Sofia Airport → Borovets

Founded in 1896 as a royal hunting lodge, Borovets is Bulgaria's oldest mountain resort and, at around an hour from Sofia Airport, comfortably the closest — making it the obvious choice for a short ski trip, a weekend escape, or a same-day visit without an overnight stay. It sits directly beneath Mount Musala, at 2,925 metres the highest peak in the Balkan Peninsula, and a cable car climbs high onto the mountain's shoulder for some of the best panoramic views in the country.

The ski area itself is compact but varied, with runs suited to complete beginners right through to more demanding advanced terrain, and a lively resort centre of hotels, bars and rental shops clustered at the base. In summer, the same lifts and trailheads open up excellent hiking and mountain biking across the Rila Mountains, including routes toward the Seven Rila Lakes.