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Bansko resort snow
Lat Long: 41.78° N 23.44° E
Ski Bulgaria

Bansko Resort Reviews

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Visitor reviews for Bansko Ski Resort

Bansko Ratings

Overall: 3.6. Based on 220 votes and 362 reviews.

Rate this resort

Snowsure: 3.9

  • Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
  • Is often closed due to a lack of snow
  • Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
  • Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
  • Bansko is snowsure even in the poorest seasons

Variety of pistes: 3.9

  • The ski runs are featureless and unvaried
  • The ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week
  • Bansko has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain

Off-piste: 3.5

  • No off-piste worth mentioning
  • Off piste is out-of-bounds
  • Some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days
  • A vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days

Scenery: 4.1

  • An ugly resort in a bland setting
  • Average mountain views and resort
  • A spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town

Access: 3.5

  • At least one overnight stop
  • Requires a whole day
  • Requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns
  • Arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon
  • There is a main airport within an hour of Bansko

Public Transport: 3.5

  • There are no buses or taxis to Bansko
  • There are slow or infrequent buses / trains available
  • Getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections

Accommodation: 4.5

  • No places to stay in/near Bansko
  • A few places to stay in the resort
  • A wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets

Cheap Rooms: 4.2

  • No budget accommodation available
  • Just one or two hostels so book ahead
  • Several cheap hostels and pensions available

Luxury Hotels: 4.2

  • No luxury accommodation available
  • Just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead
  • Several up-market hotels in Bansko

Ski in/Ski out: 3.5

  • The ski area is located far from any accommodation
  • A free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip
  • Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available

Childcare: 3.4

  • There are no child care facilities at Bansko
  • The resort has limited child-care facilities
  • the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche

Snowmaking: 4.2

  • Bansko relies entirely on natural snow
  • There are just a few snow cannons
  • There are snowmaking facilities on all pistes

Snow Grooming: 3.9

  • There are no snow groomers at Bansko
  • Occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state
  • All the runs at Bansko are groomed daily

Shelter: 3.8

  • There is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut
  • There are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close
  • Bansko is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close

Nearby options: 2.6

  • If snow conditions are poor at Bansko, it will be poor everywhere nearby
  • There are good alternatives within an hours drive
  • Other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions

Regional rating: 4.2

  • Bansko usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region
  • Has average conditions for the region
  • Usually has the best snow conditions in the region

Lift Staff: 3.3

  • The staff at Bansko are rude or unhelpful
  • Lift staff at Bansko are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help

Crowds/Queues: 2.7

  • The resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues
  • It is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays
  • It is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare

Ski Schools: 4.1

  • No ski schools available
  • One or two ski schools but local language only
  • A few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors
  • Plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available
  • Excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors

Hire and Repairs: 4.3

  • Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex
  • There are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance
  • Good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible

Beginners: 3.9

  • Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard
  • A few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week
  • Vast areas of gentle terrain

Intermediates: 4.1

  • No intermediate terrain at Bansko
  • Intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days
  • Vast areas of cruising runs

Advanced: 3.6

  • Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders
  • Enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste
  • Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week

Snow Park: 2.7

  • Not even a kicker at Bansko
  • Average sized park quite well looked after
  • Huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails

Cross-country: 3.1

  • There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Bansko
  • There are some cross country trails available
  • The area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails

Luge/Toboggan: 2.0

  • No designated luge or toboggan runs
  • There are toboggan runs that open quite often
  • Bansko has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages

Mountain Dining: 3.4

  • Nowhere to buy food by the pistes
  • Some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive
  • There is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets

Eating: 4.2

  • Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop
  • There are a few places to eat in the resort but nothing special
  • A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants

Apres-Ski: 4.1

  • Nothing to do, not even a bar
  • There are a few bars in the resort but nothing special
  • Clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere

Other Sports: 3.5

  • No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts
  • Resort has just a small public swimming pool
  • Resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool

Entertainment: 3.6

  • Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here
  • The non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week
  • The resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports

Winter Walks: 3.4

  • Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails
  • A couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails
  • Extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities

Ski Pass Value: 3.4

  • A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available
  • The ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts
  • Ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area

Value (National): 3.7

  • Overall, Bansko is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money
  • Overall represents average value for money
  • Overall offers the best value resort in the country

Value (Global): 3.9

  • Overall, Bansko is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world
  • Overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries
  • Internationally the resort offers excellent value for money

