3°c
Min temp	-6.4°c	-4.3°c	-5.3°c
Feels like temp	-6.4°c	1.1°c	-4.3°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0.2 cm
Max temp	2.2°c	2.2°c	-3.2°c
Min temp	-5.9°c	-3.2°c	-4.4°c
Feels like temp	-5.9°c	2°c	-3.2°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	2.7°c	2.7°c	-2.9°c
Min temp	-5.2°c	-2.9°c	-3.9°c
Feels like temp	-5.2°c	2.5°c	-2.9°c

Ski Club members only

Join and get access to events and more

Join us Log in

Resort Conditions

Snowfall	Last Snowfall	21/12/2024
Snowfall	Next 3 days	41.8 cm
Depths	Upper piste depth	130 cm
Depths	Lower piste depth	No information
Snow conditions	Snow quality	New snow
Lifts	Lifts open	12 out of 14
	Resort opening date	Fri 06 Dec 2024
	Resort closing date	Sun 13 Apr 2025

Snow Overview

Eastern Europe

Updated 20/12

A mixed albeit steady enough weekend and Christmas week is in store for Eastern Europe and the Balkans over this period. Temperatures will remain cold in both the southerly and northerly extremes, enough to bring good bursts of snowfall throughout. Bulgarian resorts will see 10cm down on Saturday, followed by a further 15cm expected overnight Monday into Tuesday – cloud cover will dominate, although Sunday will see a burst of sunshine as high pressure and resultant fine, dry and bright conditions move through the region.

Elsewhere, a cold weekend stays dry for Slovakia, before a few flurries of snow come down over Sunday to keep things fresh. Things will turn mild for the area over Christmas day itself, with plenty of sunshine on the way, too. Finally, Romanian ski areas remain stuck with mild conditions following a burst of snow on Saturday; this will, however, bring with it plenty of snow on higher ground over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with a foot expected down over this time.

Useful Links – Bulgaria

Snow & Weather Forecasts Avalanche Forecast

Useful Links – Other Eastern Europe

Snow & Weather Forecasts Avalanche Forecast

Find independent instructors in Bansko with Maison Sport

Choose from thousands of independent instructors across the Alps with Maison Sport…

Choose your instructor based on their personal profiles
Over 70% of lessons on Maison Sport have been reviewed!!! with over 94% given 5-stars!
Ski Club Members save 10% when booking with Maison Sport

Find out more about how you can save money on Maison Sport’s discount page.

Discount Book Now