North Macedonia
Skopje taxi apps, official bus tickets and reliable offline backups
North Macedonia uses the Macedonian denar (MKD).
The essentials
What to know before you go to North Macedonia
Cards are widely useful in Skopje, Ohrid and other larger towns, but carry denar cash for many taxis, buses, markets, small businesses and rural stops. Uber and Bolt do not operate. In Skopje, Wizi is the best first taxi app, while BeeRide and Global Taxi are imperfect backups; outside the capital, ask your accommodation for a registered local taxi. Use only a clearly licensed taxi and agree how the fare will be calculated before departure.
SkopjeBus is the official city-bus app and can sell tickets for QR validation, but it does not cover intercity buses. Wolt is the easiest delivery choice and currently serves Skopje, Bitola, Ohrid and Tetovo. Accommodation providers must register foreign guests, so confirm that a hotel or paid private host has done it and retain the confirmation. North Macedonia is outside the EU and Schengen Area.
Check its own current entry rules and the separate requirements for any onward border. Save 112 for emergencies and download maps before mountain or rural travel.
Ride Hailing
WiziEssential
The best first app for ordering a licensed Skopje taxi, with route information, English support and app-exclusive discounts.
BeeRide
A Skopje taxi app with quoted fares, vehicle categories and in-app tracking, useful when Wizi cannot supply a car.
Global Taxi Skopje
A conventional licensed Skopje taxi dispatcher with live tracking and advance booking on both mobile platforms.
Food Delivery
WoltEssential
The easiest visitor-ready delivery app in Skopje, Bitola, Ohrid and Tetovo, with food, groceries and retail in English.
Korpa
A local Skopje delivery service with restaurants and other goods, cash or card checkout and live courier tracking.
Messaging
A widely understood alternative for international-facing accommodation, guides, transfers and restaurants.
Viber
A common local contact channel for taxi dispatchers, transfers, accommodation and tour operators in North Macedonia.
Navigation
Google MapsEssential
The best general map for walking, driving, businesses, saved places and downloadable road coverage across North Macedonia.
Organic Maps
A fully offline OpenStreetMap-based backup for road trips, smaller settlements and path detail beyond the main cities.
Transit
SkopjeBusEssential
The official JSP app for Skopje bus routes, estimated arrivals, mobile ticket purchase and onboard QR validation.
Language
Google Translate
An optional camera, text and offline backup for Macedonian Cyrillic and Albanian outside English-speaking settings.
Also covered
Internet in North Macedonia
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- Mandatory by law: the clerk scans your passport (an EU national ID card also works) and activation follows within about ten to fifteen minutes. Depending on where you buy, ID is not always asked for, and some shops may ask for accommodation details, but carry your passport regardless.
- Mobile data here is unusually good value. Makedonski Telekom's prepaid offers include unlimited data and calls with 500 SMS for 7 days at around 499 denars (roughly $10), or unlimited data and calls plus 10 GB of Balkans roaming for 30 days at about 1,399 denars (roughly $26). Generic starter packs run around 200-500 MKD with 5-10 GB, and MTEL's mSTART SIM costs about 700 MKD with 5 GB per month plus unlimited calls for three months.
- In the city it is easy: A1 and Telekom flagship stores on Makedonija Street and around Macedonia Square in Skopje, plus the big malls, with branded shops in Ohrid, Bitola and Tetovo too. MTEL SIMs are sold at newsagent-tobacco shops, 24/7 stores and Makpetrol petrol stations; look for the window sticker. Reports conflict on whether Skopje Airport has any carrier kiosk in arrivals, so do not rely on buying there: the city centre is 25 minutes away.
- Airport prices are reported as slightly higher with limited options, but the real issue is availability: sources disagree on whether a carrier kiosk exists at Skopje Airport at all, and those that say it does mention late-night closures. Buying in central Skopje is both cheaper and more certain.
- It is unclear whether the local operators sell prepaid eSIMs to visitors. Travel eSIMs are widely available for North Macedonia, and for a multi-country Balkans itinerary a regional travel eSIM is a sensible pick, since no single local prepaid plan roams well across the whole region.
Despite what some guides claim, North Macedonia is not in the EU roaming zone: an EU SIM still pays roaming charges here, capped but far above domestic rates, so a local SIM or travel eSIM is worth buying. What does exist is roam-like-at-home among the six Western Balkans countries, which is why local Balkans roaming allowances matter: Telekom's 30-day plan includes 10 GB usable across the region, A1's prepaid reportedly includes none, and MTEL's just 1 GB, so a multi-country Balkans trip should decide your operator, not price. If you are driving, take A1 or Telekom rather than MTEL. On an mSTART SIM, top up immediately so you have usable credit.
Local carriers
Makedonski Telekom
Reliable nationwide coverage and, crucially, the only operator whose prepaid plans include meaningful Western Balkans roaming.
A1 Macedonia
Good coverage including motorways and rural areas like Mavrovo and Galicica, and the best choice for a small cheap package. Its prepaid plans reportedly include no Balkans roaming at all.
MTEL
The cheapest option, running on A1's network, but it reportedly loses signal outside urban areas, so it is not suited to a driving trip. Formerly Lycamobile, relaunched as MTEL after a late-2024 sale.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in North Macedonia?
The essential apps for North Macedonia are Wizi, Wolt, Google Maps, SkopjeBus.
How many travel apps does North Macedonia have?
We've curated 11 apps across 7 categories for traveling in North Macedonia, including 4 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in North Macedonia?
Wizi. The best first app for ordering a licensed Skopje taxi, with route information, English support and app-exclusive discounts.
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