When to go · Bulgaria
Bulgaria in November
Mixed month. Grey and damp; good for Sofia museums and thermal baths.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Low
- Bulgaria
- Prices
- Low
- Bulgaria
Verdict
Grey and damp; good for Sofia museums and thermal baths.
Is another month better than November?
November 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 November
- 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) · Predbalkanfine
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, Pravetsfine
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 riverfine
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 Mountainsfine
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, Tutrakanfine
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 Svilengradfine
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.
- Sofia10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 9 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 9 rain days
- Arbanassi12 °C (54 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 7 rain days
- Asenovgrad11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 9 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 9 rain days
- Balchik13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 7 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 7 rain days
- Bansko11 °C (52 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 8 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 8 rain days
- Belitsa9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 8 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 8 rain days
- Belogradchik8 °C (46 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 8 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 8 rain days
- Blagoevgrad11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 10 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 10 rain days
- Borovets7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 6 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 6 rain days
- Burgas13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
- Chiprovtsi10 °C (50 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 7 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 7 rain days
- Dobrich12 °C (54 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 10 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 10 rain days
- Dupnitsa8 °C (46 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 10 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 10 rain days
- Elhovo13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 11 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 11 rain days
- Gabrovo10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 9 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 9 rain days
- Haskovo12 °C (54 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 7 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 7 rain days
- Hisarya11 °C (52 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 7 rain days
- Isperih9 °C (48 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 7 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 7 rain days
- Kamen Bryag12 °C (54 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 6 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 6 rain days
- Karlovo11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 8 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 8 rain days
- Kazanlak11 °C (52 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 11 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 11 rain days
- Kiten14 °C (57 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
- Koprivshtitsa10 °C (50 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 8 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 8 rain days
- Kyustendil13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 9 rain days
- Lovech8 °C (46 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 7 rain days
- Montana9 °C (48 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 12 rain days
- Nesebar13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
- Pazardzhik12 °C (54 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 10 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 10 rain days
- Pernik9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 8 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 8 rain days
- Pirin National Park9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 10 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 10 rain days
- Pleven10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 7 rain days
- Plovdiv13 °C (55 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 7 rain days
- Pomorie13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 7 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 7 rain days
- Pravets10 °C (50 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 9 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 9 rain days
- Primorsko13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
- Rakovski9 °C (48 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 9 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 9 rain days
- Razgrad9 °C (48 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 8 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 8 rain days
- Rila9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 9 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 9 rain days
- Ruse9 °C (48 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 10 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 10 rain days
- Samokov9 °C (48 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 8 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 8 rain days
- Sarafovo15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
- Semkovo5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
- Sevlievo9 °C (48 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 7 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 7 rain days
- Shumen9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 9 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 9 rain days
- Silistra10 °C (50 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 9 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 9 rain days
- Sliven12 °C (54 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 7 rain days
- Sozopol13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 7 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 7 rain days
- Stara Zagora11 °C (52 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 7 rain days
- Sunny Beach15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
- Svilengrad13 °C (55 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 8 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 8 rain days
- Targovishte10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 8 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 8 rain days
- Tryavna9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 9 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 9 rain days
- Tsarevo15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 6 rain days
- Tutrakan10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 7 rain days
- Varshets9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 8 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 8 rain days
- Varvara13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 9 rain days
- Veliki Preslav9 °C (48 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 9 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 9 rain days
- Veliko Tarnovo11 °C (52 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 8 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 8 rain days
- Vidin10 °C (50 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 9 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 9 rain days
- Vratsa10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 6 rain days
- Yambol8 °C (46 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 9 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 9 rain days
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Bulgaria
- Low
- Prices · Bulgaria
- Low
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Bulgaria, side by side.
Verdict
Nov: Mixed
May: Great (better)
Crowds
Nov: Low
May: Medium
Prices
Nov: Low
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Nov: 0
May: 5
November: Grey and damp; good for Sofia museums and thermal baths.
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