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Where is the country of Bulgaria located? Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. Bulgaria has a moderate continental climate with fairly cool winters and warm summers. Within the Köppen climate system, this climate is indicated by the code Dfb. The north is clearly colder than the south of the country, which has more of a Mediterranean climate. Along the Black Sea, it is maritime climates that determine the weather. After the disintegration of the Eastern Bloc, Bulgaria has managed to develop into a fairly popular holiday destination. In particular, the towns and beaches on the Black Sea can count on a fair amount of interest. Initially, it was mainly the lower prices you paid for a holiday at the Golden Sands or Sunny Beach. Now that Bulgaria has definitely put itself on the map as a holiday destination, you should bet on a last minute to Bulgariato go on holiday really cheaply. This opportunity is especially present in the months of June and September, which are no longer part of the high season for this fascinating country.

Black Sea

The Black Sea has quite a bit of influence on the climate of eastern Bulgaria. In early spring, the Black Sea can have a cooling effect on temperatures along the coast, while the still warm seawater in late autumn often causes temperatures to be higher than the west. In summer temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees are quite normal and the water temperature of the Black Sea is around 23 to 25 degrees: excellent conditions for a pleasant beach holiday. For Bulgarians, the Black Sea has been a wonderful destination for a holiday in the sun for decades. In particular, the period from June to mid-September is a good place to stay in seaside resorts such as Sozopol, Nesebăr and of course the famous Sunny Beach.

Temperature change

Within a relatively short period of time, very large differences in weather and temperature can occur in Bulgaria. For example, along the Black Sea coast it can still be around 20 degrees in early November and it can freeze during the day a week later. The only certainties that the Bulgarian weather has to offer is that it is warm to hot in the summer and that it is regularly barren and angry during the winter months.

There can also be major differences within the country itself. For example, it can be dry and warm in one place, while it is much cooler and wet elsewhere. If you want to see the current weather forecast for Bulgaria, it is therefore important to view the correct city or region.

Nuisance

There is regular nuisance due to the weather. In the summer, severe thunderstorms can cause flooding and there are regularly remote villages that are almost cut off from the outside world. In winter it is frost, snow and fog that can cause nuisance. Flight delays or even cancellations due to heavy snowfall and fog (Sofia Airport) regularly occur in winter.

Winter sports

In the higher parts of Bulgaria you can do winter sports in the winter. For example, the Rila, Rhodope and Pirin Mountains are reasonably snow-sure destinations during the winter months. The first snow often falls in November. In December the chance of a white layer is much greater. The period January to mid-March is the most snow-sure time for a winter sports holiday. You do notice that in the course of March the snow quality on the lower parts of the slopes can already deteriorate.

More about winter sports in Bulgaria

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit Bulgaria

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Bulgaria? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result.

Best months for Bulgaria

The Eastern European country of Bulgaria has a mix of maritime climates, subtropical climates and inland continental climates and even a tundra climate on the highest mountain peaks. This mix arises from the geographical location, the differences in altitude and the influences of the Black Sea. The travel advice regarding the best time to travel to Bulgaria mainly depends on your destination. For most trips to Bulgaria, the period is mid-May to mid-Octoberthe best travel period. Think especially of round trips and city trips to Bulgaria, for example to the beautiful capital Sofia. Due to the possible heat and severe thunderstorms that can occur in the months of July and August, you should opt for late spring or early autumn for tours and city trips instead of the middle of summer.

Sun holiday

Bulgaria is quite popular as a sun destination. The seaside resorts on the Black Sea have become popular tourist destinations, especially at the Golden Sands (Golden Beach) and Sunny Beach (Sun Beach). From mid- June to the beginning of September it is a great place to stay by the water. The temperature in the afternoon is then on average between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. The sun shows itself quite a lot, but there is still a chance of a rain or thunderstorm. Sometimes there can be a day in which the weather is bad for almost the entire day. The advantage of Bulgaria as a beach destination is that it is generally less hot than on the coasts of the Mediterranean.

