I was in a quaint restaurant in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina, with nothing left of my delicious meal and ready for the check. The card reader blinked, apologized in three languages, and despite a restart by the kind waitress, my card still didn’t work.
None of my backup cards did either.
The only cash I had was a €50 note, which was no good.
After profusely apologising and swearing on everything dear to me that I would return, I frantically searched for an ATM after dark, in the middle of a town I didn’t really know. Eventually, I found one outside a supermarket.
It massively overcharged me for a simple withdrawal, but at least I managed to pay. And yes, I did leave a big tip!
The embarrassment didn’t last long, but the lesson stayed with me.
In the Balkans, hard currency means euros, in cash, in your pocket. They’re not always the official currency, and they’re not accepted everywhere, but they can get you out of a surprisingly difficult situation.
And every country does things just that little bit differently.
So I’m going to give you a rundown of what you need to know, so that you don’t learn it the hard way like I did.
Yes, Bring Cash (Euros)
Because most of us already do this as standard when we travel, and it’s the advice you’ll find in most places anyway, I’m not going to spend too much time on it.
But it’s still worth mentioning:
Bring cash.
Specifically, I like to carry euros when travelling through the Balkans.
You don’t need to arrive with Serbian dinars, Albanian lek, or Bosnian marks stuffed into your wallet before you even leave home. Euros are much easier to get hold of, and they’re surprisingly useful across the region.
Even in countries where the euro isn’t the official currency, you’ll often find accommodation providers, tour operators, restaurants, private drivers and other businesses willing to accept euros.
The important word here is often.
Don’t assume that everyone will take them. You can still end up in a situation like I did in Mostar, where your euros aren’t useful and your cards suddenly decide to stop working.
That’s why I think of euros as a backup currency, rather than something you necessarily need to spend.
Exchange offices across the Balkans will also generally be happy to take euros, pounds or US dollars. Turn up with some more obscure currency and you may get a shrug, or a rate that makes you wish you’d got the shrug.
If you’re flying from outside Europe or the US, you may need to order some euros before you leave. This isn’t too difficult; it can be done online in countries like Australia and New Zealand, with the currency delivered to your door
Everything else? You can sort out once you’re on the ground, as ATMs are widely available in major cities and towns.
Which Countries Actually Use the Euro?
Covering the Balkans with a single how-to would be unfair, because not every country treats the euro or cash in quite the same way.
Some countries officially use the euro, some have their own currency pegged to the euro, and others have their own currencies but are very accustomed to dealing with euros.
To make things a little more digestible, I’ve created a three-tier grouping, each requiring a slightly different approach to payments and cash.
Euro Countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Kosovo and Bulgaria
This is obviously the easiest group if you’re carrying euros.
Slovenia, Croatia and Greece are all part of the eurozone, and Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026.
Montenegro and Kosovo are a little different. Neither is in the eurozone, but both use the euro as their de facto currency.
So in these countries, you really don’t need to think about exchanging your euros into another currency.
You can use them for your everyday spending just as you would elsewhere in the eurozone.
That said, I would still carry some cash. Cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, but you can always find yourself somewhere where cash is easier.
Euro-Pegged Countries: Bosnia & Herzegovina and North Macedonia
This is where things get a little more interesting.
Both countries have their own currencies, but they’re pegged to the euro.
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, the local currency is the convertible mark (BAM or KM), and the exchange rate is fixed at just under 2 BAM to €1.
That makes mental maths surprisingly easy.
If you’re paying 4 BAM for a coffee, that’s just over €2. You don’t have to take out your calculator, which is a nice bonus.
North Macedonia is fixed too, at around 61.5 denars to the euro. Round it to 60 and you’ll be close enough for quick mental calculations.
But here’s the important bit:
Pegged doesn’t mean interchangeable.
The local currency is still the official currency, and some businesses will expect to be paid in it.
At the same time, euros are surprisingly easy to use in Bosnia and North Macedonia, particularly in tourist areas and for things like accommodation, tours, transfers and larger purchases.
Some places will happily take your euros rather than lose the sale.
The catch? You may not get the best exchange rate, and your change will often come back in the local currency.
This is exactly why I like carrying euros, but don’t rely on them as my only cash.
Own Currency, But Euro-Friendly: Serbia and Albania
Serbia uses the Serbian dinar, while Albania uses the lek.
For everyday spending, you’ll generally be dealing with the local currency.
But euros are still very much part of the travel economy, particularly when it comes to bigger-ticket expenses.
Private transfers, tours and accommodation can sometimes be quoted in euros, and you may find people willing to accept euros even when prices are technically in dinars or lek.
I’ve found this particularly useful when travelling through smaller places.
But being quoted a price in euros isn’t necessarily the same as being able to hand over euros.
If you’re booking something expensive, I would always ask how they expect you to pay before you arrive.
A quick email or WhatsApp message can save you a lot of hassle later.
Where Cards Actually Work (and Where They Don’t)
If you’re used to paying primarily by card, you can still do so in most situations.
But it’s not really about which specific country you’re in. It’s often about how far you’ve travelled from the big cities and tourist centres.
You’ll find this pattern across the Balkans: cities can feel very similar to the rest of Europe when it comes to card payments, but the infrastructure can thin out surprisingly quickly once you head into smaller towns and rural areas.
Country-by-Country Debit and Credit Card Guide
In cities and smaller towns across Slovenia and Croatia, card payments are generally very easy. Contactless is common, and you can travel around without constantly worrying about finding an ATM.
