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When to Visit Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s place in Southeastern Europe allows it to enjoy a temperate climate with warm summers and cool, crisp winters.

The summer season peaks at around late July. The days tend to be hot and dry, especially in the Black Sea Coast. With temperatures soaring to around 24 °C (75 °F), locals and tourists flock to the beach. Hotels are packed with guests, and the coastal cities are overwhelmed by sun worshipers.

Winters can be damp and cold especially in the hilly interior. Rains tend to fall heavily on the mountains. Average temperatures dip to 0 °C (32 °F), and the human migration shifts from the now deserted coastal towns to the snow-covered highlands.

Ski resorts enjoy a boom in business at this time of the year. Christmas and New Year tend to be packed with revelers, while tourist arrivals peak at around mid-February.

Going to Bulgaria depends on the activities you have set in mind. Spring is an excellent time to visit if you’re planning to see the festivals happening all at the same time.

The Kukeri, wherein locals wear animal costumes and march around the town to ward off evil spirits, happens before Lent.

On Baba Marta Day (first week of March), people wear martenitsa around their wrist for good health. Cultural venues and theaters enjoy a surge in attendance, thanks to the off-peak rates offered to tourists.

Autumn is the harvest season, and vegetables are plentiful in the countryside. Tourists are few, and it is possible to have a dip in the Black Sea, with the beach all to yourself.

Leaves change color while cool and crisp winds blow from the mountains. With the low sun sinking in the horizon, autumn is the best time to go if you’re planning to do some hiking or visit Bulgaria’s eclectic monasteries.