Season guide · Sofia · Bulgaria
Sofia in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: MrPanyGoff, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Dry, sunny September and colourful October, turning grey and foggy by November. Expect highs up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 22 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 22
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 23°C (73°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 7 | 12.4 h | 3/5 |
| October | 17°C (63°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 7 | 11 h | 3/5 |
| November | 10°C (50°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 8 | 9.7 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 17°C (63°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 22 of the year's roughly 103 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Unification Day (6 September)
- September: Independence Day (22 September)
- October: Sofia Marathon (usually October)
Make the most of the weather
Museum · Lozenets
Earth and Man National Museum
A mineralogy museum in a former military warehouse near the NDK, showing giant crystals, gemstones and minerals from Bulgaria and around the world.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Zoo · Lozenets
Sofia Zoo
Reach it by tram or taxi and plan a half-day, as the grounds are spread out.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Outdoors
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Architecture · Vitosha Boulevard and NDK
National Palace of Culture and South Park
The NDK, opened in 1981, is a huge socialist-era congress centre fronted by fountains and gardens where families gather in the evenings.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Kids
- Outdoors
Nature · Vitosha
Vitosha Nature Park
Start early, wear proper shoes and check the weather; conditions on the plateau change quickly even in summer.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
- Views
- Kids
Park · City Centre
City Garden and Ivan Vazov National Theatre
The neoclassical red-and-white National Theatre faces the City Garden, where older men play chess on outdoor tables and fountains cool the square in summer.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Outdoors
Day trips in autumn
- Seven Rila Lakes (About 2 hours by car, then chairlift) — A chain of glacial lakes in the Rila mountains linked by a hiking trail with sweeping views.
- Koprivshtitsa (About 2 hours by car) — A mountain town of colourful 19th-century National Revival houses, several of them museums, where the April Uprising against Ottoman rule began in 1876.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Sofia?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Dry, sunny September and colourful October, turning grey and foggy by November.
+What is the weather like in Sofia in autumn?
Highs of up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 22 rainy days over the season.