Lets take a look at the things youll need to consider: Everyone loves a deal, right? The monthly phone bill price is 6.99. Go to the store, bring your passport and get yourself a local prepaid sim card for Italy. Not only the prices and data packages are important for determining the best sim card for Italy. Which is why you are probably looking for the best sim card in Italy! Now I want to check the balance of my SIM card. Sign Up for the Phone Travel Wiz Newsletter. Before I list where you can buy your Italian SIM card, know this: you have to buy it in person. The following Shake It Plans are available, which initially have to be activated in a Vodafone store: Remember: Vodafone Italy charges a 6.99 EUR plan activation fee, which is not included in the prices below, 1 for calls/SMS within and to other EU/EEA member states and back to Italy (NOT from Italy to other EU/EEA member states). 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. Good Luck with paying Vodafone Italia with anything other than an Italian issued credit card. Regardless, I recommend buying your SIM card in person in Bari at one of the phone providers stores so that they can help you install and activate the SIM card and so that you can get the best deal (the stores are always a better deal than tourist traps like the airport stands). Once youve signed up for your SIM card its now time to activate it so you have a working phone! However, the 5G network of some mobile providers is pretty limited, especially for TIM. You can buylocal prepaid SIM cards,international SIM cards,mobile hotspots, orroam internationally. 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 store they will take a copy of your passport or you can send them an email with a photo of your passport. For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would text 123456 to 42010. Here is what to do: It takes a lot of time to analyze, translate & review the SIM card options worldwide (especially to test them out). The telco also announced plans to cover 30 . Your support helps me keep producing impartial content by eliminating the need torecommendinternational SIM cards asthe best local SIM card(butsome of them CAN be useful). When buying a sim card in Italy you will have to bring a valid photo ID or your passport. Youll want to keep in touch with your family and friends and be able to have access to data. Vodafone Italy offers only one prepaid sim card for tourists: This Vodafone prepaid sim card is 5G ready. You can use your TIM allowances in the following EU/EEA member states without paying roaming fees: Be aware that, in some cases, the EU/EEA roaming allowance is lower than the domestic allowances. For more info check thisWindTre webiste. The best thing to do to get the SIM to be activated as quickly as possible is to get it at a phone provider store and not try to buy your own and activate it yourself. 2023, The Broke Backpacker. The four companies didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. First, we have to talk about its coverage after these quick frequency details: Here you have Vodafone Italy's APN settings: Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched. To buy a Voucher for the TIM Tourist offer click on the PURCHASE button, insert your details and pay using a credit card or PayPal. Vodafone Italy has a prepaid sim card in Italy specifically for tourists. Whether you are living in Italy or traveling the country for longer than a week, its a worthy process to go through to save money and not have to rely on free WiFi, which is still limited outside of hotels and restaurants. The cheapest way to get connected when traveling to Italy is an e-sim card. e-SIMs, or electronic SIM cards, can be purchased online and allow more flexibility in plan options, country usage and being able to skip the normal SIM card purchase process. Iliad is a fairly new mobile internet operator in Italy. A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic booooring. The amount (in my case, 6.99) is automatically deducted from this residuo when you pay through the phone app/internet account. Check out the below prepaid sim card deals for tourists in Italy. If you get a physical sim, you can usually snap it into the size you want- but make sure you dont go too small. No more visiting a store. Now, if you want to be safe, you can easily get a codice fiscale, either before coming to Italy or upon arrival. 28 reviews 15 helpful votes SIM Cards - Vodafone Holiday Plan or TIM Tourist Plan 5 years ago Save Please help! Of course, I tested the other three mobile operators during my trip to Italy in March. Just don't rely on WiFi in Italy! You just have to present your passport (or ID if you are from another European Union nation). If youre living in Italy, then looking into one of the smaller providers could mean lots of savings over time. Top Even when traveling off the beaten path in Italy you will always find a phone signal regardless your network operator. A range of options exists to choose from when it comes to picking a sim card for Italy. The best would be to pay in cash and not leave your credit card details with iliad. I actually knew the tourist SIM would not support 5G NR but I was disappointed I was lied to like that. Thanks in advance. Do you want to learn how I started an online business that allows me to generate income while traveling? For Tourists For tourists, TIM offers a SIM card called TIM Tourist for 20 (+ 10 for the SIM, including credit of 1 ), and it comprises 200 minutes of call-time, 15 GB of data in Italy, and up to 6 GB in the EU, all for a monthly. Italy in Spring: Everything You Need to Know to Easily Organize the , Saturnia Hot Springs: How to Plan an Epic Visit to Italys . Nowadays I use the e-sim card version of this sim card for traveling in Europe. Here you