What is the best time to visit Bulgaria?

Best Time to Visit Bulgaria

The best time to travel to Bulgaria is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

Spring in Bulgaria

Spring in Bulgaria is a beautiful time of year, with mild temperatures and sunny days. The country is in full bloom, with wildflowers and trees blossoming in the countryside. Visitors can expect to enjoy pleasant weather conditions, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C. During this season, there are many attractions and festivals, such as the Rose Festival in Kazanlak and the Easter celebrations in Plovdiv.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Bulgaria

Bulgaria in January

Weather

January in Bulgaria is cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from -2 to 4 degrees Celsius. Snow is common in the mountains and in the northern parts of the country.

Events

• The Christmas holidays are celebrated until the 7th of January, when the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Nativity.
• On the 13th of January, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of St. Basil.
• The Bulgarian National Day of Liberation is celebrated on the 3rd of January, commemorating the end of the Ottoman rule in Bulgaria in 1878.
• The Sofia International Film Festival takes place in January, usually from the 15th to the 25th.
• The Sofia Marathon is held in January, usually on the last weekend of the month.

Bulgaria in January

Weather

January in Bulgaria is usually cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from -2°C to 8°C. Snow is common in the mountains, but not in the cities.

Events

• Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th. This is a Christian holiday that commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
• The International Festival of Animation Films is held in Sofia in mid-January. It is the largest festival of its kind in Eastern Europe.
• The Sofia Marathon is held in late January. It is a popular event that attracts runners from all over the world.
• The Sofia Jazz Festival is held in late January. It is one of the most important jazz festivals in Europe.
• The International Folklore Festival is held in Sofia in late January. It is a celebration of traditional Bulgarian music and dance.

Bulgaria in March

Weather

March is the beginning of spring in Bulgaria. The weather is mild and the days are getting longer. The temperatures range from 5-15°C (41-59°F) and the days are sunny and pleasant.

Events

• The International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th in Bulgaria. It is a day to celebrate the achievements of women around the world and to promote gender equality.
• The International Day of Happiness is celebrated on March 20th in Bulgaria. It is a day to spread joy and happiness around the world.
• The Sofia International Marathon is held on March 21st in Bulgaria. It is a marathon race that attracts runners from around the world.
• The International Day of Forests is celebrated on March 21st in Bulgaria. It is a day to celebrate forests and the importance of protecting them.
• The International Day of the Francophonie is celebrated on March 20th in Bulgaria. It is a day to celebrate the French language and culture.

Bulgaria in April

Weather

April is the start of spring in Bulgaria, and temperatures start to rise. The average temperature during the month is around 10-15°C, with lows of around 5°C and highs of up to 20°C. April is a wet month, with around 80mm of rainfall throughout the month.

Events

• The Easter Holiday is celebrated in April, with many Bulgarians gathering to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• The Sofia International Marathon is held in April, with runners from all around the world taking part in the race.
• The International Dance Festival is held in April, with dancers from all over the world showcasing their talents.
• The International Festival of Folklore is held in April, with traditional Bulgarian music and dances taking place.
• The International Festival of Jazz is held in April, with jazz musicians from all over the world performing.

Bulgaria in May

Weather

May is a pleasant month in Bulgaria, with temperatures ranging from a low of 10°C (50°F) to a high of 25°C (77°F). The days are usually sunny, with an average of 8 hours of sunshine per day. Rainfall is moderate, with an average of 75mm (3in) of rain throughout the month.

Events

• May 1st is Labor Day, a public holiday in Bulgaria. It is celebrated with parades, concerts, and other festivities.
• The International Festival of Choirs and Orchestras is held in the city of Plovdiv from May 8th to May 10th. The event features choirs and orchestras from around the world.
• The Bulgarian National Football League begins in May. Soccer fans from around the country come together to cheer on their favorite teams.
• The Festival of Roses is held in the city of Kazanlak from May 24th to May 26th. The event celebrates the rose-growing industry in Bulgaria and features parades, concerts, and other festivities.
• The International Festival of Folklore is held in the city of Veliko Tarnovo from May 29th to May 31st. The event features traditional folk music and dance from around the world.

Bulgaria in June

Weather

June in Bulgaria is usually hot and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 25°C. The average amount of rainfall is low, with occasional showers and thunderstorms.

Events

• June 1 is Children’s Day in Bulgaria, a national holiday celebrating the importance of children and youth.
• June 2 is the Day of the Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slavonic Literature. It is a national holiday that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Bulgaria.
• June 6 is the Day of Bulgarian Army, a national holiday that honors the Bulgarian Armed Forces.
• June 15 is the Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet, a national holiday that celebrates the Cyrillic alphabet and its importance in Bulgarian culture.
• June 24 is the Day of the Bulgarian National Revival, a national holiday that celebrates the struggle for independence and freedom from Ottoman rule.

