The month in detail
What to expect in January
Winter in Sofia is cool (5°C during the day). Days are short (2.8h of sunshine) but the city reveals a different side. Rain risk remains low (21% of days), leaving good room for outdoor activities.
January ranks 11 out of 12 months in Sofia. Compared to December: +0.6h of sun per day.
This month's conditions
What it's like in January
UV index
2 · low
no protection needed
Feels like
dry air
-4°
Daylight
9.2h of daylight
Air quality
fair
AQI 45
Compare
Is January the right month?
The best month in Sofia is July (9.2/10), 8.2 pts higher than January.
Book
Plan your trip
Hotels at their lowest outside peak season, highest on comfortable months. Shoulder seasons offer a good price/climate compromise.
Stay
Hotels & rentals · Sofia
Expedia →
Activities
Tours, tickets, experiences
See ↓
Flights
Multi-airline comparator
Kiwi →
🎟️ Activities & tours · Sofia
GetYourGuide selection · free cancellation
Practical info
What you need to know before you go
Three angles: the country (language, currency, safety, budget), the year-round climate, and the specifics of a city break.
Country · Bulgaria
🗣️LanguageBulgare
💶CurrencyLev bulgare (лв)
🚗DrivingRight-hand
🛡️Safety ⓘVery safe · 1/5
💰Cost of living ⓘCheap · 2/5
🌡️ Climate
🌍Climate typeTemperate
📈Climate trend ⓘStable
🔥Hottest monthJuly · 28°C
❄️Coolest monthJanuary · 5°C
🌧️Rainiest month ⓘMay · 29%
🏛️ City break
📅Tourist peak seasonJune → August
☔Indoor sights ⓘYear-round
🚇Public transportGood
🛂VisaSchengen · 90 days
Explore
Other destinations in January
If January doesn't convince you for this destination, compare with others.
Location
Where is Sofia ?
Global position + regional geographic context.
🌍 World
🔍 Geographic context
BulgariaTemperate climate with a 9.2 → 1.0 gap between best and worst month. 10 years of ERA5 data to choose by project.
42.70°N · 23.32°E
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Sofia?
July is the best month with 28.0°C highs, 17.0°C lows, 10.1h of sunshine and 16.0% rainy days. The months of July & August offer comparable conditions.
How many hours of sunshine does Sofia get in July?
Sofia averages 10.1 sunshine hours per day in July. It is the sunniest month with a climate score of 8.8/10.
What is the rainiest month in Sofia?
January is the most unfavourable month with January has the lowest climate score of the year and the lowest climate score of the year.
What are the temperatures at night in Sofia in July?
In July, overnight lows reach 17.0°C, while afternoon highs average 28.0°C.
Is Sofia good in winter?
In winter (December-February), Sofia scores 2.1/10 on average — Difficult period — prefer the peak season.. The best month overall remains July with a score of 8.8/10.
When should you avoid Sofia?
January is the most difficult month to visit Sofia, with January has the lowest climate score of the year. Climate conditions are at their lowest of the year during this period.
Do you need sun protection in Sofia in January?
The average UV index reaches 2 in January in Sofia (low), with about 9.2h of daylight. No protection needed.