have Vodafone Italy's coverage map: Now you have a basic understanding of Vodafone Italy and the telecom market in Italy, it is now time to talk about how to actually get a Vodafone Italy SIM card. Instead, buy an eSIM! In March 2021, I returned from Taiwan after a year. This means your phone will work if you travel outside of Italy to another EU country. I paid 30 EUR for my Vodafone Italy SIM card, so I suspect I was charged a 5.01 EUR activation fee. If youre only traveling to Italy for a short amount of time, like a week, then you may just find its easier to pay for your international plan with your domestic provider. Vodafone offers a holiday sim for visitors to Italy. Unlike many countries in Europe, especially the European Union, you have to visit a Vodafone Italy SIM card to get your SIM card. Top-ups can be costly keep an eye out for this. More info below or check the link. Those speeds are not bad, although there are large swings between locations with Vodafone Italy, which some other mobile operators did not experience (the results were more moderate). Its just that easy. Last updated: 16th of April 2023. For 35 you get 30 GB data in Italy and 5 GB data for Europe. When it comes to buying sim cards in Italy, the good news is that theyre pretty cheap so cheap that1can get you 2GB of data. It basically worked as a pay-as-you-go system, so I would just recharge the account once a month to keep the plan going. All rights reserved. Opensignal claims that Vodafone Italy has the best 4G/LTE coverage experience on par with Wind Tre & TIM Italy. SimOptions - Prepaid SIM Cards for Italy When talking about prepaid SIM cards for travel, this company is the biggest international marketplace. Although Its usually a hassle to exit these contracts since you cant just cancel them on your own. If you're travelling to more countries in Europe, this is a great option without any EU data limits. So, pay-by-month is the most flexible option. You can have a mobile operator providing you 1 Gbps download speeds. If you truly want an eSIM or do not want to deal with Italy's SIM card registration scheme (mandatory) and unnecessary activation fees, consider getting a travel eSIM for Italy. Its recommended that before you head off on your travels, spend some time getting to understand your average data usage. Another option is to buy your sim card for Italy online before your trip. To legally purchase a SIM card in Italy, you have to present photo ID. This way, I dont have money left over in the residuo. The GSM network covers 97% of Italy, representing 99.4% of the population, as does the GPRS network, which was completed at the end of 2000. You can also do it yourself by making an account with the phone provider, but this is really for particular cases. Your laptop deserves a proper pack, and we know a good few! Flying into one of the main an international airports in Italy? Coverage is likely better from a local provider than your international provider. The most convenient way to stay connected when traveling to Italy in 2023 is an e-sim card. More information. Before I tell you how much SIM cards cost, I need to inform you about the new SIM card process in Italy. Call your country and in Italy with Vodafone Want more calls in Italy? 80-90% of the stores were closed in so finding a SIM card was extraordinarily difficult. But I will not give you a detailed history of Vodafone because that is boring. Vodafone is often a hit or miss it can be the best option in a country or the absolute worse. Download my curated Italy packing guide a cute & helpful way to prepare for your trip! In detail, TIM Tourist New will include 200 minutes to call in Italy and to some foreign destinations and 50 GB's of data traffic, all at a cost of 14.99 euros with a validity of 30 days. They offer 30 GB data in Italy + 15 GB free EU roaming for 24.99 EUR. Dont waste time, live now! Check out my reviews page if you want to read all the other reviews I have written, including other European SIM cards from this trip. Also another reminder that there are amazing e-sim card deals for Italy available online. 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. Arguably one of the best-prepaid sim cards in Italy for tourists. Have other questions? The best way to buy a SIM card in Italy is to go directly to the store of your chosen phone provider. For some strange reason they differ slightly in price for the same package. It is, but the catch here is that your phone needs to be e-SIM compatible. Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market andditch the plastic. The figures emerged after an internal meeting between unions and company representatives in Italy on Thursday. Besides e-sim cards there are also international prepaid sim cards for Italy. Rates charged at the start of each 60 second time slot. Vodafone VOD is looking to cut about 1,000 jobs in Italy as part of a larger cost saving plan the telecoms giant is pursuing to revamp its operations, two union officials told Reuters.. There is a stand selling Vodafone SIM cards at (Rome) Leonardo da VinciFiumicino Airport (FCO). SafetyWing is convenient, cheap, and trouble-free Insurance was never this easy! If your phone is e-Sim compatible, then check out the OneSimCard eSim World package. Hi Michela,Thank you for sharing all this info!Do you know which of the providers offer a prepaid sim card thst can be used in different countries in Europe?I am planing to travel to France, UK& Spain, and hope to find one provider that will support all of these countries, without having to change sim cards. I will show you the comparison with TIM Italy later. But eSIMs are not available for the Vodafone Italy Tourist SIM card (Doce Vita). Vodafone Italy's median download speed was 54.21 Mbps. When using a SIM card in Italy, every time you turn off your phone and turn it back on, you will have to unlock your SIM card. I did go to Vodafone and purchased a SIM card the day after I arrived and have an Italian number. If you are a tourist going to Italy, do not get a Vodafone SIM card plan. 