Sunny Beach

Bulgaria Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Bulgaria in January.

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Sunny Beach Sofia Sozopol Bansko

Planning a trip to Bulgaria this January? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Bulgaria in January

January in Bulgaria generally has temperatures that range from very cold to cold, with moderate precipitation. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Dobărsko at 1°C (34°F) to cold in Sinemorets at 8°C (46°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 4°C (39°F) in Sinemorets and -7°C (19°F) in Dobărsko. Typically, it's the chilliest month of the year. Making it a great time for staying indoors and enjoying the warmth. Make sure you're prepared by packing the right winter outfits.

For specific regional insights in Bulgaria, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snow/rainfall in Panagyurishte with an average of 43 mm (1.7 in) to moderate snow/rainfall in Rezovo with 90 mm (3.5 in).

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Sunny Beach receives around 93 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Bulgaria by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Bulgaria — and find the best time to visit. (based on Sunny Beach)

January7°C (45°F) February8°C (46°F) March11°C (52°F) April15°C (59°F) May21°C (70°F) June25°C (77°F) This monthJuly28°C (82°F) August28°C (82°F) September24°C (75°F) October19°C (66°F) November14°C (57°F) December9°C (48°F)
Best Time to Visit Bulgaria →

Best Places to Visit in Bulgaria in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Bulgaria.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Bulgaria

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Bulgaria?

Temperature range in Bulgaria (January)

Precipitation variation in Bulgaria (January)

Sunny Beach

In January Sunny Beach generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
103 hours
93 hours
110 hours
Monthly rainfall
64 mm (2.5 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
56 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
7 days
8 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Sunny Beach →

Sofia

In January Sofia generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C (23°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Monthly sun hours
68 hours
86 hours
116 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
52 mm (2 in)
47 mm (1.9 in)
51 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
7 days
7 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Sofia →

Sozopol

In January Sozopol generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
65 hours
78 hours
91 hours
Monthly rainfall
78 mm (3.1 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
65 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
8 days
8 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Sozopol →

Bansko

In January Bansko generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 2°C (36°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -7°C (19°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
2°C (36°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Monthly sun hours
103 hours
125 hours
148 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
90 mm (3.5 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
80 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Bansko →

Sveti Vlas

In January Sveti Vlas generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
103 hours
93 hours
110 hours
Monthly rainfall
65 mm (2.6 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
56 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
7 days
8 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Sveti Vlas →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Bulgaria.

In our records: Bulgaria January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Bulgaria in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in Bulgaria was -14°C (7°F) in Ruse on January 20, 2016.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Bulgaria in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Sunny Beach 7°C (45°F) 1°C (34°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Sofia 4°C (39°F) -5°C (23°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)
Sozopol 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Bansko 2°C (36°F) -7°C (19°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Primorsko 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Plovdiv 6°C (43°F) -3°C (27°F) 52 mm (2 in)

Bulgaria weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Bulgaria in January?

Bulgaria typically experiences poor weather in January, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Sunny Beach average around 7°C (45°F), and temperatures drop to about 1°C (34°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Bulgaria in January?

Average temperatures in Bulgaria during January range from a nighttime low near 1°C (34°F) to a daytime high around 7°C (45°F) in Sunny Beach.

Does Bulgaria get a lot of rain in January?

January is on the drier side in Bulgaria. Sunny Beach averages only about 58 mm (2.3 in), with most days staying dry.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Bulgaria?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Sunny Beach, January may not be the ideal time to visit Bulgaria.

Generally speaking, May, June, July, August and September provide perfect weather in Sunny Beach. The weather in January, February and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Bulgaria.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Bulgaria? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Bulgaria.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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