When to go · Bulgaria
Bulgaria in October
Good month. Autumn colour in the Rhodopes and Balkan range; resorts close mid-month.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Crowds
- Low
- Bulgaria
- Prices
- Low
- Bulgaria
Verdict
Autumn colour in the Rhodopes and Balkan range; resorts close mid-month.
Is another month better than October?
October is rated good. These months rate higher:
Weather in October
- Sofia and the upland basins · Sofia, Bansko, Samokovfine
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, Rusebest weather
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, Sozopolfine
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 rangefine
Skiing December–March; high trails (Seven Rila Lakes, Vihren) snow-free from late June to September.
- Balkan Mountains: North foothills (Gabrovo, Tryavna) · Predbalkanbest weather
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 mfine
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) · Podbalkanbest weather
Warmer and drier than the north; roses bloom late May to early June.
- Bulgarian Black Sea Coast: Coast · Varna to Rezovofine
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, Pravetsbest weather
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, Musalafine
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 riverbest weather
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 Mountainsbest weather
Slightly cooler than the plain; spring and autumn are the walking months.
- Pirin Macedonia: Struma and Mesta valleys · Blagoevgrad, Sandanski, Melnik, Banskobest weather
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, Belasitsafine
Skiing December–March; high trails snow-free from late June to September.
- Southern Dobruja: Danube plain · Dobrich, Silistra, Tutrakanbest weather
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 Svilengradbest weather
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.
- Sofia17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
- Arbanassi19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
- Asenovgrad18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 8 rain days
- Balchik20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 6 rain days
- Bansko18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
- Belitsa16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 9 rain days
- Belogradchik15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 9 rain days
- Blagoevgrad18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 9 rain days
- Borovets13 °C (55 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 7 rain days
- Burgas19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 6 rain days
- Chiprovtsi16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 7 rain days
- Dobrich18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 9 rain days
- Dupnitsa15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 9 rain days
- Elhovo20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 10 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 10 rain days
- Gabrovo17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
- Haskovo19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 7 rain days
- Hisarya18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 6 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 6 rain days
- Isperih16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 6 rain days
- Kamen Bryag18 °C (64 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 5 rain days
- Karlovo18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 8 rain days
- Kazanlak18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 10 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 10 rain days
- Kiten20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 7 rain days
- Koprivshtitsa17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 7 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 7 rain days
- Kyustendil20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 9 rain days
- Lovech15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
- Montana16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 11 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 11 rain days
- Nesebar19 °C (66 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 7 rain days
- Pazardzhik20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 9 rain days
- Pernik16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 7 rain days
- Pirin National Park16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 9 rain days
- Pleven18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 6 rain days
- Plovdiv20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
- Pomorie20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
- Pravets18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 10 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 10 rain days
- Primorsko19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 6 rain days
- Rakovski16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
- Razgrad16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 9 rain days
- Rila16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
- Ruse16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 9 rain days
- Samokov16 °C (61 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 8 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 8 rain days
- Sarafovo22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 7 rain days
- Semkovo11 °C (52 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 8 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 8 rain days
- Sevlievo16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
- Shumen15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
- Silistra18 °C (64 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 9 rain days
- Sliven19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
- Sozopol20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 6 rain days
- Stara Zagora18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 6 rain days
- Sunny Beach22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 7 rain days
- Svilengrad20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
- Targovishte17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 6 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 6 rain days
- Tryavna16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
- Tsarevo21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
- Tutrakan18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 6 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 6 rain days
- Varshets15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
- Varvara19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 8 rain days
- Veliki Preslav16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
- Veliko Tarnovo18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
- Vidin18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
- Vratsa18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 7 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 7 rain days
- Yambol15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 46 °F (8 °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
Oct: Good
May: Great (better)
Crowds
Oct: Low
May: Medium
Prices
Oct: Low
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Oct: 0
May: 5
October: Autumn colour in the Rhodopes and Balkan range; resorts close mid-month.
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
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.
Where to go in October
Rated best or good this month
Thracian plain and the Danube
Best weather of the year (Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse)
Crisp; good walking.
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: May–June, Sep–Oct
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Best months: May–June, Sep–Oct