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!!!). But it is only available in the Italian App Store, and since I don't like to change the store region, I could not install it. We have gotta love Italy's generous data allowances for low prices! Vodafone Italy also has extensive coverage, and I barely experienced any blackouts (except on the metro in Rome). I believe this will work also for your daughter. Heck, you can even get truly unlimited data for 59.99 EUR (Infinito Black). More info in the link. We touched on this before but check the validity of your sim as many have a set lifespan and cant be extended past that date. If your phone is NOT e-Sim card ready, then stick with plastic and check out their Europe & More Package which will work all across Europe. What Are The Best eSIMs for Italy? A download speed of more than 25 Mbps is enough to video stream content @ 4k resolution. What defines Vodafone is the high-performance connection. These international e-sim cards also support calls all over Europe and in fact are the best e-sim card deal for Italy in 2023. Sim cards bought from the airport are generally more expensive. How is the 4G coverage and which mobile internet provider has the best 4G/5G network in Italy? Travel Mobility Our wholesale solutions enable you to offer instant, easy and affordable roaming for your travellers across the globe. And if your phone supports eSIM, a travel eSIM from Airalo or Nomad will be even more affordable (which I also tested in Italy). In short: you order an e-sim card online, receive a QR code, you scan it and you will be connected in just a couple simple steps. This is the ultimate guide for staying connected when traveling to Italy. Whether you are traveling in Italy long-term, studying abroad, or making the big move, buying a SIM card in Italy is likely the right choice for your budget and phone coverage abroad. , Im glad you found it helpful, thanks for reading! Of course, I tested the other three mobile operators during my trip to Italy in March. can you help us with this? Great offer, that personally would be one of my preferred sim card deal for Italy in 2023. Is Vodafone Italy any good? This means you cant top up or extend them at all. Italian SIM cards are not sold by third parties, like grocery stores or convenience stores like in many other countries. Also keep in mind that surfing the web on public WiFi is through an unsecured network. If Italy is one of the stops on a trip to Europe thenTraveltomtom recommends a Vodafone Italy tourist sim card. A post shared by Adventure Travel & Blogger (@traveltomtom). I did speed tests with the Speedtest app at various test locations: 3 in Catania, 11 in Rome & 1 in Vatican City. The SIM cards from any of the main providers should work in Europe but they have limited amounts of data. Prices for Italy tourist sim cards at Rome Airport are much more reasonable. Vodafone and TIM have the widest 5G coverage, but its still very limited geographically, and the best 4G networks. This way you arrive prepared and as soon as the plane lands you are online. That is because of the SIM card registration laws in Italy SIM card registration is mandatory. However, you can find betterEurope sim card dealsonline,check the link to see my comparison of the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2023. Or, once you get to Italy, you fill out this form and submit it to the local office of the Agenzia delle Entrate. And that is what I did and I will share my experience in this review. Speed-wise, it is not the fastest and also not the slowest just in between. Good information about Buy a SIM Card in Italy. Offers coverage in Greece + European countries. Close. However, the activation fees can be a downer if you do not plan on staying in Italy for a few months. If youre heading to Sardinia, you might want to consider a Vodafone Italy sim card for the best coverage. When traveling to Italy you want to share your romantic getaway with the world and buying a sim card for Italy is the best way to avoid high roaming costs and staying connected. I just think it is worth mentioning that I picked mine in a Edicola and I got three cards instead of just one. Italy eSIM when you travel abroad. 8. This is your guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Europe with up to date prices per country as of May 2023. Buying a Sim Card in Italy Things to Consider. I hope this guide to buying a SIM card in Italy in 2023 helps you navigate this confusing process and put you at ease before your trip! Mobile is cheaper than Vodafone Italy itself, you will have to deal with a speed restriction of 30 Mbps download and upload. Purchasing a sim card online is one way to ensure that you dont need to be dealing with admin on your holiday and you can hit the ground running, as it were. Want to order a physical sim card online that is perfect for traveling in Europe and Italy and get it shipped to your home address? Excellent coverage and easy recharge online a simple alternative. No top ups available: A Codice Fiscale. Whether youre planning to visit the bustling cities, quaint villages, or natural settings, make sure youve chosen a sim card for Italy that wont let you down. Becoming a digital nomad through this blog was a dream coming true, of course supported by my 280K Instagram account @Traveltomtom, more than500K TikTok and 50K Facebook family. Based on your needs, I found a couple of options for you: TIM in viaggio pass: 10 GB with 500 minutes for calls and 500 texts, valid for 30 days and costs 20 Iliad Prepaid SIM