When to go · North Macedonia
North Macedonia in October
Good month. Autumn colour in Mavrovo and Pelister; wine festivals; Ohrid calm and cheaper.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Crowds
- Low
- North Macedonia
- Prices
- Low
- North Macedonia
Verdict
Autumn colour in Mavrovo and Pelister; wine festivals; Ohrid calm and cheaper.
Is another month better than October?
October is rated good. These months rate higher:
Weather in October
- Skopje and the Vardar valley · Skopje, Veles, Tikveš, Gevgelijabest weather
Continental with a Mediterranean touch: 38 °C (100 °F) summer peaks, frosty winters with smog in Skopje; the Vardar valley south of Veles is the hottest part of the country.Continental with a Mediterranean touch: 100 °F (38 °C) summer peaks, frosty winters with smog in Skopje; the Vardar valley south of Veles is the hottest part of the country.
- Lakes Ohrid and Prespa · Ohrid, Struga, Sveti Naum, Prespafine
At about 700 m the lake is milder in summer than Skopje; swimming roughly mid-June to mid-September. Winter is cold, damp and quiet.
- Mountains · Mavrovo, Šar, Pelister, Galičicafine
Snow from December to March (skiing at Mavrovo and Popova Šapka); hiking June to September.
- Eastern North Macedonia: Strumica / Gevgelija (south) · Vardar and Strumica valleysbest weather
The warmest part of the country; July–August afternoons pass 35 °C (95 °F). Spring and September–October are the comfortable windows.The warmest part of the country; July–August afternoons pass 95 °F (35 °C). Spring and September–October are the comfortable windows.
- Eastern North Macedonia: Kratovo / Berovo (hills) · Osogovo and Plačkovica foothillsfine
Cooler than the valleys, with snow and ice on the roads from December to February.
- Povardarie: Vardar valley · Skopje to Demir Kapijabest weather
Continental valley: July and August often pass 35 °C (95 °F), and the wind that gives Veles its name blows hardest in winter and spring. May, June, September and October are the comfortable months.Continental valley: July and August often pass 95 °F (35 °C), and the wind that gives Veles its name blows hardest in winter and spring. May, June, September and October are the comfortable months.
- Western North Macedonia: Ohrid and Struga · Lake Ohrid shore, about 700 mbest weather
check — the lake moderates summer heat and swimming is a warm-month activity; exact temperatures and swim dates need confirming locally.
- Western North Macedonia: Bitola and Pelister · Pelagonia plain and the mountainfine
check — Bitola sits higher than Ohrid and Pelister holds snow late; verify conditions before a spring hike.
- Western North Macedonia: Mavrovo and the western mountains · Mavrovo, Kičevo highlandsfine
check — ski season and high-pass openings vary by year; confirm before booking a winter night.
- Skopje19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 7 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 7 rain days
- Berovo19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
- Bitola19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
- Bogdanci21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 7 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 7 rain days
- Bosilovo21 °C (70 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
- Brajčino17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
- Brvenica19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
- Čaška16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
- Debar20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 9 rain days
- Delčevo17 °C (63 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 7 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 7 rain days
- Demir Hisar20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 6 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 6 rain days
- Demir Kapija20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
- Dojran20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 7 rain days
- Elšani19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
- Gevgelija20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 7 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 7 rain days
- Gostivar20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 9 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 9 rain days
- Kavadarci18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 6 rain days
- Kičevo19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 6 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 6 rain days
- Kočani17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
- Kratovo18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
- Kriva Palanka15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 8 rain days
- Kruševo15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 8 rain days
- Kumanovo19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 8 rain days
- Makedonski Brod20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 10 rain days
- Negotino19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 6 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 6 rain days
- Novo Selo17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 6 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 6 rain days
- Ohrid19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 8 rain days
- Prespa18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 8 rain days
- Prilep19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
- Probištip20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 6 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 6 rain days
- Radoviš20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 6 rain days
- Resen20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 10 rain days
- Staro Nagoričane19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 9 rain days
- Štip20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 9 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 9 rain days
- Stobi19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 8 rain days
- Struga19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 9 rain days
- Strumica20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
- Sveti Nikole19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 6 rain days
- Tearce‑Jegunovce16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
- Tetovo19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
- Valandovo20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 9 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 9 rain days
- Veles20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 5 rain days
- Vevčani18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 7 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 7 rain days
- Vinica19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 8 rain days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Uprising and Revolutionary Struggle days
11 Oct, 23 Oct
Two public holidays; government offices shut.
Skopje Jazz Festival check
Varies, October · Skopje
Evening concerts; centre hotels fill.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · North Macedonia
- Low
- Prices · North Macedonia
- Low
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in North Macedonia, side by side.
Verdict
Oct: Good
May: Great (better)
Crowds
Oct: Low
May: Medium
Prices
Oct: Low
May: Medium
Festivals listed
Oct: 2
May: 5
October: Autumn colour in Mavrovo and Pelister; wine festivals; Ohrid calm and cheaper.
May: One of the best months: warm days, blossom, hiking starts, Ohrid restaurants reopening.
North Macedonia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.
Where to go in October
Rated best or good this month
Skopje and the Vardar valley
Best weather of the year (Skopje, Veles, Tikveš, Gevgelija)
Best month for walking.
Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Best months: Apr–Oct
Best months: Apr–Oct
Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: May–Oct (check)
Best months: May–Oct
Best months: Sep–Oct (wine harvest festivals, mild weather)
Best months: May–Oct