Forecast today: Light rain
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.
Tue 19 Mar | Wed 20 Mar | Thu 21 Mar | Fri 22 Mar | Sat 23 Mar | Sun 24 Mar | Mon 25 Mar | Tue 26 Mar | Wed 27 Mar | Thu 28 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 | Light snow shwr |
Light snow |
Light snow | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Generally clear |
Partly cloudy |
Mainly fair | Occasional snow |
Light snow |
Mist | Light snow shwr |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Snow grains | Snow |
Light snow |
Light snow | Occasional snow |
Light snow |
Snow grains | Light snow |
Light snow shwr |
Light snow | Partly cloudy |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 1.9 cm | 4.4 cm | 1.3 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.8 cm | 1 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.4 cm | 0.5 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.4 cm | 0.8 cm | 9.5 cm | 8.9 cm | 2.9 cm | 2.8 cm | 2.4 cm | 0.7 cm | 2.8 cm | 3.8 cm | 1.4 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.2 cm |
Max temp | -4.2°c | -5.6°c | -9.8°c | -7.1°c | -7.2°c | -11.8°c | -4.4°c | -5°c | -9°c | -5.4°c | -6.1°c | -9°c | -3.5°c | -3.8°c | -7.9°c | -0.9°c | -1.5°c | -5.1°c | -2.7°c | -5.4°c | -7.8°c | -4.1°c | -4.7°c | -7.6°c | -3°c | -3.6°c | -6.7°c | -0.4°c | -1.1°c | -4.8°c |
Min temp | -6.1°c | -9.8°c | -13.2°c | -12.4°c | -11.8°c | -12.7°c | -9.1°c | -9.4°c | -9.8°c | -8.4°c | -9°c | -11°c | -8.6°c | -7.9°c | -9.4°c | -5.8°c | -5.6°c | -5.6°c | -5.8°c | -7.8°c | -9.4°c | -8.1°c | -7.6°c | -8.1°c | -6.1°c | -6.7°c | -6.9°c | -4.6°c | -4.8°c | -5.5°c |
Feels like temp | -6.1°c | -10°c | -15.7°c | -17.7°c | -12.9°c | -11.8°c | -14°c | -11.2°c | -14.5°c | -13.3°c | -11.2°c | -13.2°c | -8.6°c | -4.6°c | -7.9°c | -5.8°c | -5.5°c | -10.3°c | -8.7°c | -11°c | -13.9°c | -8.1°c | -9.4°c | -12°c | -10°c | -7.9°c | -10.5°c | -4.6°c | -5°c | -8.6°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Light snow shwr |
Light snow |
Light snow |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 1.9 cm | 4.4 cm | 1.3 cm |
Max temp | -4.2°c | -5.6°c | -9.8°c |
Min temp | -6.1°c | -9.8°c | -13.2°c |
Feels like temp | -6.1°c | -10°c | -15.7°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | -7.1°c | -7.2°c | -11.8°c |
Min temp | -12.4°c | -11.8°c | -12.7°c |
Feels like temp | -17.7°c | -12.9°c | -11.8°c |
Tue 19 Mar | Wed 20 Mar | Thu 21 Mar | Fri 22 Mar | Sat 23 Mar | Sun 24 Mar | Mon 25 Mar | Tue 26 Mar | Wed 27 Mar | Thu 28 Mar | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | Light rain |
Light rain |
Light rain/snow | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Clear skies | Generally clear |
Mainly fair |
Mainly fair | Light drizzle |
Light rain shwr |
Generally clear | Partly cloudy |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair | Partly cloudy |
Rain shower |
Light rain shwr | Rain shower |
Occasional rain |
Broken clouds | Occasional rain |
Rather cloudy |
Broken clouds | Light rain/snow |
Occasional rain |
Mainly fair | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Mainly cloudy |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | 0.2 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 5.4°c | 5.3°c | 2.1°c | 6.7°c | 6.8°c | 1.9°c | 9.3°c | 9.3°c | 4.1°c | 8°c | 7.9°c | 3.8°c | 10°c | 10.2°c | 5.8°c | 11.3°c | 11.3°c | 6°c | 6.3°c | 6.3°c | 2.9°c | 6.6°c | 6.6°c | 3.3°c | 6.5°c | 6.6°c | 3.7°c | 11°c | 11°c | 6.1°c |
Min temp | 3.2°c | 2.1°c | -2.6°c | -2.1°c | 1.9°c | -0.6°c | 1.1°c | 4.1°c | 0.8°c | 2.6°c | 3.8°c | 0.4°c | 2.4°c | 5.8°c | 1.8°c | 3.1°c | 6°c | 4.1°c | 3.6°c | 2.9°c | -0.2°c | 1°c | 3.3°c | 1.2°c | 2.5°c | 3.7°c | 2°c | 3.6°c | 6.1°c | 3.4°c |
Feels like temp | 3°c | 5°c | 1.9°c | -2.1°c | 5.9°c | 1.7°c | 1°c | 7.3°c | 3.8°c | 2.4°c | 7.3°c | 3.5°c | 2.2°c | 9.2°c | 5.4°c | 2.9°c | 9.7°c | 4.4°c | 3.4°c | 4.4°c | 2.7°c | 0.9°c | 5°c | 3.1°c | 2.3°c | 4.9°c | 3.5°c | 3.4°c | 9.7°c | 5.8°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 5.4°c | 5.3°c | 2.1°c |
Min temp | 3.2°c | 2.1°c | -2.6°c |
Feels like temp | 3°c | 5°c | 1.9°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | 6.7°c | 6.8°c | 1.9°c |
Min temp | -2.1°c | 1.9°c | -0.6°c |
Feels like temp | -2.1°c | 5.9°c | 1.7°c |
Snowfall | Last Snowfall | 12/03/2024 |
---|---|---|
Next 3 days | 7.6 cm | |
Depths | Upper piste depth | 105 cm |
Lower piste depth | 95 cm | |
Snow conditions | Snow quality | Spring snow |
Lifts | Lifts open | 11 out of 13 |
Resort opening date | Fri 15 Dec 2023 | |
Resort closing date | Sun 14 Apr 2024 |
A cool weekend is in store for most of Easter Europe and the Balkans, with flurries of snow to keep things fresh, especially up north. The new week starts mild, however, with positive temperatures and a few belts of rain to boot.
As the week continues, conditions cool again. This will bring snow to the Balkans, but the north of the region will miss out.
There will be no Snow Overviews next week (w/c 11 March 2024) as the Info & Advice team is away. Please check back on Tuesday 19 March for the next update.
The most up-to-date avalanche forecasting for the Eastern Europe is available through the European Avalanche Warning Service
10-20% off group and private course, rentals and packages for all Ski Club Members