Borovets Ski Resort Guide: Lift Passes, Snow and Hotels

Borovets is Bulgaria's oldest ski resort and the closest major one to Sofia: a small resort town at 1,350 metres on the northern slopes of the Rila Mountains, about 70 km from the capital. It has 58 km of pistes, a gondola climbing to 2,369 metres, floodlit night skiing and snowmaking on roughly two thirds of the runs. Last season an adult day pass cost €54 and the season opened on 27 December. From Sofia, a private transfer from Sofia to Borovets starts at €76 per car and takes about 70 minutes.

This guide covers getting there, lift pass prices, snow and season dates, Borovets versus Bansko, things to do off the slopes, hotels and skiing with kids. All prices are in euro: Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026.

Borovets at a glance

Borovets began in 1896 as a royal hunting retreat of King Ferdinand and celebrated its 130th anniversary at the start of the 2025/26 season. Today it is a compact resort set in pine forest, about 10 km from the town of Samokov. There is no old town here: life revolves around the hotels, the lift base and one main street. It suits long weekends, families who do not want a long drive after a flight, beginners and anyone who wants to ski after dark.

How to get from Sofia to Borovets

The drive from Sofia to Borovets is about 70 km, roughly 70 minutes on a normal day and up to an hour and a half on snowy days or busy Saturday mornings. Sofia Airport sits on the east side of the city, so you avoid crossing the centre.

• Private transfer: the easiest option with luggage, ski gear and children. Ours starts at €76 per vehicle, not per person.
• Taxi: possible, but agree the fare before you set off.
• Rental car: flexible, but you need winter tyres and chains, and parking is tight in peak weeks.
• Bus: buses run to Samokov and on to Borovets, but schedules change by season and it is awkward with equipment.

Skiing in Borovets: runs, lifts and night skiing

The ski area has three linked sectors: Sitnyakovo and Martinovi Baraki, which start from the resort base, and Yastrebets, the high sector served by the gondola. Of the 58 km of runs, 24 km are easy, 29 km intermediate and 5 km difficult, so Borovets is mainly a resort for beginners and intermediates.

The Yastrebets gondola

The gondola is about 4.8 km long and rises from around 1,315 m to 2,369 m in roughly 28 minutes. Queues build at the morning peak, so arrive when it opens. The resort plans a new ten-seat gondola for the Yastrebets sector, with no date announced yet.

Night skiing

According to the resort, eight floodlit runs operate until 10 pm. Last January night skiing ran Thursday to Saturday from 6:30 pm to 10 pm until snow cover increased. It is a great way to use your arrival evening.

Snowmaking

About 220 snow cannons, an artificial lake and a pumping station cover roughly two thirds of the runs. Cannons still need cold nights, so a warm December can delay the opening.

Borovets lift pass prices (last season)

2026/27 prices have not been published yet; last year the list came out in autumn and took effect in mid December. These are the 2025/26 prices, when the resort raised fares by no more than 5%.

The offer applied Monday to Thursday (excluding public holidays) from mid January to 2 February 2026 and may not return. Seniors 65+ paid €21 for night skiing. Check the official Borovets website for new prices and exact age rules before you book.

When does the Borovets ski season open?

Borovets usually opens later than Bansko. In 2025/26, after an unusually warm December, the season ran from 27 December 2025 to 29 March 2026, with lifts from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. In December 2024 the official opening was set for the 21st. There is no official date for 2026/27 yet; international forecast sites list an estimated opening on 19 December 2026 and closing on 11 April 2027, but treat that as a projection.

Borovets or Bansko?

In short: Borovets for convenience, Bansko for variety. Bansko has around 75 km of runs, usually opens earlier and has a lively old town, but it is roughly twice as far from Sofia and its gondola queues are notorious. Last season an adult day pass cost €59 in Bansko against €54 in Borovets. Choose Borovets for a long weekend, small children, first-time skiers or night skiing; choose Bansko for a full week, experienced skiers, nightlife or an early December trip. Our guide to skiing in Bulgaria compares all three big resorts, and the Bansko winter guide covers Bansko in depth.

