The best options of prepaid SIM cards in Serbia

Unless you will be coming from another Balkan country that has an international data agreement with Serbia, you will most likely need a Serbian SIM card to get connected to the internet while in the country.

The last time we traveled through the Balkans, we struggled a bit with internet connection. Even though many Balkan countries have the no-roaming agreement, it doesn’t apply to most prepaid SIM cards, only the long-term mobile plans.

This is why we put together this guide. Let us guide you through the best options available for buying a prepaid SIM card in Serbia. We’ll also give our personal opinion as to which one is our favorite.

Prepaid SIM card options available in Serbia

Serbia has three main telecom providers:

• MTS
• Yettel
• A1

To help you decide which option will be the best fit for your trip to Serbia, let’s start by covering what each of them offers for prepaid SIM cards for tourists.

MTS Prepaid SIM card options in Serbia

MTS is a subsidiary of Telekom Serbia, the state-owned and largest telecommunications company in Serbia. 

This is the provider with the largest number of subscribers and also great network coverage. MTS’s network extends even into the northern part of Kosovo, where roaming is not necessary.

These are the options of prepaid SIM cards that MTS offers in Serbia:

If the coverage available in the packages is not enough, you can also buy an additional 3 GB (600 RSD, 5,10 EUR) or 5 GB  (900 RSD, 7,70 EUR) internet for 7 days.

MTS has stores in every larger city around Serbia, so it is very easy to buy their prepaid SIM cards. On this link, you can see all their available stores and search for the nearest one to where you will be staying.

One thing to note is that the MTS prepaid SIM cards will work in Serbia, but not in other countries. If you will be traveling to multiple destinations within the same trip, you may want to consider another alternative instead of having to buy a new SIM card in every new country.

For more information about the tourist SIM card options from MTS, you can check their website.

Yettel Prepaid SIM card options in Serbia

Yettel, formerly known as Telenor, is considered the second-largest mobile provider in Serbia.

They have a very good network coverage throughout the country, which is a big plus even for people who will be doing road trips through Serbia and visiting lesser-known regions.

Yettel offers one option of prepaid SIM cards for tourists visiting Serbia, called “Turistički paket” (tourist package). It costs 1.399 RSD or 12 EUR and gives you access to 50 GB of mobile data valid for 30 days. Out of that, 3,5 GB is available to be used in the Balkan region (Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo), which is a great advantage.

If you will be staying in Serbia and also need a modem, they also offer an option of getting the Tourist package + MiFi.

Overall, Yettel is a very good option for mobile SIM cards in Serbia for tourists. For more information about their tourist package, take a look at their page.

A1 Prepaid SIM card options in Serbia

A1 is a mobile provider present in many Balkan countries, including Serbia. 

In fact, I have used A1 SIM cards for years in Slovenia and was always very satisfied with the quality and coverage. However, in Serbia, A1 currently represents the smallest network in terms of subscribers.

They offer one option of prepaid SIM cards for tourists in Serbia called Hello Stranger. Their package is really tailored to travelers staying a short time in the country. For 400 RSD (3,40 EUR), you get 20 GB valid for 3 days. 

If you will be staying longer, you can buy additional data:

• 6 GB valid for 5 days – 500 RSD (4,30 EUR)
• 3 GB valid for 5 days – 300 RSD (2,60 EUR)

If you top up any amount during the first 3 days of your prepaid plan, the welcome bonus is automatically extended from 3 to 10 days – but you can only extend it once.

One thing that puts A1 ahead in terms of convenience is that they allow you to buy the SIM card online and have it delivered to you. You can also buy the prepaid SIM card in one of their stores in any city in Serbia.

To read more about the prepaid SIM card offered by A1, check their official website.

Which is the best Serbian SIM card for tourists?

Now that you know all the options available, it is time for us to give our personal opinion on the best prepaid SIM card for tourists in Serbia.

I gotta say that overall, the prepaid SIM card options in Serbia are quite decent and you can get good coverage for quite an affordable price. Compared to other European countries, for example, what you get here is quite a good deal.

The best alternative in our opinion is the Tourist package by Yettel. This is the option that gives the best value for money, considering not only that the package is available for 30 days, but that you get some of this coverage available in other Balkan countries as well.

I know that most tourists will not be staying only in Serbia for an entire month, but having the comfort of not having to worry about topping up your SIM card during your stay is worth the low price. 

