Weather-wise, May and September are the times to go. Summer in Bulgaria means unrelenting heat, and the winters are cold and damp – great if you’re skiing, not so great otherwise. Also, by going in the spring or fall you avoid the crush of peak tourist season and score off-season hotel rates. September is perhaps the winner, as the Black Sea is still warm enough to swim in minus the risk of sunstroke or trampling by the tourist hordes. Autumn in southeastern Europe also means dazzling fall foliage and the bounty of the harvest at local produce markets.

The one standout reason to visit in the summer (aside from the beach weather) is the plethora of local festivals. Bulgarians hold festivals for everything from honeybees to salsa dancing, and most of them are during the summer months.