Bansko Ski Holidays – Tips To Plan The Perfect Trip

Last Updated on April 1, 2023 by Tia

In this article, I will help you plan the perfect Bansko Ski Holidays!

This guide is your one-stop destination for all the great things to do in Bansko.

What activities to do, where to stay, eat, and party, and how much to budget!

You will love how affordable Bansko is, and how winter wonderland and winter sports, don’t always need to cost an arm and a leg!

Why Should I Choose Bansko?

Because it is the cheapest European Destination for winter sports but offers SO much in terms of facilities and experience. Also, because it’s, erm…gorgeous.

I am an island child that comes alive in the summer. Sub-zero temps have never excited me, until …I tried snowboarding and fell in LOVE with it.

I love the soft swishing sound of the board gliding against the snow, and the cold wind that sends shock waves through my spine.

And you can’t help but crush over The snowy mountain tops with the sun peeking through, making everything look like it’s been bathed in gold.

And don’t even get me started on the feeling of utter freedom, peace, and serenity, and the rush of adrenaline when you finally finish your first piste.  

So without delay, off I went! I packed my suitcase and geared myself up for my first pro solo travel – to the winter wonderland of Bansko.

Bansko ski holidays here I come!

Bansko Ski Holidays and Bansko Snowboarding 

The perfect Bansko Ski Holidays require lots of activities, a comfortable hotel, easy transportation, and the right gear!

Keep reading as I tackle this one by one.

Where to stay: Bansko Accommodation

I fell in Love with my stay at the luxurious Grand Hotel Bansko.  Not only does it have a casino on-site, but it also boasts the Best Spa In Bansko – voted every year since 2015!

You can read the review here!

The Best Snow Activities

1. Skii and Snowboard

Bansko Ski Holidays basically revolve around skiing and Snowboarding.

 I mean you don’t technically HAVE to indulge in these kick-ass winter sports. But it’s like going to the beach with no intention of swimming- you miss out on all the good bits!

If you are a beginner, fear not; there are many pistes to choose from and some brilliant teaching schools like Bansko Ski Mania – to which I personally gave excellent reviews. 

If you are anything like me, you will fall in love with the sport!  I personally chose snowboarding, and I can’t wait to do some more of it this year-round!

2. Ski-Doo like James Bond

Drive a snowmobile, into an unforgettable adventure! These snowmobiles can go fast, and the adrenaline is pumping, making this such a fun day out! Visit the Ski-Doo page here

Price: From 140 leva (70 euros)

3. Horse Riding through the snow

Explore Banskos Nature on top of these lovely creatures

Price: From only 50 leva (25euros)  

 4. Go ice-skating in Bansko

A great and fun activity for all the family!

The Bansko Ice Ring is a great alternative if you don’t wish to ski or snowboard- or if you fancy a break from the slopes.

It is also located on Pirin Street just a few meters from the ski center entrance.

Totally child-friendly although not at all limited to little ones, and a great hour of fun!

Price: 12 leva for 2 hours (6 euros)  

5. Go mountain Biking in Bansko

Set between the Pirin, Rila, and Rhodopes mountains, Bansko has a lot to offer in terms of mountain activities throughout the whole year.

So if you are a mountain biker, a visit during the warmer months is a must. 

An exhilarating day for your Bansko Ski Holidays!

Non-Snow Activities in Bansko

1.Take A Guided Tour

Explore the wild nature on foot, and learn all there is to know about Bansko from a local guide.

Inquire at your hotel for recommendations. Price: From 100 leva ( 50 euros)

2. Bathe In Natural Hot Springs

Did you know that Bulgaria ranks second in Europe (after Iceland) in terms of the existence of hot springs?

There is nothing better than relaxing in a natural hot pool after a day spent on the slopes. Mineral springs produce water containing various minerals with therapeutic value.

The temperature of the water can vary from mild to extremely hot and is normalized by mixing fresh hot water from the spring with already cooled water from the same spring.

An absolute must when visiting Bansko, your body will thank you after visiting these mineral hot springs. You will find them in the neighboring town of Banya (5km from Bansko). 

A good recommendation is the Izgreva public pool in Banya, which is open all year round. It has 2 open-air pools and 1 with a roof with temperatures of 33-40C.

Price: from 10 leva (5 euros)  

3. Visit the Escape Rooms

Yes, Bansko boasts not one but two escape rooms for a fun afternoon activity that everyone can join in.

Available only during high season (7th of January – 11th March).

