Bulgaria among Europe's top three countries with strongest summer tourism season

Bulgaria ranks among the most seasonal tourist destinations in the European Union, with 43% of all overnight stays in tourist accommodation in 2025 recorded during July and August. According to this indicator, the country ranks second in the EU, behind Croatia, where the share reaches 55%, BGNES reported.

Bulgaria's pronounced dependence on the summer season places it among the European countries most reliant on peak-season tourism. It is followed by Greece, where 42% of annual overnight stays are concentrated in the two main summer months. By comparison, the EU average stands at 31%, according to Eurostat.

The country's strong seasonality is largely driven by its Black Sea tourism, which attracts a significant share of visitors during the summer months. The data highlight that the key challenge for highly seasonal tourism markets is extending the active tourism period beyond the peak summer season.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov