Bucharest features a humid continental climate with hot, dry summers and cold, often snowy winters. The city experiences four distinct seasons, with spring and autumn bringing rapid changes in temperature and rainfall. Sunshine and daylight hours vary dramatically, making Bucharest a city of contrasts and a vibrant destination year-round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Bucharest’s climate is shaped by its inland location on the Romanian Plain, resulting in strong seasonal contrasts. Summers (June–August) are hot and dry, with average highs of 28–32°C and frequent heatwaves pushing temperatures above 35°C. Nights are warm, and July and August are the sunniest months, with up to 9 hours of sunshine daily. Rainfall is moderate, with June being the wettest month (up to 132 mm), often featuring brief but intense thunderstorms. Humidity is generally low in summer, but can rise during storms.
Winters (December–February) are cold and damp, with average highs of 2–5°C and lows near or below 0°C. January is the coldest month, with minimums often falling below –4°C, and snow and frost are common, though snow cover is less persistent in recent years. Winter days are short, with 1.5–2.5 hours of sunshine, and fog or cloudy skies are frequent. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with rapidly changing weather. Spring starts chilly and rainy, warming to 20–24°C by May, while autumn cools from 24°C in September to 9°C in November. Both seasons bring moderate rainfall and variable winds, with brisk gusts up to 30 km/h more common in autumn and winter. Annual precipitation averages 800–950 mm, with about 123 rainy days per year. Bucharest enjoys roughly 2,000 hours of sunshine annually, with daylight ranging from 8 hours in winter to 15 hours in midsummer.
| Average climate data for Bucharest, Romania | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 2 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 29 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -6 | -3 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 2 | -3 | -6 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 40 | 36 | 38 | 47 | 71 | 78 | 63 | 57 | 42 | 32 | 48 | 43 | 595 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 72 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 138 | 111 | 104 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 105 | 561 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 89 | 87 | 79 | 74 | 75 | 74 | 73 | 74 | 76 | 81 | 88 | 91 | 80 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
The best time to visit Bucharest is from April to June and September to October, when temperatures are mild (16–26°C), rainfall is moderate, and the city is lively with festivals, outdoor cafés, and blooming or golden parks. These shoulder seasons offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, enjoying local events, and avoiding the peak summer crowds and heat.
The least favourable time to visit is from December to February, when Bucharest is coldest, daylight hours are shortest, and snow, rain, and fog are frequent. While winter brings festive charm and Christmas markets, outdoor activities can be limited by chilly, damp, and unpredictable weather.
Bucharest has a humid continental climate with hot, dry summers and cold, often snowy winters. Spring and autumn are mild but variable, with moderate rainfall and dramatic changes in daylight and temperature.
Summer temperatures in Bucharest typically reach 28–32°C, but heatwaves can push highs above 35°C. Nights are warm, and thunderstorms are common, especially in June and July.
Yes, snow is common in Bucharest from December to February, especially in January. Frosty nights and occasional heavy snowfalls are typical, but snow cover is less persistent in recent years.
Rain falls year-round, but May and June are usually the wettest months. Showers are frequent but often brief, so carrying an umbrella is recommended for all seasons.
Bucharest enjoys about 2,000 hours of sunshine annually. July and August are the sunniest months, with up to 9 hours of sunshine per day, while December is the darkest, with less than 2 hours daily.
Bring warm, waterproof layers and insulated boots for winter. In spring and autumn, pack layers and a rain jacket. For summer, light, breathable clothes, sun protection, and an umbrella are essential for sudden showers.
Winds are generally light to moderate, but can be brisk during storms or cold snaps, especially in autumn and winter. Humidity is moderate year-round, with higher levels in winter and during rainy periods.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (28.7 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (1.6 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 16.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (15.7 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-5.5 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 5.7 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (77.5 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is October (31.6 mm). Over the whole year there are 595.3 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (7.1 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is September (5 days). Over the whole year there are 72.3 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (138 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 561.2 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (91.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (73.4 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 80 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 8.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 9.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 2.1 h). Over the whole year there are 5.4 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 8). The months with the lowest average UV index are January and December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.3.
