Bulgaria climate guide

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Below are average maximum temperatures at popular destinations in Bulgaria for next month - January. Select a destination to see the climate guide for all months of the year.

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The climate guide for Bulgaria shows long term monthly weather averages processed from data supplied by CRU (University of East Anglia), the Met Office & the Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Find out more about our data sources.

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Metric (°C / mm) | Imperial (°F / inches)

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Bulgaria climate overview

Bulgaria has a long history of foreign occupation having been part of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, but despite its turbulent past is the oldest surviving state in Europe to have kept its original name. Today the country is on the difficult road of transforming itself from a communist state to one with a free economy.

In the southwest the Rila and Rodopi Mountains provide a scenic backdrop to the capital, Sofia. Steep rocky slopes at higher elevations and many glaciated lakes lead down to thick pine forest, with tiered cultivated fields below this. Frequent winter showers fall as snow over the highest ground sustaining popular ski resorts. Summers are drier with just a few thunderstorms, and it is generally warm at lower levels.

Through the middle of the country, from Serbia in the west and almost to the Black Sea coast, runs the narrow Balkan mountain chain where pine forest merges into deciduous, and vineyards nestle on lower south-facing slopes. Rolling foothills also provide valuable grazing pastures. Summers can be warm and sunny, followed by wet and cold winters.

To the north of the Balkan Mountains is the Danube river plain where heavily cultivated fertile soils support arable farming, mainly growing a mixture of wheat and maize. Winter daytime temperatures hover around freezing with frequent showers, intensifying by late spring. Summers are drier and sunnier, with warm temperatures.

The Black Sea coast has long and wide stretches of beautiful yellow sandy beaches, most famously at Golden Sands, backing onto natural deciduous forest. These are popular during the warm, dry summer months but winters can be cold with showers and plenty of cloud.