The Most Beautiful Winter Destinations in the Balkans

One of the most famed natural destinations in Slovenia, Lake Bled, freezes in winter and turns into a fairy-tale site. If you are a beginner at skiing, you can combine a trip to the lake with the slopes of the Bled Straza Ski Resort located just behind the lake. It is a small resort suitable for families with children or for those who need to brush up on their skills.

Bulgaria is famous for its ski resorts but if you are up for something truly exceptional and challenging, head to the Koncheto Ridge (literally translated as the Horse Ridge) in Pirin Mountains. If you stay in Bansko, it is doable to hike all the way up and down for a day, provided you have a mountain guide or you are experienced hiker used to heavy winter conditions. Koncheto Ridge is known for a peculiar phenomenon – often the weather on the one side of the ridge is cloudy and rainy, while on the other it’s sunny, as if there’s an invisible wall dividing them.

Koncheto, Pirin Mountains, Bansko, Bulgaria

Koncheto Ridge in Pirin Mountain, Bulgaria | © jindrichmares0/pixabay

Poiana Brașov is one of the best places for skiing in Romania with 24 km of ski slopes in the Carpathians, most with snow cannons to ensure good conditions regardless of the weather. You can take a public bus from Brașov to get there or use the lift to ascend above the historical Romanian town and enjoy a panoramic view of it. After a day at the slopes, explore the streets of Brașov from the Black Church and the spacious squares to the streets lined with colorful houses and the narrowest street in Romania called Strada Sforii.

Poiana Brașov, Romania

Poiana Brașov, Romania | © clofu’/Flickr

Ohrid, a historical town perched on the banks of the UNESCO-protected Lake Ohrid, is one of the most visually impressive destinations in Macedonia as well as one of the most culturally rich ones. It still preserves remains of 4th-century BC buildings and the impressive 10th-century Samuil’s Fortress built by the Bulgarian tsar (king) Samuil. Take a stroll up the winding cobblestone streets to glance at the lake from above and then choose a traditional restaurant where the grilled meat delicacies and Macedonian spirits will warm you up.

Ohrid, Macedonia

Ohrid Lake, Macedonia | © Manny Moss/Flickr

The youngest country in the Balkans has winter resorts for you located in the Bjeshkët e Sharrit Mountains (also known as Šar Mountains). Although the skiing infrastructure has much space for improvement, you can change the scene and swap your traditional Balkan ski destinations with Brezovica, the major winter hub in Kosovo.

Brezovica, Kosovo

Brezovica, Kosovo | © Bujar Imer Gashi/WikiCommons