Varna weather December & January: sea, what's on, what to pack

Varna in December and January is mild for winter but grey, damp and often windy: average highs are about 8 °C in December and 6.6 °C in January, with nights around 0 °C. The sea cools to about 8–10 °C, days are short (under 9.5 hours of light around the solstice) and snow is occasional rather than lasting (Wikipedia, Sunrise-Sunset.org). The beach resorts are asleep, but the city itself is open and festive, with Christmas lights, concerts and a big New Year’s Eve party.

What is the weather like in December and January?

	December	January
Average high	8.2 °C	6.6 °C
Average low	1.3 °C	−0.5 °C
Rain	47 mm	45 mm
Sunshine	92 h	99 h
Sea	about 9.9 °C	about 8.0 °C

These are 1991–2020 climate normals and long-term sea averages. Real days swing between bright, still mornings and raw days of drizzle and wind off the sea, which makes 5 °C feel much colder on the seafront than in the streets. Snow falls in some winters but usually melts within a day or two. For the full year see Varna weather by month and sea temperature by month.

How long are the days?

The shortest day, 21 December, has 8 hours 58 minutes of daylight: sunrise around 07:37, sunset around 16:35. By 31 January the sun sets after 17:15. Plan outdoor walks and day trips for late morning and early afternoon. Source: Sunrise-Sunset.org.

What’s on in December and January?

• 6 December, Nikulden (St Nicholas Day): the name day of sailors and fishermen, so fish is on every table and the fish counters are busy in the days before. The same day the city lights its Christmas tree on Nezavisimost Square with a children’s concert and Christmas markets.
• 24–26 December and 1 January: public holidays; expect shorter hours and some closures, see Bulgaria public holidays 2027.
• 31 December: a five-hour New Year’s Eve concert on Nezavisimost Square with pop, rock, hip-hop, dance and folk acts.
• 6 January, Yordanovden (Epiphany): across Bulgaria a priest throws a cross into the water and young men dive in to retrieve it. Check the municipality’s programme for the time and place in Varna.

What is open and what is closed?

The opera, theatres, shops, restaurants and the Sea Garden work as usual. The Archaeological Museum and Roman Thermae have recently kept winter hours of 10:00–17:00, closed Sundays and Mondays, while the Ethnographic, Natural Science, Revival and New History museums close at weekends. Aladzha Monastery is closed from 1 December to 28 February, and the Stone Forest opens only by prior booking in December, then 10:00–18:00 from January (closed Sundays and Mondays). These are the latest published schedules; recheck before you go. Most hotels and bars in Golden Sands are closed. More ideas: Varna in winter and rainy day in Varna.

What should I pack?

• A warm, windproof and waterproof jacket; the sea wind matters more than the thermometer.
• Layers: thermal top, jumper or fleece, warm trousers.
• Hat, scarf and gloves for evenings and the NYE concert.
• Waterproof shoes with good grip for wet or icy pavements.
• A compact umbrella and a power bank, since phones drain faster in the cold.
• Smart-casual clothes for the opera or a New Year’s dinner.

Tip: book New Year’s Eve dinners and hotels early, as central places fill up, and check the forecast daily, because Black Sea weather turns quickly.