When to go · Bulgaria
Bulgaria in February
Mixed month. Peak ski month; Kukeri masked festivals start in western villages (Pernik's Surva late January).
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Medium
- Bulgaria
- Prices
- Medium
- Bulgaria
Verdict
Peak ski month; Kukeri masked festivals start in western villages (Pernik's Surva late January).
Is another month better than February?
February is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
- MayGreatRose harvest begins late in the month in the Valley of Roses; green and mild everywhere.
- JuneGreatKazanlak Rose Festival early in the month; coast opens; the best all-round month.
- SeptemberGreatWarm sea, grape harvest, Plovdiv's Night of Museums and festivals; ideal.
- AprilGoodSpring in Plovdiv and Sofia; Orthodox Easter often falls here. Mountains still snowy.
Weather in February
- Sofia and the upland basins · Sofia, Bansko, Samokovcool
At 550 m Sofia is cooler than the plains; snowy winters and warm summers; Vitosha skiing and hiking on the doorstep.
- Thracian plain and the Danube · Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Veliko Tarnovo, Rusecool
Hot summers (35 °C (95 °F)+), cold foggy winters; spring and autumn are ideal for city sightseeing.Hot summers (95 °F (35 °C)+), cold foggy winters; spring and autumn are ideal for city sightseeing.
- Black Sea coast · Varna, Nesebar, Burgas, Sozopolcool
Swimming mid-June to mid-September; sea around 24–26 °C (75–79 °F) in August. Windy and grey in winter.Swimming mid-June to mid-September; sea around 75–79 °F (24–26 °C) in August. Windy and grey in winter.
- Mountains · Rila, Pirin, Rhodopes, Balkan rangecool
Skiing December–March; high trails (Seven Rila Lakes, Vihren) snow-free from late June to September.
- Balkan Mountains: North foothills (Gabrovo, Tryavna) · Predbalkancold
Sheltered from the worst ridge wind; spring and autumn are the walking months, July–August afternoons are hot.
- Balkan Mountains: High ridge and passes · Central Balkan above about 1,500 mcold
Snow can lie into May and return in October; the Shipka and Troyan passes close in heavy winter.
- Balkan Mountains: South side and Rose Valley (Karlovo, Kazanlak) · Podbalkanfine
Warmer and drier than the north; roses bloom late May to early June.
- Bulgarian Black Sea Coast: Coast · Varna to Rezovocool
Sea swimming is roughly June to September; July and August are the busiest and priciest. May and September give warm days with fewer people. Winter resorts close; many beach businesses shut from October.
- Bulgarian Shopluk: Sofia basin and the low mountains · Sofia, Pernik, Kyustendil, Pravetscold
Continental: hot summers, cold snowy winters; Sofia sits about 550 m up, so evenings are cool even in July.
- Bulgarian Shopluk: Rila and the high Balkan · Borovets, Samokov, Seven Lakes, Musalacold
Alpine above about 2,000 m; snow lingers into May, the lakes thaw in June, and afternoon storms are common in July–August.
- North Bulgaria: Danube plain (Ruse, Pleven, Vidin) · Along the rivercold
Continental: July–August 30 °C (86 °F)+ with humid river air; January can sit below 0 °C (32 °F) with snow and Danube fog.Continental: July–August 86 °F (30 °C)+ with humid river air; January can sit below 32 °F (0 °C) with snow and Danube fog.
- North Bulgaria: Fore-Balkan hills (Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Belogradchik) · Foothills of the Balkan Mountainscold
Slightly cooler than the plain; spring and autumn are the walking months.
- Pirin Macedonia: Struma and Mesta valleys · Blagoevgrad, Sandanski, Melnik, Banskocool
Southern parts turn Mediterranean: Sandanski and Melnik are the warmest spots in Bulgaria, with mild winters and hot summers.
- Pirin Macedonia: Pirin and the western mountains · Pirin National Park, Belasitsacool
Skiing December–March; high trails snow-free from late June to September.
- Southern Dobruja: Danube plain · Dobrich, Silistra, Tutrakancold
Continental: hot dry summers, cold winters with snow and Danube fog. May–June and September–October are the comfortable months.
