The best time to walk the Sultan’s Trail from Sofia to Istanbul is spring and early autumn—especially if you're starting in late March to April, or late August to early October.
These months consistently offer the most comfortable hiking conditions along this long-distance route. You’ll avoid both the chillier spells of winter and the intense summer heat that can make long walks exhausting or even risky. Days are generally mild and pleasant, with fewer temperature extremes and less likelihood of heavy rainfall.
Spring brings fresh greenery, longer days, and cooler air—great if you enjoy hiking in crisp, bright weather without heat weighing you down. Early autumn, meanwhile, tends to be warm but not hot, with drier skies and the added bonus of late-summer light and turning foliage.
In both seasons, you're walking during a natural sweet spot: warm enough to be comfortable, but not so hot or stormy that it interferes with your hike. This recommendation comes from simulating what the weather typically looks like, day-by-day, along the full route—from the foothills near Sofia through open countryside and towns, all the way to the edge of İstanbul. If you're looking for a great time to start, these are the months that tend to deliver.
Of course, while these recommendations provide a solid starting point, everyone's preferences and circumstances are unique. For example, if you prefer walking in the cooler morning hours to avoid midday heat, you might prioritize dates with drier conditions. On the other hand, if you are more accustomed to colder climates, you may choose to avoid hotter periods - even if it means encountering more rain. Our search tool allows you to customize your journey to align with your specific needs and preferences, ensuring the best possible experience on the trail.
Furthermore, if your plan differs from walking the standard stages from Sofia to Istanbul, then you can edit the Search Settings below accordingly.
This ensures you won’t be walking in overly hot weather.
Similarly, this ensures you won’t be walking in cold weather.
This might sound similar to the first step – but instead of looking at averages, it filters out extreme temperatures that don’t happen every year. In other words, you’re excluding those parts of the year when there might be a heat wave.
Like the previous step, this applies to extremes instead of averages – but this time you’re excluding cold snaps.
This step excludes those times of year which might have storms or intense showers.
If the previous steps haven’t narrowed down the search to 20%, you can further limit the dates by finding the overall driest periods.
Feel free to use this guide as a starting point to find the time of year that best suits your personal needs and preferences. By tailoring the filters to your specific situation, you can discover the perfect time of year for your hike.
Below is our weather search tool, with the filters already set up according to this process.
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