Weather Sunny Beach , Bulgaria
Sunny Beach is Bulgaria's most popular seaside resort, sitting in an enviable location on the Black Sea coast. The large, purpose built, resort is located 35 km north of the larger coastal city of Bourgas and close to the ancient town of Nessebar.
Sunny Beach, as its name suggests, has a wonderful climate. With around 300 days of sun a year and summer temperatures of up to 28°C, it definitely deserves the title. Most of Bulgaria has a continental climate, but Sunny Beach witnesses a more moderate climate due to the influence of the Black Sea.
The weather could be classified as moderate continental or maritime, though it also exhibits qualities of a Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and cooler mild winters. Rainfall stays around the same throughout the year, with a few days of rainfall per month on average.
Sunny Beach lies in close proximity to mountain ranges and the fresh air that blows down from the mountain peaks is devoid of pollution. As a result, the World Health Organisation recognises the Sunny Beach region as having one of the healthiest microclimates in the world and the climate is thought to be very favourable to those with asthmatic and respiratory conditions.
The resort is extremely popular with tourists looking for a relaxing beach break. Sunny Beach is home to over 500 hotels, which sleep more than 110,000 tourists, and there are over 130 restaurants to fill the thousands of bellies that come with them. The resort town is home to a very small permanent population and mostly shuts down out of season.
Sunny Beach is home to a spectacular 8km long golden sandy beach that is 30 to 60m wide in parts. It stretches around an east-facing semicircular bay. The water is shallow far from the beach making it family-friendly. The beach has also been awarded a coveted Blue Flag, a testament to its cleanliness and good management. It is one of the only places along the Black Sea coast where you can still find sand dunes.
Summer Weather in Sunny Beach
Temperature
Summer is the best time to visit the area of Sunny Beach, as the weather is fantastic and the town bustles with activity. It is also the hottest time of the year. June and September see an average temperature around 20°C which rises to an average daily temperature of 22°C to 23°C in July and August.
In terms of what you will actually experience, this means that in early and late summer you can expect it to get into the low 20s, while in the peak months of July and August you're sure to see temperatures in the high 20s every day. The highest temperatures experienced are generally in July which has a maximum temperature of 28°C. While this sounds quite hot, the breeze off the Black Sea provides relief from the heat in the afternoons so it shouldn't be too uncomfortable.
Sea Temperature
The sea temperature is a pleasant 21°C to 24°C during the summer, which is slightly cooler than in the Mediterranean.
Sunshine
Summer is also the sunniest time of the year in Sunny Beach. June, July and August consistently see 12 hours of sunshine every day, which allows plenty of time for soaking up the rays on the beach just don't forget your sun cream.
Rain
Rainfall is moderate in the summer but falls on only a few days each month. August is the driest month with just 30mm and 4 wet days.
Autumn Weather in Sunny Beach
Temperature
Autumn arrives in Sunny Beach in October. While summer is the most popular time for tourists to visit, early autumn can still be quite pleasant and benefits from being much quieter than the peak tourism season. Temperatures start to decrease in September and by October, averages are around 17°C, falling to 10°C, however, highs can still reach a temperate 19°C at the start of the season.
Sunshine
Sunshine also decreases in autumn, but there's still 6-7 hours of sunshine to be seen every day.
Sea Temperature
While you may still be able to catch a few rays of the resort's beautiful long sandy beach, it wouldn't be advised to swim in the sea at this time of year, as average sea temperatures hover between 15°C and 19°C, which can feel quite chilly.
Rain
It can rain any time of the year in Sunny Beach and rainfall varies little across the year, unlike in Mediterranean resorts which see no rain in the summer and heavy rain in winter. However, November is the wettest month of the year with 56mm and 7 wet days on average.
Rainfall levels are moderate, slightly lower than in London, but unlike in the UK rain falls infrequently in heavy downpours. The locals will tell you when it rains, it pours, so you may be stuck inside for a few hours waiting for the downpour to finish. Afterwards the sky clears and you will be treated to days and days of sunshine.
Winter Weather in Sunny Beach
Temperature
Winters in Sunny Beach get quite cold with an average daily temperature of 2°C in January, and 3°C and 4°C in February and December respectively. Low temperatures can even fall below zero, with the coldest month being January when the weather can fall to -1°C
Sunshine and Rain
Hours of daily sunshine fall to 5 or 6 hours, and the sea temperature cools right down to 7°C at its lowest. Rainfall is around average for the year, with between 41 and 48mm of rainfall each month.
Most tourists come to Sunny Beach to enjoy the beautiful beach and high temperatures of the summer season, and as a result, the winter, with its cold weather, is very quiet. In fact, most of the resort's hotels, bars and restaurants will be closed. If you're looking to visit the resort outside of peak summer season, late spring or early autumn would be best.
Spring Weather in Sunny Beach
Temperature
March marks the beginning of spring in Sunny Beach. The sunshine and high temperatures that Sunny Beach is known for start to arrive in spring, but haven't quite reached their potential.
However, late spring can be good times to visit the resort as there aren't as many tourists, accommodation is cheaper and the temperatures are still pleasant. April and May sees average temperatures of 12°C and 17°C respectively, while highs can reach 21°C by the end of the season. Night times are refreshingly cool, with lows between 7°C and 12°C and cooling sea breezes.
Sunshine and Sea Temperature
While spring and autumn are quite similar in terms of weather, spring is much sunnier than autumn, with 9-12 hours of sunshine, so is a good choice if you're looking for a tan. However, the sea doesn't really warm up until June, so swimming might be off the cards.
Rain
Rainfall is quite stable throughout the month, but does peak in April, the second wettest month of the year, when there's 54mm and 8 wet days. These April showers pass quickly though.