Forecast today: Generally clear
Snow reliability and the lift system have improved significantly in recent years thanks to good investment in new infrastructure. The skiing is mostly geared towards beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, but you can clock up some good vertical and on the upper slopes there is some decent off piste after fresh snowfall.
Most people come here on packages and stay in big hotels with their own bars, restaurants and shops, but there is also a large selection of quirkier and lively small bars, shops and eating places. Nevertheless, the resort’s beautiful woodland setting gives it a real degree of Alpine charm.
Outside the main base at the Hotel Rila is the beginners area, conveniently located on gentle slopes right outside all of the main facilities. From here you can then go in two directions – either up the old gondola towards the summit, or on the Sitnyakovo quad chairlift. The latter is home to some gentle cruising, as well as the resort’s night skiing offering.
More confident skiers and boarders will want to catch the gondola towards the summit, where the high altitude Markudjik ski area offers snowsure slopes and spectacular views over the Bulgarian mountains. The trickiest runs are in the Yastrebetz sector, where a high speed quad serves an excellent pod of red runs that drop 600 vertical metres each time. There is some decent off piste terrain high up, but thick trees restrict a lot of the access off the sides of the slopes.
As mentioned, most people stay in large hotels on the hill and as a result there are limited bar and restaurant options, but some have popped up in recent years. Most of these hotels are great value and well appointed, several too are specifically geared towards families, which adds to the appeal of this resort as a family holiday alternative to the Alps. That being said, there are some lively bars and on sunny days, at weekends and during the holidays, après ski can kick off – especially with such low prices.
Away from the slopes, winter walking is on offer, as is cross country skiing – there is a nice network of trails winding their way through the trees as Bistritsa. Many of the hotels have pools and spas, providing the perfect way to unwind after a long day on the slopes.
| Sat 7 Mar | Sun 8 Mar | Mon 9 Mar | Tue 10 Mar | Wed 11 Mar | Thu 12 Mar | Fri 13 Mar | Sat 14 Mar | Sun 15 Mar | Mon 16 Mar | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | ![]() Generally clear |
![]() Rather cloudy |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Rather cloudy |
![]() Light snow |
![]() Light snow | ![]() Mainly fair |
![]() Generally clear |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Generally clear |
![]() Mainly fair |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Generally clear |
![]() Generally clear |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Mainly fair |
![]() Mainly fair |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Mainly fair |
![]() Mainly fair |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Generally clear |
![]() Rather cloudy |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Generally clear |
![]() Occasional snow |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Light snow shwr |
![]() Occasional snow |
![]() Snow grains |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.3 cm | 1.2 cm | 0.7 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.3 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.4 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.3 cm | 1 cm | 0.8 cm | 0.7 cm | 1.1 cm | 0.7 cm |
| Max temp | -2.3°c | -2.3°c | -6°c | -2.8°c | -2.8°c | -6.3°c | -3.1°c | -3.1°c | -8°c | -1.8°c | -1.8°c | -7.6°c | -1.1°c | -1.1°c | -6.8°c | -0.9°c | -0.9°c | -6.4°c | -0.8°c | -0.8°c | -6°c | -1.6°c | -1.6°c | -5.6°c | -2°c | -2°c | -6.2°c | -2.1°c | -2.1°c | -5.9°c |
