Sofia Weather in January

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

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Sofia Borovets Koprivshtitsa Samokov

Planning a journey to Sofia, Bulgaria this January and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Sofia in January

Sofia, Bulgaria is a region in Bulgaria. January in Sofia generally has cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation. During January, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 4°C (39°F) and nighttime temperatures around -5°C (23°F) in Sofia. On average, January is the coldest month of the year in Sofia, Bulgaria. So be prepared and make sure to pack winter cloths.

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

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snow/rainfall in Bankya with an average of 45 mm (1.8 in) to moderate snow/rainfall in Borovets with 61 mm (2.4 in).

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Sofia receives around 86 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Sofia by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Sofia - and find the best time to visit. (based on Sofia)

January4°C (39°F) February6°C (43°F) March11°C (52°F) April16°C (61°F) May21°C (70°F) June24°C (75°F) July27°C (81°F) This monthAugust27°C (81°F) September23°C (73°F) October17°C (63°F) November11°C (52°F) December5°C (41°F)
Best Time to Visit Sofia →

Best Places to Visit in Sofia in January

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

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 Sofia

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

Temperature range in Sofia (January)

Precipitation variation in Sofia (January)

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 less favorable 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
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Sofia →

Borovets

In January Borovets generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C (21°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
-4°C (25°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Monthly sun hours
68 hours
86 hours
116 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
72 mm (2.8 in)
61 mm (2.4 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
9 days
10 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Borovets →

Koprivshtitsa

In January Koprivshtitsa generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -4°C (25°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable 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)
-4°C (25°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Monthly sun hours
79 hours
92 hours
112 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
57 mm (2.2 in)
49 mm (1.9 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Koprivshtitsa →

Samokov

In January Samokov generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C (21°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
-4°C (25°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Monthly sun hours
68 hours
86 hours
116 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
68 mm (2.7 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Samokov →

Govedartsi

In January Govedartsi generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 2°C (36°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C (21°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
-4°C (25°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Monthly sun hours
68 hours
86 hours
116 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
70 mm (2.8 in)
59 mm (2.3 in)
67 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Govedartsi →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Sofia, 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 Sofia in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Sofia 4°C (39°F) -5°C (23°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)
Borovets 3°C (37°F) -6°C (21°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Koprivshtitsa 4°C (39°F) -4°C (25°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Samokov 3°C (37°F) -6°C (21°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Govedartsi 2°C (36°F) -6°C (21°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Beli Iskar 2°C (36°F) -6°C (21°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)

Sofia weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Sofia, Bulgaria in January?

In January, Sofia, Bulgaria generally has less favorable weather conditions. Sofia sees daytime temperatures near 4°C (39°F), with nights cooling to roughly -5°C (23°F).

What is the average temperature in Sofia, Bulgaria in January?

Daytime temperatures in Sofia peak at roughly 4°C (39°F) in January, dropping to about -5°C (23°F) overnight.

Does Sofia, Bulgaria get a lot of snow/rain in January?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Sofia, Bulgaria during January, with Sofia averaging close to 47 mm (1.9 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit Sofia, Bulgaria?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Sofia, Bulgaria due to the typically less favorable weather in Sofia.

Generally speaking, May, June, July, August and September provide excellent weather in Sofia. The weather in January, February and December, on the other hand, tends to be less favorable.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Sofia.

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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