Bulgaria Weather, climate and geography

The climate in Bulgaria is continental, but changes to humid subtropical climate along the Black Sea Coast. The country’s mountain chains and large plains, along with cold air masses from the north and warm air masses from the Mediterranean, all have an impact on the climate in Bulgaria.

Sofia is the capital and the largest city in Bulgaria. Geographically it sits in western Bulgaria, between Vitosha Mountain and the Balkan Mountains range. Sofia has a humid continental climate with cold winter and hot summer. Sofia has an average precipitation of 581mm (22 inches) a year, with spring and summer being wetter than other seasons. See the weather in Sofia and the best time to go guide for more information.

Plovdiv is the second largest city and an ideal base for wine tourism in the Thracian Valley. It has four distinct seasons with temperatures vary wildly. Summer usually starts in May and ends in late September, with average highs reaching 31°C (88°F) in July and August, but it is also fairly common to see temperatures climbing to 40°C (104°F) and beyond. Winter is cold, with average lows dipping below the freezing point from December to February. The best time to visit Plovdiv is from April to July, then September to October.

Burgas and Varna on the Black Sea Coast have a humid subtropical climate and both places enjoy long, hot summer from May to October, with average highs reaching 28°C (82°F) in July and August. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, although November is usually the wettest month. Winter is milder than inland areas but can be cold too. January is the coldest month with an average low of -1°C (30°F).