Season guide · Sofia · Bulgaria
Sofia in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Klearchos Kapoutsis from Paleo Faliro, Greece, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Martenitsa season, blossoming parks and mild days, with showers and thunderstorms in May. Expect highs up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 31 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 1°C (34°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 31
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 11°C (52°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 9 | 11.8 h | 2/5 |
| April | 16°C (61°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 10 | 13.3 h | 3/5 |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 12 | 14.6 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 16°C (61°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 31 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 spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Baba Marta — martenitsa red-and-white bracelets (1 March)
- March: Liberation Day (3 March)
- March: Sofia International Film Festival (usually March)
- April: Orthodox Easter (date varies)
- May: St George's Day with roast lamb (6 May)
- May: Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture, with student processions (24 May)
Good choices for spring
Religious site · City Centre
Saint Sofia Church
A red-brick basilica from the 6th century that gave the city its name.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · City Centre
Sofia Synagogue
Combine it with the Central Market Hall across the street and the Banya Bashi Mosque around the corner.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Market · City Centre
Central Market Hall
The Central Market Hall on Maria Luiza Boulevard opened in 1911 in a neo-Renaissance building with a clock tower.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Boyana and Dragalevtsi
National Historical Museum
Pair it with Boyana Church, about 2 km away, by taxi or on foot.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · City Centre
National Archaeological Museum
Bulgaria's archaeological museum fills a 15th-century Ottoman mosque, the city's oldest, next to the Presidency.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Day trips in spring
- Rila Monastery (About 2 hours by car or bus) — Bulgaria's most important monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits in a forested valley of the Rila mountains.
- Plovdiv (About 2 hours by bus) — One of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with a Roman theatre still used for concerts, a Roman stadium under the main street, painted National Revival houses in the Old Town and the arts district of Kapana.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Sofia?
Yes: May is among the best months. Martenitsa season, blossoming parks and mild days, with showers and thunderstorms in May.
+What is the weather like in Sofia in spring?
Highs of up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 31 rainy days over the season.