Balkans Currency Guide 2026: Money, ATMs, Cards and Exchange Rates

The Balkans uses five different currencies across seven countries. Three of the seven use euros (Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro), while the remaining four have their own currencies. Understanding which countries require local cash — and how to get it efficiently — is one of the most practical things to sort before starting a multi-country Balkans trip.

Currency Summary by Country

Country	Currency	Code	Euro usable?
Croatia	Euro	EUR	Official
Slovenia	Euro	EUR	Official
Montenegro	Euro	EUR	Unofficial but universal
Bosnia & Herzegovina	Convertible mark	BAM (KM)	Informally sometimes
Serbia	Serbian dinar	RSD	Informally in tourist areas
Albania	Albanian lek	ALL	Informally in tourist areas
North Macedonia	Macedonian denar	MKD	Rarely

Countries Using the Euro

Croatia

Croatia adopted the euro on 1 January 2023, replacing the kuna. All prices, menus, and ATMs now operate in euros. Card acceptance is among the best in the region — contactless payment works almost everywhere including small shops, buses, and markets.

Slovenia

Slovenia has used the euro since 2007. One of the most developed economies in the region. Card acceptance is excellent and comparable to Western Europe.

Montenegro

Montenegro uses the euro informally — it adopted it unilaterally in 2002 and is not formally part of the eurozone (has no seat on the ECB). For travellers, this is irrelevant: prices, menus, and ATMs all operate in euros. Montenegro prints no local currency.

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Countries with Local Currencies

Serbia — Serbian Dinar (RSD)

The dinar is the only legal tender in Serbia. The exchange rate as of mid-2026 is approximately 117–120 RSD per €1 (verify current rate before travelling).

Getting cash: ATMs are abundant in Belgrade and larger cities. In smaller towns, ATMs are present but coverage is thinner. The most reliable ATM networks are Banca Intesa, UniCredit, and Raiffeisen — these have the widest coverage and are frequently restocked.

Cards: Major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets, and shops in Belgrade and Novi Sad. Smaller kafanas, local transport, and rural areas are cash-only. Carrying RSD 3,000–5,000 in cash (€25–42) at all times is sensible.

Exchange offices: Available in Belgrade city centre near Knez Mihailova Street. Exchange rates at airport arrivals are poor — use an ATM instead.

Euros: Accepted informally at some tourist-facing businesses in Belgrade but at unfavourable rates and with dinar change. Do not rely on this.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina — Convertible Mark (BAM / KM)

The BAM is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 1.95583 BAM per €1. This has not changed since 1998 and is backed by currency board arrangement — it is one of the most stable pegs in the region.

Practical implication: The rate you get at any exchange office or ATM will be consistently around 1.95–1.96 BAM per euro. No need to hunt for a good rate.

Getting cash: ATMs are available in Sarajevo, Mostar, and major towns. BH Telecom and UniCredit are the main reliable networks. In rural areas and smaller towns, coverage is thin — withdraw enough before leaving main cities.

Cards: Card acceptance in Sarajevo and Mostar is good (restaurants, hotels, larger shops). Outside major cities, cash is frequently required. Markets and smaller cafes are almost always cash-only.

Euros: Sometimes accepted informally in Sarajevo and Mostar tourist areas but change is given in BAM at the fixed rate.

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Albania — Albanian Lek (ALL)

The lek is Albania’s currency. The exchange rate as of mid-2026 is approximately 100–105 ALL per €1 (verify current rate).

Getting cash: ATMs (bankomats) are available in Tirana, Saranda, Berat, and most tourist areas. Credins Bank and Raiffeisen Bank have the most reliable coverage. In more remote areas along the Albanian Riviera, ATMs exist but can run out of cash on busy weekends — withdraw before heading south.

Cards: Card acceptance in Albania has improved significantly in recent years. Hotels, larger restaurants, and some shops in Tirana and coastal tourist areas accept cards. Outside cities, cash is essential. A common pattern: pay for accommodation by card, carry lek for food, taxis, and markets.

