Bulgaria in January

Cold, often snowy; skiing at Bansko and Borovets; cities quiet and cheap.

January 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.

• 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) · Podbalkancold

  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.

• Sofia3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Arbanassi4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 7 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 7 rain days
• Asenovgrad4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
• Balchik5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
• Bansko4 °C (39 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Belitsa2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Belogradchik2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 6 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 6 rain days
• Blagoevgrad2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 7 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 7 rain days
• Borovets2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 5 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 5 rain days
• Burgas6 °C (43 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 7 rain days
• Chiprovtsi3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
• Dobrich2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
• Dupnitsa2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Elhovo5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Gabrovo3 °C (37 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Haskovo5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
• Hisarya4 °C (39 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 6 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 6 rain days
• Isperih2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
• Kamen Bryag5 °C (41 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 6 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 6 rain days
• Karlovo5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Kazanlak2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Kiten6 °C (43 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 8 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 8 rain days
• Koprivshtitsa4 °C (39 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Kyustendil5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
• Lovech2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 7 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 7 rain days
• Montana2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Nesebar6 °C (43 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 7 rain days
• Pazardzhik4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Pernik2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Pirin National Park2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 6 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 6 rain days
• Pleven3 °C (37 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 6 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 6 rain days
• Plovdiv5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 6 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 6 rain days
• Pomorie7 °C (45 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 8 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 8 rain days
• Pravets2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 7 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 7 rain days
• Primorsko6 °C (43 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 8 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 8 rain days
• Rakovski2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Razgrad2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
• Rila2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Ruse2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
• Samokov2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Sarafovo9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 7 rain days
• Semkovo0 °C (32 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 10 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 10 rain days
• Sevlievo2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 7 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 7 rain days
• Shumen2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Silistra2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 6 rain days
• Sliven5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 6 rain days
• Sozopol8 °C (46 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 7 rain days
• Stara Zagora4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Sunny Beach9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 6 rain days
• Svilengrad5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 7 rain days
• Targovishte3 °C (37 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 7 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 7 rain days
• Tryavna3 °C (37 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Tsarevo9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 6 rain days
• Tutrakan3 °C (37 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 6 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 6 rain days
• Varshets2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 7 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 7 rain days
• Varvara7 °C (45 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 8 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 8 rain days
• Veliki Preslav2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Veliko Tarnovo4 °C (39 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 7 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 7 rain days
• Vidin2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Vratsa2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 5 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 5 rain days
• Yambol2 °C (36 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days

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.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Quiet day; many restaurants closed.

• Christmas and New Year closures

  1 January · Sofia

  Shops and museums shut on 1 January.

• Ski season on Vitosha and Borovets

  Jan–Mar · Sofia

  Weekend traffic on the mountain roads; book ski hire and shuttles early.

Crowds · Bulgaria

Low

Prices · Bulgaria

Low

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Bulgaria, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Rated best or good this month

• Bansko

  Best months: Jul–Sep for ski, Jan–Mar for early season, Jun–Aug for hiking

• Borovets

  Best months: Dec–Mar, Jun–Sep

• Pernik

  Best months: Jan (Surva), May–Sep (pleasant weather)

• Pirin National Park

  Best months: Jul–Sep for hiking; Jan–Mar for ski‑season on the slopes.

• Semkovo

  Best months: Dec–Feb, Jan–Mar (winter skiing) and Jun–Sep (summer hikes)