Is Sofia sunnier than Skopje?

Skopje is the sunnier: about 2,397 hours of sunshine a year versus 2,157 — a difference of 240 hours.

Which is warmer, Sofia or Skopje?

Skopje is warmer across the year: average daytime highs of 20°C (68°F) versus 17°C.

Which is better in winter (November–February), Sofia or Skopje?

Skopje scores better across November–February: 12/100 average versus 7, with daytime highs around 9°C.

Sofia vs Skopje: which is sunnier?

🇧🇬 Bulgaria vs 🇲🇰 North Macedonia · 169 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Skopje is the sunnier overall: about 2,397 hours of sunshine a year to Sofia's 2,157. Skopje has the higher Sunshine Score in 8 of 12 months, Sofia in 1 (3 within 2 points).

Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.

At a glance

	Sofia	Skopje
Sunshine hours / year	2,157	2,397
Sunniest month	August (81/100)	September (84/100)
Nov–Feb average score	7/100	12/100
Jun–Aug average score	79/100	78/100
Rain / year	705 mm	635 mm
Peak midday UV	7 (high)	7 (high)

Sofia vs Skopje month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm
Month	Sofia	Skopje	Sofia	Skopje	Sofia	Skopje
January	0	0	4°	6°	51	48
February	0	7	6°	9°	45	41
March	20	42	11°	14°	57	52
April	54	76	16°	19°	57	56
May	77	80	22°	24°	80	68
June	76	81	26°	29°	85	65
July	79	77	29°	33°	68	43
August	81	76	30°	33°	58	47
September	81	84	25°	27°	54	51
October	67	82	18°	21°	57	60
November	28	42	12°	14°	42	52
December	0	0	5°	7°	51	52

The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb Skopje · Mar Skopje · Apr Skopje · May Skopje · Jun Skopje · Jul even · Aug Sofia · Sep Skopje · Oct Skopje · Nov Skopje · Dec even.

When to pick which

November–February: Skopje (average score 12/100 vs 7). Skopje is the warmer, around 9°C daytime highs vs 7°C. See the winter sun ranking.
March–May: Skopje (average score 66/100 vs 50). Skopje is the warmer, around 19°C daytime highs vs 16°C.
June–August: too close to call — Sofia averages 79/100, Skopje 78/100. Skopje is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 28°C.
September–October: Skopje (average score 83/100 vs 74). Skopje is the warmer, around 24°C daytime highs vs 22°C.

Full month-by-month guides: Sofia weather by month · Skopje weather by month.

More comparisons: Sofia vs Craiova · Sofia vs Niš · Skopje vs Pristina · Skopje vs Thessaloniki · Skopje vs Niš · all head-to-heads