Destination guide
Sunny Beach weather by month
June to August is the best time to visit Sunny Beach for warm weather and swimming, with September a good alternative if you prefer less heat. July and August average 27°C by day, while August has the warmest sea at 25°C. September stays comfortable at 23°C during the day. Spring suits travellers who put mild afternoons ahead of swimming; winter is better approached as a cool coastal break than a beach holiday.
- Hottest month
- 27.4°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 6.6°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 25.3°CAugust
- Flight from London
- 3 h 36 minShort-haul (up to 4.5 h) · estimated
Sunny Beach, month by month
A little perspective
Sunny Beach through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.6°C | 1.2°C | 7.0°C | 3.4 | 53 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 7.9°C | 1.9°C | 5.9°C | 3.8 | 47 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 10.8°C | 4.3°C | 6.7°C | 4.6 | 53 | 9 | 0% |
| April | 14.9°C | 8.0°C | 9.4°C | 6.0 | 45 | 8 | 0% |
| May | 20.0°C | 13.2°C | 15.6°C | 7.2 | 47 | 9 | 5% |
| Junebest | 24.6°C | 17.9°C | 21.3°C | 9.1 | 48 | 8 | 45% |
| Julybest | 27.2°C | 20.3°C | 24.3°C | 10.8 | 42 | 7 | 86% |
| Augustbest | 27.4°C | 20.7°C | 25.3°C | 10.2 | 31 | 5 | 85% |
| September | 23.1°C | 16.9°C | 22.6°C | 7.3 | 58 | 7 | 31% |
| October | 18.0°C | 12.4°C | 18.5°C | 4.7 | 62 | 7 | 3% |
| November | 12.9°C | 7.7°C | 14.0°C | 3.6 | 55 | 7 | 0% |
| December | 8.1°C | 3.0°C | 9.8°C | 3.3 | 59 | 9 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
When to go to Sunny Beach
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: July, August. October is the wettest month (62 mm, about 7 rainy days) and August the driest (31 mm). The sea is warmest in August at 25.3°C and coolest in February at 5.9°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Burgas Airport (BOJ, 21 km from Nesebar) takes roughly 3 h 36 min - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Europe/Sofia.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Sunny Beach between 1991 and 2020 reached 36.4°C on 9 July 2000; the coldest fell to -16.0°C on 25 January 2010. In August one day in ten tops 30.5°C and about 15% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to -4.4°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was September 1999 with 292 mm, against a September average of 58 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Sunny Beach
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:37 | 16:59 | 9.4 h | 3.4 h |
| February | 07:07 | 17:39 | 10.5 h | 3.8 h |
| March | 06:21 | 18:15 | 11.9 h | 4.6 h |
| April | 06:28 | 19:51 | 13.4 h | 6.0 h |
| May | 05:47 | 20:24 | 14.6 h | 7.2 h |
| June | 05:31 | 20:49 | 15.3 h | 9.1 h |
| July | 05:45 | 20:45 | 15.0 h | 10.8 h |
| August | 06:16 | 20:11 | 13.9 h | 10.2 h |
| September | 06:49 | 19:20 | 12.5 h | 7.3 h |
| October | 07:22 | 18:27 | 11.1 h | 4.7 h |
| November | 07:01 | 16:47 | 9.8 h | 3.6 h |
| December | 07:32 | 16:36 | 9.1 h | 3.3 h |
Spring: mild afternoons, but the sea takes longer to warm
March is still cool, with daytime averages of 11°C and nights at 4°C, so bring a jacket rather than relying on beach clothes. April lifts afternoons to 15°C, making time outdoors more comfortable, though evenings still call for layers. May is the better spring choice for warmth: days average 20°C and nights 13°C. The catch is the sea, which reaches only 16°C in May and will feel chilly for leisurely swimming. Rain remains part of the picture, with May averaging 9 rain days. Pack a light waterproof and keep plans flexible rather than expecting uninterrupted sunshine.
Summer: the strongest choice for a beach holiday
June brings daytime averages of 25°C and a sea temperature of 21°C, making it a sensible choice if you want warmth without the hottest conditions. July offers the most sunshine, averaging 11 hours daily, alongside 27°C days and a 24°C sea. August edges ahead for swimming, with the sea at 25°C, and has the fewest rain days at 5. It is also the hottest month, although its rounded daytime average matches July. Plan shade around midday and pack light clothing, sunscreen and a hat. Nights average 18°C in June, rising to 21°C in August, so summer evenings are much milder than in spring.
Autumn and winter: lingering sea warmth, then a cool coast
September is the strongest autumn option for swimming: both daytime air and sea average 23°C, while nights at 17°C make a light layer useful. October drops to 18°C by day, with the sea also at 18°C, so beach time becomes more dependent on your tolerance for cool water. It is the wettest month by rainfall amount; pack a waterproof even though rain is not a daily expectation. November brings 13°C days and 8°C nights, shifting the emphasis towards walks rather than swimming. December and February average 8°C by day, while January is coolest at 7°C, with nights at 1°C. Winter sunshine is limited, so bring warm layers and treat any pleasant outdoor spell as a bonus rather than the basis of your holiday.
A little more detail
Sunny Beach weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Sunny Beach?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Sunny Beach are August, July and June. August is the hottest month (average high 27.4°C) and January the coolest (6.6°C).
How many months a year is Sunny Beach over 25°C?
2 months in Sunny Beach average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 5 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Sunny Beach?
October is the wettest month in Sunny Beach (62 mm on average) and August the driest (31 mm). Annual rainfall averages 600 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Sunny Beach?
The hottest day recorded in Sunny Beach between 1991 and 2020 reached 36.4°C on 9 July 2000; the coldest fell to -16.0°C on 25 January 2010. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
Which month has the warmest sea in Sunny Beach?
August has the warmest sea, averaging 25°C, so it is the clearest choice if swimming matters most. July is close at 24°C. September retains a comfortable 23°C sea despite cooler air, making it a useful alternative to peak summer warmth.
Is May warm enough for a beach holiday?
May averages 20°C during the day, which can suit time on the beach without summer heat. Swimming is the compromise: the sea averages 16°C. With nights at 13°C and 9 rain days, bring layers and a waterproof alongside beachwear.
When is Sunny Beach sunniest?
July has the most sunshine, averaging 11 hours a day, followed by August at 10 hours and June at 9 hours. These are the strongest choices for sunshine, but rain is still possible, so keep some flexibility in your outdoor plans.
See also: Bulgaria weather by month · where else is hot in August
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Nesebar (Nesebar (adjacent)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C