Best time to visit the Balkans
The best time to visit the Balkans is May, June and September, judged across 25 places; December to January are its low season.
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Updated September 2026 · Europe · 25 places, each judged for what it is · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
The Balkans month by month
In season: one of the region's three best months, and good in its own right. Low season: one of its three worst, and well below its best. The reasons compare each month with the region's own year and name the seasons on the ground — monsoon, autumn colour, hurricanes — where most of its places share them.
All 25 places in the Balkans
- Banja Luka 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovinabest September90
- Bansko 🇧🇬 Bulgariabest January20
- Belgrade 🇷🇸 Serbiabest May91
- Borovets 🇧🇬 Bulgariabest January18
- Brașov 🇷🇴 Romaniabest September93
- Bucharest 🇷🇴 Romaniabest September92
- Burgas 🇧🇬 Bulgariabest July91
- Chișinău 🇲🇩 Moldovabest September94
- Cluj-Napoca 🇷🇴 Romaniabest September92
- Mamaia 🇷🇴 Romaniabest August92
- Mostar 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovinabest May85
- Niš 🇷🇸 Serbiabest May92
- Novi Sad 🇷🇸 Serbiabest September93
- Ohrid 🇲🇰 North Macedoniabest September92
- Plitvice Lakes 🇭🇷 Croatiabest June86
- Plovdiv 🇧🇬 Bulgariabest September94
- Pristina Kosovobest September94
- Sarajevo 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovinabest September92
- Sibiu 🇷🇴 Romaniabest September93
- Skopje 🇲🇰 North Macedoniabest May92
- Sofia 🇧🇬 Bulgariabest September95
- Sunny Beach 🇧🇬 Bulgariabest August91
- Timișoara 🇷🇴 Romaniabest September92
- Varna 🇧🇬 Bulgariabest August93
- Zagreb 🇭🇷 Croatiabest May89
The Balkans — FAQ
- When is the best time to visit the Balkans?
- May, June and September. In September: 25°C highs · 10 h sun.
- When is the low season in the Balkans?
- December to January. In January: winter smog · 5°C highs · best Aug–Sep · still good for snow.
- Which months are in season in the Balkans?
- May, June and September — the months among its best that are also good in their own right.