Bulgaria is located in the east of Europe and is thus free from the influence of the warm Atlantic Ocean. Although its shores are bathed by the Black Sea, it has a continental climate - warm summers and cold winters.

However, Bulgaria's more southerly location means that winters are milder and summers warmer than in continental climate areas further north (central Europe, southern Canada, etc.).

The climate is also influenced by the high mountains that fill much of Bulgaria. In the valleys and at higher altitudes it can be up to 15 degrees cooler than in the lowlands and on the coast.

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Weather and temperatures throughout the year

Here's how the weather in Bulgaria looks in each month of the year.

Weather in January

January is the coldest month in Bulgaria with temperatures around 0°C in Sofia and the mountain valleys, and around 5°C by the sea.

Snow is common in the mountains and it usually freezes above 1,000 metres above sea level.

It snows or rains on average 10 days a month, but precipitation is usually not heavy.

Where to go in January?

• Mountains (skiing)
• Sights in the cities

Weather in February

February is a cold winter month with frequent cloudy weather with snow showers in the mountains and light rain in the lowlands or by the sea.

Temperatures are around 2 °C in the east and around 6 °C by the sea. There is regular frost and snow in the mountains.

Where to go in February?

• Mountains (skiing)
• Sights in the cities

Weather in March

During March, it warms up slightly, but temperatures are still low, averaging around 8°C. It is slightly warmer by the sea (about 10 °C).

Although it rains relatively often in March, it is usually only very light showers. It still snows regularly in the mountains above 1 000 metres.

Where to go in March?

• The mountains (skiing), but the snow quality is usually much worse than in January or February
• Sights in the cities

Weather in April

April means soaring temperatures of around 14 to 16°C, making it an ideal time to walk in the cities. Statistically, April/May is when it rains the most, but it is rarely prolonged.

Where to go in April?

• Walking (cities, monasteries, fortresses)
• Sights in the cities

April is not a good month to go to the mountains. Skiing is mostly out of the question, but there can be a lot of snow or mud on hiking trails.

Weather in May

May is a great month for exploring Bulgaria. Temperatures are pleasant and hover around 20°C throughout the country.

Heavy showers often occur in early May, but are replaced by clear or partly cloudy weather.

Where to go in May?

• Walking (cities, monasteries, fortresses)
• Shorter hikes in the mountains (weather can change quickly)
• Sightseeing in towns

Weather in June

During June, the summer season by the sea slowly begins, but be aware that the water is still cold and around 18 to 21°C.

Daytime temperatures across the country are between 22°C and 29°C. In the mountains it is always about 5-6 °C lower.

Rain occurs mainly in the form of short evening or afternoon thunderstorms.

Where to go in June?

• Walking (cities, monasteries, fortresses)
• Hiking in the mountains
• Seaside resorts

Weather in July

Summer in Bulgaria is synonymous with sun and beaches. Temperatures along the coast climb to around 30°C, and in rare cases can reach 38°C, but this is rarely the case. In the mountains, temperatures stay at a pleasant 20 to 23°C.

There is very little rain during July, especially in the form of occasional thunderstorms in the evening or afternoon.

Where to go in July?

• Hiking in the mountains
• Seaside resorts

Weather in August

August is also a warm summer month, with temperatures routinely exceeding 30°C and minimal rain.

The weather is sunny by the sea, but storms can appear unexpectedly in the mountains, but the higher parts of the mountains also have pleasant summer weather.

Where to go in August?

• Hiking in the mountains
• Seaside resorts

Weather in September

September is a good month for off-season trips to the seaside, as prices for tours and hotels are significantly lower than during the holidays.

Temperatures are pleasantly summery, ranging between 23°C and 26°C throughout Bulgaria.

The average number of rainy days is 8, but most of the rain is in the form of showers.

Where to go in September?

• Hiking in the mountains
• Seaside resorts
• Walks (towns, monasteries, fortresses)

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Weather in October

The sea bathing season is definitely over in October, as air temperatures drop to an average of 15°C to 18°C and the sea is around 19°C.

Even in October, it doesn't rain significantly more than in other months, and on average you'll get rain 8 days a month in the form of showers lasting half a day at most.

Where to go in October?

• Walking (cities, monasteries, fortresses)
• Sights in the cities
• Hikes in the lower parts of the mountains

Weather in November

Autumn is in a similar vein to spring. Temperatures don't start to drop significantly until November, when you can normally expect 10°C to 13°C.

Precipitation in autumn is significantly less than in temperate regions further north in Europe, for example. Rainfall is usually only light, but there may be periods of overcast skies for several days at a time.

• Walks (towns, monasteries, fortresses)
• Sights in the cities

Weather in December

The first month of winter brings snow showers to the mountains, with rain in the lowlands, mostly in the form of light showers.

However, it is often cloudy in December even when it is not raining.

Temperatures drop to between 4 °C and 7 °C and stay around 0 °C at altitudes above 1 000 metres.

• Sights in the cities
• Mountains (skiing), but only towards the end of December when there is a better chance of sufficient snow cover