If you are looking for an alternative experience away from the cold weather, you will love the Escape Rooms in Bansko

Price – 90 leva for 2 (46 euros)

4. Hike the Pirin Mountains

If you are a hiker, you will love to add this to your Bansko ski holidays!

An activity that can also be enjoyed through the summer months, with breathtaking views being a worthy reward!

There are a few hiking trails to choose from in Pirin mountain, but a gorgeous one is a trail around Vihren peak – the highest in the Pirin.

Tia’s Tip: If you aren’t up for a challenge choose the hike to lake Okoto (which means the eye) from the Vihren Chalet. Drive to the chalet, then you only have a short 30-minute hike to the lake, with beautiful views and unspoiled nature.

Price- Free  

5. Indulge in a spa day

After a day spent in the freezing slopes, snowboarding, and lugging around all my heavy equipment, I was cold, sore, and wiped out.

In came the Grand Hotel Bansko Spa who managed to impress me with their phenomenal Spa. This spa boasts not one, not two but over 7 different rooms of saunas.

In the spa, you will also find various steam rooms, hammams, and Jacuzzi!!

This quickly became my daily favorite pastime! A perfect touch of luxury in your Bansko ski holidays!

Price: Free for Grand Hotel Bansko Guests.  

Eating Out – The Best Bansko Restaurants

There are well over 60 restaurants to choose from, so you will be spoiled for choice!

By the way, eating or drinking out in Bansko is a little like being in a parallel universe.

Everyone is basically wobbling around with their ski gear. People are drinking and eating with their boards and helmets on one hand and balancing a beer in between. It’s hilarious!

Pretty soon the sight of stir-up trousers and layers of thermals become the normal thing around here.

The rules of society don’t really apply here – and neither do dress codes. Love it.  

Here are some favorite spots to eat in Bansko:

• Any traditional Mehana. Mehanas are Bulgarian Local restaurants that serve cheap,fresh and authentic Bulgarian meals. They are all practically the same, and there is over 40 of them in Bansko so take your pick!
• Hotel Izvorite – In this little hidden away eatery set behind the pistes in a secluded and gorgeous wood area. Here, you can have lunch and local wine for 10euros. Hotel Izvorite is a must!  
• Molerite Hotel Taverna – Set in the old town of Bansko, at Molerite Taverna you can feast on a traditional three-course Bulgarian meal and wine for only 20euros. Winning!  
• Veseloto Selo- Veseloto is located just a few meters from the ski center entrance (opposite Ginger, which is hard to miss). This is the only traditional eatery in Central New Town. An authentic experience combined with convenience, the Veseloto Selo cooks up some exquisite upscale Bulgarian food.  
• Euphoria Bar and Grill – relaxed apres-ski atmosphere, live music, and delicious food. All this can be found at the Euphoria Bar and Grill, which is also located right in the center of town.  
• Smokey Mountain Bar and Grill – for the best ribs in town and some gigantic sharing platters for a real feast! Pub food is done right at the Smokey Bar and Grill
• Steak House Tomahawk – In every country I travel, I always find a good steakhouse to recommend. One of my favorite meals by far, I’m always on the hunt for the best! For indulgent and succulent steaks and tasty burgers, look no further than the Steak House Tomahawk
• The Avalon, Avalon Hotel. For good and proper English cuisine and a rather popular weekly curry night!
• Leonardo, Lucky Hotel- for gorgeous Italian food, homemade ice cream, and live cooking show.

Bansko Nightlife – Best Bars in Bansko

• Amigo- More a pub than a club – but heaps of fun! There’s also a Live Band and a totally chilled atmosphere and dress code. Favored by some locals and mostly tourists, you’ll soon make friends at Amigo which stays open until 3 am during the winter months! Tip: Stick to local beer to keep the price down!  
• Bash Bar – Hidden away on Glazne Street, at Bash Bar you will find the locals and the ski instructors partying it up on a Friday night while the Dj gets everyone going.  
• Flash Nightclub- A fancy club, where you can forget about ski gear and dress up to your heart’s content. Reservations at Flash Club are required, with a host of local and international Dj’s gracing the decks.  
• Bar Pirin 75– A great central location, a good and buzzing atmosphere, and some good drinks make Bar Pirin 75 a popular choice for tourists.  
• Wine Bar Bansko 25– Wine lovers rejoice! The only bar in Bansko dedicated to wine, Wine Bar Bansko doesn’t disappoint with its sophisticated atmosphere and a wide variety of Bulgarian wines.  