Winter sports

The mountain areas of Bulgaria are perfect for a winter sports holiday. Within Bulgaria there are two mountain areas, the Balkan Mountains and the Rhodope Mountains, which because of the altitude and snowfall provide excellent conditions for various types of winter sports, such as skiing or snowboarding. However, the number of ski areas is quite limited. There are four well-known winter sports areas in Bulgaria: Borovets, Bansko, Pamporovo and Vitosha. These areas are good for almost two hundred kilometers of slopes.

The official ski season starts in the first half of December and usually lasts until mid-April. The best months for a winter sports holiday in Bulgaria are January and February.

Best time to visit Sofia

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Sofia? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. Sofia is the capital and by far the largest city in Bulgaria. Due to the increasing supply of cheap airline tickets to Sofia, more and more people are discovering this fascinating city. The number of city trippers who travel to Bulgaria especially for Sofia is growing every year. In addition, a visit to Sofia almost never lacks a tour through Bulgaria. Sofia is often the start and end point of a special holiday through a beautiful country. In the city you can admire beautiful buildings that have their origin in different time periods. Beautiful examples of this are the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, built at the beginning of the last century, the impressive parliament building and the Ivan Vazov National Theater.

The continental climate present in Sofia is the result of its inland location, whereby the Bulgarian capital is also surrounded by mountains. As a result, there is hardly any influence from a large body of water such as the Black Sea. Winters can be nasty cold. You don’t see that so much in Sofia’s climate statistics, but those are long-term averages. The actual temperatures can be higher, but also considerably lower. It is better not to visit Sofia during such winter weather conditions. Severe frost in combination with icy conditions can negatively affect the infrastructure.

Best months for Sofia

Looking at the chances of good weather with pleasant temperatures, we point to the period May to mid-Octoberas the best time to travel to Sofia. It is often sunny, there is not much rain and the temperatures are often pleasant. In May you notice that maximum temperatures can move in all directions. At the beginning of May, the mercury can remain at 10 degrees, while later in that month it can suddenly move towards 30 degrees. The unpredictability of the weather in Sofia makes May a lucky month. From June it is often warm in summer and in July and August the afternoon temperatures are often close to or around 30 degrees. Almost every summer there is a heat wave, with temperatures far above the tropical limit of 30 degrees. In the course of September, the temperatures drop to pleasant values: an average of 23 to 27 degrees.

Best time to visit Sunny Beach

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Sunny Beach? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. Those who book a beach holiday in Bulgaria have a reasonable chance of ending up in Sunny Beach. In Bulgarian this seaside resort is called Slantsjev Brjag and in Dutch Sunny Beach is also called Zonnestrand. Since the beginning of this century, considerable investments have been made to make Sunny Beach a well-visited seaside resort. And with success! This is now the largest seaside resort on the Black Sea with more than 300,000 hotel beds and a few million tourists every year who spend their holidays here. Sunny Beach offers, in addition to the beach and a large number of hotel resorts, various ways to relax. Think of water parks, sports facilities and a busy nightlife, which is remarkably affordable.

The climate of Sunny Beach ensures that there is very little to do in winter. It is then quite cold. From time to time it can even get extremely cold, if the wind from the east or north brings icy freezing air. Only at the beginning of the holiday season, around the beginning of May, Sunny Beach starts to come alive. That will last until October.

The Best Months for Sunny Beach

If you want to spend a holiday in Sunny Beach, the weather is an important factor. Without good weather you really have nothing to do in this seaside resort. The best time to travel to Sunny Beach is from June to mid-September. During this period it is mainly sunny and the afternoon temperatures are on average between 23 and 30 degrees. In the months of July and August the maximums are usually around thirty degrees or sometimes slightly higher. These are therefore the best months for a sunny holiday in Sunny Beach.

Sunny Beach during the school holidays

If you are bound by the legally established school holidays, then the summer holidays are by far the best travel time for a holiday in Sunny Beach. This holiday season offers the most stable weather in Sunny Beach. If you want to travel to Sunny Beach during the May holidays, you should take into account unpredictable weather and the fact that the water temperature of the Black Sea is still quite low: around 15 degrees. The autumn holidays also do not offer the best prospects. Because this falls in mid-October, there is a chance of too cool weather. The number of hours of sunshine is then reasonably reduced compared to summer.