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Pamporovo resort snow
Lat Long: 41.62° N 24.72° E
Ski Bulgaria

Pamporovo Resort Reviews

Weather Forecast for Pamporovo at 1686 m altitude

Issued: 2 pm 07 May 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Next snow in Pamporovo: 0.4 cm on Sun 17th  (after 9 AM)

Visitor reviews for Pamporovo Ski Resort

Pamporovo Ratings

Overall: 4.0. Based on 80 votes and 108 reviews.

Rate this resort

Snowsure: 4.1

  • 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
  • Pamporovo is snowsure even in the poorest seasons

Variety of pistes: 4.1

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

Off-piste: 3.4

  • 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: 4.4

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

Access: 3.7

  • 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 Pamporovo

Public Transport: 3.7

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

Accommodation: 4.7

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

Cheap Rooms: 4.3

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

Luxury Hotels: 4.3

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

Ski in/Ski out: 4.2

  • 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: 3.9

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

Snowmaking: 4.2

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

Snow Grooming: 4.2

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

Shelter: 4.5

  • 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
  • Pamporovo is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close

Nearby options: 3.3

  • If snow conditions are poor at Pamporovo, 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: 4.3

  • Pamporovo 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: 4.2

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

Crowds/Queues: 3.9

  • 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: 4.5

  • 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: 4.7

  • 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: 4.5

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

Advanced: 3.7

  • 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: 3.3

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

Cross-country: 3.7

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

Luge/Toboggan: 2.7

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

Mountain Dining: 4.4

  • 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: 4.3

  • 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: 3.9

  • 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: 3.9

  • 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: 3.6

  • 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: 4.0

  • 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): 4.3

  • Overall, Pamporovo 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): 4.5

  • Overall, Pamporovo 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 12, 2013
Gavin Orr from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I have been to Pamporovo the past two years, and I have to say, I love it there. Myself and my kids are advanced skiers and we feel there is plenty of slope variety to please all levels of skiers. The ski school Instructors are first class and everyone is very friendly. We stay in the Castle Apartments and they are really nice, and you don't need to use the bus as there is a slope goes past the hotel. We are going again this Feb, can't wait.
February 10, 2013
Benny Boy from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Just got back from a week in Pamporovo with the missus; was excellent! It was her first time on skis so she joined a ski school and I went off playing in the mornings then tagged along with her class from lunch. Had great conditions: first 4 days were sunny'n bright, last 3 were snowy. Everyone I met, from staff to punters, were nice'n friendly. Hotel Perelik was comfortable and food more than edible. All in all, had a top week and would highly recommend it. Can't beat it for value for money! Only drag was the Sofia transfer but it was well worth the journey! Hoping to go again next season!
January 04, 2013
Magdalena from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
My dad first took me to Bulgaria on a skiing holiday back in 2002 as an 8 years old. Have been doing it every year since. First it was Borovets, then Bansko, but from about 2006 it is only Pamporovo. Everything is great here, we love it so much that we even bought an apartment at the Pine Hills development next to the slopes.
December 11, 2012
Nigel Buckle from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I have read some pretty dismal reports here but why? I have been to the three main ski resorts in Bulgaria at least twice each and find Pamporovo the friendliest and the easiest and I don't mean easy skiing! Yes, you can spend all day going up the top and coming down the long green/blue run but it gets pretty boring after a couple of days plus it gets full of beginner classes as the week progresses. Be a bit more adventurous and try the red/black/red it's not desperately challenging but has its moments! Then there are two other black runs ( you see them as you near the top in the chairlift) they start off with steep and narrow falls but even out and then drop again and are quite exciting runs to do when you are a bit more confident and then there is 'The Wall' the steepest run of all now that's a challenge when you first look at it but most people get down without mishap just take your time and respect the slope. A comment on being bussed to the slopes is a little unjust as it is only about ten minutes whereas in St.Wolfgang it's a good half an hour! As for Pamporovo being expensive? I don't think so not when you can pay twice as much for passes in Austria without any better skiing and Pamp is less crowded unless you go during the school holidays then it's just like everywhere else. Try Bansko now as opposed to 5 years ago and you will be waiting twice as long as you used to and the slopes will be packed! I like Pamporovo and I might see you there 9th to 16th Feb 2013, look out for the Stig!
October 31, 2012
Gail from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
We have been skiing in Bulgaria for 9 years, 7 in Pamporovo and 2 in Borovets. We keep returning to Pamporovo because of the fantastic ski school and beautiful scenery. We cannot recommend the instructors enough. I am a very nervous skier and did beginners class 3 times but the patience of the instructors knew no bounds. I now am a fairly competent skier and my husband is fairly advanced. We stayed in the Orlovetz last year and have booked again for the 12/13 season. OK, there are niggles about the food and the fact you have to be bussed to the slopes but we will keep returning despite the 4 hour transfer from Sofia. When will they re-instate flights to Plovdiv??
March 24, 2012
Deirdre from Ski France France
Just back from another fantastic trip to Pamporovo. The snow conditions were superb and as always the staff were helpful and friendly. I hate recommending the place because I'd hate for it to become crowded and expensive. If you want a fun ski holiday with nice instructors good sunshine, ok food, cheap drink then this is the place for you.
March 19, 2012
Joanne from Ski France France
Just back from a weeks ski hol in Pamporovo..ski slopes unreal..esp for beginners couldn't fault what so ever..stayed in the Pamporovo hotel where rooms are ok..food not great everything is cold..boke!! Staff are very unfriendly..out for every penny they can get..tried to charge us full price for a mini-bar we didn't even touch..disaster!! Won't be staying there again!! Everything else was great..had llloads of endless snow and sunshine spells!! :))
March 14, 2012
Shane from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Great holiday! Loads of snow, friendly locals, good relaxed atmosphere in bars and everyone up for a laugh. Ski runs are long and not too busy. Good cheap restaurants in the resort and on the pistes. Can't wait for next year.
March 01, 2012
Pete from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Just fabulous! The Markony where we stayed was just perfect and the food was probably the best food we have ever had in a ski resort, and we have skied for over 20 years. Snow was brilliant, people were really friendly and I would not hesitate in recommending Pamporovo and the Markony to anyone. Just do it!
February 28, 2012
Laurie Kearon from Ski France France
Overall, Pamporovo was good. We stayed in the 5 * Orlovetz and I know from other people that this was one of the better hotels. The food was extremely poor and spoilt the holiday. They encourage you to eat out which defeats the object of half-board especially when you have a family and kids won't eat the slop they give you. The snow conditions were good and our ski instructor, Angel L, was fantastic, funny and friendly and paid special attention to my 11 year old. He stayed with us all day till 3 pm, way above his contracted time. He made our holiday. Otherwise, besides the staff, Bulgarians were unfriendly and ignorant most of the time and if you are queuing for lifts, beware. They have no idea of manners and will poke you with their ski sticks in order to barge their way forward. I loved the scenery and would go again. The good outweighed the bad, but it isn't perfect. There is nothing else to do outside of snowsports. Bansko is better for British or Irish skiers / snowboarders.