Borovets sled hill

© Creative Commons / Klearchos Kapoutsis

Borovets Ski Resort

Best for

BeginnersYesNon-skiersNo
IntermediatesYesAprès skiNo
ExpertsNoSummer skiingNo
SnowboardersYesSnow reliabilityNo
FamiliesYesEnvironmental awarenessNo
Introduction:

Borovets is Bulgaria's oldest winter resort and is also home to the highest peak in the Balkans, Mt Musala.

Borovets is a small resort with buildings clustered together in the surrounding pine forests. Most of the hotels, restaurants and bars, plus equipment hire, are gathered between the huge Rila and Samokov hotels. In addition to the central Borovets ski centre, Yastrebetz and Markudjik are two centres within easy reach of the main resort.

As with Bulgaria's other resorts, the cost of a ski holiday is cheaper than most parts of Western Europe, although that gap has narrowed in recent years. Another similarity to other Bulgarian resorts is that Borovets has big expansion plans, the main one known as ‘Super Borovets' – simply described as the creation of a bigger, better Borovets. The two main issues thwarting this development are increasingly vociferous environmental lobbying and the reduction of cash available for investment from Western Europe.

Location:

Borovets is situated on the northern slopes of the Rila Mountains, lying in the west of Bulgaria and 72km (45 miles) south of the capital Sofia. It is the country's oldest mountain (and ski) resort and is the initial point for climbing Mt Musala (2,925m/9,596ft).