Bulgaria’s Ski Resorts
For Bulgarians skiing is the winter sport and anyone who can afford it spends the winter months taking advantage of the varied terrain that Bulgaria offers. Runs can be found to suit all abilities, although the more advanced or well-travelled skier may find the local facilities limiting. 
The ski season usually gets under way mid December and runs through till early April, depending on the snow. It is worth noting that the main resorts are heavily booked by tour operators throughout the season and that your best bet may be last minute cancellations.
Here is an overview of the best Bulgaria has to offer.

Bansko 

Distance from Sofia:161km
Resort Altitude: 925 m (ski runs above 1700 m)
Mountain range: Pirin
Highest point of run: 2500 km
Plus: the best snow coverage, longest season and most modern ski facilities
Minus: hotels spread around town, lacks resort atmosphere, can get overcrowded.

Major investment and development in Bansko over the last few years has made this the most popular of Bulgaria’s resorts. The most significant change is the new cable car from the town to the ski areas, but there are also other new lifts and more runs and modern facilities. In fact one can now ski all the way to the resort along a gently wide path.
Needless to say, Bansko has now become an attractive option for the package tourist industry and accommodation may be trickier and more expensive to secure for locals.
The building boom continues with many more new hotels and apartment complexes having opened putting a strain on the existing infrastructure.
Night skiing is available on the renovated Stara Pista and those not afraid of a challenge can take on the Tomba run named after the Italian ski ace who attended the opening of the new look resort a couple of years ago.
Unlike Borovets and Pamporovo, Bansko is a market town with a population of 10,000 inhabitants. Most of the town’s nightlife revolves around the seventy or so ‘mehanas’ (pubs) which have their own character with local live music and speciality dishes like ‘kapama’ and ‘Banski starets’.
Where to stay
There is an excellent choice of quality hotels, many with their own pools and fitness centres, as well as cheaper lodgings in family homes in the town centre. No doubt there will also be plenty of the newly finished apartments available.
How to get there
Approximately two and a half hours drive from Sofia, heading south towards the Greek border and then turning off soon after Blagoevgrad. There are also regular bus services from Sofia to Bansko.

Borovets 

Distance from Sofia: 70km
Resort Altitude: 1323 m
Mountain range: Rila
Highest point of run: 2560 m
Plus: variety of ski runs and great après ski
Minus: over-commercialised and noisy resort centre

Borovets is Bulgaria’s oldest and, till recently, most developed ski resort. Its fame dates back to 1899 when Prince Ferdinand built three palaces and a hunting lodge in the area..
Not wishing to be completely left behind by recent developments in Bansko, Borovets has installed several new lifts and increased the capacity of skiers.
The runs are mainly set among the wonderfully thick pine forests and are split into two distinct regions. The Yastrebets area is accessed via the Gondola cabin lift (20 mins), which also leads to the more exposed above-tree-line area of Markoudjik. Majestically overlooked by the imposing Mt. Moussala, the highest peak on the Balkan peninsula (2925 meters), there are three double drag lifts offering runs from beginner to advanced. The new 8km Moussalenski path is an extremely picturesque and gentle run back to the main resort area.
The Sitnyakovo area is accessed by new chair lifts opposite the Rila Hotel, and offers a good alternative for those in search of shorter intermediate runs in a more sheltered environment.
The base area is packed with restaurants and cafes where the lazy or non-skier can easily spend the day sunbathing on the sheltered terraces, watching beginners on the nursery slopes.
Night skiing is available from 17.00 – 22.00 hours. You will need to buy a separate lift pass, however.
Prices in Borovets are extremely inflated during peak season and may be a bit of a surprise to anyone coming from Sofia, but they still seem reasonable to package tourists. Borovets has the distinguished reputation of excellent après ski and this is reflected in the number of bars and restaurants scattered around the resort. Unfortunately there is very little noise control in force so you need to choose your hotel carefully if noise bothers you.

Where to stay
Plenty of hotels to chose from, large and small, either in the resort centre or a little further from the centre. For those looking for a little luxury the newly renovated Hotel Yastrabets, set at the base of the Yastrabets runs  offers an exclusive alternative. Likewise The Lodge Hotel offers modern luxury in the heart of the resort.
The centrally located Flora complex offers studios and apartments for rent from private owners.
How to get there
Borovets is just over an hour’s drive from Sofia either along the Iskar valley via Pancharevo or across the top of Vitosha Mountain through Bistritsa and Zheleznitsa (less busy). Both routes are extremely picturesque.

