Buying a SIM Card in Montenegro

Last updated: 28 June 2023

If you’re considering a trip to Montenegro, and let’s face it, you wouldn’t be reading this post unless it was on your To Travel List, then let me tell you that you are in for an absolute treat ❤️

Don’t Wait Too Long, Book Now

Montenegro is a country that can *just* hold on to its status as a “hidden gem” but it won’t for long, the secret is out and it won’t be long until it becomes as crowded as its bigger brother on the Adriatic coast, Croatia. So don’t wait too long, get planning today!

Oh, and speaking of planning, the best tip that we can give you is to book your tickets waaaaay in advance because you can still scoop a bargain 😊 We booked our tickets about 6 months in advance and managed to secure £20 return flights! Yes, it is possible!

Now, if you’re like us, then when you travel you probably rely on your mobile phone A LOT. From posting updates on Twitter, to sharing memories via Instagram Stories, to never getting lost thanks to Google Maps, to finding a great place to eat, a good strong Internet connection is a must!

WiFi vs Local SIM Card

Now since Montenegro isn’t a member of the European Union (yet), you won’t be able to use your UK SIM with the newly implemented free roaming across EU countries. This means that when you arrive at Podgorica airport you’ll need to decide whether it’s worthwhile picking up a local SIM card during your stay in Montenegro or choosing to rely on WiFi.

We will always recommend a local SIM card (as we did in Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, and Thailand) when travelling overseas because;

• Internet access pretty much everywhere you go
• Hotel and public WiFi can be slow, patchy, and worse still, costly.
• It gives you a little insight into the Internet access experienced by the locals
• Ensures that all social media updates can be posted immediately without hesitation (and who doesn’t appreciate that?!?)
• In the event that something goes wrong (*knocking on wood), wouldn’t you want to be connected?

Buying a SIM Card in Montenegro

Once you decide that using a local SIM card during your time in Montenegro is the way to go then the next decision is; where do I buy one?

The good news here is that you can buy a local SIM card at the airport in the Arrivals terminal! Problem / Solution.

The place you’re looking for is the newsagent and not the tobacconist, so once you arrive in the Arrivals hall then head to your right and you’ll find the newsagent with the big red and white sign.

Fortunately, the lady behind the counter speaks English so you will be able to ask for a SIM card without a problem. You’ll be asked if you want a SIM card for Internet or calls/text. Since Roma and I rely on the Internet first and foremost (plus calls can be made over the Internet) we opted for the Internet only SIM card.

The SIM Card Specifics

We opted for the Telenor Prepaid SIM card which gave us;

10GB of data with 15 days validity for €10

Our immediate reaction was Wow! That’s a pretty good deal! Since we tend to only purchase one SIM card and then share the data allowance through the mobile hotspot (tethering) during our travels. The grand total of €10 sounded pretty good to us!

If you’re unfamiliar with a prepaid SIM card then here’s what you need to know – once you purchase the SIM card kit for €10 there is nothing else to pay unless you use the entire 10GB data allowance, then you can simply top up (or recharge) online. And once you leave Montenegro, you can simply throw the SIM card away or take it with you as a souvenir.

Setting Up the Local SIM Card

The moment you open the package, you will find the SIM card (in 3 breakaway sizes) so just pop it out to the size you want, place it into the phone, and turn it on. Within a minute you will find you have signal and you will receive the Internet/MMS configuration settings (just accept and install these), and you should be good to go. However, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

OK, so here’s the thing; I don’t want to call myself an expert but I’ve had quite a few years dealing with mobiles, SIM cards, and Internet setup, so when I couldn’t get the SIM card working I have to admit that it was pretty infuriating.

Check Your APN Settings (Troubleshooting)

So here’s the thing, the instructions in your booklet are INCORRECT! The APN (Access Point Name) that is automatically setup needs to be changed for it to work. It looks like it was changed after the instructions in the booklet were printed.

You will need to change your APN settings from INTERNET to FAST. I repeat, the APN you will need in order to access the Internet is FAST.

I use a Samsung Galaxy S8+ and the steps are;

• Settings
• Connection
• Mobile Network
• Access Point Names
• Select APN highlighted
• Select APN and change to FAST

If you’re using an iPhone then here are the steps (steps may vary depending on model)

• Settings
• Mobile Data
• Mobile Data Options
• Mobile Data Network
• Select APN and change to FAST

And once the APN has been set to FAST then you will be good to go! And of course, this means you’re free to send your very first tweet in Montenegro 😊

Final Thoughts

If you’re planning a visit to Montenegro then the best decision you can make is picking up a local SIM card to ensure that you remain connected during your trip 😊 It’s cheap, easy to setup, and definitely worth it!