"Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena" is the best hotel in the winter resorts in Bulgaria in the latest Top 50 ranking of Travel&Lifestyle magazine.
The editor-in-chief of the publication, Miroslav Ivanov, presented the award yesterday to Rene Detzen, general manager of the hotel, as part of the opening of the new winter season.
The Top 50 ranking is of the best and most luxurious hotels in the Bulgarian winter resorts for 2025/2026. The most high-class and well-reviewed properties are in Bansko.
The best hotel in the Bulgarian ski resorts is “Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena“, Bansko, which is part of the global luxury hotel chain Kempinski, which is present in Bulgaria only in the mountain town. The hotel was also awarded the prestigious title of “Bulgaria's Leading Lifestyle Hotel 2025” for the seventh consecutive time by the World Travel Awards (WTA), which is the highest distinction in the field of travel and tourism. After that, “Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko“ was awarded the title of “Best Ski Hotel in Bulgaria 2025“ by the World Ski Awards.
In second place in the top 50 is “Villa Sokol“ in Borovets. Spread over three floors, this modern villa with 12 bedrooms is an ideal choice for families or a group of friends looking for a place for an extremely luxurious experience.
In third place is “Lucky Bansko SPA & Relax“ in Bansko, which is one of the most upscale places to relax in Bulgaria. The hotel impresses with elegant, spacious studios and apartments, impeccable service and a sophisticated atmosphere that makes you feel special from the moment you enter. It has fine dining restaurants – gourmet offerings, prepared with attention to taste and detail. Alpine restaurant Fondue is the only fondue restaurant in the country, and the Italian Leonardo is famous for its specialties.
The ranking is arranged impartially based on the reviews of the customers themselves on the reservation platforms Booking, Hotels.com, Agoda, Tripadvisor, Facebook, Google, etc., number of comments, prices, category, as well as personal visits by our journalists last year. It includes facilities that have exceptional comfort, furnishings and service. Hotels in SPA resorts that are close to ski complexes are not included, as they fall into another specialized ranking of Travel&Lifestyle.