Best time to visit Sofia
The best time to visit Sofia is April and July–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Sofia, Sofia-Capital, Bulgaria
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.2 °C / 38 °F | -5.2 °C / 23 °F | 51 mm / 2 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 6.4 °C / 44 °F | -2.9 °C / 27 °F | 38 mm / 1.5 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 10.4 °C / 51 °F | 0.4 °C / 33 °F | 59 mm / 2.3 in | good month |
| April | 15.3 °C / 60 °F | 4.3 °C / 40 °F | 57 mm / 2.3 in | best month |
| May | 19.5 °C / 67 °F | 8.6 °C / 47 °F | 69 mm / 2.7 in | good month |
| June | 23.8 °C / 75 °F | 12.4 °C / 54 °F | 69 mm / 2.7 in | good month |
| July | 26.7 °C / 80 °F | 13.9 °C / 57 °F | 41 mm / 1.6 in | best month |
| August | 27.2 °C / 81 °F | 14 °C / 57 °F | 33 mm / 1.3 in | best month |
| September | 22.2 °C / 72 °F | 10.3 °C / 51 °F | 34 mm / 1.3 in | best month |
| October | 16.3 °C / 61 °F | 5.3 °C / 42 °F | 54 mm / 2.1 in | good month |
| November | 10.3 °C / 51 °F | 1.5 °C / 35 °F | 43 mm / 1.7 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 4.8 °C / 41 °F | -2.4 °C / 28 °F | 47 mm / 1.9 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: good
- AApril: best
- MMay: good
- JJune: good
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April, July–September
- Good
- March, May–June, October
July through September, plus April, are excellent for exploring on foot with warm, sunny, mostly dry days; May-June and October are good but noticeably wetter and more humid, while November-February are cold, dull and damp.
Why these months
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 59 mm / 2.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, relative humidity 70%.
Against: feels like (high) 7 °C / 45 °F, wet days 11.2 days, days with heavy rain 1.5 days, average daily high 10.4 °C / 51 °F, average daily low 0.4 °C / 33 °F.
April · best
In its favour: precipitation 57 mm / 2.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, feels like (high) 13.1 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 15.3 °C / 60 °F, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, relative humidity 68%, average daily low 4.3 °C / 40 °F.
Against: wet days 10.8 days.
May · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.6 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 19.5 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F.
Against: wet days 13.9 days, relative humidity 72%, precipitation 69 mm / 2.7 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 52%.
June · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 24.5 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 23.8 °C / 75 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, average daily low 12.4 °C / 54 °F.
Against: wet days 12.1 days, relative humidity 72%, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, precipitation 69 mm / 2.7 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 52%.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 27.6 °C / 82 °F, precipitation 41 mm / 1.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, average daily high 26.7 °C / 80 °F, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, average daily low 13.9 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 67%.
Against: wet days 8.3 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 49%.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 27.7 °C / 82 °F, precipitation 33 mm / 1.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, average daily high 27.2 °C / 81 °F, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, wet days 6.2 days, average daily low 14 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 65%.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.2 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 22.2 °C / 72 °F, precipitation 34 mm / 1.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, wet days 6.2 days, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 68%.
October · good
In its favour: precipitation 54 mm / 2.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, feels like (high) 14.3 °C / 58 °F, average daily high 16.3 °C / 61 °F, wet days 7.3 days, average daily low 5.3 °C / 42 °F.
Against: relative humidity 76%, days with heavy rain 1.8 days.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: good
- AApril: best
- MMay: good
- JJune: good
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April, September
- Good
- March, May–August, October
September and April are the standout hiking months; summer (July-August) is good but getting warm for exertion, May-June are cool enough yet very wet and humid, and November-February are too cold, icy and dull to enjoy.
Why these months
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 59 mm / 2.3 in, average daily high 10.4 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, daylight per day 11.9 h, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, average daily low 0.4 °C / 33 °F.
Against: wet days 11.2 days, feels like (high) 7 °C / 45 °F, days with heavy rain 1.5 days.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.3 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 57 mm / 2.3 in, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, feels like (high) 13.1 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 4.3 °C / 40 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, daylight per day 13.4 h, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph.
Against: wet days 10.8 days.
May · good
In its favour: average daily high 19.5 °C / 67 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, feels like (high) 18.6 °C / 65 °F, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, daylight per day 14.6 h, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: wet days 13.9 days, precipitation 69 mm / 2.7 in, relative humidity 72%, share of rain falling in the daytime 52%.
June · good
In its favour: average daily high 23.8 °C / 75 °F, average daily low 12.4 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, daylight per day 15.3 h, feels like (high) 24.5 °C / 76 °F, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: wet days 12.1 days, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, precipitation 69 mm / 2.7 in, relative humidity 72%, share of rain falling in the daytime 52%.
July · good
In its favour: precipitation 41 mm / 1.6 in, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, average daily low 13.9 °C / 57 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, daylight per day 15 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: average daily high 26.7 °C / 80 °F, feels like (high) 27.6 °C / 82 °F, wet days 8.3 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 49%.
August · good
In its favour: precipitation 33 mm / 1.3 in, wet days 6.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, average daily low 14 °C / 57 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, daylight per day 13.9 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: average daily high 27.2 °C / 81 °F, feels like (high) 27.7 °C / 82 °F.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.2 °C / 72 °F, precipitation 34 mm / 1.3 in, wet days 6.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, feels like (high) 21.2 °C / 70 °F, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, daylight per day 12.5 h, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph.
October · good
In its favour: average daily high 16.3 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 54 mm / 2.1 in, wet days 7.3 days, feels like (high) 14.3 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 5.3 °C / 42 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, daylight per day 11 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 1.8 days, relative humidity 76%.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Vitosha, 12 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | -0.3 °C | 2.8 °C | 7 °C | 13.1 °C | 18.6 °C | 24.5 °C | 27.6 °C | 27.7 °C | 21.2 °C | 14.3 °C | 7.8 °C | 1.6 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.2 days | 0.7 days | 1.5 days | 1.2 days | 1.4 days | 1.7 days | 0.9 days | 0.6 days | 0.8 days | 1.8 days | 1.2 days | 1.1 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 10 pm | 6 pm | 5 pm | 6 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 6 pm | 5 pm | 6 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 6 am |
| Sunshine per day | 6.7 h | 7.8 h | 8.7 h | 10.5 h | 11.3 h | 12.9 h | 13.6 h | 12.4 h | 10.2 h | 8.2 h | 6.8 h | 6.2 h |
| Relative humidity | 81% | 76% | 70% | 68% | 72% | 72% | 67% | 65% | 68% | 76% | 81% | 83% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 11.3 µg/m³ | 13.2 µg/m³ | 12.4 µg/m³ | 10.4 µg/m³ | 10.7 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 9.6 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ | 7.7 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | 11.5 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 19.4 µg/m³ | 20.6 µg/m³ | 19.4 µg/m³ | 17.3 µg/m³ | 16.1 µg/m³ | 17.2 µg/m³ | 14 µg/m³ | 12.7 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 13.9 µg/m³ | 15.7 µg/m³ | 19.6 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Boyana Church
8 km away