Homosexuality is legal in Bulgaria, but gay culture remains discreet and homophobia widespread but in the main tourist areas you can find great gay friendly accommodation same as in gay friendly hotels Bansko the main sky destination in Bulgaria.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Bulgaria may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Bulgaria, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.
Bansko is a town at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, which are part of Pirin National Park, in southwest Bulgaria. It’s a gateway to numerous ski and snowboard slopes on Todorka Peak, including the challenging Tomba run. Footpaths cross the park’s craggy alpine landscape, home to bears and wolves. The park is also known for the high-altitude Vihren Peak, with forested ridges and striking glacial lakes.
Top attractions to visit in Bansko
Best Day Tours in Bansko:
- Ski and Snowboard Equipment Rental in Bansko
- 5 Days Guided Motorcycle Tour Wine, Nature and Traditions
- Ski & Snowboard Group Lessons
- Tour to the Rila Monastery from Bansko
- Bansko: Magical Snowshoeing Adventure
See more tours in Bansko on GetYourGuide Bulgaria
1. Premier Luxury Mountain Resort 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Bansko

Premier Luxury Mountain Resort is situated in Bansko at the foot of Pirin Mountains, 700 m from the ski lift. It offers spacious rooms with wooden interior and free WiFi in all areas. Fast lane VIP ski pass is offered to guests.
The main Dionyssos Restaurant serves international buffet-style breakfast and dinner. Guests can also enjoy a meal in Amvrosia Butcher Modern Cuisine.
The Nectar Bar offers a wide selection of coffees, colourful cocktails and international drinks and spirits.
Relaxing spa treatments and fitness opportunities are provided at the Mountain Resort. Guests can benefit from free entrance to the indoor swimming pool, sauna and hammam.
Premier Luxury Mountain Resort is a 5* Hotel situated on the foothills of Mountain Pirin, in Bansko, the best Ski Resort in Bulgaria. Featuring outstanding views of Pirin & offering luxurious accommodation, gourmet dining, superior Spa & wellness facilities & top class services in a peaceful environment, Premier Luxury Mountain Resort is the place for you. Premier has been voted as “Best Ski Hotel in Bulgaria 2016″ in World Ski Awards, proving that it is the ultimate ski lodge in Bulgaria that can make your holidays unforgettable.
Whether you wish to have an active time in nature, relax, enjoy special spa treatments & spend quality time with your family & loved ones, we will be glad to accommodate you in our luxurious rooms & suites & offer our excellent services & exquisite restaurant menus. The Hotel is located within walking distance from the gondola ski lift station & Bansko’s historic center & it offers complimentary shuttle service to the ski center throughout the winter season. All rooms offer Free WI-FI & free secure Parking is also provided.
Great hotel in Bansko and just a few minutes walk to the bars , restaurants and the gondola ? excellent staff , amazing breakfast and a wonderful spa. Treated ourselves to some treatments and they were fabulous. Room was very spacious and clean. Will definitely stay here again.
Just spent a week half board at the Premier Luxury Mountain Resort. The hotel was very comfortable and the food both the breakfast choice and dinner was excellent. All staff very attentive and friendly and the surroundings were very relaxing.
The free bus to theGondolaa was a real bonus and having invested in purchasing VIP ski pass tickets direct from reception the extra money was well worth the immediate access to the front of the lengthy queues. Is this hotel 5 star? I would say 4 star UK standard but was excellent value and I would highly recommend.
Great experience overall! The room was excellent, both restaurants (Dionisos and Amvrosia) had great food and most importantly, the staff was very helpful and friendly. We visited Bansko in order to go skiing and the amenities offered by the hotel made it a great experience (ski rental right next to the reception, VIP ski passes from the reception – a must in order to avoid queues, shuttle transfer to and from the main ski lift). We will be visiting Premier Luxury Mountain Resort again.