Show all 35 ratings

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January 18, 2012
Kevin from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I am returning to Bansko for my third ski trip 22nd - 29th Jan, and there is nothing wrong with the place. At last a ski resort that is affordable and friendly. The Ulen ski school instructors are all very friendly and for what is costs very good value for money. I would like to say for first timers thinking about Bansko do not be put off by people who go looking for faults actually finding fault. Give it a go, go with an open mind, do not expect alpine conditions or facilities and you will enjoy it. Remember, you get what you pay for. I love the place. I remember it's not my country I am the guest and am treated well for it.
January 17, 2012
Dazzler1 from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Just back from my second time in Bansko Good points: - Once on the mountain the lift system is excellent. Mostly modern chair lifts. Even at busy times there is not much queuing - great for intermediate skiers/boarders - the town environment has improved. Not as much of a building site - the new Wigwam bar on the ski road - good choice of accommodation. Have stayed in two nice hotels - the Lion and the Strazhite. Lion the better of the two but both still good - I didn't experience much unfriendliness. Some Bulgarian people are grumpy but you get that everywhere. I've experienced much worse in the French alps. The bad: - the queues at the bottom gondola station. If you are there at a busy time you must get to the gondola station early, before 8.30. After that you will be in for a long wait. If you arrive and there is a long gondola queue but the minibus queue is small then take the minibus up the moutain. If you get one of the first minibuses at 9am you will be skiing before 9.30. - absolutely avoid this resort at New Year. It is far too busy. And by New Year I mean the Western one and the Eastern Orthodox one. -when we were there the gondola broke down for nearly a whole day. Thousands of frustrated people unable to access the mountain - I'm not sure it's such a great place to learn as the jump from beginner slopes to the main slopes is quite marked. - advanced riders may get bored quickly - I'm not sure where they all came from but there was a shockingly poor standard of skiing and boarding. Either wildly out of control people riding fast beyond their limits or poor beginners struggling on difficult pistes. It can be dangerous and for the first time in 20 ski holidays I suffered quite a bad collision when a Romanian chap skied straight into me. You will be pleased to know that when the resort is quiet and mostly locals are around the standard is much higher - I just think when we were there this time there was an influx from other countries for the New Year. Again absolutely avoid both Eastern and Western New years. - Ulen catering on the mountain. Expensive rubbish and they don't care if they serve you or not. This is quite a difference from the last time at Shiligarnika area at Bansko where there were a number of independent vendors who competed for custom. - prices in resort have become much higher since we last visited. The nearer to the gondola the more you will pay. - piste management. Even with a reported 1.4m base rocks still appeared near the surface of the snow. Some runs are worse than others but it was still a surprise to see. On the whole it is a good place. I would say Bansko badly needs to improve access to the mountain. It is also clear that the resort has expanded rapidly and the skiable area on the mountain requires similar rapid expansion to meet demand. I think eventually when it fully matures that Bansko will be an awesome resort, maybe even as good as many in the Alps. It didn't quite make it yet though. I may go back in a few years when the mountain infrastructure scales up to meet the rest of the town.
January 11, 2012
Dragan
If you want to spend your holiday waiting for gondola lifts, Bansko is excellent place for you. Usually the waiting period is approximately 2-4 hours. Too many hotels for a ski resort of 70 km.
January 11, 2012
Happy Aussie
Been three times to Bansko and as long as you miss the school holidays (the Rommanian ones) and get up in the morning to be at the gondola by 8-8.15am, you will have a great days skiing. I don't think Bansko suits beginners unless you go on the lower slopes which fewer people visit. But ski school doesn't go there and so you don't find out about these lower slopes until you know the resort. Most 'smaller' ski sites don't suit beginners as it's hard to avoid the quicker skiers (that's life) unless there is plenty of space. The intermediate skier will enjoy both the top of the mountain and the lower slopes and there is lots of fun to be had (especially avoiding beginner skiers!) and not doing a head dive or a wipe out into the back of the main gondola station as you take the short cut onto the ski road. We found the town of Bansko to be very welcoming and that's about a 20-30 minute walk away from the ski hotels, don't be confused between the locals in the town and the ski hotel area as the Bulgarians that we've come across are very welcoming as long as you treat them with respect! Have a great time in Bansko and may well see you there on our fourth or fifth trip coming up soon!
January 09, 2012
Leigh from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Been to Bansko 4 times and due to go back at the end of this month. If you stay in Kempinski it's amazing in every way, it is the best value for money ever. All you moaners should remember the phrase "you only get what you pay for". Best ski holiday I've been on and best value for money! Recommend to everyone.
January 05, 2012
Angela from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
It's 5th January 2012 and the gondola queues are horrendous!! Got ski bus from hotel at 8.30 and joined the gondola queue at 8.50. We finally got off the gondola at 11.30, 3 hours after leaving hotel. This, with three freezing cold children, was the worse experience ever. Had to moan on here as this has ruined our holiday. You have been warned.
January 05, 2012
AngryFinn from Ski Finland Finland
After one week in Bansko, I will not recommend the place to others before I see some serious efforts to improve safety in the pistes! Our group of 5 got run over or into 7-8 times... and mostly these high speed runners don´t even look back. Instructions and supervision? I don´t know but we felt lucky to come home safe. One particular nationality seems to need more attention than others...
December 28, 2011
Eurotourist from Ski Greece Greece
Because I want to prevent someone from thinking that I am prejudiced, I want to state that we were in Bansko at November with a big company and it was very nice. Because of that we arranged our Christmas vacation to be in Bansko. If I was prejudiced, I was positive prejudiced. But, after what we faced, I can say only one thing: none in Bansko, never again. It proved in more than one occasion that Bulgarians have hostile intentions against the foreigners. I can't say why is that. When we were there, we saw doormen in clubs hitting women! The behaviour of the waiters and the staff was offensive and absolutely rude. And the prices were the same like in Greece and sometimes even higher. To say the truth we went in some restaurants / clubs that the behaviour was barely acceptable. In 1-2 occasion it was even fine. But that was the exception. I recommend that for the next 10 years, no tourist from other country must go to this hostile to the tourists Bulgarian village. We must show them that their rude, hostile and uncivilized behaviour will not be accepted. No tourist in Bansko. [note from the editor: edited for the sake of relevance]
December 18, 2011
dave Bulgaria from Ski Bulgaria Bulgaria
Fotis from Greece Kate from United Kingdom March is the best month to ski, the pistes are empty. I do not know why you say more snow in Borovets? It is hit and miss, but Bansko has been best 5 out of the last 6 years!
December 09, 2011
Theo from Ski Greece Greece
Hello, I'm planning visiting Bansko at 12-16 of January. I want to know will there be any snow? We are going just for snowboard. Thank you. [note from the editor: this post will remain for a short time]