Weather

Weather in Bulgaria

Bulgaria experiences a temperate climate with cold, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Southern Bulgaria and the Black Sea have the highest recorded temperatures with Sandanski known as the sunniest and hottest town and Smolyan is one of the coolest and also the highest town in the country. The Danube experiences the extremes of central Europe while Sofia’s climate is pleasant with average daytime highs around 28 degrees Celsius in July and August and 3 degrees Celsius during December to February. The mountains boast the highest rainfall and in winter throughout the country life is disrupted by heavy snowfalls.

Spring is the best time to visit (particularly April to June) as the weather is good and the theatres and other cultural venues are thriving. Summer is ideal for hiking and festivals and is the peak tourist season particularly on the Black Sea coast and temperatures can be very high. September is a wonderful time of year to visit the country with the glorious autumn trees, the tourist season has slowed down, fruit and vegetables are plentiful and you can still comfortably swim in the Black Sea. December to mid-April is when the snow falls and tourists flock to the ski resorts.

Recommended clothing is medium weights for most of the year and during the winter months warmer outdoor wear is necessary.