Things to do in Borovets besides skiing

• ATV ride: a private ATV trip around Borovets, one hour with a local guide on forest trails in the Rila Mountains. Ride solo or share an ATV with another person; the price is €129 per person. Check winter availability, which depends on the weather.
• Snow day from Sofia: staying in Sofia? Join a Borovets snow and thermal springs day trip from Sofia: mountain drive, a stroll through the resort, time for sledging and snow play, then a soak in hot springs. From €85 per adult, €45 for children aged 3 to 12, and free for under 3s. Pool entry and extra activities are paid on site.
• Hot springs: Sapareva Banya, with its hot geyser, is roughly an hour's drive away and makes an ideal rest day.
• Gondola ride: non-skiers can ride up to Yastrebets for the views; check the pedestrian fare for the season.

Where to stay: hotels in Borovets

Location matters most. These are the six hotels in Borovets we sell, all four stars:

• Rila Hotel Borovets: ski in, ski out at the foot of the runs, with half board.
• Ice Angels Hotel: right on the slopes, 15 metres from the lifts, with half board.
• Yastrebets Hotel Wellness & SPA: ski in, ski out among the pines, with spa access included.
• Alpin Hotel Borovets: a small boutique hotel with villas, 20 metres from the pistes.
• Hotel Iglika Borovets: central, family friendly and five minutes' walk from the gondola.
• Lion Hotel Borovets: a quiet pine forest setting, half board and a free ski shuttle.

Slope-side rooms go first over Christmas, New Year and February half term, so book early.

Borovets with kids

The beginner drag lifts sit right at the base next to the hotels, so children can start without taking the gondola. Book ski school early for peak weeks, plan a rest day with sledging or hot springs, and pack layers and sunscreen: the sun is strong at 2,000 metres.

Kosher food

We found no verified Chabad house or kosher restaurant operating in Borovets for the coming season, so check ahead. The practical approach is to buy kosher food in Sofia and choose accommodation with a kitchenette. Our kosher food guide to Bulgaria lists what is available in Sofia.

Borovets in summer

The gondola also runs in summer (a return adult ticket cost €19 in summer 2026), there is a bike park with around 15 trails, and hiking routes lead from Yastrebets into the Rila Mountains, including the route to Musala, the highest peak in the Balkans at 2,925 m. Hotel prices are far lower than in winter.

Borovets FAQ

How do I get from Sofia to Borovets and how long does it take?

Borovets is about 70 km from Sofia, roughly 70 minutes by car on a normal day and up to an hour and a half in snow or heavy weekend traffic. The easiest way with ski gear and children is a private transfer, which starts at €76 per vehicle rather than per person. Alternatives are a taxi with a fare agreed in advance, a rental car with winter tyres, or a bus via Samokov.

How much is a lift pass in Borovets?

2026/27 prices are not published yet. In the 2025/26 season an adult day pass cost €54, youth aged 14 to 22 paid €43 and children aged 7 to 13 paid €32. A January Monday to Thursday offer cut the adult day pass to €43, and night skiing cost €32 for adults. Last year the resort raised prices by no more than 5%.

When does the ski season start in Borovets?

Usually in the second half of December. Last season Borovets opened on 27 December 2025 and closed on 29 March 2026; in December 2024 the official opening was set for the 21st. No official 2026/27 date has been announced, and forecast sites estimate 19 December 2026. Everything depends on cold weather and snowfall.

Is there snow in Borovets in December?

The peaks usually have some snow in December, but opening the runs depends on cold weather. Borovets has around 220 snow cannons covering roughly two thirds of its runs, yet in the very warm December of 2025 the season only opened on the 27th. If you are travelling in early December, watch the forecast and stay flexible.

Is Borovets or Bansko better?

Borovets is better for families with small children, beginners and long weekends, because it is about 70 minutes from Sofia and the beginner lifts are next to the hotels. Bansko is better for experienced skiers and full weeks, with around 75 km of runs, an old town and nightlife, and it usually opens earlier, but the drive takes about two and a half hours.

What is there to do in Borovets besides skiing?

You can take a guided ATV ride through the Rila forests, ride the gondola to Yastrebets for the views, go sledging, and spend a day at the hot springs of Sapareva Banya, about an hour away. From Sofia there is also a day trip that combines Borovets, snow play and a thermal soak, with reduced prices for children aged 3 to 12.