In Serbia, Montenegro and Greece, you’ll also have few problems in major cities and towns.
Tourist hubs, such as beach resorts along the Montenegrin and Greek coasts, are particularly used to international travellers and card payments.
I was in Montenegro in July 2026 and I saw almost everyone had a card machine except a few places in a small town called Sutomore.
But once you head into the rural mainland, smaller villages or more remote islands, it’s worth having cash.
Bosnia & Herzegovina is where I’d be particularly careful about relying entirely on cards.
Sarajevo and Mostar have plenty of restaurants, hotels and shops where cards work perfectly well. But you’ll also come across businesses that prefer cash.
And this is exactly where my Mostar experience came in.
North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo are similar. You’ll be fine using cards in Skopje, Tirana and Pristina for many everyday purchases, but markets, taxis, smaller businesses and local transport can still be cash-heavy.
Where Cash Is a Non-Negotiable
Even once you understand the different currency situations, there are certain situations across the Balkans where I always want cash in my wallet.
Small Guesthouses and Family-Run Accommodation
Most of us are used to booking accommodation online and paying by card.
But small guesthouses and family-run accommodation can work differently.
You might pay a deposit online and then be expected to pay the balance in cash when you arrive.
If you’re staying somewhere small or remote, check the payment method before you arrive.
Rural Buses and Minivans
It won’t be like London, where you tap and go.
Cities are usually easier, but rural buses and minivans can be a different story.
If you’re travelling between smaller towns, I would always keep some local cash with me.
Markets
Markets are another obvious one.
Even if a market vendor has a card machine, which is still relatively uncommon, cash is usually much quicker and easier.
If I’m buying fruit, snacks or something small from a local stall, I don’t want to stand around waiting for a card machine to connect.
Private Transfers and Border Taxis
If you’re travelling between countries or have arranged a private transfer, check how you’re expected to pay beforehand.
I’ve found euros particularly useful here, because many drivers who work with international travellers are comfortable dealing in euros.
But again, don’t assume. Ask first.
My Go-To Card Advice for Travel
When I travel, I never use my standard bank cards as my only option.
I always carry cards that are separate from my main bank account, just in case anything happens. It also helps me stick to a budget and avoid unnecessary fees.
I use cards that don’t charge extra for withdrawals abroad, like Revolut or the Gebührenfrei Mastercard.
If you’re travelling from outside Europe, check what your own bank charges for foreign withdrawals and currency conversion before you leave.
And there’s one ATM rule I always follow:
If an ATM asks whether you want to be charged in your home currency or the local currency, choose the local currency.
That “guaranteed” exchange rate offered by the ATM is usually dynamic currency conversion, and it can be much worse than allowing your own bank or card provider to handle the exchange.
I also prefer using ATMs attached to proper banks rather than random standalone machines, particularly in tourist areas.
Then there’s how you arrive.
If you’re coming from Australia or somewhere else with a long journey and a late arrival, having some euros already in your pocket is particularly useful.
You don’t want your first mission after a long flight to be hunting down an ATM that actually works.
Carry Small Denominations, Not Big Notes
In the Balkans, as in many other countries, sellers often don’t like accepting large bank notes.
Annoyingly, exchange offices will often give you €50 notes as standard, especially if you’re changing a larger amount of money.
However, a €50 note can be surprisingly useless when you’re travelling through smaller towns.
You’re at a market stall buying something for €3, and suddenly you’re presenting someone with a €50 note.
They may not have enough change.
They may not want to accept it.
Or they may simply be worried about whether it’s genuine.
So whenever you can, keep some smaller euro denominations handy.
€5, €10 and €20 notes are much more useful when you’re travelling.
Keep a Euro Reserve
I like to think of myself as my own little bank when I’m travelling through the Balkans.
I keep a small euro reserve tucked away somewhere safe.
This is my “don’t touch unless something goes wrong” money.
You can draw from it when you need to, of course, but I always try to replenish it when I reach the next major city.
It doesn’t have to be a huge amount.
It’s simply there to keep you going if your card stops working, an ATM doesn’t accept your card, an exchange office is closed or you suddenly find yourself somewhere that doesn’t accept cards.
After my Mostar experience, I don’t travel without it.
Don’t Exchange Everything
It’s tempting to exchange everything the moment you arrive, especially when you’re entering a country with a currency you’re not familiar with.
But I don’t recommend doing this.
Major cities have ATMs and exchange offices, and you never know exactly how much you’ll spend.
You might also cross the border a few days later and suddenly find yourself carrying a wallet full of currency that isn’t useful anymore.
So I prefer to exchange or withdraw smaller amounts as I go.
Get enough for the next day or two, keep your cards as a backup, and keep some euros tucked away for emergencies.
This also means you don’t end up with a collection of leftover Serbian dinars, Bosnian marks, Macedonian denars and Albanian lek at the end of your trip.
What I’d Do Differently Now
I still carry euros, even in countries where they’re not the official currency.
I don’t necessarily use them.
I keep them as a buffer.
It’s about having payment options.
You don’t want to stand outside a closed exchange office at 9 pm on a Sunday, wondering how on earth you’re going to get back to the restaurant to pay the bill.
I’ve been there.
And honestly, once was enough.
So if you’re travelling through the Balkans, my advice is simple:
Take your cards. Carry some local cash when you can. Keep smaller euro notes with you. And always have a little euro reserve tucked away somewhere safe.
You probably won’t need it.
But the one time you do, you’ll be very glad you have it.
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