How hot does it get in Varna in summer?

Bulgarians heat their apartments to 32°C — literally tropical levels — and then fire up the AC to cool shops down to 17°C. When it's 37°C outside, I wish I were an Eskimo the moment I step inside a shop. It's a riddle, but that's just how it works here.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Varna? An Honest Guide

Don’t ask a Bulgarian when the best time to visit Varna is.

If you do, you’ll likely get a two-week window in Summer where the temperature is exactly between 30°C and 30.75°C. If it drops a single degree below that, they’ll tell you the city is dead, the weather is catastrophic, and you should probably leave.

The Bulgarian Temperature Riddle

You see, Bulgarians are a riddle to me. I’ve been living here for 20 years.

If it doesn’t hit 30°C+, they dress like Eskimos. They heat their apartments to 32°C—literally tropical levels. It gets so hot inside that it practically stops the snow from falling. Then, if the sun comes out and it hits 30.75°C, they immediately fire up the air-conditioning to cool it down to a level where they could easily store a piece of beef on the kitchen counter without a fridge. It’s crazy. They chill it to that point; in fact, when it’s 37°C outside, I wish I were an Eskimo the moment I step into a shop. With shorts, slippers, and a T-shirt, you enter a 17°C air-conditioned shop, literally freezing your face off.

That is why during our VIP Tour Varna excursions—yes, we do use the AC—we don’t want to cook our guests, but we are aware of overuse. We keep it comfortable, not freezing.

A Belgian Perspective

I’m not judging. I’m just observing as a Belgian who grew up on a bike.

In Belgium, we ride with our heads down against the wind; really, you can count on one hand the days the wind came from our backs. We grew up with grey, windy, and rainy weather that just switches from one to the other, treating a sunny day as a clerical error by the weather bureau.

In fact, on a sunny day in Belgium at 5 PM, you can’t find any pre-marinated meat in the supermarket. Why? Because everyone has rushed out to have a BBQ.

Me? I’ve even done a BBQ here in Bulgaria in January.

The “Sun Paradise” Myth: Winter in Southern Resorts

As a rep, I’ve worked in Spanish resorts and Malta in the winter. Let me tell you, it’s not always the “sun paradise” people imagine. On a rainy day, the water just runs through the roof. You walk into a hotel reception and see buckets scattered all over the floor because they claim “it normally never rains.”

Yeah, right.

The Reality of Varna in Winter

Here is the reality: Bulgaria is further north. We don’t hit 20°C in the winter—that’s true. And yes, Varna can be windy because it’s a coastal city. But you know what? It’s windy at home in Belgium too.

For a break away from the daily buzz, Varna, even in winter, has enough to offer.

Just one warning: If it rains on a weekend, do not go to the Mall. Literally the entire city is there, pushing through the crowds. So stay out of the Mall. The city itself is calm—enjoy that instead. Perhaps go visit the oldest gold in the Archaeological Museum.

What’s Open in Varna During the Off-Season?

Look, I know winter is calm.

I know the big discos are closed. But let’s be honest: not everyone out there needs that. If you are looking for beats until 4 AM, maybe stay away.

But for everyone else? All the museums and sights are open.

You might be the only person wandering the cobblestone streets of nearby Nessebar, enjoying the Botanical Gardens of Balchik, Cape Kaliakra, or the mystical Stone Forest. Believe me, when you meet locals, they will surely look at you, practically freaking out, thinking: “Look, a tourist! How did he get here?” (With VIP Tour Varna, of course!)

But let me tell you one thing: you’ll have the place all to yourself.

The Hidden Bonus: No Tourist Traps

So, if you don’t like that “tourist souvenir vibe” hanging around every corner, you’re in luck. They are all closed. The only shops that remain open are the real local shops. The ones selling real stuff. The authentic stuff. An easy way of sorting out the rubbish.

So yes, winter is not always the best weather, and we need rain because otherwise the crops don’t grow. Yes, it gets grey, but not “Belgium grey”—where you don’t see the sun for two weeks straight. Here, the grey skies are temporary.

From March to November, I look like the crazy neighbor who lets his kids play outside without jackets. Imagine that.

Is Varna worth visiting during winter?

If you want to avoid the “melting” crowds of Summer and see the real side of the sea coast, come in the off-season. Just bring a jacket. A normal one. You won’t need the Eskimo suit.

So all in all, if you want to break away from your daily program at home, get out and do something different. Varna in wintertime has more than enough to offer you a nice time out. So, please do contact us—with pleasure, we’ll show you around.