The food in the Restaurant Dionyssos (the buffet) was absolutely delicious!!! The chef came out every night and was very friendly. A wide range for the evening meal and themed nights from Wednesday to Saturday. The breakfast was ideal and done to perfection, and the restaurant staff at both meal times were always welcoming, helpful and friendly. We stayed in the Présidente suite and it was great!! A lovely spacious area to chill in after a long day skiing, robes and slippers to use for the spa and some complimentary treats.
The spa was a very relaxing space and very smiley staff. The indoor pool was a great way to chill out, open from 9am-9pm!! The sauna, steam room and cool water bucket were great additions to use for free as well. The shuttle bus to the gondola was on time everyday, free and would definitely recommend using. Runs from 8am-12pm and 2pm-5pm. The Nectar bar was an amazing modern style space and friendly bartenders and staff. Would recommend investing in the VIP ski passes as the queues were quite big at 9-10am but if you go earlier, around 8-8.30am, it’s not as bad. Overall, the most luxurious, friendly and helpful staff and hotel I’ve ever been to!

How much does a room costs at Premier Luxury Mountain Resort ?
Prices start 140$/night for Double Room.
Where to book online – Premier Luxury Mountain Resort – Gay Friendly Hotels Bansko – you can find the best hotels deals in Bansko during World Snow Day which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Bansko on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
2. Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Bansko Bulgaria

Being the only ski-in and ski-out hotel in Bansko, Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena is located in the very heart of the mountain resort, right across the Gondola lift station.
The five-star luxury hotel features 157 Alpine-style rooms, including 25 suites and an exclusive Presidential Suite, fully renovated Kempinski The Spa, four conference rooms and dining rooms with spectacular views of the majestic Pirin Mountains, offering an authentic Kempinski gourmet experience.
The Gallery restaurant offers themed buffets throughout the winter and BBQ at the sunlit terrace during the summer. The guests can explore the spirit of Mediterranean cuisine at Come Prima Restaurant in a romantic and cosy ambience. Live cooking by the hotel’s international culinary team headed by Executive Chef Trevor Portelli in the open kitchen. In the winter, The Sushi Bar and Teppanyaki Grill welcome guests for an exquisite meal and show by expert Teppanyaki chefs.
Whether visiting Bansko for business or leisure purposes, Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena is the ideal base from which to work or explore all that the town has to offer. Located at the footsteps of the Pirin Mountains, the luxury hotel is situated right next to the Gondola lift station that takes you all the way up to highest slopes, half pipes and snowboard facilities. The shopping and cultural district of Bansko is also easily accessible within walking distance from the 5 stars hotel.
. First, Bansko is a very good ski resort. The ski facilities are up to the highest standards. I could not tell the difference between Innsbruck’s ski facilities and those of Bansko. In the town of Bansko you cannot get bored: restaurants, bars, discos, you name it and Bansko has it…
The hotel is perfectly located very close to the centre of Bansko and near the ski lifts. From the hotels you have perfect access both to the mountain and all that the town has to offer. The service at the hotel is up to the highest standard. Nice, large and clean rooms, excellent SPA and restaurants.
The SPA is really top class. Mineral water, indoors and outdoors swimming pool with hot water, indoors and outdoors jacuzzi, steam bath, sauna…perfect! I liked the gallery restaurant. The menu is different every evening and is always very tasty. Breakfast is very diverse (English, European…) and of course after a rich breakfast you do not need lunch.
The perfect programme in Kempinski is as follows: go to breakfast, then go skiing, then at around 16:00 enjoy the SPA until dinner. If you are not too tired you can walk around in Bansko and end up in a bar ?. By the way, the customers of the hotel are calm and quiet. There is nothing worse than noise drunken neighbours…But at Kempinski the atmosphere is classy. During my stay most of the tourists in the hotel were from the UK, Greece and Israel.
From the quick, efficient check-in to the room with its large comfortable bed and all the expected bits working properly. That means, the shower, the air-conditioning, the huge TV’s remote control and the wifi connection. A splendid buffet breakfast too. On the whole, the staff are friendly. Hopefully, they remain so during the height of the ski season when they will have many more guests to deal with.
he room was very clean and during our stay we had an exceptional cleaning service. The bed was like a stadium! XXXL Huge! It is so big that gives you …ideas… Toilette was also spacious, and two persons could use it simultaneously without fell to each other. All kind of amenities are offered, and of very good quality.
