Holidaying in Borovets, Bulgaria - Some Thoughts

Located by Mount Musala in the Rila mountain range Borovets is the oldest winter sports resort in Bulgaria and is fast becoming one of the best known ski destinations in Europe. Borovets is around an hour's drive from Sofia.

What is the skiing like in Borovets?

Borovets is a world class ski resort, evidenced by the fact that the town has twice been host to the World Cup and would have been used for Olympic runs had Bulgaria won the 2014 Winter Olympics. The facilities here are considered to be top rate -- the biathlon track on the resort, for example, is one of the best in Europe. The resort enjoys good snowfall from December to April and usually has a mild winter. There are around 20 ski rums here spread over three sectors, Sitniakoyo, Markoudzhik and Yastrebets. Although considered a great option for families, Borovets actually offers runs of all difficulties from novice to expert.

Visitors to Borovets can also do other sports as well including snowboarding, ski-dooing, ice-skating, alpine skiing, ski jumping and cross country skiing. All signs/markings are international and the resort's runs are well maintained. Borovets has a gondola and various chair and drag/baby drag lifts.

What kind of accommodation is available in Borovets?

As a well-established and busy resort Borovets has a wealth of hotels -- from five star through to small family run concerns -- and plenty of self-catering properties for those who prefer rented accommodation. Options here will suit all sizes of parties and all budgets. Typical self-catering properties include villa, apartments, chalets, houses and bungalows. Some properties here are purpose built new developments whilst others are conversions of local properties.

What's the night-life like in Borovets?

There is plenty to do in the resort. The town has shops, bars, cafes and restaurants as well as various discos and clubs for skiers who like to burn the candle at both ends! From an eating perspective there are all kinds of cuisines on offer from stalls selling local snacks, to traditional Bulgarian restaurants through to the kind of modern European cuisine that is universally found.

What else is there to do apart from skiing?

Many visitors explore the local countryside so hiking, walking and horse-riding are all popular activities. Some people take the opportunity to go up Mount Musala which involves a lift for part of the way and then a walk to get to the top. Visitors should take a look at the Bistrista Palace which is an old royal hunting lodge which contains some great examples of wood carving for which the region is renowned. Other activities include swimming, bowling and there are various health/spa options as well. Many visitors also go a little further afield and make a visit to historical Sofia or Plovdiv.

Conclusion

The facilities and friendly atmosphere in Borovets make this an ideal destination for a ski holiday. Although the resort is very well designed and maintained at the moment it is likely to benefit from further improvements. The Bulgarian government has started a 'Super Borovets' initiative which is designed to turn the resort into a year-round holiday destination. As part of this initiative the winter sports facilities will also be enhanced.