Vitosha mountain: Winter Olympics in Sofia or How to go Skiing

Winter sports at Vitosha mountain, Sofia?

Few of the people visiting and falling in love with Sofia and Vitosha mountain are aware of the city’s longstanding ambition to host the Winter Olympic Games. Inspired by Sarajevo’s successful example from 1984, the Bulgarian capital has tried several times to win the competition for Winter Olympics’ host. It came closest in the run-up for the 1992 Games by finishing second – only a couple of votes away from the victorious Lillehammer (Norway).

Today, Sofia is a bit further away from fulfilling its Olympic dream. However, the city’s beautiful mountain Vitosha is still there. It remains one of the most preferred options for winter sports in Bulgaria. It is located only 30 minutes away from the city center by car. Vitosha mountain welcomes the fans of skiing and snowboarding not only in the winter weekends, but also during the week – at daylight and after sunset.

How to ski and snowboard in Sofia and Vitosha mountain?

The first and most important prerequisite for skiing or snowboarding in Sofia and Vitosha – the winter ski season must be officially open. This way you’ll know that the facilities would be available. In 2021, that happened on the 27th of December. Hundreds of people are still anticipating their first downhill for the year.

If you visit Sofia during a snowy week after the season has started and you feel like spending a whole day skiing and snowboarding up in the Vitosha mountain, we hope you brought some warm ski clothing with you. In case you have not, you could either pass through Decathlon and get an affordable skiing suit, or you could bravely try skiing in your jeans which is far from recommended. Once you have the necessary clothing, you can make your way up the Vitosha mountain by using several means of transport:

• By gondola!

  Everyone could get a ride and enjoy Vitosha! Take a bus (122 or 123) or a taxi to the Simeonovo gondola. It is working every day during the winter ski season from 08:30 until 16:30. If you have not brought your ski, snowboard, and winter sports shoes, don’t worry! You can rent all the necessary equipment at the Simeonovo gondola station right before you jump on the lift. Alternatively, you can also rent your ski and snowboard at the last stop of the gondola – the Aleko hut. Either way, the orange cabins will take you up to 1810 meters of height where your skiing adventure begins!

• By car!
  

  Whether your own or rent a car or take a taxi – your journey shall last approximately 30-40 minutes. Exit Sofia’s ring road in the direction of Dragalevtsi. Drive through the main road of the neighborhood. Do not go all the way up to the Aleko hut. On the 10^th or the 11^th kilometer after the exit from Dragalevtsi watch for the Hyundai Hotel and exit the main road to the left. Drive two more kilometers and reach the endpoint of Vitoshko Lale (Vitosha Tulip) – the most popular ski track around. Keep in mind that in winter the road might get icy and dangerous. You need to be extra careful, with well-prepared winter tires for your car. Keep in mind that driving to the Aleko hut is forbidden during weekends.

• By car…at night!
  

  In the winter ski season, Sofia and Vitosha allow you to ski down the speedy white tracks, while the dark of night surrounds you! Follow the guidance from the previous paragraph. The car is the only option available. The night skiing and snowboarding are available thanks to a chairlift which works from 18:30 until 22:00. If you choose this option, however, you must have rented your ski or snowboard from Sofia. No place up the mountain would be open at this time of the night.

• By chairlift!

  IMPORTANT: The Dragalevtsi chairlift is currently not working. Check this website for the most up-to-date information. Take bus 93 to the Dragalevtsi chairlift. It works every day during the winter ski season from 09:00 until 16:30. The lift will take you up to Goli Vrah (1818 m.) whose name literally translated in English means… the Naked Peak. Nevertheless, this option is less comfortable and appropriate because there is no suitable place for borrowing ski equipment and the trip with the chairlift might feel quite freezing at –10 degrees.

Where and how to pay for your ski ride?

You can do so at:

• The first and last station of the Simeonovo gondola
• the Vitoshko Lale chairlift

Working Hours and Prices

The Gondola:
Every day from 08:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Last ride: 3:30 PM
Every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month the gondola is undergoing scheduled maintenance between 10 AM and 2:30 PM

Vitoshko Lale 1:
Every day from 9 AM to 4 PM
Last ride: 3:45 PM
Night ride – every day from 6:30 PM to 10 PM 
Last night ride: 9:45 PM

There are a number of pricing options. However, in this article we are focusing on the most commonly used ones:

1-Day Card:
Adults: 45 BGN
Students: 35 BGN
Kids up to 12yo: 30 BGN

2-Day Card:
Adults: 85 BGN
Students: 65 BGN
Kids up to 12yo: 55 BGN

3-Day Card:
Adults: 120 BGN
Students: 95 BGN
Kids up to 12yo: 80 BGN

Family cards:
1 parent with a kid up to 7yo: 50
1 parent with 2 kids up to 7yo: 55
A family with 1 kid up to 7yo: 95
A family with 2 kids up to 7yo: 100

A card for a night ride:
Adults: 40 BGN
Students: 30 BGN
Kids up to 12yo: 5 BGN

Not a fan of winter sports?

The Vitosha mountain offers countless other hiking and walking opportunities. Here’s how to get there.

Author: Free Sofia Tour Guide – Dimitar Dimitrov