Best SIM card options for the Balkans: prepaid and eSIMs

Traveling through the Balkans is a one-of-a-kind experience, but as you prepare for your journey, you will quickly see how staying connected is crucial.

Unfortunately, staying connected via one single SIM card while traveling through multiple Balkan countries is not such a trivial task. There are different agreements in place, covering specific Balkan countries, so it is hard to find a one-size-fits-all solution.

We live in Slovenia and have extensive experience traveling the Balkans, so we decided to put together this article to share our tips for finding the best SIM card for traveling through the Balkan Peninsula.

We know that everyone will have individual needs and their own itinerary. To make this guide useful to most of you, we have put together an overview of the best Balkan SIM card providers for tourists and our personal advice for the best option to use if you will be traveling to multiple countries.

Best mobile providers in the Balkans offering prepaid SIM cards

In every Balkan country, there are local providers offering prepaid SIM card options for tourists and short-term travelers. 

Getting a local SIM card is often the cheapest alternative, but it is also the most annoying one because if you will be staying only 2-3 days in each destination, you will have to take the time to buy a SIM card every time you arrive at a new place.

If you prefer this option, we have put together the list of the best Balkan mobile providers offering prepaid SIM cards below:

The no-roaming agreement between the Western Balkan countries

Since 2021, the Western Balkan countries made an agreement to eliminate roaming fees between them.

The agreement represents a major step forward in telecommunications for both citizens and businesses across the Western Balkans. Travelers like you can also benefit from reduced costs when communicating across borders within this region – as long as the SIM card and plan you pick have this feature enabled.

Let’s see how this works in practice.

How the agreement is supposed to work

The agreement, known as the Regional Roaming Agreement, started in 2019 with the initial proposal of reducing roaming tariffs between the member countries.

In 2021, the agreement was revised and all roaming tariffs between all participating countries have been removed. This means there should be no surcharge to the domestic retail price for data, calls, and SMS if you are using roaming in another country of the Western Balkans.

The countries involved in the agreement are:

• Albania
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Kosovo
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Serbia

Note: Some of the countries in the Balkan Peninsula are part of the European Union: Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovenia. Since the EU also has a no-roaming agreement between its member countries, a lot of the SIM card options you buy in one of these countries will give you data access to the remaining EU nations.

The downside: it is rarely available for prepaid SIM cards

While the agreement is indeed beneficial, travelers unfortunately don’t get to benefit a lot from it.

This is because the roaming agreement is rarely applicable to prepaid SIM cards in the Balkans. 

Even though roaming fees were extinguished, the mobile providers have the right to set their own data availability and limitations. What they do is make only a percentage of data available for use in the Western Balkan region – and this is only available for the subscription plans.

In most cases, prepaid SIM cards do not get the benefit of access to the no-roaming in the Western Balkans. If you intend on traveling across multiple countries, make sure you read carefully the plan description before you buy any SIM card.

However, there are a few exceptions.

Best prepaid SIM cards that will work across multiple Balkan countries

Even though the majority of Balkan prepaid SIM cards will only work domestically, there are a few exceptions that stand out for their cross-border connectivity.

Let’s take a look at each of them.

Vodafone Albania

Vodafone Albania provides great deals for prepaid SIM cards for travelers visiting multiple Balkan countries.

They have several Prepaid bundles available with no-roaming in the Western Balkans for you to choose from. Here are the options we think are the best deals:

You can read more about their no-roaming plans here.

Vodafone Albania is a great alternative for Balkan prepaid SIM cards if Albania will be the first country you visit during your trip. The main limitation is that your trip must start at Tirana so you can buy the SIM card and use it for the rest of your itinerary.

Read also: Best SIM cards in Albania

A1

A1 is a mobile provider that is present in multiple Balkan countries, as you saw above. Even though they have specific offers for each country, in many cases their prepaid SIM card are some of the best alternatives.

If you will be staying longer within the Balkan region, A1 is also a great mobile provider to sign up with because they have really great coverage and service. 

I have had an A1 SIM card for many years and used the coverage when traveling abroad on multiple occasions. I was always happy with the service quality I got.

Yettel Serbia

If Serbia will be the first country you visit during your trip, you can also consider getting a prepaid SIM card with Yettel and it will work throughout the Western Balkan region.

The Tourist package offered by Yettel Serbia costs 1.399 RSD (12 EUR) and gives you access to 50 GB, out of which 3,5 GB is available to be used in the Western Balkan region.

Check Yettel’s website for more information.

Read also: The best SIM card options in Serbia

Best alternative: Get an eSIM for traveling the Balkans

If you want to avoid the hassle of having to buy a SIM card every time you land in a new country, you can simply get an eSIM instead.