| Min temp | -3.9°c | -6°c | -6.8°c | -6°c | -6.3°c | -7.9°c | -7.2°c | -8°c | -9.3°c | -7.2°c | -7.6°c | -8.6°c | -6.2°c | -6.8°c | -8.3°c | -5.7°c | -6.4°c | -8°c | -5.8°c | -6°c | -7.5°c | -5.5°c | -5.6°c | -7.3°c | -5.6°c | -6.2°c | -7.5°c | -5.4°c | -5.9°c | -7°c |
| Feels like temp | -3.9°c | -2.3°c | -6°c | -6°c | -2.8°c | -6.3°c | -7.2°c | -3.1°c | -8°c | -7.2°c | -1.8°c | -7.6°c | -6.2°c | -1.1°c | -6.8°c | -5.7°c | -0.9°c | -6.4°c | -5.8°c | -0.8°c | -6°c | -5.5°c | -1.6°c | -5.6°c | -5.6°c | -2°c | -6.2°c | -5.4°c | -2.1°c | -5.9°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | ![]() Generally clear |
![]() Rather cloudy |
![]() Generally clear |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | -2.3°c | -2.3°c | -6°c |
| Min temp | -3.9°c | -6°c | -6.8°c |
| Feels like temp | -3.9°c | -2.3°c | -6°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | ![]() Rather cloudy |
![]() Light snow |
![]() Light snow |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.3 cm | 1.2 cm | 0.7 cm |
| Max temp | -2.8°c | -2.8°c | -6.3°c |
| Min temp | -6°c | -6.3°c | -7.9°c |
| Feels like temp | -6°c | -2.8°c | -6.3°c |
| Sat 7 Mar | Sun 8 Mar | Mon 9 Mar | Tue 10 Mar | Wed 11 Mar | Thu 12 Mar | Fri 13 Mar | Sat 14 Mar | Sun 15 Mar | Mon 16 Mar | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Generally clear |
Broken clouds |
Broken clouds | Light rain shwr |
Occasional rain |
Occasional rain | Occasional rain |
Light rain shwr |
Broken clouds | Generally clear |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Generally clear |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear | Generally clear |
Partly cloudy |
Generally clear | Light drizzle |
Occasional rain |
Some drizzle | Some drizzle |
Occasional rain |
Light rain/snow |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 10.5°c | 10.7°c | 5.7°c | 9.6°c | 9.6°c | 4.8°c | 6.6°c | 6.8°c | 3°c | 8.7°c | 8.7°c | 3.2°c | 10.2°c | 10.2°c | 4.2°c | 10.7°c | 10.7°c | 5°c | 10.6°c | 10.6°c | 5°c | 10.1°c | 10.1°c | 4.6°c | 9.5°c | 9.5°c | 4.3°c | 9.3°c | 9.3°c | 4.4°c |
| Min temp | 0.8°c | 5.7°c | 2.8°c | 2.8°c | 4.8°c | 3.1°c | 2.8°c | 3°c | 0.6°c | 0.2°c | 3.2°c | 0.5°c | 0.9°c | 4.2°c | 1.8°c | 2°c | 5°c | 2.1°c | 2.2°c | 5°c | 2.4°c | 2.5°c | 4.6°c | 2.3°c | 2.6°c | 4.3°c | 2.2°c | 2.8°c | 4.4°c | 2.2°c |
| Feels like temp | 0.7°c | 9.5°c | 5.2°c | 2.6°c | 8.8°c | 4.5°c | 2.6°c | 4.5°c | 2.8°c | 0.2°c | 7.8°c | 2.9°c | 0.8°c | 9.2°c | 3.8°c | 1.8°c | 9.6°c | 4.6°c | 2°c | 9.5°c | 4.6°c | 2.3°c | 8.5°c | 4.2°c | 2.4°c | 7.7°c | 3.9°c | 2.5°c | 7.5°c | 4°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 10.5°c | 10.7°c | 5.7°c |
| Min temp | 0.8°c | 5.7°c | 2.8°c |
| Feels like temp | 0.7°c | 9.5°c | 5.2°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 9.6°c | 9.6°c | 4.8°c |
| Min temp | 2.8°c | 4.8°c | 3.1°c |
| Feels like temp | 2.6°c | 8.8°c | 4.5°c |
| Snowfall | Last Snowfall | 21/02/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Next 3 days | 2.3 cm | |
| Depths | Upper piste depth | 165 cm |
| Lower piste depth | 140 cm | |
| Snow conditions | Snow quality | Spring snow |
| Lifts | Lifts open | 13 out of 13 |
| Resort opening date | Sat 27 Dec 2025 | |
| Resort closing date | Sun 29 Mar 2026 |
Updated 04/03
For most of Eastern Europe and the Balkans, mild and fine, dry and bright conditions will dominate across this week and into the weekend. Sun, sun and more sun will be the theme of the week, with very little cloud to get in the way!
Further south, conditions will be a little cooler and unsettled, with a few flurries of snowfall moving through the region – although barely enough to register on the snow stake. Temperatures will remain much closer to freezing at mid-mountain level in the region.
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