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Christmas in Bulgaria – snow, warm lights and hotels already in holiday mode
Winter in Bulgaria is not just “go ski and come back.” In the December 2025 – January 2026 season the mountain resorts feel like a living postcard: decorated fir trees, lights everywhere, mulled wine stands, taverns with live music and real fireplaces that stay open late.
Christmas Eve (24 December) starts with the traditional fasting dinner and ritual bread. After midnight, locals begin Koleda – old-style caroling in sheepskin costumes, going door to door with songs and blessings. Next day is the big festive meal: stuffed turkey, banitsa, honey sweets. It’s authentic Balkan Christmas without you having to cook for two days.
Admiral.Travel offers hand-checked hotel packages that already include festive dinners, access to the ski area and comfortable winter wellness. Inside: wood, fire, cinnamon. Outside: snow and holiday lights. That’s the vibe.
Direct departures from Chișinău. No extra connections, no stress.
Trips are organized by Admiral.Travel (licensed tour operator). Tourist coach, confirmed hotel stay, return transfer included. For booking assistance: +(373) 22 844 744.
Why travelers choose Christmas in Bulgaria with Admiral.Travel
- Holiday market & festive mood Lights, live carols, mulled wine and local sweets right in the ski village – not just in the big cities.
- Christmas Eve dinner Hotels prepare candlelit festive dinners, traditional dishes, music, and small surprises for kids. Not just “dinner included”, it’s a themed evening.
- Snow fun all day (and at night) Day skiing and night skiing, snowmobile rides, guided walks through fir forest. Good for both first-timers and confident skiers.
- Spa & warm recovery Heated indoor pool, sauna, hammam, massage. Bulgaria in winter is also about wellness, not just ski passes.
Practical tip: in many 4★ and 5★ hotels, the Christmas Eve / Christmas Day dinner is a special festive event. We tell you clearly which hotels already include it and which offer it as an add-on.
Top winter destinations booked via Admiral.Travel
For this season (December 2025 – January 2026), most travelers still book Bansko, Pamporovo and Borovets. Each one has a distinct personality – you match the resort to your group.
- Bansko Old town streets, stone houses, family-owned taverns serving local food until late, hand-painted churches. Christmas feels traditional and ceremonial. Perfect if you want both ski and real local culture.
- Pamporovo Gentle, forgiving slopes – great for kids and first-timers. The Snezhanka TV tower lit at night is literally made for Instagram stories. Very family-friendly.
- Borovets Once a royal Bulgarian mountain retreat. Historic villas, wood, fireplaces, “old royal lodge in the woods” energy, but with real Spa and fast Wi-Fi. Good for couples, friends, winter-romantic moods.
All 3 resorts have proper recovery after skiing: heated indoor pools, sauna, hammam, and therapeutic massage. You ski and you still come back rested.
6–7 January: “Old Style” Christmas in Bansko
Many travelers from Moldova celebrate Christmas on the Old Calendar, in early January. Admiral.Travel builds special Bansko packages for that: calmer atmosphere after New Year’s, real snow, comfort food, and festive program without the huge 24–25 December crowds.
Standard plan: departure from Chișinău by tourist coach on 2 January, hotel check-in (we pre-check the properties), and return on 8 January. Transfer goes directly to the hotel, so no night taxi hunting in a new country.
Most popular hotels for Christmas 2025 / early January 2026
Bansko
HOTEL RAHOFF 3★
Alpine chalet mood, fireplace, warm wood everywhere. Breakfast included. Christmas Eve is celebrated with a candlelit festive dinner. Friendly price point, “mountain home” feeling.
ST. IVAN RILSKI 4★
Strong Spa center with indoor & outdoor heated pools, sauna, relaxation zones. Meal plans up to “All Inclusive”. Lobby design mixes wood, stone and glass with a real fireplace.
AMIRA BOUTIQUE HOTEL 5★
Boutique hotel near the gondola. Rooms with kitchenette, some with in-room hydromassage tub. Bathrobes, slippers, kids’ playroom. Guests constantly praise the massage therapists.
CASA KARINA 3★
Around ~100 m from the ski lift. Rooms with kitchenette / fridge, solid breakfast included. Own restaurant plus Spa. Good if you want price control but still stay close to the slopes.
Pamporovo
DAFOVSKA 3★
Owned by Bulgarian Olympic biathlon champion Ekaterina Dafovska. Private balconies with a view of Snezhanka peak, lifts within walking distance. Spa area with sauna and steam bath. Breakfast, parking and Wi-Fi included.
KAMELIA HOTEL 4★
Modern multi-level “mini castle” surrounded by pine forest. Large rooms with fireplace, kitchenette and lounge area. Free parking, heated indoor pool, kids’ zones, ski school and rental.
ORLOVETZ 5★
Premium hotel right in Pamporovo center. Generous breakfast included, airport shuttle and parking available. Panorama mountain views from the rooms. Indoor pool, fitness, sauna, massage.
Borovets
VICTORIA HOTEL 3★
Alpine-style 3-level house about ~1 km from the ski lift. Wood beams, fireplaces, rustic murals inspired by Bulgarian village life. On-site tavern serving local dishes. Central location, you’re in the middle of everything.
HOTEL RILA 4★
Large, central Borovets hotel with an indoor pool facing the mountains. Soundproofed rooms with blackout curtains (deep post-ski sleep). Three restaurants, Spa area, big conference rooms.
FESTA WINTER PALACE 5★
Classic European winter-palace style. Elegant rooms with work desk, sofa bed, balcony with a view, in-room coffee machine. After skiing: indoor pool, Spa, massage – full recharge mode.
Round-trip transfer organized by Admiral.Travel
You can drive your own car, or take the comfortable Admiral.Travel tourist coach. The coach has scheduled breaks (about every 3–4 hours), and your luggage stays with you, with no extra transport fee.
The route is not just “many hours on the road”. You’ll cross Romanian mountain areas with hairpin turns, then typical Bulgarian small towns, taste warm local food on the way, and watch snowy scenery. Total travel time is usually around 18–20 hours in comfort mode.
For Old-Style Christmas in Bansko (6–7 January): departure from Chișinău on 2 January, return on 8 January. Direct transfer to the hotel and back is already included – so you don’t have to figure out taxis in a foreign country at 05:00.