North Macedonia Travel Weather
When Is the Best Time To Visit North Macedonia?
The answer to the question of what is the best month to visit North Macedonia depends on what you are interested in doing during your stay. Here you can see an overview of each month and its typical weather conditions.
Tourist Season in North Macedonia
North Macedonia is best visited during the summer months, from June to August, when the weather is sunny and rain-free throughout the country. High air temperatures can make sightseeing a bit difficult, in which case it is worthwhile to go to the surrounding lakes and mountainous areas. In these regions, the harsh sun and heat do not get as bad.
Wanting to avoid the greatest summer heat, it is worth organizing a trip to North Macedonia in spring (April-May) or autumn (September-October). Admittedly, the weather during this time is not ideal, but it is still a good time to visit. There is no heat, but there may be some fleeting rainfall. Sightseeing and touring tours are possible without major problems.
The winter period (November to March) is outside the main tourist season. When organizing a trip during this time, you need to take into account the drop in temperatures throughout the country and the occurrence of snow. The ski season is underway in mountain resorts.
Tourist season month by month. Legend
Tourist season - time period with sightseeing-friendly weather (or sunbathing in the case of small island countries) for the average tourist. For countries with a large geographical spread, the most visited places were taken into account and the data were averaged. For selected countries, seasonal holidays were also taken into account, as long as they significantly affect the tourist traffic in this period.
The best time to travel, you can count on very good weather.
A good time to travel, however, sometimes there can be some weather conditions that make the visit a bit difficult.
Travel possible, but it is not the best time. The weather at this time can be very unpredictable, with a tendency to be bad.
Travel is not recommended, the weather at this time can make sightseeing/resting very difficult or even impossible.
Popularity among visitors based on actual visits to popular tourist attractions (based on the average for 6 cities).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average temperatures throughout a year for Skopje (°F)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Season and weather by month
April - May
Apr | May |
Spring months heralding warming and melt. Thermometers indicate around 10°C - 20°C. Sunny days with moderate temperatures allow comfort during sightseeing. In addition to a fair amount of sunshine, you can also expect frequent, fleeting rainfall, but not so intense as to complicate your visit. Spring, with nature awakening to life, is a good time for active recreation, hiking and biking.
Holidays and observances in North Macedonia
- 06 May 2024 - Orthodox Easter Monday
- 24 May 2024 - St Cyril and St Methodius Day
- 21 Apr 2025 - Orthodox Easter Monday
- 01 May 2025 - Labour Day
June - August
Jun | Jul | Aug |
Summer in North Macedonia is hot and sunny, with temperatures reaching 30°C, and in some southern regions (Demir Kapija, Gevgelija) up to 40°C. Cheerful and relatively rain-free days create favorable conditions for traversing mountain trails and climbing to higher elevations.
The summer months are also the most favorable time for relaxing at Lake Ohrid. In other months, due to the lake's mountainous location, it will be cool and rainy.
The prevailing heat and harsh sun can be tiring and difficult to endure, but this does not deter tourists who come during this time. During the summer you can participate in numerous festivals and events, including one of the largest cultural events in North Macedonia, which takes place in the country's spiritual capital Ohrid - the Ohrid Summer Festival.
Holidays and observances in North Macedonia
- 02 Aug 2024 - Ilinden Day
September - October
Sep | Oct |
Autumn months bringing respite from the summer heat. There is a gradual drop in temperatures to 20°C - 26°C. More and more often there is fleeting rainfall, but you can still count on about 5-7 hours of sunshine a day.
Sunny and warm days create good conditions for sightseeing and touring. September is still a good time for mountain hiking or trekking to higher elevations.
In autumn in North Macedonia, it is worth taking part in wine harvests and local wine festivals. Among the largest such events is September's "Macedonian Wine Festival" in Kavadarci.
Holidays and observances in North Macedonia
- 08 Sep 2024 - Independence Day
- 09 Sep 2024 - Independence Day Holiday
- 11 Oct 2024 - Revolution Day
- 23 Oct 2024 - Day of the Macedonian Revolution
November - March
Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar |
The coldest months of the year, temperatures fluctuate between -2°C and 10°C, and drop as low as -20°C in the mountains. You can count on only 2-3 hours of sunshine a day, cloud cover and precipitation increases.
Snowfall in winter is common, and sometimes even very heavy, especially in the mountains. The thick layer of snow lingering on the slopes creates very good conditions for winter sports enthusiasts. The peak ski season is underway in mountain resorts, including Mavrovo, Popova Šapka, Kozuf.
Holidays and observances in North Macedonia
- 08 Dec 2024 - Saint Clement of Ohrid Day
- 09 Dec 2024 - Saint Clement of Ohrid Holiday
- 01 Jan 2025 - New Year's Day
- 07 Jan 2025 - Orthodox Christmas Day
- 30 Mar 2025 - Ramazan Bajram
- 31 Mar 2025 - Ramazan Bajram Holiday
Skopje
Monday 6 May
Humidity
69%Cloud cover
12%Wind speed
7 mphChance of rain
26%Skopje
Tuesday 7 May
Humidity
71%Cloud cover
65%Wind speed
5.6 mphChance of rain
55%Skopje
Wednesday 8 MayHumidity
72%Cloud cover
82%Wind speed
5.2 mphChance of rain
94%Skopje
Thursday 9 MayHumidity
93%Cloud cover
100%Wind speed
4.7 mphChance of rain
97%Skopje
Friday 10 MayHumidity
90%Cloud cover
99%Wind speed
2.4 mphChance of rain
84%Climate and Average Weather in North Macedonia
General weather conditions each month by city.
Weather Map
The icons next to the month name indicate the convenience of the date for visiting the selected area/territory/ country. They are only a suggestion and should not be used as the final criterion for selecting your travel date. The season is defined as the time period with the weather favorable for sightseeing (or sunbathing - small island countries) for the average tourist. For countries with a large geographical range, the most touristic places were included.
Greece