Winter Wonderland – Borovets Ski Guide

Hi guys – I hope you all had a great weekend. I had the most amazing few days in Bulgaria this week with my travel partner in crime Nirina. We decided to hit the slopes for a few days because, well…why not? Skiing is one of my absolute favourite winter sports and I was well over-due a trip to the slopes so we decided t book a last minute getaway – YOLO! We stayed in Borovets for four nights and I think it’s safe to say we made the most of the snow.

I’ve been getting lots of questions about the trip so I’ve covered all aspects in this blog posts. Grab a cuppa, have a read and if you have any questions feel free to comment below! Here’s what we got up to…

A C C O M M O D A T I O N .

We booked our trip through Love Holidays. I hadn’t booked any trips with them before but I have to say I was really impressed. We found a deal which included return flights and four nights accommodation (half board)

We stayed in the Euphoria Club Hotel & Spa which is just a 4 minute drive from the slopes. A hotel close to the ski lifts is key because you will be pretty tired after a day on the slopes so a central location is essential. While the hotel was close by it was also in a quiet area so we didn’t have any issues with noise from bars and clubs.

We had a twin room with a balcony. The room was really spacious and bright with lots of storage space for ski gear. Our room was just across from the spa, breakfast area and bar which was great and the staff were so friendly and helpful. The wifi is free which was also great. The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from the ski lift daily which was so handy.

T R A N S F E R S

Borovets resort is just a 60 minute drive from the airport which is so convenient considering most ski resorts in Europe are a 2-4 hour drive from the closest airport. We also booked our private airport transfer through Love Holidays – this option popped up when I was booking the trip on their website. It worked out at just under €18 each way per person which was really good considering I usually pay €20 for a 5 minute drive to the airport via a taxi in Dubin.

B O R O V E T S . A C T I V I T I E S

I’ve always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie so I thought…sure why not? We booked a Ski Doo (snow mobile) Safari tour on our last day and it was so much fun. If you’re a thrill seeker and have an hour to kill this is a must. It’s cheap, fun and not something you get to do often. Click here for more info. We booked this through our hotel. Highly recommend.

There are also lots of activities for kids so it’s definitely a great spot for families as well as couples and large groups. You can walk huskies, ride ponies, go sledding and there are small slopes suitable for kids too.

S K I . Z O N E S.

There are 3 lifts in Borovets, which take skiers up to the various ski zones. The ski area in Borovets is divided into 3 zones:

Sitnyakovo ski center (1300-1750 m.) – This is the lowest ski center and the lifts are part of the resort area. Great for beginners and night skiing takes place too from 6:00PM till 9:00PM. Snow cannons help keep a good base snow cover.

Yastrebets ski center (1440-2050m.) – This is the middle ski center and is serviced by the Yastrebets Express ski lift. This is one of the most popular ski areas and has a good selection of intermediate slopes.

Markudzhik ski center (2140-2483m.) – This is the highest ski zone in the resort. It’s serviced by a 4 seat lift and two drag lifts. This zone has the most natural snow fall. It is also the most affected by the wind conditions, so sometimes it may be closed while the other parts of the mountain are open.

There are a total of 58km of ski runs in Borovets. 9 beginner runs, 9 intermediate runs and 4 expert runs. The biggest advantage of the ski area is that each is affected differently by the weather (as they are at different altitudes. If the top ski center is closed, the other two will probably be working. If it’s raining at the bottom, at the top it will probably be snow and so on.

E A T . D R I N K .

Hunters Restaurant – Hunters is one of my top two favourite places to eat in Borovets. We had heard great things about this place so we had to pop in and see for ourselves. We dined here on our last night and it really is a hidden gem. A family run restaurant with a super cosy atmosphere, the nicest staff and seriously tasty traditional Bulgarian dishes. We ordered a chicken and port dish on a hot plate with lots of vegetables and a side of buttery garlic potatoes (my few favourite side dish). I can’t recommend this place enough.

The Green King – This restaurant is also in my top two. It is probably the most popular place in the resort and we were lucky to get a table as we hadn’t reserved. Again, we had heard so many great things about The Green King so we had high expectations. It did not disappoint. The owner was such a character, really friendly and welcoming. I ordered a chicken and mushroom dish with a side of Bulgarian bread – another tasty dish and a really cosy atmosphere. Highly recommend!