Pamporovo 
Distance from Sofia: 260 km
Resort Altitude: 1650 m
Mountain range: Rhodope
Highest point of run:1926 m
Plus: gentle sunny slopes ideal for beginners or families with small children
Minus: hotels away from ski runs
Beautifully tucked away among the pine forests, the heart of the resort is relatively compact with hotels blending into the natural surroundings. Several of the older hotels have been extensively refurbished in recent years and the resort’s first five star hotel, Hotel Pamporovo, was built. Here too the property development boom has struck and several new apartment blocks are being built. We have not visited recently to comment further. Please feel free to add your comments.
Most of the hotels are located away from the main lifts to the ski runs, which means one has to rely on the ski bus or taxi to move around the resort. Most skiers use the high-speed triple chair from the Ardashla area up to Snezhanka Peak, from where most runs start. There are several long intermediate level runs back to base.
Apres ski tends to be based within the hotels, most of which have bars and discos. Several have new swimming pools and fitness facilities. The centrally-located Grand Hotel Murgavets has a shopping mall as well as a spa centre. At the entrance to the resort there are several traditional style restaurants offering Rhodope specialities.
Where to stay
You can choose from refurbished hotels in the centre of the resort or some newer hotels closer to the runs. Alternatively private accommodation can be found in nearby Smolyan, Stoikite, Shiroka Luka or Cheplare, which also has its own ski runs.
How to get there
By car, via Plovdiv, Assenovgrad and Chepelare.
By bus (approx. 4 hours), daily services from the bus station behind the Princess Hotel.

Vitosha

Distance from Sofia: 22km from city centre
Resort Altitude: 1800 m
Mountain range: Vitosha
Highest point of run: 2290 m
Plus: easy access for day skiing
Minus: gets very crowded

Few capitals the world over can boast over 22km of marked runs within half an hour’s access from the city centre. Large open slopes below Cherni Vrah (the Black Peak) offer runs suitable for skiers of all abilities, including two runs approved for international competitions. During the week Vitosha is mainly used by local schools and kindergartens, on weekends it can get extremely busy. Its exposed location also makes it susceptible to bad weather conditions.
Aleko serves as the base for Vitosha and there are several ski schools, equipment hire places and restaurants-cum-mountain huts to be found here. There is at last now a single lift operator with one pass valid for all lifts.
On the downside the choice and standard of food is still relatively poor. Best to take a packed lunch. 
Aleko provides access to a double chair lift and several drag lifts up to the area known as Stenata (the Wall) with truly breathtaking views onto the city below, as well as to the more demanding terrain known as Vitoshko Lale (opened in 1984). There is a two-stage chair lift, which tops out near Golyam Rezen peak (2277 meters).
As of last year night skiing is available on Vitoshko Lale on weekdays from 18.00 till 22.00
Weather permitting the piste is flood lit and in party atmosphere every night except Monday. This is a real treat for all who have to spend the day working in the city below.

How to get there
Access to Aleko, is either by car (during the week only), bus 66 (from Hladilnika) or by the cable car that operates from the Simeonovo base station (your best bet), just off the Ring Road. There is a secure car park area and bus numbers 122 from Hladilnika or 123 from Darvenitsa will take you there.
For night skiing you will have to drive up through Dragalevtsi to the base of the Vitoshko Lale chair lift

Off the beaten track
Malyovitsa
Part of the Rila mountain range, about 26km from Samokov. Two drag lifts provide access to runs for intermediate to advanced skiers. Great alternative to Borovets for a day trip from Sofia or a good escape from Borovets.

Govedartsi, just before Malyovitsa. An intermediate run of 1700 m, served by a single drag lift and is adequately challenging if just out for a day’s skiing.

Chepelare
Bulgaria’s highest town (1140m) has a two-man chair lift up to Mechi Chal (1873m), which accesses some of the best downhill runs in the country for intermediate to advanced skiers.

Ski Safety Tips.
It is vital that all skiers have adequate insurance cover.
Mountain rescue is no longer free of charge – so be sure that you are properly insured.
Never ski alone.
Ski within your own ability and with due care and consideration for other skiers.
The skier downhill from you has priority!
Be wary about skiing off-piste (many insurance companies will not cover you for accidents).
Take all avalanche and weather warning seriously.
Always wear sun protection, sunglasses and gloves, and carry a hat with you.
Check what time the last lift down to the resort is if you cannot ski all the way down.