Geographical location
According to COUNTRYAAH, Macedonia is located in south-eastern Europe and borders Albania in the west, Kosovo and Serbia in the north, Bulgaria in the east and Greece in the south.
The capital of the landlocked country is Skopje. Around 2.1 million people live in Macedonia on an area of 25,713 square kilometers. This results in a population density of around 80 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The former Yugoslav Republic has been independent since 1991 and has been a potential candidate for accession to the European Union since 2005. The landscape is characterized by several mountains and high altitudes, which make up almost 80% of the total area.
Macedonia belongs to the historical region of Macedonia, which mainly belongs to the northern national territory of Greece. The Greeks are therefore still angry about the naming of Macedonia, even if the economic and political cooperation between the two states has improved significantly.
There are only very few direct flights from Germany to Skopje, usually a change is necessary.
- Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about Macedonia.
Climate in Macedonia
The southern Balkan state is characterized by a continental climate with cold and very humid winters and hot and dry summers. The spring and autumn months are quite cold and also characterized by occasional rainfall of up to 56 millimeters, such as in southern Bitola. The highest temperatures occur in the north and northeast of Macedonia.
In the capital Skopje, the months of July and August can reach up to 30 degrees. In southern Bitola, like in large parts of Macedonia, it can reach temperatures of up to 29 degrees in July. In winter, most areas are below freezing and there is snowfall. In the mountains, the climate shows an even rougher side. Here falls in icy temperatures in the months November to April a lot of snow.
When to go to Macedonia
The best time to travel to Macedonia is from June to September. During this time you can go on excellent hiking and trekking tours in warm temperatures and dry weather. The spring and autumn months are also suitable for this, with somewhat milder temperatures but also a higher risk of rain.
Macedonia also offers many opportunities for alpine sports. The months of January to March are ideal for practicing winter sports in the mountains. The temperatures are correspondingly cold here and regular rainfall ensures that the slopes are well covered with snow.
If you want to put a cultural stamp on your trip and are toying with a trip to Skopje, you can put out your feelers here as early as April. 60 millimeters of precipitation in May are manageable and nothing stands in the way of an extensive city tour.
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Bitola (Macedonia)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 3 ° C | 7 ° C | 11 ° C | 17 ° C | 22 ° C | 26 ° C | 29 ° C | 29 ° C | 25 ° C | 18 ° C | 12 ° C | 5 ° C |
| Night temperature | -5 ° C | -2 ° C | 1 ° C | 5 ° C | 9 ° C | 12 ° C | 13 ° C | 13 ° C | 10 ° C | 6 ° C | 2 ° C | -3 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 50 | 50 | 51 | 44 | 61 | 40 | 40 | 31 | 35 | 56 | 73 | 68 |
| Rainy days | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
| Hours of sunshine | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Sunrise | 6:55 | 6:30 | 5:50 | 5:55 | 5:15 | 5:00 | 5:15 | 5:45 | 6:15 | 6:45 | 6:20 | 6:50 |
| Sunset | 16:30 | 17:10 | 17:40 | 19:15 | 19:45 | 20:10 | 20:05 | 19:35 | 18:45 | 17:55 | 16:15 | 16:05 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Bitola is 11 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is July (21.7 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of -0.8 ° C.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 599 mm on 82 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. In the months of January, February, March, April, November and December snowfall is possible.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, July is the sunniest month with an average of 10.8 hours of sunshine per day. The average annual sunshine is 6.4 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
Highlights and attractions
There are many highlights in Skopje that should be seen on a city tour. The Old Bazaar offers very good shopping opportunities in an authentic atmosphere. The Stone Bridge offers an excellent backdrop with beautiful light illuminations, especially after dusk.
In the southern town of Ohrid you will find the lake of the same name, which is impressive, a real Macedonian gem. On the edge of the lake you will find the St. Jovan Kaneo, one of the landmarks of Macedonia. For all photographers this church offers a popular “postcard motif”.
