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Where is the country of Macedonia located? North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a country in Southeast Europe. North Macedonia has a moderate continental climate, with warm, dry summers and cool winters with a fair amount of (winter) precipitation. The many mountains ensure that the temperatures, with the exception of the summer months, are not so high.

In the summer months, temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees in the capital Skopje or even 40 degrees in the south are common. Periods of extreme heat are often ended with heavy thunderstorms. Thanks to the many warm days, more and more tourists are finding their way to North Macedonia. The only downside to this destination is that it is one of the few countries in the Balkans that does not have a sea. As a result, North Macedonia is not an option for beach lovers. However, the country makes up for that with a wealth of sights and culture. Virtually everyone who has visited North Macedonia has been enchanted by the beauty of the country.

Snowfall

During the winter months, winter weather is widespread in North Macedonia. Snow falls fairly often in the mountains, often in considerable quantities. In some places the snow will remain until May or even June. The capital Skopje also regularly suffers from snow in the winter months. Daily life is regularly paralyzed by snowfall.

Temperature variations

As in almost the whole of the Balkan region, large increases or decreases in temperature in a relatively short period of time are not an unknown phenomenon. You sometimes see big differences within 24 hours (difference between minimum and maximum temperatures) and within a few days (weather change). For example, in the summer it can be 35 degrees one day and 25 degrees the next day in the same place. You see these kinds of differences especially in the interior of North Macedonia. Temperatures are more stable on the coast.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit North Macedonia

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to North Macedonia? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The Republic of North Macedonia is a country that is centrally located in the Balkan region. It does not border a sea, but it does have several lakes such as Lake Ohrid, which is quite popular among tourists. A large part of North Macedonia consists of mountainous area, including Šar Mountains. The Vardar River is an important lifeline for the country. A reasonable part of the population therefore lives in the Vardar Valley. The mountains provide a wide variety of climate types. In the valley the cold steppe climate predominates, while in the mountains there is mainly a moderate continental climate. Throughout the country there can be quite large extremes in the weather. Think of heavy frost in the winter in the higher areas or extreme heat in the summer in the valley. There can be temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius. As a result, it can sometimes be uncomfortably hot in the middle of summer in the capital Skopje.

Best months

The best time to travel for a holiday in North Macedonia is from May to September. The average weather picture is then sunny, with occasional rain and temperatures that rise to 23 to 32 degrees Celsius during the day. The months of July and August are the warmest and can be very hot, especially in the cities.

City ​​trip

If you make a round trip through North Macedonia in the middle of summer and end up in the cities that way, you can hardly escape it when it is quite warm. We would not be so quick to book a city trip to Skopje or another city in the months of July and August. It is better to choose May, June or September. Due to the lower chance of precipitation, September is probably the most pleasant month to visit Skopje.

Winter sports

In the partly mountainous North Macedonia you can enjoy winter sports in the winter. There is enough snow for skiing or snowboarding. You can often hit the slopes in November or December, but the best time to travel for a winter sports holiday in North Macedonia is from January to early March. The chance of good snow conditions is then greatest.