Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

When to go · North Macedonia

North Macedonia, month by month

The best months for North Macedonia: May, Jun, Sep.

Month by month

  1. JanuaryMixedCold with smoggy inversions in Skopje; Orthodox Christmas on 7 January; skiing at Mavrovo.Skopje and the Vardar valley: cool · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: cool · Mountains: coolCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
  2. FebruaryMixedStill winter; Ohrid nearly empty, cheap and grey. Strumica Carnival late in the month or early March.Skopje and the Vardar valley: cool · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: cool · Mountains: coolCrowds: Low
  3. MarchMixedChangeable; smog clears, lake still cold. Good for city sightseeing on a budget.Skopje and the Vardar valley: fine · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: cool · Mountains: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
  4. AprilGoodSpring green, mild in Skopje; Orthodox Easter often falls here and fills family homes and churches.Skopje and the Vardar valley: best weather · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: fine · Mountains: coolCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
  5. MayGreatOne of the best months: warm days, blossom, hiking starts, Ohrid restaurants reopening.Skopje and the Vardar valley: best weather · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: best weather · Mountains: fineCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays
  6. JuneGreatLake swimming begins mid-month; long evenings on the Ohrid promenade.Skopje and the Vardar valley: best weather · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: best weather · Mountains: best weatherCrowds: Medium
  7. JulyMixedOhrid Summer Festival and peak lake season; Skopje hot (35 °C+). Book Ohrid rooms and the Skopje–Ohrid bus ahead.Skopje and the Vardar valley: hot · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: best weather · Mountains: best weatherCrowds: High
  8. AugustMixedBusiest month at the lake with diaspora and regional visitors; Ilinden holiday on 2 August.Skopje and the Vardar valley: hot · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: best weather · Mountains: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
  9. SeptemberGreatWarm lake, grape harvest in Tikveš, fewer crowds — the best all-round month.Skopje and the Vardar valley: best weather · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: best weather · Mountains: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  10. OctoberGoodAutumn colour in Mavrovo and Pelister; wine festivals; Ohrid calm and cheaper.Skopje and the Vardar valley: best weather · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: fine · Mountains: fineCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
  11. NovemberMixedRain and fog; many Ohrid places close; smog season begins in Skopje.Skopje and the Vardar valley: fine · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: cool · Mountains: coolCrowds: Low
  12. DecemberMixedCold; Skopje Christmas lights and New Year concerts on Macedonia Square; ski season opens late in the month.Skopje and the Vardar valley: cool · Lakes Ohrid and Prespa: cool · Mountains: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday

Weather by region

How each climate zone rates each month.

Weather rating by region and month
RegionJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Skopje and the Vardar valleySkopje, Veles, Tikveš, GevgelijaCoolCoolOKBestBestBestHotHotBestBestOKCool
Lakes Ohrid and PrespaOhrid, Struga, Sveti Naum, PrespaCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestBestBestBestOKCoolCool
MountainsMavrovo, Šar, Pelister, GaličicaCoolCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestBestBestOKCoolCool