When to go
Having a continental climate, Bulgaria can be visited in
spring and autumn, in particular, from mid-May to mid-June, a period when some afternoon thunderstorms must be put into account, and from mid-September to mid-October, a period a bit cooler but also drier.
For those who can stand the heat,
summer can also be good, remembering that the cities located in inland plains like Plovdiv and Pleven can be hot in July and August.
In Sofia, the summer heat is slightly cooled by altitude. From May to August, some afternoon thunderstorms can occur, which become gradually less frequent, in fact, there are 9 days with some rainfall in May, 8 in June, 7 in July and 6 in August. In July and August, however, it can sometimes get hot during the day. In September, there are on average only 4 days with rain, and the temperatures are pleasant.
The
Rose Valley, from Karlovo to Kazanlak, is located at about 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level, south of the Balkan Mountains, and in the flowering period, from mid-May to mid-June, it has warm days and cool nights, with possible thunderstorms in the afternoon.
The coastal areas of Bulgaria can be a pleasant place to stay in summer (July and August) for a
beach holiday. Every so often, some showers or thunderstorms can occur in the afternoon, but more rarely than in inland areas. September is still nice and sunny.
What to pack
In
winter: bring warm clothes, such as a sweater, a down jacket, a hat, gloves, a scarf, and a raincoat or umbrella.
In
summer: bring light clothes, a T-shirt, but also long pants, a light jacket and a sweatshirt for the evening, and an umbrella.
Back to the climate of
Bulgaria