Season guide · Sofia · Bulgaria
Sofia in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Preslav~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claim, Public domain
Quick answer
Warm days and cool nights at altitude; the best time for hiking on Vitosha and to the Seven Rila Lakes. Expect highs up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 25 rainy days across June–August. June is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 14°C (57°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 25
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 25°C (77°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 11 | 15.3 h | 4/5 |
| July | 28°C (82°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 8 | 15 h | 4/5 |
| August | 28°C (82°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 6 | 13.9 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 27°C (81°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 25 of the year's roughly 103 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Rose Festival in Kazanlak (usually early June)
Good choices for summer
Market · City Centre
Central Market Hall
Pick up white cheese, lyutenitsa and honey for a picnic in the City Garden.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Boyana and Dragalevtsi
National Historical Museum
Housed in a former government residence in Boyana, Bulgaria's largest history museum covers Thracian gold and silver treasures, Roman finds, medieval church art and the National Revival period.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · City Centre
National Archaeological Museum
Visit after the Rotunda of St George, which is just behind the Presidency.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · Izgrev
Museum of Socialist Art
A sculpture park and gallery of Communist-era art, with statues of Lenin, Georgi Dimitrov and heroic workers, plus the red star that once topped the Party House on the Largo.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Museum · Lozenets
Earth and Man National Museum
Combine it with South Park and the NDK fountains for an easy family afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Day trips in summer
- 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.
- 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.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Sofia?
Yes: June is among the best months. Warm days and cool nights at altitude; the best time for hiking on Vitosha and to the Seven Rila Lakes.
+What is the weather like in Sofia in summer?
Highs of up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 25 rainy days over the season.