Whilst it is undeniably more legendary to wing it when entering an unknown land, buying a sim card is one thing worth compromising on.
Your mum worries, man.
While emergencies are often doable these days, especially in Europe, the local sim card is especially useful in the semi-emergency situations, when you need to call a hospital, dentist, priest etc. for the little things that go wrong. Taxis too.
Which is why you are probably looking for the best sim card in Italy! Luckily, you have come to the right place, as I am perfectly poised to deliver some of the juiciest ways to communicate right into your lap. In this guide, I’ll take you through all the options available in Italy, and hopefully help find the best piece of plastic for you.
So let’s get stuck in!
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Gigsky Europe Package
- Price > From $0!
Jetpac Italy package
- Price > From $1
SimOptions Italy
- Price > From $4.50
Sim Local Italy
- Price > From $3.70
Why Buy an Italian Sim Card?
There’s no doubt about it – phones make our lives immeasurably easier and can help you get so much more out of visiting Italy.
Getting cosy with an Italian sim card will give you significantly better coverage and present a significantly cheaper way of accessing the internet and making local calls. While a large percentage of top tourist locations are covered by international networks, if you are say, stuck in Molize (one for the Italians there), you will really need a local sim to get you out.
If you have a European SIM card it will work in Italy. Otherwise, your native sim card might work. It also might not. If it does work, you may end up racking up eye-watering charges for roaming and data. You may also find yourself disastrously out of coverage or connectivity when you need it the most.
Whilst your places to stay in Italy will probably have decent internet, you also want it to work out in the streets right?!
Getting a local sim card in Italy can avoid plenty of drama and save you a chunk of money in the end – if you follow these handy tips (like remembering your passport when you buy one).
Buying a Sim Card in Italy – Things to Consider
Choosing which is the best sim for your travels in Italy will depend largely on your needs and preferences, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your budget and needs will determine what’s best for you which won’t necessarily work for someone else.
Let’s take a look at the things you’ll need to consider:
1. Price
Everyone loves a deal, right? Especially when you’re travelling and potentially on a tight budget in Italy. When it comes to buying sim cards in Italy, the good news is that they’re pretty cheap – so cheap that €1 can get you 2GB of data.
As with most things, it’s a good idea to shop around, do your research, and always read the fine print. Sometimes buying more can lead to bigger savings in the long run too.
Some sim cards in Italy expire after a certain period. This means you can’t top up or extend them at all. Most sim cards in Italy include free EU roaming, but make sure to read the fine print here. Sometimes roaming data is capped or limited outside of Italy.
2. Mobile Data
As the number of providers grows, the more the prices of prepaid sims and data fall. In Italy, data prices are extremely reasonable.
Know how much data you’re likely to need. Like most things, it’s cheaper to buy more at a lower cost than to buy less and continuously top up. Top-ups can be costly – keep an eye out for this.
It’s recommended that before you head off on your travels, spend some time getting to understand your average data usage. When you have a figure, add some padding – you’ll more than likely use more data on your travels than you would at home.
3. Coverage
Spend some time researching the coverage of the various networks in the areas you’ll be visiting. Mostly, you can expect good 4G coverage, while 5G coverage in Italy is limited to the bigger cities. Vodafone and TIM have the widest 5G coverage, but it’s still very limited geographically, and the best 4G networks.
The great news is that most tourist spots have excellent network coverage, even those off-the-beaten-track places.
If you’re heading to Sardinia, you might want to consider a Vodafone Italy sim card for the best coverage.
4. Bureaucracy
Getting a sim card in Italy is relatively easy to do. There’s not too much documentation required and very little red tape. You will need your passport, so make sure to have this with you. You can register up to three sim cards on one passport.
5. Expiration
We touched on this before but check the validity of your sim as many have a set lifespan and can’t be extended past that date. Make sure you choose a sim that covers the entire duration of your stay. If you visit Italy often, you might consider an open-ended sim that doesn’t expire.
A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!
An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.
Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and ditch the plastic.
Grab an eSIM!Where to Buy a Sim Card for Italy
You can purchase a sim card easily from a number of places in Italy – airports, cell phone shops, and online (for multinational companies like Vodafone, but not the small, local providers).
In the Airport
Most tourists are tempted to grab a sim card at the airport and get it out of the way. While this is tempting, some sim cards will end up costing you way more at airports – for example, Milan and Venice airports are notoriously more expensive. However, when I was getting a sim in Greece I found the airport is slightly more reasonable in terms of prices.
On the upside, purchasing a sim card at an airport can mean dealing with sales staff who speak better English – generally, Italians struggle a bit with English (as English speakers do with Italian!!!).
At a Store
The great news is that most cities and tourist destinations offer multiple options when it comes to cell phone stores.
Online
Purchasing a sim card online is one way to ensure that you don’t need to be dealing with admin on your holiday and you can hit the ground running, as it were. This way also allows you plenty of time to leisurely research the best option for you and make the right choice.
Don’t forget to order with enough time for delivery before you leave.
Best Sim Card Providers in Italy
A range of options exists to choose from when it comes to picking a sim card for Italy. You can choose local or international sim providers. Many local providers have a range of options specifically for tourists, while the bigger multinationals like Vodafone are well-represented.
GigSky
GigSky is a mobile technology firm that specialises in providing e-SIM and SIM card data services to travellers across the globe. Distinguishing itself from the majority of eSIM providers, GigSky operates as an independent Network Operator, collaborating with over 400 carriers worldwide. This unique position grants them access to an extensive network infrastructure, ensuring more reliable service and fewer outages than many competitors.
