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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

GoodVoykit month rating for Bulgaria

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.

  • 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.

  • Mountains · Rila, Pirin, Rhodopes, Balkan rangefine

    Skiing December–March; high trails (Seven Rila Lakes, Vihren) snow-free from late June to September.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Continental: July–August 30 °C (86 °F)+ with humid river air; January can sit below 0 °C (32 °F) 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.

  • Sofia17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days
  • Arbanassi19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days
  • Asenovgrad18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days
  • Balchik20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days
  • Bansko18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days
  • Belitsa16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days
  • Belogradchik15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days
  • Blagoevgrad18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days
  • Borovets13 °C (55 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days
  • Burgas19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days
  • Chiprovtsi16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 7 rain days
  • Dobrich18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days
  • Dupnitsa15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days
  • Elhovo20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 10 rain days
  • Gabrovo17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Haskovo19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days
  • Hisarya18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 6 rain days
  • Isperih16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days
  • Kamen Bryag18 °C (64 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days
  • Karlovo18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days
  • Kazanlak18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 10 rain days
  • Kiten20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days
  • Koprivshtitsa17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 7 rain days
  • Kyustendil20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days
  • Lovech15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Montana16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 11 rain days
  • Nesebar19 °C (66 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days
  • Pazardzhik20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days
  • Pernik16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 7 rain days
  • Pirin National Park16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days
  • Pleven18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days
  • Plovdiv20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days
  • Pomorie20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days
  • Pravets18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 10 rain days
  • Primorsko19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days
  • Rakovski16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days
  • Razgrad16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days
  • Rila16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days
  • Ruse16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days
  • Samokov16 °C (61 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 8 rain days
  • Sarafovo22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days
  • Semkovo11 °C (52 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 8 rain days
  • Sevlievo16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days
  • Shumen15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Silistra18 °C (64 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days
  • Sliven19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days
  • Sozopol20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days
  • Stara Zagora18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days
  • Sunny Beach22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days
  • Svilengrad20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days
  • Targovishte17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 6 rain days
  • Tryavna16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days
  • Tsarevo21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days
  • Tutrakan18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 6 rain days
  • Varshets15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days
  • Varvara19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days
  • Veliki Preslav16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days
  • Veliko Tarnovo18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days
  • Vidin18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days
  • Vratsa18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 7 rain days
  • Yambol15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 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.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

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)

  • Sofia

    Crisp; good walking.

  • Arbanassi

    Best months: May–Oct

  • Asenovgrad

    Best months: May–Oct

  • Belitsa

    Best months: May–Oct

  • Blagoevgrad

    Best months: May–June, Sep–Oct

  • Dupnitsa

    Best months: May–Oct

  • Elhovo

    Best months: May–Oct

  • Gabrovo

    Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

  • Haskovo

    Best months: May–Oct

  • Hisarya

    Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

  • Isperih

    Best months: May–June, Sep–Oct