Winter in Bulgaria

Bansko and Borovets get the press, but the real winter lives in the geyser steam at Sapareva Banya, the snow-quiet courtyard of Rila Monastery and the empty Stara Planina villages.

Dawn

07:48

Dusk

17:01

Mood

Hushed, blue, slow

Sound

Snow under boot, distant bells

Switch season →

Summer Autumn Winter Spring

01 - Live this week

Conditions right now.

Updated daily - field reports

01 - Snow base - Bansko

1.2 m

Fresh overnight. Lifts running on full schedule.

02 - Thermal springs

Open

Sapareva 38°C outdoor pool, no reservation needed.

03 - Pass status

Chains advised

Predel and Shipka - winter equipment required.

04 - Daylight

9h 14m

Sunset 17:01 in Sofia. Cold, clear evenings.

02 - Where to go

Best of winter.

All destinations →

Pirin-4° · Fresh snow

Bansko

1.2m base, fresh overnight. Old town tavernas roaring.

Rila-1° · Quiet

Rila Monastery

Snow in the courtyard, almost no visitors before noon.

Rila foothills2° · Steam

Sapareva Banya

103°C geyser - hottest in the Balkans. Bathe at dusk.

Sredna Gora-3° · Snow-bound

Koprivshtitsa

Painted houses under fresh white. Empty cobble streets.

03 - What to do

Six ways to live the season.

01
Off-piste skiing
Pirin couloirs above Bansko with a local mountain guide.
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02
Thermal bathing
Sapareva, Velingrad, Devin - outdoor pools at 38°C+.
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03
Snowshoe traverses
Vitosha, Rila and Stara Planina, easy access from cities.
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04
Monastery silence
Rila, Troyan and Bachkovo at their most contemplative.
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05
Snowy village stays
Koprivshtitsa, Bozhentsi, Tryavna - wood fires, mulled wine.
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06
Winter photography
Inversion clouds above the Stara Planina passes.
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