If you are looking for a budget and short-term option, the Tourist SIM from MTS can be also a great alternative.

However, I don’t think any of them are the best solution if you will be traveling through multiple countries. If that is the case, I would opt for an eSIM instead – read below to see why.

Best SIM card for traveling to Serbia and other Balkan countries

One of the biggest limitations of traveling through the Balkan region is the mobile internet connection. Nowadays, everyone wants to have their phone working when they land in a new country – and in the Balkans, this is not so trivial.

The reason for this is the coverage. Some countries like Croatia, Slovenia, and Bulgaria are part of the EU. Other countries are not, but they have a no-roaming agreement between them.

This results in the fact that, depending on your route, you may have to change providers in every new country that you go to. This is not the most pleasant thing to do. For such cases, we recommend buying an eSIM instead.

Don’t know what an eSIM is? Read our guide on eSIMs to understand all about how they work.

We recommend Airalo or Nomad as the best providers for any European country. We have used both of them a few times in different destinations and we have always had great experiences.

Once you buy the mobile package for your trip, you can select which countries you will be visiting and make sure that you will be covered across all your trips.

Give them a try on your next trip. Compare the prices offered by Airalo and Nomad for your needs.

Where to buy a prepaid SIM card in Serbia?

All three mobile operators in Serbia – MTS, Yettel, and A1 – have stores across the country. In major cities such as Belgrade and Novi Sad, it is very easy to come across the stores.

You can also check the store locator on their website to see where is the nearest store to where you will be staying.

Some gas stations, newspaper stands and convenience stores also sell prepaid SIM cards, but most times, they don’t have all the options available. 

The biggest advantage of buying a prepaid SIM card at a store is that the people working there can help you set everything up so you don’t have to do it by yourself.

Currently, A1 is the only Serbian mobile operator that allows you to buy a prepaid SIM card online through their website, which is a big plus for them.

Can you buy a prepaid SIM card at Belgrade Airport?

Yes, there are kiosks and stores in Belgrade International Airport selling Serbian prepaid SIM card options. Since they are not official stores of the mobile providers, you may need to check what they have available – but in most cases, they have MTS and/or Yettel SIM cards to offer.

Please note that the prices may be different from those at the operator’s official stores (the ones described in this post). I have not had this experience myself as we decided on the eSIM on our last trips, but I have read a few comments from people complaining that the SIM cards being sold at the Belgrade Airport were quite expensive.

Read also:

• Best SIM card for the Balkans
• Best SIM card for Croatia
• Best SIM card for Bosnia
• Best SIM card for Slovenia

FAQ – Best prepaid SIM card in Serbia for tourists

What documents do you need to buy a SIM card in Serbia?

You may be asked to present a valid ID document for buying a prepaid SIM card in Serbia. 

However, it depends a lot on where you buy it. Most times when buying a Serbian prepaid SIM card in a kiosk, you will not be asked for anything. But, we recommend having an ID document with you in any case.

Do Bosnian SIM cards work in Serbia?

It depends on which plan you have. The prepaid SIM cards in Bosnia normally do not offer coverage available in other Balkan countries. 

We have been exactly in that situation – we bought a prepaid SIM card in Bosnia where we were told it would work in Serbia as well, but as soon as we crossed the Serbian border, it stopped working. It turns out, that the mobile network agreement between these countries is only valid for long-term plans, not the prepaid SIM cards.

I strongly recommend checking the conditions thoroughly before buying the SIM card, whichever country you may be in. If you will be traveling across borders, we recommend an eSIM from Airalo or Nomad instead.

Read also: The best prepaid SIM cards in Bosnia

Is there eSIM in Serbia?

Yes, there are many options for eSIMs that work in Serbia. The ones we use and recommend are Airalo or Nomad.

Over the years, we have tried many brands of eSIMs and these are the only two that have consistently provided us with good experience, across many different countries.

I hope this guide has helped you decide which prepaid SIM card will be the best fit for your trip to Serbia. Especially if you will be going on a road trip across the country, having mobile internet working can be a lifesaver.

Looking for more tips for your Serbia trip?

• Belgrade 3-Day itinerary
• Best things to see in Novi Sad
• Exploring Tara National Park
• The best things to see in Nis
• Driving in Serbia as a tourist