Internet
Yes
Calls
No
SMS
No
4G
Yes
Works only on unlocked eSIM-supported devices — check your phone compatibility before purchase
Most packages do not include calls or SMS
Choose one of three methods:
Scan QR code
Install via 'Quick Install' button
Manual setup through phone settings
Use the package within 3 months from purchase
Local (one country), Regional (multiple countries), Global (many countries)
Not available for Sicily
North Macedonia is small, and a trip usually combines the capital Skopje, Lake Ohrid and day trips to the mountains or canyons. Buses, rental cars and taxis, messages to hosts and maps are needed from your first hour in the country, and nobody wants to look for a phone shop after landing. You install the eSIM at home in advance, so all that is left is to switch data on.
This page is the quickest way to buy a travel eSIM for North Macedonia from 4 500 ₸. Pick a plan, pay online and install the digital SIM card at home before the flight — no passport and no queue at an airport kiosk.
The eSIM connects to local mobile networks, so you have data wherever they have coverage — Skopje and the rest of the country.
Compared with roaming in North Macedonia, an eSIM is usually much cheaper for mobile data: the price of the package is fixed and known in advance. Your home number stays active on the main SIM for calls and SMS.
If your phone does not support eSIM, you can buy a regular physical SIM card with data for North Macedonia at a Funsim point of sale: at Almaty and Shymkent airports, or at our offices in Almaty — 130/1 Abay St and 1 Pozharsky St. Handy if you remember about the internet right before departure.
The main stops are spread out: Skopje in the north, Ohrid and Struga in the south-west, Bitola in the south, and mountain areas such as Mavrovo and the Sar Mountains in between. One profile for the whole country covers that route without changing anything. See the Macedonia plan terms above, and if you continue to Albania, Greece or Serbia, check the plans page for regional options covering the Balkans.
Your main SIM stays in the phone for calls and bank SMS, while mobile data goes through the eSIM. Most plans have no voice or SMS, so messengers are the easiest way to talk to hosts, transfer drivers and guides. Viber is especially popular in Macedonia, as in other Balkan countries, though WhatsApp is used too.
| Criterion | eSIM Funsim | Roaming | Local SIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| When to set up | At home, before the flight | Usually on arrival | After landing, in an operator shop |
| What to do on arrival | Pick the line and switch data on | Check terms with your operator | Find a shop and wait for registration |
| Cost of data | Fixed-size package, see plans above | Usually much more expensive | Depends on the operator's tariff |
| Your home number | Stays for calls and banking | Stays active | Needs a second SIM or a swap |
| Skopje, Ohrid and Bitola in one trip | One profile for the whole country | Depends on operator terms | Buying takes time on day one |
Cities and main roads are well covered, while canyons, passes and national parks can lose signal. These are the places where you will use the internet most.
The centre of the capital is easy to walk, and your phone is for maps, translating signs, ordering taxis and checking opening hours of museums and mosques. It is easy to lose your bearings in the narrow lanes of the Old Bazaar, so an online map helps. Vodno hill with the Millennium Cross rises above the city, and it is best to plan the climb with a map at hand.
A scenic gorge with a lake and a monastery, about half an hour from Skopje, popular for walks, boat rides and kayaking. On the water and deep in the gorge the signal can be weaker than at the entrance. Save your return point on an offline map and arrange a taxi back in advance by messenger.
The country's main resort town, with narrow streets, churches on a cliff above the lake and a waterfront. It is crowded in summer and cafe Wi-Fi is often overloaded. Mobile internet helps you book a boat trip, find a free spot on a beach, order a taxi and talk to apartment hosts, who usually answer in messengers.
A small town on the northern shore of Lake Ohrid, where both Macedonian and Albanian are heard in different quarters. It is a handy point for travelling along the shore by bus or taxi. Download translation for both languages, and do not count on a steady signal in small shoreline spots, as part of the road runs along slopes above the water.
The second main city of the south, with the pedestrian street Shirok Sokak, cafes and the ruins of ancient Heraclea Lintestis nearby. Close by is Pelister National Park with mountain trails and lakes. In town you need internet for timetables and bookings, while on the park trails it is better to have an offline map and spare battery.
A mountain area in the west with a lake, ski slopes and an old monastery in a gorge. People come to ski in winter and to hike in summer. The roads are winding, the weather changes fast and signal in the gorges is uneven, so check the forecast and route before setting out, and in winter ask about road conditions.
A mountain range in the north-west with the Popova Shapka ski resort. In the valley nearby is Tetovo with its well-known painted mosque. In the mountains you use the internet for weather, ski pass booking and contacting an instructor, and on slopes and high points the signal can be unstable.
A wine region along the Vardar river on the way south from Skopje and the ancient city of Stobi beside the road. Such trips are usually by rental car. You need internet for maps between wineries, tasting bookings and checking opening hours, and if you plan to drink wine, book a transfer in advance.
There are few local tourist services, so trips are mostly built around familiar universal apps.
Works for cities, main roads and bus routes. Download offline maps of the country, especially Mavrovo, the Sar Mountains and the shore of Lake Ohrid, where signal is unstable.
Macedonian is written in Cyrillic, but many words and names differ noticeably from Russian. In the western towns you will also see signs in Albanian. Download both languages and use the camera for menus and signposts.
One of the most popular messengers in the Balkans. You can reach property owners and drivers through it, although WhatsApp is sometimes more convenient. Install both.
Needed for talking to apartment hosts, guides and transport companies. Since most plans have no voice calls, you can call through it over the internet.
The main way to book apartments and hotels in Ohrid and Skopje. Save addresses and confirmations in advance so you can show them to a host without digging through email on the spot.
A convenient forecast of wind and rain for trips to the lake and the mountains. Useful when you plan Matka Canyon, Mavrovo or the Sar Mountains and want to pick a clear day.
Make sure your phone supports eSIM and is not tied to a particular carrier. This is stated in the device settings or the model description.
Choose a Macedonia plan above and pay by card online. No passport is needed to buy. If you go on to a neighbouring country, look at the regional plans.
Install the profile at home while you still have Wi-Fi: scan the QR code, tap the Quick install button or enter the details manually.
After landing in Skopje or Ohrid, select the eSIM as your mobile data line and switch data roaming on for it.
Keep your main SIM for calls and bank SMS, but turn off mobile data on it so data goes only through the eSIM.
If the package is running low, buy extra data on the site. Hotspot is available on most plans, and the terms are on the page of the plan you choose.
Before heading to the mountains or a canyon, download an offline map of the area and take a screenshot of your accommodation address. If the signal drops, you can still find your way back without internet.