card: 7.99 per month for 80 GB of data and unlimited texts and calls, the catch is that Iliad stores are usually a bit harder to locate since it is a smaller brand. Most tourists are tempted to grab a sim card at the airport and get it out of the way. This means free EU roaming just make sure to turn data roaming on in your phone settings! SimOptions work with the best and the most well-known network operators in the whole world to provide the best alternatives and prices. If youre travelling to more countries in Europe, this is a great option without any EU data limits. Some sim cards in Italy expire after a certain period. I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. No need to swap a physical sim cards anymore or visiting a phone store in Italy. Ive even read about people having their SIM activated and ready for use within an hour of purchasing it! Get updates related to the newest guides, videos & recommended products and services. They will be sending me texts. The main carriers in Italy offer e-SIMs if your phone supports the technology. You'll get 2GB of data too. Tim Italy offers a tourist prepaid sim card for Italy: The above sim card deal is exclusive 10 activation costs. 19 reviews 25 helpful votes Vodafone & TIM SIM card experience in Italy (Venice & Rome) 9 years ago Save This is a synopsis of our recent experience of obtaining and using a pre-paid SIM card for an unlocked Samsung S4 and iPhone 5 in Italy. Once again, Vodafone Italy is fast enough for general phone use on cellular data. Your email address will not be published. There are also e-sim cards with much bigger data plans. I have recently arrived in Italy to take up residence in early retirement. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you have a European SIM card it will work in Italy. I went to the one on level -1 because the one on the ground floor was packed. You also have plenty of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Italy, such as Coop Voce, ho. Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience? A merge between Wind and 3 (a UK mobile internet provider), this provider offers a wide range of prepaid sim cards in Italy. These plans are very convenient to buy online, but more expensive than a local prepaid sim card in Italy. The only way to find out is to test Vodafone Italy and compare it with the other Italian SIM cards (Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), TIM Italy & Iliad). Having an Italian SIM Card means you will now have an Italian phone number. The Giga Speed Plans are data-only plans (without 5G NR access). It also can store information from your phone like contacts. So in February 2022, I decided I would go on a trip again in March 2022. In my opinion this is the best tourist sim card for traveling to Italy in 2023. Save money with international SIM cards, on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises & accommodation. Some of the smaller providers are branches of the larger ones and run on the larger networks (aka Vodafone and ho Mobile use the same network) so your coverage and customer service are just as good. All you need to do is locate a store of your preferred provider, hop into their shop, bring your passport and 5 minutes later you walk away with a ton of data on your new local sim card. I love creating free resources for your travels and personally responding to your questions over chat and email. Im glad you found the post helpful! Sometimes buying more can lead to bigger savings in the long run too. This way also allows you plenty of time to leisurely research the best option for you and make the right choice. Also, Vodafone has some of the best internet plans specifically designed for tourists starting from 14,99. . As I am also aiming to travel to every country in the world I get to a lot of new countries constantly and therefore on Traveltomtom you can find almost 200 prepaid sim card guides from all over the world: Europe, USA, Costa Rica, South Africa, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Canada, Colombia, Thailand, Egypt, Israel, Dubai, New York, Bali and many more. 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). Despite selling you a "special promotion tourist package," there is absolutely no information except in Italian. I hope that this is all clear and let me know if you have any other questions! Netherlands (Vodafone) Portugal (NOS) Romania (Vodafone) Slovakia (O2) Slovenia (A1) Spain (Telefonica) Sweden (Tre) United Kingdom (O2) Top-Up Options. Vodafone's tourist plan costs the same as TIM's and has 2gb, 300 minutes, and 300 text messages. They have the more detailed packages for tourists and the process is very simple to sign up with them. This also counts for international and e-sim cards. Generally, any phone shop or tech store. The two main providers, TIM and Vodafone, offer reasonable 30-day plans for tourists, which include calls to the US . So, if you are travel with someone else, it may be a great idea. If youre going to be in Italy on vacation as a tourist, then I recommend going with one of the three main providers. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Simify Europe & UK SIM cards will work across Italy and feature 40GB, 80GB, and 140GB for 28 days or . But that is if the salesperson even wants to sell you a regular Vodafone Italt SIM card. Avoid being stuck in an emergency situation without a working phone. SimOptions $ 4.90 $ 9.90: Buy Now! Iliad has several different prepaid plans available: Giga 120: 120 GB, one month . Italy sim cards are CHEAP! Therefore I would not recommend an Iliad prepaid sim card for traveling in Europe. While Vodafone Italy was the slowest at various test locations, you should not forget that I used 5G NR with Iliad and Wind Tre, which were, on average, faster than Vodafone Italy.