Don’t know what an eSIM is? Check our guide on how eSIMs work

We always try to recommend local providers whenever possible because we know that they offer the cheapest prices and most reliable coverage. But there are cases like here where they simply aren’t the best option.

For traveling through the Balkans, we truly believe an eSIM is the most practical and useful alternative. Over the years, we have tested multiple providers and these are the ones we can truly recommend: Airalo and Nomad.

Airalo eSIM options for the Balkans

Airalo is one of our favorite eSIM providers because their platform is super easy to use. We have used Airalo SIM cards across many different countries and always had a very good experience.

For the Balkans, you have a few options available:

• Buy one eSIM for each country you will visit
• Buy the European coverage eSIM
• Buy the Global coverage eSIM

The best option for you will depend on your itinerary and which countries you will visit. The first alternative can come out cheaper if you will be visiting only a couple of countries during your trip.

Nomad eSIM options for the Balkans

Nomad is the mobile SIM card provider that we have used the most because we always get an extremely fast internet connection. The process is truly seamless and we love their platform.

For the Balkans, these are the best eSIM options:

• Buy one local eSIM for each country you will visit
• Buy the Global coverage eSIM

If you will be visiting truly a lot of countries, getting the Global eSIM might be a more comfortable alternative. For 45 USD you can get 5 GB of data across 109 countries, including almost all Balkan nations.

Unfortunately, most Balkan countries are not included in Nomad’s European coverage. Make sure you check the availability before you make your purchase.

Where to buy a SIM card in the Balkans

When traveling through the Balkans, finding a place to buy a SIM card is straightforward.

Phone stores are located in all major cities. The local mobile providers always have their prepaid SIM cards available for sale at their stores. The main advantage of going to a store instead of any of the other places listed below is that they will help you get all set (which is very useful considering the language barrier).

Newspaper stands normally sell a handful of prepaid SIM card options from local providers.

Local shops and supermarkets tend to have a few options of prepaid SIM cards available.

Airports in capital cities such as Belgrade or Podgorica normally have a stand that sells local prepaid SIM cards.

Buying online is also an option for some of the local Balkan providers. You can also buy online if you prefer to use an eSIM provider like Airalo and Nomad.

What do you need to buy a SIM card in the Balkans

To purchase a SIM card in the Balkans, you typically need the following:

• Identification: A passport or national ID card is generally required. You’ll present this to the carrier for registration purposes.
• Cash or Credit Card: Payment methods vary, so having both ensures you’re prepared. Some countries or stores may not accept credit cards for small purchases.
• A Compatible Phone: Your device must be unlocked and compatible.

Each country may have specific requirements or regulations when it comes to purchasing and using a SIM card. It’s advised to check the local guidelines of the Balkan country you’re visiting. 

For example, some countries may mandate registration of the SIM card with your personal information for security reasons. In other cases, you won’t even be asked for your ID. It really depends.

FAQ – Popular questions about the best Balkan SIM card options

What are the advantages of using an eSIM when traveling in the Balkans?

An eSIM offers you the convenience of switching between service providers without the need to physically change your SIM card. 

In the Balkans, this means you can quickly change to a local network in each country, often resulting in cheaper rates and better coverage.

Compare the prices of Airalo and Nomad to find the option that suits you best.

How much does a SIM card in the Balkans cost?

The cost of a SIM card in the Balkans varies depending on the country and the mobile operator. It is really hard to give a general average considering the different currencies each country has.

Based on our experience, I would say you can expect to pay around 10 euros for a prepaid plan with decent data coverage on average. However, this does not take into consideration international plans within this price range.

Which mobile operator offers the best coverage in the Western Balkans?

Every Balkan country has its specific mobile operators, some of them with better coverage than others.

Check the table above to see the top mobile provider in each Balkan country and our recommended alternative for each of them.

Can I use a single SIM card for multiple countries in the Balkans?

There is no option of a single SIM card that will work for all Balkan countries unless you purchase an eSIM with global or European coverage.

However, Vodafone Albania and Yettel Serbia are the two providers that have the best offer with no roaming across the Western Balkans. This is as close as a single SIM card you will find in this region.

We hope this guide has helped you plan for your trip to the Balkans and choose the best mobile provider to keep you connected. We are very passionate about this region, so we do everything we can to make information more accessible. 

We wish you a great trip!

More about the Balkan region

• Comparing Belgrade and Sarajevo
• Comparing Sofia and Belgrade
• 4-Day road trip through Montenegro
• 5-7 Day itinerary through Serbia
• Our ideal Bosnia travel itinerary