eSIM and SIM cards in Serbia

Your EU plan does not cover you here

This is the trap, and it is the reverse of everywhere else in this part of Europe.

• Serbia is outside the EU, so roam-like-at-home does not apply. A European SIM roams at whatever your operator charges for a non-EU country, which can be brutal.
• Some EU operators now include the Western Balkans in their roaming zones - a regional agreement has pushed prices down - but it is opt-in by operator, not automatic. Check yours before you land.
• Turn off data roaming on arrival until you have checked.

Local prepaid SIM

• Telekom Srbija - https://mts.rs/

• A1 Srbija - https://a1.rs/

• Yettel Srbija - https://www.yettel.rs/

• Prepaid SIMs are cheap and sold in operator shops and kiosks.

• Bring your passport.

• This is the cheapest fix if your operator does not include the region.

eSIM

• An eSIM is live before you land and skips the shop entirely, which on a short trip is the whole argument for it.
• Check your phone takes one. Most flagship phones since 2019 do; most budget models do not.

Practical points

• Keep your home number reachable for two-factor codes. If you swap in a local SIM as your only card, bank apps that text a code to your home number stop working at the worst possible moment. A dual-SIM phone, or an eSIM alongside your home SIM, solves it.
• Wi-fi is widespread in cafes, hotels and stations.