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Furthermore, we analyzed all climate data and provide a recommendation about which months are best to visit Bulgaria for your holiday.
Climate Overview
-5 °C to 29 °C
5 °C to 27 °C
1.1 – 3.07 in (2 – 11 Days of Rain)Average Annual Temperature is between 10.4 °C (Sofia) and 14.2 °C (Burgas)
Show temperatures in degree
Geographical location
Table of Contents
Bulgaria is located in south-east Europe and is part of the Balkan Peninsula. The EU member borders Romania in the north and Serbia and Macedonia in the west. In the south are Turkey and Greece.
The Black Sea is a natural border to the east. 7.2 million people live on an area of 69000 square miles. Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and lies in the west of the country. The Danube and Maritsa rivers, with their numerous tributaries, form lowlands that make up two thirds of the country.
Mount Musala, in the southwest of the country, is the highest peak on the entire Balkan peninsula. Sofia is the capital of the Balkan state and lies in the west.
Climate in Bulgaria
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Large parts of the country are characterised by a continental climate. The further to the east and thus to the coast, the more Mediterranean the climate becomes. However, the temperatures differ only marginally. In the summer months of June, July and August temperatures can rise to 27 °C.
In winter they drop to zero degrees. In the coastal regions it remains somewhat milder at about 5 °C to 10 °C. The differences in precipitation values are also very small. The city of Varna lies on the coast and hardly registers any precipitation in the summer months. In Sofia, just 2.95 in can fall.
Best Time to Visit Bulgaria: Overview
JanuaryJan MaximumMax. 6 °C Water max. 6 °C | FebruaryFeb MaximumMax. 6 °C Water max. 5 °C | MarchMar MaximumMax. 11 °C Water max. 5 °C | AprilApr TemperaturesTemp. up to 16 °C Water max. 9 °C | MayMay TemperaturesTemp. up to 21 °C Water max. 14 °C | JuneJun Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Sofia Warna |
JulyJul Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Sofia Warna | AugustAug Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Sofia Warna | SeptemberSep TemperaturesTemp. up to 24 °C | OctoberOct TemperaturesTemp. up to 18 °C | NovemberNov MaximumMax. 13 °C Water max. 13 °C | DecemberDec MaximumMax. 8 °C Water max. 9 °C |
When to travel to Bulgaria?
The best time to visit Bulgaria is in June, July and August. Both inland and on the coast, the climate in summer is warm and very constant. Whether a cultural holiday in Sofia or a beach holiday on a sunny beach or a golden beach, the weather offers the basis for a successful trip. The water temperature in Varna reaches up to 23 °C. The famous golden beach offers everything that sun worshippers and beach vacationers expect.
Nothing stands in the way of a refreshing jump into the sea. During this time you can visit and explore the many nature parks and nature reserves in the interior of the country. A trip with a cultural focus can also be done well during this time. Here the capital Sofia should be visited in any case.
Best Time to Visit the Regions
Find the best time to visit the regions (Bulgaria) in the following overview.| Location | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|
| Sofia | June, July, and August |
| Varna | June, July, and August |
| Burgas | June, July, August, and September |
Climate Charts Bulgaria
In the following, you will find climate charts for the regions.
Furthermore, there are some charts you can use for quick comparison of climate between the regions.
Show Climate Chart for
Sofia
Show temperatures in degree
Source of Data: German Weather Service (Offenbach) and Wikipedia
Climate Tables Bulgaria
In the following, you will find some climate tables for Bulgaria, containing information about Temperatures, Precipitation, Water Temperatures, and Hours of Sunshine.Show climate table for
Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Sofia (Bulgaria)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 2° | 5° | 10° | 16° | 21° | 24° | 27° | 27° | 23° | 16° | 9° | 4° |
| Night Temperature | -5° | -3° | 0° | 5° | 10° | 14° | 16° | 15° | 11° | 7° | 3° | -2° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 1.22 | 1.34 | 1.46 | 1.93 | 3.07 | 2.95 | 2.2 | 1.93 | 1.5 | 1.38 | 2.09 | 1.73 |
| Rainy days | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Sofia is 10.4 °C.For comparison: London 11 °C, NYC 12 °C, LA 17.9 °C
Warmest month: July (21.4 °C)
Coldest month: January (-1.7 °C)
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 22.8 inch on 87 rainy daysFor comparison: London 24.06 in, NYC 41.57 in, LA 12.01 in
There is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
Months that have possible snowfall: January, February, March, November, and December
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, July is the sunniest month with an average of 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 5.4 hours of sunshine per day on average. For comparison: London has 4.1, NYC has 7 and LA has 8.9 hours of sunshine per day on average.Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Varna (Bulgaria)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 6° | 6° | 9° | 15° | 20° | 25° | 27° | 27° | 24° | 18° | 13° | 8° |
| Night Temperature | -1° | -0° | 3° | 7° | 12° | 16° | 18° | 18° | 14° | 10° | 5° | 2° |
| Water Temperature | 6° | 5° | 5° | 9° | 14° | 19° | 21° | 23° | 21° | 17° | 13° | 9° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 1.5 | 1.61 | 1.34 | 1.73 | 1.57 | 1.81 | 1.46 | 1.26 | 1.22 | 1.42 | 1.97 | 1.65 |
| Rainy days | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Varna is 12.1 °C.Warmest month: July (22 °C)
Coldest month: January (1.9 °C)
The maximum water temperature in Varna is 23 °C. You can take a bath at these temperatures.
