Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in North Macedonia easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
North Macedonia is budget-friendly, but Amex is not widely used. ATMs wouldn’t accept it, and most small shops didn’t take it either. Visa was reliable everywhere, and Mastercard worked fine too. Meals cost €6-12, and I budgeted €50 per day including accommodation, taxis, and sightseeing. Amex had no real use except maybe in upscale hotels. Visa is definitely the better choice for traveling across North Macedonia.
I visited Ohrid and Bitola, and Amex didn’t work once. Restaurants, cafes, and even tourist shops asked for Visa or Mastercard. ATMs didn’t support Amex either. Meals were inexpensive, around 500 MKD, and daily spending averaged €40-50. Visa worked at petrol stations and supermarkets. Amex was only accepted in one luxury hotel lobby, but that was it. Visa is essential here.
My Amex card was basically useless in North Macedonia. Even mid-range hotels refused it. ATMs didn’t accept it either. Visa worked every time, whether I was buying bus tickets, paying for groceries, or dining out. Meals were cheap - €5-10 - and I budgeted €40 daily including taxis and excursions. Mastercard was also fine, but Amex was declined everywhere. Stick with Visa for North Macedonia travel.
In North Macedonia, American Express was rarely accepted. I stayed in Skopje and Ohrid, and most restaurants, cafes, and shops only wanted Visa or Mastercard. ATMs from Stopanska and Komercijalna didn’t support Amex. Meals were very affordable - 300-600 MKD in restaurants, with daily budgets around 2,000 MKD including taxis and sightseeing. Visa worked perfectly everywhere. Amex just wasn’t part of the system here.