You have landed in Sarajevo. Your hotel address is on your phone, and you want to send a quick message home: We’re here.
Before you open your maps or upload that first holiday photo, check one thing: What will your mobile provider charge you?
With a suitable roaming plan or a local prepaid SIM, staying connected in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be straightforward and affordable. Here is how to choose a practical option and avoid unexpected charges.
Does your mobile plan include Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Check with your provider before you travel. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not automatically covered by the EU’s standard roaming arrangements.
A plan that works across the EU may charge separately here. Some providers include the country in a wider roaming package, while others offer a travel add-on.
Ask your provider:
- Is Bosnia and Herzegovina included in my specific plan?
- How much mobile data can I use?
- What does it cost to call home or a local number?
- Will I pay to receive calls?
- What are the charges for sending texts and using voicemail?
- What happens when my data allowance runs out?
Check the country list carefully if you are buying a “Europe” travel eSIM. The name alone does not confirm that Bosnia and Herzegovina is included.
Turn off data roaming if you have not confirmed the cost
If your home plan does not include suitable coverage, turn off data roaming on your home SIM before arrival.
Your phone can use data in the background to sync photos, retrieve emails and update apps. Charges can build up even when you are not actively browsing.
Search for “data roaming” in your phone’s settings. If you have more than one SIM, check the setting for the correct line.
Turning off data roaming does not stop regular calls or SMS. Making or receiving calls and sending texts on your home number may still incur charges.
Our recommendation: Consider BH Telecom’s prepaid options
If you need a local connection, we recommend looking at BH Telecom’s prepaid packages. Both physical SIM cards and eSIMs are available.
Paying for a package in advance helps you keep track of your spending. Choose according to the length of your stay and how you expect to use your phone.
When checked on 29 September 2026, BH Telecom listed these tourist eSIM options:
- Tourist 1: 40 GB for 10 days, plus calling and texting credit equivalent to approximately DKK 11. Total price with eSIM: approximately DKK 121.
- Tourist 2: 100 GB for 30 days, plus calling and texting credit equivalent to approximately DKK 19. Total price with eSIM: approximately DKK 198.
Both prices include eSIM activation, equivalent to approximately DKK 45. Amounts are shown in Danish kroner for reference. Payment is taken in Bosnian currency, and the final cost depends on the exchange rate and any card fees.
Check current prices, when the validity period begins and which calls the credit covers. A small calling balance does not mean unlimited international calls.
Read more about BH Telecom’s eSIM options for visitors.
Physical SIM or eSIM: Which should you choose?
An eSIM is convenient if your phone supports it. You install it digitally, without changing a physical card. BH Telecom offers online purchases and sends installation details by email. Have a Wi-Fi connection available during setup.
Before buying, check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked for use with another provider.
A physical SIM is useful if your phone does not support eSIM or you prefer help in a shop. Ask at a BH Telecom sales outlet for a prepaid package suitable for your trip. Physical SIM prices and allowances may differ from the eSIM examples above.
Using two SIMs? Check which one supplies your data
A compatible dual-SIM phone can use a local data package while keeping your home number active.
Before you start using mobile internet:
- Select the BH Telecom line for mobile data.
- Keep data roaming switched off on your home SIM.
- Disable automatic switching between data lines, if your phone offers it.
- Check which line is selected for regular calls and texts.
Some international travel eSIMs require data roaming to be enabled on the travel line. Follow that provider’s instructions for the correct SIM.
To prevent cellular usage on your home subscription entirely, you can disable the home SIM. You will then be unable to receive ordinary calls or SMS verification codes on that number while it is switched off.
Calls and texts are separate from mobile data
A generous data allowance does not automatically include ordinary calls and texts. Some travel eSIMs are data-only and do not provide either service.
Apps such as WhatsApp and Messenger let you message or call other users through Wi-Fi or mobile data. When using mobile data, those calls draw on your selected data package.
Calling through your phone’s normal dialler uses the calling rates of the chosen SIM. A call from a Bosnian number to a number in another country is an international call.
Check the rates before relying on your local calling credit to phone home.
Download the essentials before heading out
Coverage varies with location and terrain. In remote areas and on mountain routes, prepare for stretches without a signal, even with a local SIM.
Download maps and save your accommodation details, itinerary and important contact numbers offline. A power bank is useful on longer days away from a socket.
If your itinerary also includes Croatia or another neighbouring country, check the package’s country coverage before crossing the border.
Our practical guide to Bosnia and Herzegovina covers more of the details worth arranging before your trip.
Spend a few minutes preparing your phone
Start with your existing provider. If your plan already includes Bosnia and Herzegovina on suitable terms, you may have everything you need. Otherwise, a local prepaid package can be an affordable alternative.
At AsovicTravels, we plan journeys around your interests, pace and preferences. Tell us about your trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we will put together a personal proposal.