• Karaoke Bar. I must admit, I haven’t actually been to this as I run out of time! But I had to include the Karaoke Bar. Afterall, tipsy karaoke nights are one of those holiday memories that will always make you laugh.
• Any traditional Mehana. Mehanas are traditional eateries like some of the ones mentioned above in my restaurants’ segment. Apart from delicious food, Mehanas in Bansko will also serve you the best European bottled Lagers accompanied by string quartets and piano players for an authentic Bulgarian experience.    

Renting Ski/Snowboard Equipment

  Unless you own your own ski or snowboard equipment, you will need to rent the right gear to hit the slopes.

Look no further than Traventuria, who rents out top-notch and regularly serviced equipment a few meters from the Ski Center entry.

My board, snowboard boots, and helmet were all rented out from Traventuria and I got so many compliments for my gear!

The perfect stop for fuss-free Bansko Ski Holidays!

Travel Advice For The Bansko Ski center

 For starters go ahead and download the Bansko Free App!

It has live weather updates, webcams for queues to the gondola and ticket stations, maps, news, events, and many more.

Gondola Lift: Opening hours 8:00 am. 5:30 pm.

Using The Gondola – How to get to the pistes.

The gondola is the cabin lift that connects the town with the ski center. You basically cannot ski or snowboard without it!

The 8-seat cabins transfer you to the mountain in about 30 minutes (excluding queuing times).

The lift is used by skiers, snowboarders, and tourists. Even if you only wish to visit the ski center for coffee and fun, you need a ski pass to get on it.

The gondola makes two stops! You reach the first middle station of Chalin Valog in 15 minutes, where you can find only slopes for more experienced skiers and riders.

 The second and more frequently used station is Banderitsa. That takes another 15 minutes to reach and is where the chalets and most of the lifts are located.

This is where you will meet your ski/snowboard instructors!

Ski Lift Pass and Prices

You need a ski lift pass so you can take the gondola to the top gondola stations. Prices for an adult are 65 leva ( 33 euros) for a full day and 50 for a half-day (25 euros from 12:30).

Passes come in the form of plastic cards and there is a 5 euro deposit on the first time you purchase your card.

You can find more info on ski passes and prices for children and students here

Top Tip for Beginners

Newbie on the slopes? No problem! If you will not be accessing any pistes you only need to purchase a gondola ticket. 

Price: 30 leva (15 euros).  

How to Skip the Queue for the Gondola

The queues for the tickets and then for the gondola can be extremely long.

On day 1 I queued for 40 minutes and almost missed my lesson!

On my second day there I luckily realized that I could renew my card at my hotel so that saved me a lot of time queuing! (Not all hotels provide this service) . 

If you will be staying at the Grand Hotel Bansko, make sure you do all that at reception and save yourself lots of queuing time!

Alternative ways to access the top Gondola Station

You can drive or take a taxi to the top gondola station and skip the queues to the gondola station.

By Car: in about 20 min.  All-day parking fee: 12 BGN. Please note, parking can be an absolute nightmare during peak times!

By Taxi or Bus: With a set price of 10BGN (5 euros), you can skip the gondola queue and head on up to the ski center in no time! For more information on this service, contact Tsakiris Ski – most of the staff are Greeks and super accommodating!

What to Pack for Bansko

Saying that it’s chilly is an understatement. It is freezing, but this somehow adds to how magical it all seems.

You need to pack smart layers of clothing as well as thermals. Also, you definitely need a sturdy water-resistant pair of shoes to roam them snowy streets.

The right clothes can really make or break your Bansko Ski holidays!

If you are planning to indulge in skiing or snowboarding you will most likely rarely wear other clothes apart from your ski gear.

Therefore, don’t bother with too many options – jeans, thermals, heavy-duty jumpers, gloves, scarf, and warm hats are more than enough.

There is a very relaxed dress code practically everywhere in Bansko.

In regards to ski gear, check out my Ultimate ski packing list

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Thank you for reading! Don’t forget to subscribe at the bottom of the page with your email, and follow my Instagram for more travel tips and fun!

Much Love,

Tia x

Related Bansko Articles

General Useful Bansko Information: Bansko, Bulgaria At A Glance

Where To Stay In Bansko: Grand Hotel Bansko Hotel Review

The ultimate guide on what to do, eat and drink (and how to use the ski/ snowboard facilities): Exhilarating Bansko Ski Holidays and Bansko Snowboarding

Where to take ski and snowboard lessons ski Mania Bansko – Top Notch Private Ski/Snowboarding Lessons

Where to rent ski and snowboard gear Traventuria- The Most Luxurious Ski and Snowboarding Gear in Bansko

What to pack for your trip!The Ultimate Ski and Snowboard Packing List