When to go · Bulgaria
Bulgaria, month by month
The best months for Bulgaria: May, Jun, Sep.
Month by month
- JanuaryMixedCold, often snowy; skiing at Bansko and Borovets; cities quiet and cheap.Sofia and the upland basins: cool · Thracian plain and the Danube: cool · Black Sea coast: coolCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
- FebruaryMixedPeak ski month; Kukeri masked festivals start in western villages (Pernik's Surva late January).Sofia and the upland basins: cool · Thracian plain and the Danube: cool · Black Sea coast: coolCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- MarchMixedBaba Marta on 1 March — red-and-white martenitsi everywhere; Liberation Day on the 3rd.Sofia and the upland basins: cool · Thracian plain and the Danube: fine · Black Sea coast: coolCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- AprilGoodSpring in Plovdiv and Sofia; Orthodox Easter often falls here. Mountains still snowy.Sofia and the upland basins: fine · Thracian plain and the Danube: fine · Black Sea coast: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- MayGreatRose harvest begins late in the month in the Valley of Roses; green and mild everywhere.Sofia and the upland basins: best weather · Thracian plain and the Danube: best weather · Black Sea coast: fineCrowds: Medium · 5 festivals or holidays
- JuneGreatKazanlak Rose Festival early in the month; coast opens; the best all-round month.Sofia and the upland basins: best weather · Thracian plain and the Danube: best weather · Black Sea coast: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- JulyMixedCoast full, Plovdiv hot; high trails in Rila and Pirin at their best. Book coastal rooms early.Sofia and the upland basins: best weather · Thracian plain and the Danube: hot · Black Sea coast: best weatherCrowds: High
- AugustMixedPeak beach month; Sunny Beach and Golden Sands busy and loud; Sofia quiet.Sofia and the upland basins: best weather · Thracian plain and the Danube: hot · Black Sea coast: best weatherCrowds: High
- SeptemberGreatWarm sea, grape harvest, Plovdiv's Night of Museums and festivals; ideal.Sofia and the upland basins: best weather · Thracian plain and the Danube: best weather · Black Sea coast: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays
- OctoberGoodAutumn colour in the Rhodopes and Balkan range; resorts close mid-month.Sofia and the upland basins: fine · Thracian plain and the Danube: best weather · Black Sea coast: fineCrowds: Low
- NovemberMixedGrey and damp; good for Sofia museums and thermal baths.Sofia and the upland basins: cool · Thracian plain and the Danube: cool · Black Sea coast: coolCrowds: Low
- DecemberMixedChristmas markets in Sofia and Plovdiv; ski season opens mid-month.Sofia and the upland basins: cool · Thracian plain and the Danube: cool · Black Sea coast: coolCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Bulgaria, side by side.
Verdict
May: Great
Jun: Great
Crowds
May: Medium
Jun: Medium
Prices
May: Medium
Jun: Medium
Festivals listed
May: 5
Jun: 1
May: Rose harvest begins late in the month in the Valley of Roses; green and mild everywhere.
June: Kazanlak Rose Festival early in the month; coast opens; the best all-round month.
Bulgaria: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
Weather by region
How each climate zone rates each month.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia and the upland basinsSofia, Bansko, Samokov | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Cool |
| Thracian plain and the DanubePlovdiv, Stara Zagora, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse | Cool | Cool | OK | OK | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Best | Best | Cool | Cool |
| Black Sea coastVarna, Nesebar, Burgas, Sozopol | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Cool |
| MountainsRila, Pirin, Rhodopes, Balkan range | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Cool |