While they don’t offer local phone numbers, you can still make and receive calls via WhatsApp, Signal, Skype or whatever using the general data allowances that come as part of their eSim packages.
We have tried a LOT of different sim companies and GigSky is our top pick on account of their excellent coverage, fair prices and easy to use app. Of course, if they did offer local numbers that would be even better.
- 17 €
- 5GB Data
- 30 Days
Jetpac
As our world gets smaller, needing an international sim while travelling becomes not just a luxury but an absolute necessity. Enter Jetpac, a game-changing travel eSIM provider promising seamless connectivity at low costs, across the globe, sign me up.
Based out of Singapore Jetpac offers packages, designed primarily for travellers and Digital Nomads. They offer various data plans that can be used across many countries, and the service includes features like free airport lounge access if your flight is delayed.
Technophobes don’t panic, if you’ve just figured out how to post an Instagram story, fear not, it’s simple and straightforward to activate a Jetpac eSIM. Users need to sign up on the Jetpac website or app, choose a plan that fits their travel needs, and then scan a QR code to install the eSIM on their device. And it gets better, Jetpac eSIMs are compatible with a range of devices, including many models from Apple, Samsung, and Google.
We love Jetpac for its ease of setup and reliable connectivity. JetPac makes it a handy tool for international travel, ensuring continuous access to mobile data across multiple destinations. While they don’t offer local numbers, we love that most of their packs last for 30 days by default so you can just concentrate on how much data you need.
- €26
- 15GB
- 30 Days
Sim Options
SimOptions is a reputable global marketplace that specialises in offering high-quality prepaid eSIMs for travellers in over 200 destinations worldwide. The platform has been dedicated to providing the best possible eSIM and international sim options at the most competitive rates for travellers since 2018. They rigorously test and select eSIMs to ensure that you receive the best connectivity and service wherever you travel.
As well as effectively acting as a broker from a number of the best eSIM providers, SimOptions also offer their own eSIM products too.
Basically, SimOptions is kind of like a market comparison website for helping you find the best sim for your travels. You simply type in your destination and they bring up the different eSIM options from a wide number of prospective providers and suppliers
Sim Local
Irish based Sim Local specialise in providing eSIM services, primarily targeted at global travellers to help them stay connected without incurring expensive roaming charges. Based in Dublin and London, Sim Local sells local SIM cards and eSIM profiles through their retail outlets, vending machines, and online platforms.
Sim Local offers a variety of eSIM plans that can be activated instantly and are designed to provide a convenient and secure way to stay connected in numerous countries. Their services are beneficial for those who travel frequently, as they provide the option to switch between multiple eSIM profiles on a single device, depending on the user’s location and needs.
They also offer pretty comprehensive customer support and a range of payment options, including Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, all processed securely via Stripe.
YeSim
YeSim is an excellent app that connects travellers with eSim packages. YeSim do not provide network or data themselves but act as kind of a broker helping travellers to find the best and cheapest possible eSim for their trip. They provides eSIM packages for over 120 countries and for each country they cover, they offer a variety of different packages to suit all needs and budgets.
Somewhat uniquely, they also offer virtual phone numbers in many countries which makes them our top pick. They also offer a great Europe eSim package which we recommend using for Italy. Finally, you can get yourself €3 off any package by using the promo code “Backpacker” at the checkout.
- 33 €
- 20GB Data
- Monthly
TIM
Arguably one of the best prepaid sim cards in Italy for tourists. They’ve got great coverage, the biggest 5G network, and plenty of plans and packages to choose from and are really affordable. The only downside is that while you can recharge and top-up on their website, you can’t purchase a sim online.
- 15 €
- 50GB and unlimited prepaid minutes and SMS
- Monthly
Vodafone Italy
Vodafone Italy has a prepaid sim card in Italy specifically for tourists. If you’re travelling to more countries in Europe, this is a great option without any EU data limits. Excellent coverage and easy recharge online – a simple alternative.
- 30 €
- 15GB in the EU and 500 minutes within the EU
- Valid for 30 days
Windtre
A merge between Wind and 3 (a UK mobile internet provider), this provider offers a wide range of prepaid sim cards in Italy.
- Starting from 12 €
- 20GB and unlimited calls and 200 SMS
- Monthly
What Is The Best Sim Card in Italy For Tourists?
| Package | Price (basic sim) | Top Ups Allowed? | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| OneSim e-Sim World | $13 | Y | NA |
| OneSim Universal | $29.99 | Y | NA |
| Yesim | 33 € | Monthly | |
| TIM | 15 € | Monthly | |
| Vodafone Italy | 30 € | 30 days | |
| Windtre | 12 € | Monthly |
FAQs on Buying an Italian Sim Card
Here’s what we’re usually asked about buying a sim card in Italy.
Final Thoughts
Italy is an incredible year-round destination that offers everything from gastronomical delights to art and history in spades. Whether you’re planning to visit the bustling cities, quaint villages, or natural settings, make sure you’ve chosen a sim card for Italy that won’t let you down.
Want another kind of sim card? Check out the revolutionary new Nomad e-sim, an app-based sim card covering over 100 countries that can be organised before you leave home! Another option is to look at the Spanish-based HolaFly which offers similar worldwide coverage.
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