No issues elsewhere, but in North Macedonia, both ATMs and stores keep rejecting my card. Anyone know if this is common? Any banks that actually work?
My experience in North Macedonia was hit-or-miss with cards. Komercijalna Banka ATMs worked consistently with my Visa, but others failed. In Ohrid’s lakeside restaurants, cards were okay, but local kiosks and bus stations only wanted cash. Budget around 1,500-2,000 MKD daily for food, transport, and entry to sites. I wouldn’t say it’s impossible to use cards, but cash is the safer option. Withdraw enough in advance so you don’t waste time hunting for a working ATM.
When I travelled there, I had issues with ATMs randomly rejecting my card. Stopanska Banka worked for me, while smaller banks didn’t. Shops in Skopje Old Bazaar almost always asked for cash. My budget was around 1,500 MKD per day for meals, buses, and sightseeing. Larger hotels and shopping centers are fine with cards, but transport, markets, and rural areas are not. Definitely keep some denar on hand, as rejection is common enough to be inconvenient.
North Macedonia still leans on cash. In Ohrid, my Visa was declined at two ATMs before Halkbank finally accepted it. Supermarkets and restaurants usually take cards, but cafés and street food stalls don’t. Expect to spend 1,200-1,800 MKD daily if eating out and visiting attractions like Samuel’s Fortress. Don’t depend only on cards-ATMs can run out of money, especially in tourist season. Always withdraw in bigger towns before heading into rural areas.
In Skopje, my Mastercard was rejected at a few ATMs, but Komercijalna Banka and Stopanska Banka worked fine with Visa. Outside the capital, machines were less reliable. Small shops and bus stations prefer cash in Macedonian denar. Daily budget of about 1,500-2,000 MKD covers meals, taxis, and entry to places like Matka Canyon. Card rejection isn’t rare, so it’s smart to carry cash. Major hotels and malls are okay with cards, but local markets are strictly cash.