Months with water temperature of at least 17 °C (Limited bathing is possible):
June, July, August, September, and October
Months with water temperature of at least 21 °C (adequate for beach vacation):
July, August, and September
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 18.54 inch on 73 rainy daysThere is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
Months that have possible snowfall: January, February, March, and December
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, July is the sunniest month with an average of 9.1 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 5.6 hours of sunshine per day on average.Highlights and Attractions
In Sofia there is a lot to discover culturally. Sofia is Bulgaria’s centre for cultural life. The Ivan Vazov National Theatre presents opera and ballet. The former party building of the Bulgarian Communist Party was built in the style of Socialist Classicism. In the evening, this building is vividly illuminated and offers a super photo motif. In the north-east of the country in the village Madara you can find the riders of Madara. This monumental rock relief has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a real highlight.
More information about the best things to do: Bulgaria
Popular Activities
From Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church Small Group Tour
Tours
from 32 $ »
Explore 2 of Bulgaria’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites on an exciting minibus tour from Sofia. Visit the Rila Monastery and get breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Then, see stunning pre-Renaissance frescoes at the Boyana Church.
From Sofia: Full-Day Tour to Rila Monastery and Boyana
Tours
from 38 $ »
Take advantage of this daily shuttle running between Sofia and 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. See the Rila Monastery and Boyana Church with hassle-free, affordable, and flexible round-trip transportation with a live guide.
From Sofia: 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Self-Guided Trip
Culture & history
from 53 $ »
Explore the most famous natural and cultural sites of Bulgaria on a self-guided trip to the 7 Rila Lakes and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Rila Monastery in Rila National Park.
More attractions
From Sofia: Rila Monastery, Boyana Church & History Museum | The Seven Rila Lakes: Full-Day Tour from Sofia | Sofia’s Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl | From Sofia: Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Day Trip | Day Tour from Sofia to Skopje, North Macedonia | From Sofia: Full-Day Tour to Plovdiv and Asen’s Fortress | Plovdiv: Full-Day Small Group Excursion from Sofia |Current Weather and Forecast
Current Weather in Sofia (Station Krasno Selo)
broken clouds, -3.5 °CClouds: 75 % Wind: 8 mph WNW
Air Pressure: 1032 hPa Humidity: 68 %
Air Pressure: 1032 hPa Humidity: 68 %
Last updated: 7th Feb 2023, 10:42 am
The next days …
| 7th Feb 2023 | 8th Feb 2023 | 9th Feb 2023 | 10th Feb 2023 | 11th Feb 2023 | 12th Feb 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 -8 °C to -1 °C | -8 °C to -1 °C | -7 °C to -0 °C |  -7 °C to 1 °C | -5 °C to 0 °C |  -6 °C to 1 °C |
| -8 °C to -1 °C | -8 °C to -1 °C | -7 °C to -0 °C | -7 °C to 1 °C | -5 °C to 0 °C | -6 °C to 1 °C |
| Clouds: 20 % | Clouds: 19 % | Clouds: 21 % | Clouds: 4 % | Clouds: 63 % | Clouds: 32 % |
| No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | 0.03 in of snow |
Weather information provided by OpenWeatherMap. (CC BY-SA)
Show temperatures in degree
Important Regions and Cities
We have extended climate information for the following regions:Hottest Month
July: 29 °C
Day Temperature in Burgas
July: 29 °CDay Temperature in Burgas
Coldest Month
January: -5 °C
Night Temperature in Sofia
January: -5 °CNight Temperature in Sofia
Rainiest Month
May: 3.07 in
Rain in Sofia
May: 3.07 inRain in Sofia
Driest Month
August: 1.1 in
Rain in Burgas
August: 1.1 inRain in Burgas
Maximum Water Temperature
August: 27 °C
Water Temperature in Burgas
August: 27 °CWater Temperature in Burgas
Sunniest Month
July: 10 hours/day
Sunshine in Burgas
July: 10 hours/daySunshine in Burgas
Activities and Attractions
Sofia: Communist Walking Tour
Tours
from 15 $ »
Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa Full-Day Tour from Sofia
Tours
from 54 $ »
Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church with Lunch & Admission
Tours
from 103 $ »
Distances to Bulgaria
| London | New York | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia | 1250 mi | 4720 mi | 6610 mi |
| Varna | 1420 mi | 4880 mi | 6690 mi |
Where’s Bulgaria?
Show Sofia on MapShow Varna on Map
Continent: Europe
All Holiday Destinations in EuropeShare your Experience and Win
We want to know: how was the weather during your Bulgaria holiday? You can win a travel coupon of 1000 $. The price will be raffled among all submissions.
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Bulgaria: Experiences of our Visitors
The weather’s a dream. Full sun and pleasant temperatures
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
During the first ten days at the beginning of August we enjoyed the long, fine sandy beach with temperatures around 30° C and cloudless skies. Suddenly clouds came up, so that for the last four days the sun was often hidden and sometimes unpleasant wind disturbed the holiday feeling.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Wonderfully warm, unlike cold Germany. You could swim and lie in the sun every day.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
for this time super, not too hot and not too cold
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good
In early September 2016 the weather in Sveti Constantine was beautiful. There was only one cloudy morning, the rest: fantastically warm.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent