A local SIM is the easiest way to stay connected in North Macedonia — coverage is solid across the main tourist regions, and prepaid data plans are inexpensive by European standards.
Where to buy a SIM
Kiosks and official carrier stores at Skopje Airport, plus carrier shops in every town centre, sell prepaid SIMs on the spot. You'll need your passport to register the SIM, a standard requirement across the region.
Which carrier to choose
The three main carriers — A1, Telekom (Makedonski Telekom), and Lycamobile — all offer tourist-friendly prepaid data packages with broadly similar coverage in Skopje, Ohrid, and along main highway routes.
Coverage in rural and mountain areas
Signal is reliable in towns and along major roads, but thins out in parts of Mavrovo National Park and more remote stretches of the Maleshevo Mountains near Berovo — worth downloading offline maps before heading into those areas.
eSIM alternative
Several international eSIM providers now cover North Macedonia, letting you activate data before you even land — a convenient option if you'd rather skip the airport SIM-buying queue.