Best Tourist Sim Cards in Montenegro in 2024
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Montenegro across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
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If you’re planning a trip to Montenegro, having a reliable means of staying connected is essential. The internet is especially useful for navigating unfamiliar cities, discovering great restaurants, finding your accommodation, hailing a taxi, and sharing your travel experiences with loved ones.
While roaming is a possibility, the fees can quickly add up, so we recommend considering an eSIM or a local SIM card to benefit from local phone rates. Fortunately, obtaining either option in Montenegro is incredibly easy.
This comprehensive guide aims to provide you with all the information you need to know about purchasing a SIM card in Montenegro, including current pricing details and the best SIM card option for your needs.
The best sim card in Montenegro is the prepaid tourist sim card offered by Crnogorski Telekom. All three network operators offer identical prepaid packages to tourists, however, Crnogorski Telekom have the most extensive coverage in Montenegro which is why I recommend it ahead of the others.
One also have very extensive coverage, so if it’s more convenient to reach a One store then this sim card will also be perfectly fine.
Most travellers to Montenegro will only be visiting for a few days, in which case the 15 EUR tourist package is perfect as it includes 500GB of data valid for 7 days. There are also 20 EUR packages valid for 30 days.
I also want to point out that if you are visiting other countries in the Western Balkans then it is a good idea to look for sim cards that work across the entire region. If you are starting in Montenegro, then One offers 3GB across the Western Balkans as part of their package making it a good option.
If you are starting in other countries then it is a good idea to ask in the stores as they all can vary. I can confirm that I have personally tested Vodafone Albania’s sim card in Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia and it worked in all 3 countries, so if you are visiting Albania I recommend buying this card instead.
If you are only visiting Montenegro for a couple of days (and don’t require roaming in the Western Balkans) then I’d recommend an Airalo Montenegro eSim over the local sim cards. You can get 1GB of data for 6 EUR ($6.5 USD) which isn’t much but it is cheaper and more convenient than visiting a store. If you use wifi then 1GB will be enough for a short stay in Kotor.
A Tourist Sim Card in Montenegro costs 15 EUR in December 2024, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Montenegro will cost between $6.50 USD and $17.50 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 Montenegro which includes 5GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $17.50 USD.
The three leading sim card providers in Montenegro are Crnogorski Telekom, One and M:tel. All three offer good mobile network coverage and speeds. If you’re just visiting the coast near Kotor you are unlikely to notice any difference between all three.
I recommend picking up any of the three you can find most conveniently to your hotel. They are all priced exactly the same and give pretty much the same service.
The only thing I would note is that One offers roaming in the other Balkan countries which makes it perfect for tourists planning to explore beyond Montenegro.
Crnogorski Telekom is the largest telco in Montenegro and offers good sim cards for tourists. Their sim cards are priced identically to their competitors and include a ridiculous amount of data.
The price of a Crnogorski Telekom tourist sim card in Montenegro is 15 EUR.
The plan offered by Crnogorski Telekom stores includes 500GB data valid for 7 days.
One, formerly Telenor, is another leading telco company in Montenegro. Their sim cards are again equal to their competitors, including ridiculous amounts of data for reasonable prices.
I would recommend One over the other two for one reason: they offer roaming to other West Balkan countries including Bosnia & Herzegovina and Albania. This will save you time and money if you are planning to explore further than Montenegro.
The price of a One (Telenor) tourist sim card in Montenegro is 15 EUR.
The plan offered by One (Telenor) stores offers 500GB data valid for 7 days.
As with the previous two operators, M:tel also offers tourist sim card packages to visitors that include large amounts of data for reasonable prices. Their plans are basically identical and their network is just as strong.
I recommend M:tel to anyone planning to visit Montenegro.
The price of a m:tel tourist sim card in Montenegro is 15 EUR.
The plan offered by m:tel stores includes 500GB data valid for 7 days.
Identify the mobile providers in Montenegro: Crnogorski Telekom, One (Telenor) and m:tel are your best options in Montenegro.
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 Montenegro. 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 mandatory in Montenegro to bring your passport into the store so that the staff can register it with your sim card. Without this, Crnogorski Telekom, One (Telenor) or m:tel staff will be unable to sell you a sim card.
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 Crnogorski Telekom that includes 500GB data for 15 EUR.
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay 15 EUR 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 Montenegro 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 Montenegro then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Montenegro 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 Crnogorski Telekom, One (Telenor) and m:tel. 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 Montenegro 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 Montenegro 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 Montenegro. The Airalo Montenegro 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 $17.50 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 Montenegro without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Montenegro is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Montenegro 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 Montenegro eSim uses the ONE network to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the ONE networknetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Montenegro.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Montenegro eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $6.50 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $15 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $17.50 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 5GB data plan for $17.50 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 Montenegro eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Montenegro eSim uses the Telenornetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Montenegro
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Montenegro 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 built directly into a device, like a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike traditional physical SIM cards, there is no need to physically insert or remove a card with an eSIM.
Instead, the eSIM is already incorporated into the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This means that users can easily switch between different mobile networks or plans without the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards.
eSIM technology offers convenience, flexibility, and simplicity, especially for frequent travelers or individuals who change mobile networks frequently or travel internationally. It eliminates the need to purchase and insert physical SIM cards, making it much easier to manage multiple mobile connections on a single device.
To activate an eSIM, users can either scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or manually enter the activation details. After activation, the device can connect to the chosen mobile network and access voice, data, and messaging services, just like with a traditional 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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