1800 m above sea level, Vitosha is only 10 km far from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. This is the highest ski resort of Bulgaria. The mountain is good for skiing in the winter and trekking in the summer. It is easily accessible both in the winter and in the summer but its weather is very changeable. In Vitosha there are two biosphere preserves - Bistrishko Branishte and Torfeno Branishte.
The highest peak of Vitosha is Cherni Vruh (2290 m). The main skiing area is under it.
Vitosha also offers walls for rock climbing in its eastern part. The mountain is also popular with the longest cave in Bulgaria - Duhlata, which is 17.5 km long, sprawls on seven levels and through it run six underground rivers.
Vitosha is also famous for its rock formations, some of which have volcanic origin and others formed as a result of climate changes. The most popular formation is the stone rivers, or "moreni" at Zlatnite Mostove (The Golden Bridges).
Vitosha offers excellent conditions for snowsports, with huge skiing areas and many slopes with powder, but last few years the skiing infrastructure and the hotels in the mountain were not developed according to the needs of the tourists. We would recommend it very much for skiing and boarding, but tourists will not find here the night life and apres ski of the bigger resorts in Bulgaria.
Read a detailed report on Vitosha here.
The ski runs of Vitosha are various and would be suitable for skiers and boarders of any level. Vitosha offers six ski runs with various difficulty and length - the green ski run being the easiest and the Vitoshko Lale the most difficult. There is also a trail for ski running - Univerisada, 9600 m long. All ski runs have the necessary facilities. There are a number of chair and drag lifts, as well as a Gondola lift starting from the outskirts of Sofia and reaching almost the top of the mountain near Aleko.
The Aleko chalet offers skis for rent and highly qualified ski instructors. Over the weekends in the winter the area and the ski run near the Aleko chalet become overcrowded.
It starts to snow heavy in December and it is stable till late spring. The snow cover reaches a thickness of 1.5 m. The duration of the skiing season is 120 days and the average temperature of the air is minus 6 ° C. There are good conditions for slalom and cross-country skiing, as well as for tours on foot throughout the mountain.
The mountain is very nice and the its location is a good opportunity to get involved in the dynamic atmosphere of Sofia, to plunge into its history of thousands of years, to feel the pulse of its night life of the big city.
Concerning the hotels and chalets in the mountain, most of them are basic ones, with very limited facilities and low prices. For guests with higher requirements we recommend the hotels in Simeonovo and Dragalevtsi area of Sofia, which have better facilities and offer very reasonable prices. Ski rents are available near the runs or in the hotels.
Apart from the ski runs. Vitosha offers a variety of hiking trails, most of which are accessible throughout the win- ter as well. One of the most popular is the trail, which starts from the Aleko chalet, winds through the plateau and ends at Zlatnite Mostove. The most popular hiking trails are marked by iron poles, which can be seen even in the winter. Along the trails there are resting sites and chalets. Vitosha is easily accessible by car or bus from Sofia, with several city transport lines going to different places in the mountain.
Read a detailed report on Vitosha here.
