The Best Places to Stay in Borovets, Bulgaria

If you want to hide away from the bustle of Borovets and enjoy peaceful evenings by the fireplace, Hotel Lion is the perfect spot for you. This recently renovated hotel has an indoor swimming pool with a large window that overlooks the snowy landscape, as well as a sauna and an assortment of massages available at its Zen Spa Centre. If you haven’t experienced the beneficial effect of a herbal sauna, now is the time to try. The lobby bar has many fireplaces, so you can enjoy one to yourself, and the hotel has a traditional restaurant with Bulgarian cuisine and a special programme showcasing Bulgarian dance.

Hotel Rila is a ski-in, ski-out pad, right in the middle of Borovets ski resort. The building is shaped like a big piece of honeycomb, inspired by the French resort Les Arcs, after which it’s also named one of its numerous restaurants. Rooms are elegant and contemporary, and there’s even an on-site dance spot – the After Eleven Nightclub, perfect for a weekend party.

Just a five-minute drive from the centre of Borovets, you’ll feel as if you have been dropped into a fairytale forest. The wooden villas Jagoda & Malina (literally translated as “strawberry and raspberry”) are the perfect place for families. Admire the surrounding meadows and pine forests from your terrace. Ten of the 40 Jagoda villas are kitted out in a luxurious style with their own private sauna. The Malina Villas are 28 wooden two-storey houses. You can taste Bulgarian cuisine at the on-site restaurant or cook your own meal in the kitchenette.

Pamper yourself in the luxurious five-star Festa Winter Palace in Borovets. It is located 300ft (100m) from the ski slopes with the high-speed four-seat lift, Sitnyakovo Express, and the lower ski lift station in Borovets nearby. The spacious spa is perfect for easing out those tired muscles. You’ll also find two gourmet restaurants and two bars from which to choose. Opt for the VIP suite with a private elevator for extra glamour.

Festa Chamkoria Hotel is tucked among beautiful old pine forests, less than a mile from the Borovets ski centre and the gondola lift. The rooms and suites are styled with ‘summer’ and “winter’ decor”. Fireplaces in the lobby and the heated indoor pool add to the cosy atmosphere of the hotel. If you are travelling with your kids in tow, they will be taken good care of at the kids club while you hit the slopes. The hotel is open year round, so consider returning in summer to explore the region by hiking or mountain biking.

At this hotel in Borovets, they will try to keep you fit and healthy with organic, homemade food served at the restaurant and a wellness centre where you can unwind after a day of skiing. Hotel Radina’s Way is less than two miles from the gondola lift to Yastrebetes Peak (you can use a free shuttle bus). Its sunny terrace is the perfect place to enjoy a cup of hot tea with a view of the Rila Mountains. This is one of the best places for families in Borovets for its homey atmosphere and creative playground area.

Bauhaus meets alpine mountain style at the Euphoria Club Hotel. The buildings are primarily wooden with abruptly slanting roofs setting a stylish tone that continues inside – not least in the spa. A heated pool with high ceilings and glass walls looks out onto the snowy forest. There’s also jacuzzi, steam bath and sauna. The skiing is 2km away but there’s a free shuttle service.

Yanakiev is a hotel for those who like to be right on the mountain when they step out the front door. There’s even a Yanakiev ski school if you’re after a lesson. The rooms are simple but comfy, and there’s a large wellness centre with a steam bath, sauna, laconium and a pool parallel to the ski slope.

Hotel Yastrebets Wellness & Spa is all you could want from a ski hotel, because it is set directly on the Yastrebets ski slope. The lift for the private Yastrebets 3 ski slope in front is free of charge, if you stay at the hotel. Choose your room carefully because some of them have a Finnish sauna. After a long day on the hill, relax in the spa centre (including a steam bath and sauna, if you don’t have one already). Switch seasons by hopping from the ice fountain to the sauna and back to the hot tub. Hotel Yastrebets is open in the summer as well, when you can enjoy the greenery of the pine woods and practice yoga, mountain biking, or archery.

The red villas of Hotel Alpina stand out the winter snow like they’re a little Christmas village, right on the edge of the slopes in Borovets. Each villa has either two storeys, with three rooms sleeping seven people; or one-storey with a maximum of five people. In the hotel itself, there are also large double rooms and studios. The Santa red continues into the bar and restaurant.

If you prefer to stay at a self-catered apartment during your ski trip, Royal Plaza offers vacation accommodations for rent. The kitchenette is fully equipped with a fridge, a kettle, and all you need to cook a basic meal. The aparthotel is located right near the Borovets ski centre and one mile from the Yastrebets express lift. You can rent ski and snowboard equipment or use the ski storage service for maximum convenience.