Forecast today: Broken clouds
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.
Wed 15 Oct | Thu 16 Oct | Fri 17 Oct | Sat 18 Oct | Sun 19 Oct | Mon 20 Oct | Tue 21 Oct | Wed 22 Oct | Thu 23 Oct | Fri 24 Oct | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 |
![]() Freezing fog |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Partly cloudy |
![]() Rather cloudy |
![]() Freezing fog | ![]() Light snow |
![]() Light snow |
![]() Light snow | ![]() Light snow shwr |
![]() Occasional snow |
![]() Freezing fog | ![]() Mainly fair |
![]() Generally clear |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Generally clear |
![]() Mainly fair |
![]() Mainly fair | ![]() Mainly fair |
![]() Mainly fair |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Generally clear |
![]() Generally clear |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Generally clear |
![]() Partly cloudy |
![]() Freezing fog | ![]() Rain/Snow shower |
![]() Snow shower |
![]() Snow shower |
Wind | ![]() |
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Snow expected | 0.1 cm | 0.2 cm | 0 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.8 cm | 5.1 cm | 2.4 cm | 0.6 cm | 1.1 cm | 0.3 cm | 0 cm | 0.4 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.9 cm | 2.3 cm | 0.3 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.6 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.6 cm | 4.6 cm | 4.3 cm |
Max temp | -0.5°c | -1.8°c | -4.2°c | -0.5°c | -1.5°c | -3.3°c | -0.1°c | -1°c | -1.2°c | 1°c | -0.2°c | -2.9°c | -1.9°c | -2.4°c | -6.2°c | -2.2°c | -2.9°c | -5.7°c | -1.3°c | -1.9°c | -3.9°c | 0.9°c | 0.3°c | -1°c | 2.3°c | 1.6°c | -1.1°c | 1.8°c | 0.6°c | -1.6°c |
Min temp | -4.2°c | -4.2°c | -5.9°c | -4.5°c | -3.8°c | -3.9°c | -2.7°c | -2.5°c | -2.4°c | -1.1°c | -2.9°c | -4.7°c | -5.2°c | -6.3°c | -6.8°c | -5.6°c | -6.4°c | -6.4°c | -5°c | -5.6°c | -5.6°c | -3.2°c | -2.7°c | -2.7°c | -0.6°c | -1.8°c | -1.8°c | -0.9°c | -1.9°c | -2.2°c |
Feels like temp | -4.2°c | -1.8°c | -4.2°c | -4.5°c | -4.3°c | -7.3°c | -6.3°c | -4.7°c | -5.6°c | -4.2°c | -3.8°c | -7.1°c | -9.3°c | -5.9°c | -6.3°c | -5.6°c | -2.9°c | -6.4°c | -5°c | -1.9°c | -5.6°c | -3.2°c | -2.3°c | -2.7°c | -0.6°c | -0.9°c | -1.8°c | -0.9°c | -2.4°c | -1.9°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | ![]() Generally clear |
![]() Freezing fog |
![]() Generally clear |
Wind | ![]() |
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Snow expected | 0.1 cm | 0.2 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | -0.5°c | -1.8°c | -4.2°c |
Min temp | -4.2°c | -4.2°c | -5.9°c |
Feels like temp | -4.2°c | -1.8°c | -4.2°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | ![]() Partly cloudy |
![]() Rather cloudy |
![]() Freezing fog |
Wind | ![]() |
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Snow expected | 0.2 cm | 0.3 cm | 0.2 cm |
Max temp | -0.5°c | -1.5°c | -3.3°c |
Min temp | -4.5°c | -3.8°c | -3.9°c |
Feels like temp | -4.5°c | -4.3°c | -7.3°c |
Wed 15 Oct | Thu 16 Oct | Fri 17 Oct | Sat 18 Oct | Sun 19 Oct | Mon 20 Oct | Tue 21 Oct | Wed 22 Oct | Thu 23 Oct | Fri 24 Oct | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | ![]() Broken clouds |
![]() Broken clouds |
![]() Broken clouds | ![]() Occasional rain |
![]() Light rain |
![]() Light rain | ![]() Rain |
![]() Rain |
![]() Light rain | ![]() Rain shower |
![]() Mist |
![]() Light drizzle | ![]() Rather cloudy |
![]() Partly cloudy |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Occasional rain |
![]() Partly cloudy |
![]() Partly cloudy | ![]() Partly cloudy |
![]() Generally clear |
![]() Mist | ![]() Broken clouds |
![]() Generally clear |
![]() Generally clear | ![]() Light rain |
![]() Occasional rain |
![]() Light drizzle | ![]() Broken clouds |
![]() Broken clouds |
![]() Generally clear |
Wind | ![]() |
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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 | 12.3°c | 12°c | 7.5°c | 9.2°c | 9.2°c | 7.1°c | 8.4°c | 8.5°c | 7.7°c | 11.7°c | 11.7°c | 7.2°c | 9.2°c | 9.2°c | 5.1°c | 9.5°c | 9.5°c | 5.1°c | 10.3°c | 10.3°c | 5.6°c | 11.1°c | 11.1°c | 7.5°c | 12.5°c | 12.5°c | 8.3°c | 12.7°c | 12.7°c | 8°c |
Min temp | 4.6°c | 7.5°c | 5.4°c | 5.2°c | 7.1°c | 6.7°c | 5.9°c | 7.7°c | 7.3°c | 6.6°c | 7.2°c | 5.8°c | 4.2°c | 5.1°c | 2.9°c | 2.3°c | 5.1°c | 3.9°c | 3.1°c | 5.6°c | 3.9°c | 3.6°c | 7.5°c | 6.6°c | 6.3°c | 8.3°c | 7.1°c | 6.1°c | 8°c | 6.2°c |
Feels like temp | 4.4°c | 11.6°c | 7.3°c | 5.1°c | 9.1°c | 7.1°c | 5.8°c | 7.6°c | 7.8°c | 6.6°c | 11.5°c | 7.2°c | 4.1°c | 8.9°c | 4.9°c | 2.2°c | 8.6°c | 4.9°c | 3°c | 9.6°c | 5.5°c | 3.5°c | 10.6°c | 7.5°c | 6.2°c | 12.9°c | 8.4°c | 6°c | 12.7°c | 8°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | ![]() |
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Wind | ![]() |
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Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 12.3°c | 12°c | 7.5°c |
Min temp | 4.6°c | 7.5°c | 5.4°c |
Feels like temp | 4.4°c | 11.6°c | 7.3°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | ![]() |
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Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 9.2°c | 9.2°c | 7.1°c |
Min temp | 5.2°c | 7.1°c | 6.7°c |
Feels like temp | 5.1°c | 9.1°c | 7.1°c |
Snowfall | Next 3 days | 12.7 cm |
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Depths | Upper piste depth | No information |
Lower piste depth | No information | |
Snow conditions | Snow quality | No information |
Lifts | Lifts open | No information |
Resort opening date | Sat 20 Dec 2025 | |
Resort closing date | Sun 29 Mar 2026 |
Resorts across Eastern Europe and the Balkans have now finished operations for the 2024/25 season.
Useful Links – Bulgaria
Useful Links – Other Eastern Europe