- Upper Thracian Plain: Upper Thracian Plain · Maritsa and Tundzha valleys, Plovdiv to Svilengradcool
Continental, with hot summers (30 °C (86 °F)+ common in July–August) and cold, sometimes snowy winters. May–June and September–October are the comfortable months; June can bring heavy rain.Continental, with hot summers (86 °F (30 °C)+ common in July–August) and cold, sometimes snowy winters. May–June and September–October are the comfortable months; June can bring heavy rain.
- Sofia6 °C (43 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
- Arbanassi6 °C (43 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 6 rain days
- Asenovgrad6 °C (43 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
- Balchik7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 6 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 6 rain days
- Bansko6 °C (43 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
- Belitsa4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 7 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 7 rain days
- Belogradchik4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 5 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 5 rain days
- Blagoevgrad5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 6 rain days
- Borovets4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 5 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 5 rain days
- Burgas8 °C (46 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 7 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 7 rain days
- Chiprovtsi5 °C (41 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 6 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 6 rain days
- Dobrich4 °C (39 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 6 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 6 rain days
- Dupnitsa5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
- Elhovo7 °C (45 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 7 rain days
- Gabrovo5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
- Haskovo7 °C (45 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 6 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 6 rain days
- Hisarya6 °C (43 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 6 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 6 rain days
- Isperih4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 6 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 6 rain days
- Kamen Bryag6 °C (43 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 6 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 6 rain days
- Karlovo7 °C (45 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
- Kazanlak5 °C (41 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 7 rain days
- Kiten8 °C (46 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 7 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 7 rain days
- Koprivshtitsa6 °C (43 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
- Kyustendil7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 6 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 6 rain days
- Lovech4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 6 rain days
- Montana4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
- Nesebar7 °C (45 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 6 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 6 rain days
- Pazardzhik6 °C (43 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 7 rain days
- Pernik5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
- Pirin National Park4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 5 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 5 rain days
- Pleven5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 6 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 6 rain days
- Plovdiv8 °C (46 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 6 rain days
- Pomorie8 °C (46 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 7 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 7 rain days
- Pravets5 °C (41 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 6 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 6 rain days
- Primorsko8 °C (46 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 7 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 7 rain days
- Rakovski5 °C (41 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 7 rain days
- Razgrad4 °C (39 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 6 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 6 rain days
- Rila4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
- Ruse4 °C (39 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 7 rain days
- Samokov4 °C (39 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 7 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 7 rain days
- Sarafovo10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 6 rain days
- Semkovo1 °C (34 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 9 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 9 rain days
- Sevlievo4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 6 rain days
- Shumen4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 7 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 7 rain days
- Silistra4 °C (39 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 5 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 5 rain days
- Sliven7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 6 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 6 rain days
- Sozopol9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 6 rain days
- Stara Zagora6 °C (43 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 7 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 7 rain days
- Sunny Beach10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 6 rain days
- Svilengrad7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 6 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 6 rain days
- Targovishte5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 7 rain days
- Tryavna5 °C (41 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
- Tsarevo10 °C (50 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 5 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 5 rain days
- Tutrakan5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 6 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 6 rain days
- Varshets4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 6 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 6 rain days
- Varvara8 °C (46 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 8 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 8 rain days
- Veliki Preslav4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
- Veliko Tarnovo6 °C (43 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 7 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 7 rain days
- Vidin5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 6 rain days
- Vratsa5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 5 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 5 rain days
- Yambol4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 7 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 7 rain days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Ski season on Vitosha and Borovets
Jan–Mar · Sofia
Weekend traffic on the mountain roads; book ski hire and shuttles early.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Bulgaria
- Medium
- Prices · Bulgaria
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Bulgaria, side by side.
Verdict
Feb: Mixed
May: Great (better)
Crowds
Feb: Medium
May: Medium
Prices
Feb: Medium
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Feb: 1
May: 5
February: Peak ski month; Kukeri masked festivals start in western villages (Pernik's Surva late January).
May: Rose harvest begins late in the month in the Valley of Roses; green and mild everywhere.
Bulgaria: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket
Where to go in February
Rated best or good this month
Best months: Jul–Sep for ski, Jan–Mar for early season, Jun–Aug for hiking
Best months: Dec–Mar, Jun–Sep
Best months: Jul–Sep for hiking; Jan–Mar for ski‑season on the slopes.
Best months: Dec–Feb, Jan–Mar (winter skiing) and Jun–Sep (summer hikes)