Bulgaria in July

Weather

July is the hottest month of the year in Bulgaria, with temperatures averaging between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius (71-80 degrees Fahrenheit). Rainfall is low, and the days are long and sunny.

Events

• The Summer Solstice, or St. Ivan’s Day, is celebrated on June 24th. It is a traditional Bulgarian holiday that celebrates the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer.
• The International Folklore Festival is held in the city of Veliko Tarnovo on July 1-5. The festival is a celebration of Bulgarian culture and features traditional music, dance, and art.
• The Sofia International Film Festival is held in the capital city of Sofia from July 10-20. The festival showcases films from around the world and is a great opportunity to experience the best of international cinema.
• The International Jazz Festival is held in the city of Plovdiv from July 18-21. The festival features some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
• The Burgas Jazz Festival is held in the city of Burgas from July 24-26. The festival is a great opportunity to experience some of the best jazz music in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria in August

Weather

August is the hottest month of the year in Bulgaria, with temperatures reaching an average high of 28°C (82°F). The humidity is often high, making the heat feel even more oppressive. Rainfall is low, and the skies are usually clear.

Events

• The International Folklore Festival is held in the city of Koprivshtitsa in the middle of the month. It is a celebration of Bulgarian culture, with traditional music, dancing, and costumes.
• Burgas is home to the Summer Theatre Festival, which is held in the second half of August. It features performances of plays, musicals, and operas.
• The Golden Sands Resort hosts a beach volleyball tournament in the last week of August. It attracts teams from all over Europe.
• The city of Plovdiv hosts the International Fair, which is held throughout the month. It is a celebration of Bulgarian culture, with art, music, and food.
• The city of Sofia is home to the Sofia International Film Festival, which is held in the last week of August. It showcases films from around the world.

Bulgaria in September

Weather

September in Bulgaria is generally mild and sunny, with temperatures ranging from the mid-teens to mid-twenties Celsius. Rainfall is low, with an average of 10-15 days of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• The International Folklore Festival is held in the city of Burgas in late September. This festival features traditional Bulgarian music, dance, and cuisine.
• The Sofia International Film Festival takes place in early September. It showcases the best in Bulgarian and international cinema.
• The Sofia Marathon is held in mid-September. This event attracts runners from all over the world and features a variety of distances.
• The National Day of Bulgaria is celebrated on September 22nd. It is a public holiday and commemorates the country’s independence from the Ottoman Empire.
• The International Jazz Festival is held in Sofia in late September. It features performances from some of the world’s top jazz musicians.

Bulgaria in October

Weather

October in Bulgaria is generally mild, with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C. The weather is usually sunny, with occasional rain showers.

Events

• The Sofia International Film Festival is held in October, showcasing the best of Bulgarian and international cinema.
• The Sofia International Marathon is held in October, attracting runners from all over the world.
• The Sofia Music Weeks festival is held in October, celebrating the best of Bulgarian and international music.
• The Bulgarian Wine Festival is held in October, featuring the best of Bulgarian wines and local delicacies.
• The Sofia International Literature Festival is held in October, featuring readings, lectures, and workshops from authors from around the world.

Bulgaria in November

Weather

November in Bulgaria is usually cold, with temperatures ranging from an average low of 2°C (35°F) to an average high of 11°C (51°F). Snow is common in the higher elevations, and rain is common throughout the country.

Events

• The Sofia International Marathon takes place in the capital city of Sofia on November 3rd. This event is one of the biggest running events in the country, and attracts runners from all over the world.
• The International Festival of Animated Film is held in Varna, Bulgaria every November. This festival celebrates the best in animated films from around the world.
• The Sofia International Film Festival is held in Sofia from November 8th to November 18th. This festival celebrates the best in international films.
• The International Jazz Festival is held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from November 14th to November 17th. This festival brings together some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
• The International Festival of Traditional Folklore is held in Plovdiv from November 23rd to November 25th. This festival celebrates the traditional folk music and dance of Bulgaria.

Bulgaria in December

Weather

December in Bulgaria is usually cold, with temperatures ranging from 0-10°C (32-50°F). Snowfall is common, and the days are shorter with less sunlight.

Events

• The Christmas and New Year holidays are celebrated in December. Christmas markets, concerts, and other festivities are held throughout the month.
• The National Day of Bulgaria is celebrated on December 22nd. This is a national holiday that commemorates the country’s independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908.
• The Sofia International Film Festival is held in December. This festival showcases independent and international films from around the world.
• The Winter Music Festival is held in December. This festival features some of the best electronic music DJs and producers from Bulgaria and abroad.
• The Sofia International Marathon is held in December. This marathon is open to runners of all ages and abilities, and is a great way to get active in the winter months.