Hotel Alpine – A really nice spot with a view of the slopes. The nicest mulled wine and lots of choice on the menu. We ordered a baked cheese dish with honey and walnuts – so good!

Downhill Snack & Grill –This was by far my favourite place in terms of views and of course, hot chocolate. It’s a hidden gem at the top of the Sitnyakovo Lift. Once you get to the top of the left walk straight ahead and you can’t miss it. A nice spot for lunch, drinks and most of it – views!!!

Bobby’s Bar – A really cosy bar with friendly staff. You’re greeted with toffee vodka shots and there’s always a buzzing atmosphere. It’s on the main street too so a great spot to visit if you need to warm up.

Victoria Hotel – Another nice place located right beside the slopes. I ordered a salad and a coffee here on our second day. The service was really good and the food was lovely. Note: they let customers in with ski boots too which was great.

Chinese Moon – Sometimes you need just need all the comfort food. A great spot for a trusty Chinese, pints, cocktails and music. It’s a busy place so you may have to wait a while for food but the wait is worth it.

Hotel Rila – Rila is probably the biggest hotel in the resort. It has a really nice terrace overlooking the slopes so it’s a great spot for a coffee or a glass of wine.

Titanic Bar – Apres Ski all the way – need I say more? They do a mean Baileys hot chocolate and they have a big open fire so you’ll leave toasty warm and content.

G E A R . R E N T A L / L I F T . P A S S E S .

We booked our ski equipment (skis, poles and boots), lockers and ski lift passes through Traventuria. They are located about 5 minutes from the slopes – they also provide ski lessons. Click here for a breakdown on prices. I’ve been skiing a number of times in Europe and Bulgaria is by far the cheapest place I’ve come across when it comes to gear rental, lift passes etc. Also, the staff in Traventuria were really nice and got us set up in no time.

S K I . L E S S O N S .

If you’re a first-time skier/snowboarder or if you’re a bit rusty and want to get some practice in with an instructor before you hit the slopes both Hunters Ski School and Dimi Travel are also great for groups and private lessons.

W H A T. T O. W E A R .

Ski coats and ski pants are essential – they need to be waterproof, windproof and insulated.

Base Layers / Thermals – these are important for extra warmth. Base layers are super light and easy to throw on under your jacket and ski pants.

Ski gloves are also an absolute must – they need to be proper ski gloves – waterproof gloves are key. A typical pair of gloves will just get drenched with the snow and you will be frozen.

Goggles/ Sunglasses – if it’s a sunny day then sunglasses are perfect but if it’s snowing or the weather isn’t great, goggles are your best option. I have two pairs of anti-fog goggles and they got me through the snow and blizzards.

Thermal socks/ boots – a few pairs of thick thermal socks are important when you’re skiing/snowboarding. The thicker the better so you’re ski boots don’t rub off your shins. A trusty pair of snow boots/moon boots is also a good idea. Not only will you appreciate them after a full day in ski boots, they are perfect for keeping your feet cosy when you’re out in the snow.

Hats/ Scarves / Headbands – headbands are handy to throw on under your helmet. Otherwise, hats are ideal (the cosier the better) and a thermal scarf is always handy. (note: I included links for my entire outfit at the top of the blog post)

SPF – you probably wouldn’t think it but SPF is super important when skiing. I got badly burnt when I was skiing in Italy a few years ago because I took my scarf off and forgot to keep it covered. You’d be surprised how sunny the slopes can be so make sure to have sun factor on your face. 

Winter Sports Insurance – last but not least, Winter sport insurance. This is, of course, the most important thing to get before you travel. I bought mine with Multitrip – cheap and cheerful.

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There you have it – my Borovets Ski Guide. Overall, I would definitely recommend this resort. A short flight, great location, friendly people, unreal price points for gear rentals and lift passes and there are slopes for all levels of skiers and snowboarders.

If you’re planning a trip over soon – I envy you! 😛
Ski trips really are the best kind of trips this time of year.

If you have any other questions feel free to leave a comment below. You can also catch me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! <3

Thanks for reading!

Until next time…