Euros: More widely accepted in Albania than in Serbia, particularly along the Riviera and in Tirana tourist areas. However, the rate offered informally is usually 100–102 ALL per euro — roughly equivalent to the market rate. Change is given in lek. This works as a fallback but is not a substitute for having some local currency.

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North Macedonia — Macedonian Denar (MKD)

The denar is pegged to the euro at approximately 61–62 MKD per €1 (verify current rate). The peg is not as rigidly fixed as the BAM but has been stable for many years.

Getting cash: ATMs are available in Skopje, Ohrid, and main towns. Komercijalna Banka and NLB Tutunska Banka are the main networks. In smaller towns and rural areas, coverage is limited.

Cards: Card acceptance in Skopje is reasonable for a capital city. In Ohrid and other tourist towns, acceptance has improved but cash is still more reliable. Smaller guesthouses, local restaurants, and transport almost always require cash.

Euros: Not commonly accepted as payment outside Skopje’s tourist areas. Exchanging at official exchange offices or ATMs is the practical approach.

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ATM Tips for the Whole Region

Always pay in local currency. When an ATM or card reader offers “dynamic currency conversion” — charging you in your home currency instead of the local one — always decline and choose local currency. The rate applied by the conversion service is consistently worse than your bank or card’s rate.

Use a card with no foreign transaction fees. Most standard UK and US debit/credit cards charge 1–3% on every foreign transaction and a flat ATM fee. Cards designed for travel (Revolut, Wise, Charles Schwab in the US, Starling or Monzo in the UK) waive or reimburse these fees and apply interbank exchange rates.

ATM withdrawal limits: Most Balkans ATMs cap single withdrawals at the local currency equivalent of €200–300. If you need more, withdraw twice.

ATM safety: Use ATMs attached to bank branches during business hours where possible. Standalone street ATMs in tourist areas — particularly in Sarajevo, Belgrade, and Tirana — are occasionally targeted with card skimming devices.

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Cash vs Card: Country-by-Country Verdict

Country	Cards reliable?	Cash needed?	Recommended carry
Croatia	✅ Near-universal	Minimal	€20–30 backup
Slovenia	✅ Near-universal	Minimal	€20 backup
Montenegro	✅ Good in cities	Yes for rural	€30–50
Bosnia	🟡 Good in cities	Yes for markets/local	BAM 100–200 (≈€50–100)
Serbia	🟡 Good in Belgrade	Yes for cafes/transport	RSD 5,000–8,000 (≈€42–67)
Albania	🟡 Improving	Yes outside cities	ALL 5,000–10,000 (≈€50–100)
North Macedonia	🟡 Skopje OK	Yes for local spending	MKD 2,000–4,000 (≈€32–65)

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Exchange Rate Summary (Approximate, mid-2026)

Currency	Rate vs €1
Serbian dinar (RSD)	~117–120
Bosnian mark (BAM)	~1.96 (fixed)
Albanian lek (ALL)	~100–105
Macedonian denar (MKD)	~61–62

Exchange rates fluctuate. Verify current rates on XE.com or your bank’s live rate before travelling. The BAM–EUR peg is the only fixed rate in this list.

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Budget Benchmarks

Country	Budget day (hostel/cheap food)	Mid-range day
Croatia	€50–70	€100–150
Slovenia	€55–75	€110–160
Montenegro	€45–65	€90–140
Serbia	€25–40	€60–90
Bosnia	€30–45	€65–95
Albania	€25–40	€60–90
North Macedonia	€20–35	€50–80

The non-Schengen Western Balkans (Serbia, Bosnia, Albania, North Macedonia) are significantly cheaper than Croatia and Slovenia for day-to-day spending. Budget travellers often front-load the expensive Adriatic countries early in a trip and extend their stay in the more affordable inland countries.