In December, Sofia sees an average high of 6.5°C and a low of -0.9°C, with 10 days of rain and 59 mm of precipitation across the month. Daylight on December 15 runs to about 9 hours 3 minutes, shrinking to the year's shortest day, 9 hours 2 minutes, on December 21. It's the city's least sunny month by rank and its 11th warmest, so this is a cold, dim, indoor-leaning visit rather than a mild one. December suits travellers who want Christmas atmosphere, don't mind the cold, and are happy to balance museum and café time with short daylight hours outdoors.
December in Sofia at a glance
- Temperature
- Average high 6.5 °C, average low −0.9 °C — the 11th warmest month of the year.
- Rain
- 10 days with at least 1 mm, 59 mm in total — the 5th wettest month by rain days.
- Sunshine
- The least sunny month of Sofia's year (relative ranking — modelled data overstates absolute hours).
- Daylight
- 9 h 03 min on December 15 (9 h 14 min on the 1st, 9 h 05 min on the last day); the shortest day of the year is December 21 (9 h 02 min).
- Crowds
- Average: visitor nights in the region run at 1.1× an average month. Busiest month February, quietest May (Eurostat, 2022–2025).
- Verdict
- The best months for Sofia are May, June, September; December is for travellers who don't mind the cold.
- Source
- ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2016–2025 averages; daylight computed for the city's latitude; crowds from Eurostat nights spent at tourist accommodation (region by month).
What Sofia is like in December
December in Sofia sits well below November, which averages a milder 11.6°C high on the same 10 rain days, and only slightly above January's 5°C high and 9 rain days — so the city is sliding into its coldest stretch with rain staying fairly steady. Among nearby cities in the same month, Thessaloniki is both warmer and drier at 12°C with 8 rain days, and Bucharest runs close at 6.3°C with 8 rain days. Belgrade is similar at 7.2°C with the same 10 rain days as Sofia, while Kotor (13.3°C) and Dubrovnik (13°C) are warmer on the Adriatic coast but wetter, both logging 12 rain days. Overall, December is Sofia's least sunny month, so expect grey skies more often than not.
The month centres on Christmas: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the Second day of Christmas fall on 24–26 December, and school holidays in Germany, the Netherlands and France overlap this stretch into early January, bringing more visitors through the city around the holiday dates. Crowds regionally run at 1.1 times an average month, well short of February's peak and May's quiet, so Sofia feels busier than usual around Christmas without being overwhelmed. With short days and frequent rain, it's a month for Alexander Nevsky Cathedral's interior, covered museums and markets of goods rather than long walks, saving clear midday hours for sightseeing and letting evenings run to warm cafés and restaurants.
Flights to Sofia in December 2026
| From | Lowest fare found |
|---|---|
| London | €40 |
| Paris | €43 |
| Berlin | €37 |
| Amsterdam | €90 |
| Stockholm | €62 |
| New York | €280 |
Lowest fares found in recent flight searches (Aviasales), collected 7 November 2026. A guide to price level only — fares change daily and may not be available when you search.
Where else to go in December: warmest, driest and least crowded cities →
Where to stay in December
Holidays in December 2026
- 24 Dec
- Christmas Eve — public holiday in Bulgaria
- 25 Dec
- Christmas Day — public holiday in Bulgaria
- 26 Dec
- Second day of Christmas — public holiday in Bulgaria
- Germany
- School holidays 19 Dec – 12 Jan (dates vary by region) — expect more visitors from there.
- Netherlands
- School holidays 19 Dec – 3 Jan (dates vary by region) — expect more visitors from there.
- France
- School holidays 20 Dec – 3 Jan (dates vary by region) — expect more visitors from there.
December in nearby cities
The numbers side by side
| City | Distance | Avg high | Avg low | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia | — | 6.5 °C | −0.9 °C | 10 |
| Thessaloniki | 231 km | 12 °C | 4.8 °C | 8 |
| Bucharest | 295 km | 6.3 °C | −0.1 °C | 8 |
| Belgrade | 327 km | 7.2 °C | 1 °C | 10 |
| Kotor | 374 km | 13.3 °C | 7.7 °C | 12 |
| Dubrovnik | 428 km | 13 °C | 5.9 °C | 12 |
Tips for December
- Pack warm layers and a waterproof jacket for highs near 6.5°C, lows down to -0.9°C, and 10 days of rain across the month.
- Use the roughly 9 hours of daylight around midday for outdoor sightseeing, especially near December 21, the year's shortest day at 9 hours 2 minutes.
- Book accommodation and key sights ahead of 24–26 December, since Christmas falls then and German, Dutch and French school holidays overlap into early January, lifting regional crowds to 1.1 times an average month.
- For a warmer, drier December alternative, Thessaloniki (231 km away) averages a 12°C high with just 8 rain days against Sofia's 6.5°C and 10.
Hotels in Sofia
See live prices and availability for stays in Sofia on a major booking site.
Frequently asked
Is Sofia worth visiting in December?
Yes if you like Christmas timing and don't mind cold, dim weather: expect a 6.5°C average high, -0.9°C average low, and the year's least sunny month, with Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the Second day of Christmas falling on 24–26 December.
How cold is Sofia in December?
Average highs sit at 6.5°C and lows at -0.9°C, with no days reaching 30°C or 35°C and no nights staying at 20°C or above — a firmly cold month, slightly milder than January's 5°C high but well below November's 11.6°C.
Does it rain a lot in Sofia in December?
There are 10 rain days and 59 mm of precipitation on average, the same number of rain days as November and one more than January's 9, making it the 5th wettest month of the year by rain days.
How many hours of daylight does Sofia get in December?
Around 9 hours 3 minutes on December 15, narrowing to the year's shortest day on December 21 at 9 hours 2 minutes, with roughly 9 hours 14 minutes on the 1st and 9 hours 5 minutes by month's end.
More on Sofia
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — December climate normals for Sofia, 2016–2025 averages (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0)
- NOAA solar calculation method — daylight computed for Sofia's latitude (sunrise to sunset, standard refraction)
- Nager.Date — public holidays in Bulgaria, December 2026
- OpenHolidays API — school holidays in the main source markets, December 2026
- ReasonStay methodology — how figures are computed and checked
An independent guide to Sofia in December — every figure computed from open data, no invented numbers. Booking links are affiliate links (how we're funded).