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

Bansko Resort Reviews

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Issued: 8 pm 05 May 2026 (local time)

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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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February 20, 2011
Russ Flory from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Just got back from a great week in Bansko (19th Feb 2011). Stayed at Hotel Banderitsa, which was generally pretty good. Quality of food was really okay, if a little cold at times. Plenty of it though. The spa was nice, but the jacuzzi was out of order and the pool is too cold. Our room was on the ground floor and was exceptionally noisy in the morning. Impossible to sleep after 6ish. One thing I wanted to share with you though was an issue I had with my lift pass. I bought a 6 day lift pass at the gondola station. On the second morning, the pass would not scan. I went to the Kasse office and they refused to issue another as they had no facility in their computer system. They told me to argue my way through the lifts with the operators. I went back to the gondola and they refused me, so back to the kasse desk for another argument. Eventually they came back to the gondola with me and told the lifty to let me through. Once up on the mountain, same issue at every lift. Went back to the ticket office and was told to be forceful with the lift guys and even to jump over the barriers (yeh, right). Next morning went back to the office with my tour rep (Bulgarian) and he tried to argue with them, but again no good. Basically, if the pass stops working for any reason at all or if you loose it, that's your money gone. I did use it for two more days, but in the end, the lift guys were refusing me, so missed the last two days of boarding. Could have bought day passes but refused on principle. My advice to anyone going to Bansko is to buy day passes. Over 6 days it was only 20 leva more (£10) and you could sell them for 20 leva on the way down, even at 1500 hrs. It was really a shame, as otherwise the holiday was excellent. Also try the Irish bar for the cheapest pint in Bansko. The food was cheap also. Tell them you know Mac and they may give you 20% discount.
February 16, 2011
Tom from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Went to Bansko 06th-13th Feb 2011. Second time there. Weather was clear blue skies. Came back with a sun tan! Slopes well maintained by snow cannons and previous snow fall. Queue for main gondola varied from busy to empty depending on the time you go. Once up, no queues at all. Nightlife was brilliant as ever. Lions is quality and Amigos is a gem. Great live music. Recommend a Bullfrog to drink!! Hotel Azure = best steak in Bansko, hands down. Located just past lions to the left opposite Amigos Pet Shop.
February 15, 2011
Boris from Ski Israel Israel
Hi, I came back from Bansko on 11.02.2011, had a wanderfull week of skiing. I stayed at PIRIN hotel - nice clean with good sauna and perfect pool. The food there could have been better, but it's nothing, thera are good restaurants around. Very recomended ski site for its price! Hope to visit there next year.
February 15, 2011
Damo from Ski Pakistan Pakistan
Should be the best time to go. A bit of snow is forecast for the coming week but Bansko always seems to see the best conditions in March and I'd bet conditions will be good on the dates you've stated. Much quieter too. Go for it.
February 14, 2011
Alison Davidson from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
We are planning to go to Bansko towards the end of February next year. I have 2 children aged 12 and 10. Bit worried about some of the comments regarding safety, can anyone give me any advice. Thanks
February 08, 2011
holidayski from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
In Bansko right now: slopes are packed and icy in places. Some slopes are closed due to preparation of the ski world cup. The gondola is very busy at 9.00/9.30 am but get there a bit later or earlier and it'll be quiet. All hire skis look the same so remember which ones are yours, as people are walking off with someone elses skis quite frequently. The temp today in the shade was 21c, so very very warm.
February 05, 2011
Barry Sinfield from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
A few tips for anyone coming to Bansko, Like Marmite, Bansko is a resort you either love or hate! I love it and its quirky atmosphere. My recommendatons are as follows; Ski hire: Ski Mania. George and his staff are friendly and good value. Restaurants: the friendly pub within the Fortuna complex for good quality, straightforward food at very reasonable prices. The bar is also good and has smoking/non smoking areas. The band is also good, playing every night. This is my favorite place and Evo and his staff really look after you. Book early for a table as it gets very busy in the evenings. Victorias is another good quality restaurant but without a bar area; usually need to book. Bars: again, Friendly pub for good value, sports screens, good for families and couples and singles. Good live music from 8pm every night. Harry's Bar is a great bar with live music from Lizzard every night (great guy). I'm in Bansko from Thursday 10th so fingers crossed for good conditions. Barry, Kent.
February 03, 2011
Roslyn from Ski France France
Bansko is a beautiful place. The staff in all the restaurants are just so friendly. Yes,s they are laid back and very relaxed around tourists, they just don't make a fuss. As for the ski slopes and the queues, just relax and enjoy, you're all on holidays. We stay out in Aspen Golf and it's 5 star apartments with indoor pool, just poor luxury. You will all love it out there.
February 03, 2011
Posh_Chick from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Hi Philip, I just got this from BBC website - enjoy your holiday! We are going in a few weeks so hopefully we will get some more snow in the meantime. Last updated at 00:20, Thursday 3 February Bansko Temperature: -3°C 27°F Summary: Partly cloudy, some sunny spells Date of last snowfall: Tuesday, 25 January 2011 Fresh snow depth: 20cm Skiing conditions: Lower slope depth: 85cm Upper slope depth: 105cm Piste state: Packed Piste conditions: Good skiing on well groomed pistes Conditions of runs to resort: Packed Off piste snow conditions: Varied Lifts open: 13 of 14 Data provided by the Ski Club of Great Britain [Editor's note: this report can be found in the link 'Snow Report' within our menu for Bansko resort]
February 03, 2011
Dan from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Im heading to Bansko SUnday, some of the weather charts say it could be 16 degrees surely this is wrong. Need the snow to stick around. Is more forecast? [Editor's note: our forecast for Bansko does show an increased freezing level but temp at around 5 degrees C (at 1600mtrs).]