Bulgaria climate

World Climates covers 6 places in Bulgaria. By annual mean temperature, the warmest is Plovdiv (14 °C58 °F) and the coolest is Sofia (12 °C53 °F). The wettest is Sofia with 705 mm28 in of precipitation per year, the driest Varna with 537 mm21 in.

The most common climate types (Köppen classification computed from these averages) are humid subtropical (Cfa, 4 places) and hot-summer humid continental (Dfa, 2 places).

The highest monthly average high is in Plovdiv (33 °C91 °F in August); the lowest monthly average low is in Sofia (−5 °C24 °F in January).

Across the places in Bulgaria, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are May, June and September (6, 6 and 6 of 6 places respectively).

Temperature and rainfall across Bulgaria

Annual mean temperatures in Bulgaria range from 12 °C53 °F to 14 °C58 °F. The typical place (the median of all 6) has a year average of 13 °C56 °F. Annual precipitation ranges from 537 mm21 in to 705 mm28 in. The median place receives about 633 mm25 in in an average year.

In 5 places of 6, the coldest month has an average low below 0 °C (32 °F). In 4 places, the warmest month has an average high above 30 °C (86 °F). No place here gets less than 250 mm (10 in) of precipitation a year. None gets more than 2,000 mm (79 in) a year.

Averaged over all 6 places, August is the warmest month, with a mean of 25 °C77 °F. January is the coldest, with 1 °C35 °F. The wettest month on average is June (67 mm2.6 in). The driest is August (40 mm1.6 in). Single places can differ a lot from this average, so check the page of each city.

The table below lists the places sorted by population. The largest ones covered here are Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna. Each city page has a chart and a table for every month. It also shows the best time to visit and what to pack. The figures are 25-year averages for 2001–2025 from NASA POWER. They describe grid cells of roughly 50–70 km, not single weather stations.

Climate of each place in Bulgaria

Sofia has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa). Its year average is 12 °C53 °F. The warmest month is August, with an average high of 30 °C85 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −5 °C24 °F. About 705 mm28 in of precipitation falls in a year. June is the wettest month and November the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are May–October.

Plovdiv has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 14 °C58 °F. The warmest month is August, with an average high of 33 °C91 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −2 °C28 °F. About 661 mm26 in of precipitation falls in a year. June is the wettest month and August the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are April–June and September and October.

Varna has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 14 °C57 °F. The warmest month is August, with an average high of 27 °C80 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of 2 °C35 °F. About 537 mm21 in of precipitation falls in a year. October is the wettest month and August the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are May–September.

Burgas has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 14 °C57 °F. The warmest month is August, with an average high of 30 °C86 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of 0 °C31 °F. About 586 mm23 in of precipitation falls in a year. October is the wettest month and August the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are May and June and September and October.

Stara Zagora has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 13 °C56 °F. The warmest month is August, with an average high of 32 °C90 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −3 °C26 °F. About 659 mm26 in of precipitation falls in a year. June is the wettest month and August the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are May and June and September and October.

Ruse has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa). Its year average is 13 °C55 °F. The warmest month is August, with an average high of 32 °C90 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −5 °C24 °F. About 607 mm24 in of precipitation falls in a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are April–June and September and October.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the warmest place in Bulgaria?

By annual mean temperature, the warmest place in Bulgaria is Plovdiv at 14 °C58 °F. The coolest is Sofia at 12 °C53 °F.

Where does it rain the most in Bulgaria?

Sofia gets the most precipitation, 705 mm28 in in an average year. The driest place is Varna with 537 mm21 in.

How many places in Bulgaria does this site cover?

World Climates has climate data for 6 places in Bulgaria. Each one has a page with monthly averages for temperature, rainfall, humidity and daylight.

When is the best time to visit Bulgaria?

It depends on the place. Across Bulgaria, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are May, June and September. Check the page of each city for its own best months.