For many visitors, Bosnia and Herzegovina begins as a day trip. A bus leaves Dubrovnik or Split in the morning, crosses the border, and by lunchtime you are watching divers jump from the Old Bridge in Mostar. Your phone crosses the border with you, and that is where roaming starts: Croatia is inside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, Bosnia and Herzegovina is not.
The country has one more quirk. Its short stretch of coast at Neum splits the Croatian shoreline in two, so phones on the coastal road can switch to a Bosnian network without you ever planning to visit.
Key facts for Bosnia and Herzegovina
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home; negotiations opened in June 2026
- Local networks: BH Telecom, HT Eronet, m:tel (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 122, fire 123, ambulance 124
- Embassies: in Sarajevo
Day trips from Croatia and the Neum corridor
Mostar, the Kravica waterfalls and Međugorje are all within a day trip of the Dalmatian coast. On an EU SIM, those hours count as roaming, so check your tariff before the bus leaves.
On the drive between Split and Dubrovnik, the old coastal road passes through Neum, and phones often hop onto a Bosnian network there. Since the Pelješac Bridge opened in 2022, the main route can bypass Neum, but coaches and drivers still use both. Setting network selection to manual on a Croatian network for that stretch avoids surprises.
Roaming: where the country stands
Bosnia and Herzegovina is part of the Western Balkans regional agreement, so SIMs from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia have roamed there without extra charges since July 2021. With the EU it is still work in progress: in June 2026 the Council of the EU opened negotiations to bring the Western Balkans into Roam Like at Home. Until an agreement applies, an EU operator can charge you.
Coverage between Sarajevo, Mostar and the mountains
The country has three mobile operators, and each is strongest in a different part of it. Sarajevo, Mostar, Banja Luka and the main roads are well covered; mountain areas such as Sutjeska or the road over Bjelašnica are patchier. A Telcomia plan connects to BH Telecom, HT Eronet or m:tel depending on the plan, on 4G.
Getting online
A travel eSIM installs at home through a QR code and its validity begins only when it first connects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which suits a day trip or a week in Sarajevo equally. It is data only: your own number keeps receiving texts, WhatsApp calls run over data, and you can share the connection with a laptop.
Local prepaid SIMs are sold in operator shops and at kiosks, if you prefer a Bosnian number for a longer stay.
Consular protection: if something goes wrong
- 122 is the police, 123 the fire service and 124 an ambulance.
- Outside towns, stay on marked paths: some areas are still affected by landmines from the 1990s war.
- Embassies are in Sarajevo. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
Bosnia and Herzegovina travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about Bosnia and Herzegovina
Does my EU plan work on a day trip to Mostar?
Not automatically. Bosnia and Herzegovina is outside the EU roaming area, so check your tariff or use a local or travel plan.
Why did my phone switch networks near Neum?
Neum is a short Bosnian stretch of coast between two parts of Croatia, and phones there often pick up a Bosnian network.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use?
BH Telecom, HT Eronet or m:tel, depending on the plan, on 4G.
Is it safe to hike off the trail?
No. Stay on marked paths, as some rural areas are still affected by landmines.
The short version
For a day trip or a longer stay, install the eSIM before you travel, switch it on when you cross the border, watch your network near Neum and leave roaming off on your home line.
See plans for Bosnia and Herzegovina →
Related reads:
Ready to stay connected without surprises?
Activate your eSIM in seconds and travel connected in 200+ countries and territories.
See plans