The hotel offers a variety of restaurants and bars, all of high quality and style. We had three times dinner at the Gallery. Every night at the Gallery is a special night with different cuisine. We tried the BBQ, the East Asia, and the French cuisine. They were all very good, but East Asia was exceptional!
The sue Chef who was making in from of us the duck rolls, was very good, very polite, and very friendly. He also had a good handling of english language, something which I cannot say for most of the staff. The maitr of Gallery is also great. A nice surprise was sommelier, who proposed us very good bulgarian wines, all times we eat there. Breakfast, is in the same hall, The Gallery, and in the morning, if you sit at the tables near the windows, you get a different perspective as it is right next to the slope, and see the gondolas going up and down the mountain.
Breakfast has everything However Scrambled eggs are not the strong card of the meal. Better ask to make you an omelette on the spot. Along with Scrambled eggs, bacon and sausages were cold, something which doesn’t make them very attractive. Also yogurt was something looked like yogurt but nothing close.
Coffees were super. All kind of coffees offered and all were very good. Staff is of different levels of training. Some are smily and friendly, trying to make you feel really comfortable, and some looks like they don’t care at all. Pity, because some people really try very hard. I believe that most of the staff members, lucks “hospitality culture”, and the Kempinski Hotels management, has a serious task ahead them if they want to raise the overall quality.
Now, let’s talk about Kempinski spa. It simply is the best spa I have ever been. From all luxury hotels I have been, The spa of Bansko Kempinski is by far better. It has everything. Large inside pool, outside pools, hydromassage inside and outside, steamboat, laconian, sauna, bio sauna, snow waterfall, ice room, and of course the excellent massage treatment. We tried everything, daily after skiing, but for me the best of the best was Royal Thai massage.
Absolutely amazing. The Thai lady who treat me is so skilful and transfer you to another time and place. You have to try it.
Ski Room. Oh yes. What a service. I mean it. Guys were very helpful and polite. They also rent very good quality of ski sets at a very competitive price. Unfortunately this information was not communicated to me when I booked my room. I really wish hotel management had told us. Next to ski room is the door to the slope, and right next an outside bar for skiers, which gets from me all the credits. Staff is very professional and it was the best hour of the day, after skiing to enjoy a beer there.
Check out was in a friendly manner, luggage assistant was perfect and the car was driven to the front door.
Overall, it was a very good experience and despite some shadows on service, I believe that Bansko Kempinski is the best choice for Bansko.

How much does a room costs at Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena ?
Prices start 96$/night for Double Room with City View. The Junior Suite with Mountain View
is 145$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This spacious suite includes:
– a double bedroom – a seating area – a cable TV with a DVD player – a private balcony – a bathroom with a bathtub – a mini bar
Where to book online – Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena – Gay Friendly Hotels Bansko – you can find the best hotels deals in Bansko during World Snow Day which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Bansko on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
3. Katarino SPA Hotel 4* – LGBT Friendly Hotels Bansko

Katarino SPA Hotel is situated at the foot of the Rila Mountain, 8 km away from Bansko ski resort and 2 km away from Razlog. It features a tennis court, a gym, a 4-track bowling alley and billiards, as well as indoor and outdoor pool with mineral water. Guests can benefit from the healing relaxation and skin therapies at the modern spa centre.
The restaurants of Katarino SPA Hotel serve fine Bulgarian cuisine and healthy food, prepared with natural products from farms in ecological areas. Selection of fine wines and beer are produced in the complex, BBQ and show cooking are offered as well. Freshly squeezed juices, cocktails and snacks are served by the pool and in the bars.
