If you’re planning a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, having a sim card is essential for convenient navigation and connectivity. With internet access on your phone, you can easily explore new cities, discover the finest dining establishments, find your way to your accommodation, book taxis, and share memorable moments with your loved ones.
While roaming is an option, the accumulating fees for international travel can become quite pricey. Therefore, we highly recommend either opting for an eSim or acquiring a local sim card to enjoy local phone rates. Luckily, obtaining either of these options in Bosnia and Herzegovina is incredibly simple.
This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the necessary information, including current prices and suggestions on the best sim card option for your needs.
The best sim card in Bosnia & Herzegovina is the tourist sim card package by BH Telecom. BH Telecom is the largest mobile network operator in the country and offers the most extensive and reliable mobile network. Their plans are also the most competitively priced and are easy to acquire.
For most travellers I recommend the Tourist 1 Prepaid sim card which includes 15GB data + 5GB bonus data valid for 10 days. Perfect if you’re just visiting Mostar and Sarajevo, you won’t run out of data. If you’re spending longer travelling around Bosnia & Herzegovina then you can instead purchase the Tourist 2 prepaid sim card for 40 BAM which includes 30GB of data valid for 30 days.
If you’re exploring the wider Balkan region then it gets a bit messy as sometimes mobile network operators work across Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania. One option if you’re starting your trip in Bosnia & Herzegovina would be to ask at each of the stores if their sim cards work in other Balkan countries. For example. M:tel offers a 20GB for 30 days package which includes 4GB of data in the Western Balkans. Or, if you’re starting in Albania, I’d recommend the Vodafone prepaid sim cards which include data in all the countries above.
An even easier option is to just purchase an Airalo Bosnia & Herzegovina eSim online. $13 USD (about 23 BAM) will get you 5GB data and it saves you the hassle of having to visit a store and register with your passport.
A Tourist Sim Card in Bosnia and Herzegovina costs 20 BAM in December 2024, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Bosnia and Herzegovina will cost between $4.50 USD and $32 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.
I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina which includes 5GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $13 USD.
There are three main sim card providers that visitors usually choose in Bosnia and Herzegovina: BH Telecom, M:tel and HT Eronet which used to be known as HT Mostar. All three offer a range of services including data and calling plans, however, BH Telecom is both the largest and also the most popular telecommunications company in the country.
Tourists can benefit from BH Telecom’s tourist sim cards. Due to the company’s popularity amongst both locals and visitors, mobile services are both reliable and affordable. I never had any speed or connection problems with our sim cards when we were in Bosnia and Herzegovina which came in handy when I visited waterfalls and went on hikes outside of the main towns. I also found BH Telecom’s tourist sim cards were the cheapest, which was the reason I chose this company in the first place. I recommend this option for any tourists who are not considering an eSim.
The price of a BH Telecom tourist sim card in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 20 BAM.
The plan offered by BH Telecom stores includes 15GB data + 5 BAM credit + 5GB bonus credit valid for 10 days.
M:tel is also a good option for tourist sim cards in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their prices are also competitive with BH Telecom, and coverage across the country is reliable. M:tel offers different tourist sim packages that include more or less data, so you’ll be able to find the right sim card to fit your internet needs when you’re on holiday in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The price of a M:tel Bosnia and Herzegovina tourist sim card in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 25 BAM.
The plan offered by M:tel Bosnia and Herzegovina stores offers 5GB daa valid for 1 month.
HT Euronet is the third most popular telecommunications provider in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their tourist sims are designed for travellers looking for good and reliable connectivity during their stay in the country. Like the other telecommunications companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, HT Euronet offers affordable phone packages with mobile data, enabling travellers to stay connected while on their holidays.
The price of a HT Eronet tourist sim card in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 20 Bam.
The plan offered by HT Eronet stores includes 20GB data valid for 1 week.
Identify the mobile providers in Bosnia and Herzegovina: BH Telecom, M:tel Bosnia and Herzegovina and HT Eronet are your best options in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can be found all over any major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. You can’t buy sim cards in airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you’re on a budget it is usually cheaper to use the airport wifi instead and purchase your sim card in a store near your hotel.
Bring the necessary documents: It is not legally necessary in Bosnia and Herzegovina to bring your passport with you in order to purchase a sim card. However, I still recommend bringing it just in case as it can be a major hassle to head into a BH Telecom, M:tel Bosnia and Herzegovina or HT Eronet store only to have to come back again later with your passport – trust me, I’ve done this more than once!
Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are likely to be your best option, for example the prepaid plan by BH Telecom that includes 15GB data + 5 BAM credit + 5GB bonus credit for 20 BAM.
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay 20 BAM to purchase your sim card. The staff in-store will help you install the sim card and activate it for you.
Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always try searching for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine before leaving. If it’s not, the staff will be able to help you adjust your settings.
Buying a prepaid sim card for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.
However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.
In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.
If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in Bosnia and Herzegovina then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.
If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.
I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as BH Telecom, M:tel Bosnia and Herzegovina and HT Eronet. Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in Bosnia and Herzegovina are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.
Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.
If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.
The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.
The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!
An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.
We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Airalo Bosnia and Herzegovina eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.
In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $13 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in Bosnia and Herzegovina without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Bosnia and Herzegovina is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.
Airalo’s Bosnia and Herzegovina eSim uses the Eronet (HT Mobile) network to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the Eronet (HT Mobile) networknetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Bosnia and Herzegovina eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $4.50 USD
2GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $7 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $9.50 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $13 USD
10GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $21 USD
20GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $32 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 5GB data plan for $13 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.
An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.
Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s Bosnia and Herzegovina eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Bosnia and Herzegovina eSim uses the Telecomnetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Bosnia and Herzegovina eSim:
6GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $44 USD
An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is permanently installed within a device like a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike traditional SIM cards, eSIMs do not require physical insertion or removal of a card.
Instead, the eSIM is integrated into the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This allows users to switch between different mobile networks or plans without needing to physically swap SIM cards.
This technology offers convenience, flexibility, and ease of use, particularly for travelers or those who frequently switch between mobile networks or travel internationally. Users no longer need to purchase and insert physical SIM cards, which makes managing multiple mobile connections on a single device more convenient.
To activate an eSIM, users can either scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or manually enter the activation details. Once activated, the device can connect to the selected mobile network and access voice, data, and messaging services similar to using a physical SIM card.
eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:
Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.
Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.
Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.
OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.
Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.
These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is.
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