Between the calm of Lake Ohrid and the stone lanes of Skopje old bazaar, North Macedonia is one of the best value destinations in the Balkans — close, quiet, and refreshingly uncrowded. If you are planning a visit this summer, here is what you need to stay connected throughout the trip.
Why North Macedonia?
It packs nature and history into a small, easy to navigate area. You can have breakfast in Skopje and watch the sunset over Lake Ohrid the same day. Distances are short, prices are reasonable, and summer temperatures are mild compared with the Gulf.
What to see
Lake Ohrid: one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The water is remarkably clear and the small lakeside villages deserve a full day.
Skopje old bazaar: one of the largest surviving Ottoman era markets in the Balkans, full of cafes, craftsmen and stone alleyways.
Matka Canyon: half an hour from Skopje, a river gorge between mountains that you can explore by boat or kayak.
Bitola: a quiet city with classical European character and a lively pedestrian street in the evenings.
Staying connected on the move
Coverage is solid in the main cities: you will find 4G/5G in Skopje, Ohrid and the larger towns, as you would with any local network there. On mountain roads and in some remote villages around the lake the signal can weaken, so it is worth downloading offline maps before you set out.
With an eSIM you arrive already connected, with no hunting for a SIM shop at the airport and no registration paperwork. Install before you fly and activate on arrival. See the North Macedonia page for coverage details, or first check that your phone supports eSIM.
If you are touring the Balkans
Few travellers visit North Macedonia alone — it is usually one stop on a route that also takes in Albania, Serbia or Montenegro. If that is your plan, the Balkans bundle covers 12 countries on a single eSIM and saves you swapping at every border. Browse the options in the app before you travel.
Quick tips before you go
Install your eSIM while you are on stable WiFi before departure, and download offline maps for the region, especially around Ohrid and Matka. Your main number keeps working as usual for calls and messages while your data runs over the travel eSIM. For step by step instructions, follow our installation guide.
Written by
Simply Team