Stylish and elegant, with its combination of luxury comfort and coziness, Katarino Spa Hotel is everything you need for an unforgettable holiday of full value. We have lots of surprises and new things to be found at the hotel. Rooms and suites reflect the unique designer look of Maria Stoeva, who has created a unique atmosphere of coziness and beauty for you. At the Restaurant, Lobby Bar and Tavern you will enjoy organic dishes prepared according to our chef’s unique recipes. The aroma of our freshly baked bread in a wooden oven will envelop you with coziness and warmth.
Fans of meat delicacies will be able to enjoy the variety offered by our sausage workshop. The SPA centre has a new look and atmosphere and, in addition to all its extras, there is a sumptuous panoramic steam bath, an infrared sauna, a salt room and a new large sunbathing terrace. There are 3 pools with a mineral water. And last but not least, you will be treated with generous hospitality and professional care by our highly-qualified team.
The dinner and the breakfast (half board) are superb.
You can have the best filtered coffee in the morning (no stupid breakfast quick-disgusting coffee machines like in 90% of the other hotels).
Traditional breakfast, pancakes (incl. American ones) in a separate live cooking bar with maple syrup besides the other 10 types of honey and 15 types of local jams incl. from cherries.
20 types of bread- with nuts, brown, black, white, with kvass, with rye, with olive, with oregano.
The salads- Ropotamo salad from my childhood (fish), besides all arugula, cherry tomatoes, Snezhanka, shopska, potato salads.
10 types of olives, even filled with mini sour cucumbers.
I am speechless about the dinner meals – again a live cooking separate grill bar and also various stews, every dinner fish (incl. salmon, salmon trout), veal or pork or chicken meat – all fresh.
The locally produced cheese- goal, cow, sheep, mixed, mozzarella, cottage cheese, yellow cheese.
Fruits: pineapple, pomegranate, passion fruits, kiwi very night.
Ushav, kompot, yogurt with blackberries, interesting village-like desserts.
All other sweet pastry, chocolates, even red ice cream!
The pool- Vitamin bar is open, you can eat and drink down at the pool area. The towel and the spa is totally included in the price.
Over 6 different types of saunas. There are some loud children in the pool but OK, no big deal.
All clean, clean, clean, not a single spot or a hair anywhere!
Room are big and spacious, clean towels every day, changed sheets after day 2.
Parking for all guests.
Lobby is like a dream living room, I could spend all the day there- with clean and comfy sofas, next to the fire with all daily newspapers served every day. With a view to the snow-covered mounts.
A publishing house provides the hotel with free books- action, drama, romance and you can read Nora Roberts, Jacqueline Susan or Grisham for free in the lobby. There are also older books and in other languages in an extended part of the lobby.
TV with a movie channel, you pay 15 leva for subscription.
Bowling, billiard are 8 leva per person per game and we played just once. The gaming area was empty, just the two of us in the afternoon. I don’t know about the evenings. Clean bowling shoes, nice contemporary music inside the gaming room.
One of the greatest pluses- local people from Razlog and the surrounding villages work in Katarino which contributes to the modest and respectful attitude and service towards the guests of the hotel. In Bansko the personnel is seasonal and the attitude is not the same. The driving to the slopes guys and the Ski shops guys are helpful, friendly.
The location of the hotel is just perfect the view from the room is breathtaking. The service is very good as well. The spa is excellent, many different facilities and the spa treatments were very good (the massage I had with Emilia was one of the best in my life). The food in the hotel was excellent and we were surprised by the diversity of options we were offered considering it was a buffet.
The hotel is situated away from the main road in a very nice area, overlooking the beautiful mountainside. Rooms are very clean, average on size, quite comfortable and clean. The facilities are great, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and the SPA are very nice.
The bar on the reception floor has very nice draft beer produced locally, we tried both the dark and red and liked them very much. Staff were very friendly and professional.

How much does a room costs at Katarino SPA Hotel ?
Prices start 88$/night for Double Room. The Deluxe Apartment is 190$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.
This twin/double room features a bathrobe, view and satellite TV.
Where to book online – Katarino SPA Hotel – Gay Friendly Hotels Bansko – you can find the best hotels deals in Bansko during World Snow Day which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Bansko on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.