How to buy a prepaid SIM card for Italy?

Planning a trip to Italy anytime soon? As you begin to prepare and plan out your itinerary, don’t forget to think about how you’ll stay connected while you’re there.

For a smoother travel experience, consider swapping your UK SIM for an Italy SIM card. This will help you avoid extra roaming charges and ensure you have access to translation apps and maps without depending on Wi-Fi.

Also, if you need a cost-effective way to handle your finances across borders, check out the Wise card. It can help you get ready for your stay in Italy and save money while travelling abroad. You can pay and withdraw cash like a local for low fees* and at the mid-market exchange rate.

Why should you buy a prepaid SIM card when travelling to Italy from the UK?

Buying a prepaid Italy SIM card will not only save you from stress but also from unnecessary expenses. Since UK monthly plans typically don’t include international calls or data, a local SIM will still be cheaper than the extra charges your provider applies for using your phone abroad.

If you’re used to posting about your travels, you’ll be able to update everyone back home on your daily adventures. Instead of relying on Wi-Fi or changing your plans to find a connection, you’ll be able to enjoy your time in Italy much more. Plus, having a local SIM card allows you to use essential travel apps, such as translation services and maps.

If you're still not convinced you should get an Italy SIM card, you can always rely on international roaming. Networks such as VOXI or Virgin Mobile offer global roaming packages that cover Italy. Some other providers, like Tesco Mobile, Sky or Three, charge roaming fees as you go.

How much does a SIM card cost in Italy?

Prepaid plans in Italy are very affordable for the amount of data they include. For example, Vodafone’s 200 GB plan costs €14.90.

If you’re interested in eSIMs, Airalo’s weekly SIM plan costs £4. The best deal for unlimited internet comes from Maya Mobile at only around £2 per day.

How to buy a prepaid SIM card for Italy?

You can get an Italy SIM card at the airport, in official provider stores, supermarkets or in electronics shops. You can also buy an eSIM before departure or order a physical SIM and have it delivered to your address.¹

When you buy a SIM in Italy, it must be registered under your name, so you’ll need to provide your passport. You can either let the store employees make a copy or send it to them via email. It's important to stick to official, reputable carriers to avoid sending your personal ID to unreliable sources.

Most stores will accept all payment methods, but you might want to confirm with the staff that you can pay with a credit card or debit card.

Where can you buy a SIM card for Italy in the UK?

Before leaving the UK, you can purchase an Italy SIM card online. However, the downside is that your options may be limited and you could miss out on a better deal.

SimCorner offers two options, both valid for 30 days. One is the 12 GB plan at £19, which also includes 3,000 minutes and SMS.² The larger plan comes at £67, but it has 200 GB of data. This plan doesn’t have any minutes or texts, but you’ll be able to share your data via hotspot.³

Can you buy an Italy SIM card at the airport?

You can buy an Italy SIM card at all Italian international airports. SIM card kiosks or vending machines are usually available in the arrivals hall.¹

Keep in mind that SIM cards sold at the airport tend to be more expensive. While getting a plan as soon as you land has its advantages, you might be better off waiting until you reach the city to find a shop there.¹

Best prepaid SIM cards for Italy

Here are some of the best SIM card options for your vacation in Italy.

Wind Tre

At Wind Tre, you can choose between two data-heavy prepaid plans. The 100 GB SIM includes unlimited national minutes, 19 GB of EU data and 3 GB for use in Switzerland. The other plan offers 200 GB of data, 32 GB in the EU and 3 GB in Switzerland. Both plans also come with 100 international minutes to 53 countries.⁴

The 100 GB plan is valid for one month while the 200 GB plan lasts up to 60 days. Activation and the SIM card are included in the price.⁴

Vodafone Italy

Vodafone Italy also has two plans with the same amounts of data as Windtre. The 200 GB plan comes at €14.90, while the 300 GB one costs €24.90. The smaller package also includes 18 GB of data you can use in the EU, while the 300 GB plan includes 31 GB of international internet.⁵

Both Vodafone Italy SIM cards are valid for 30 days. They also include 200 minutes of domestic and international calls, as well as 200 SMS for Italy and 40 more countries.⁵

TIM

TIM has a tourist prepaid SIM priced at €14.99 which will be enough for the majority of users. The special edition Giubileo SIM has 200 GB of data and unlimited nationwide calls for a month. You also get 100 minutes of international calls, in case you wish to call someone back home.⁶

The price of the Giubileo SIM is an additional €10. In case you use up the 200 GB of internet, you can buy another 100 GB for just €5.⁶

Best e-SIM cards for Italy

Buying an eSIM is the simplest way to avoid costly roaming fees while you’re in Italy. You can buy it before leaving the UK and activate it upon arrival.

Be sure to check if your phone is eSIM-compatible beforehand. If it is, here are some of the top eSIM options for Italy.

Maya Mobile

Maya Mobile has five eSIM options based on data amount: 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, 40 GB or unlimited data. Their eSIMs are available for up to 180 days.⁷

Their 10-day eSIM with 5 GB of data comes at £6.99, while 10 GB will cost you £9.99. The 20 GB and 40 GB packages are priced at £14.99 and £27.99 each. If you’d like to have unlimited data, you can get it for £2.09 a day.⁷

Holafly

If you're looking for unlimited data plans, Holafly offers flexible deals where the daily price decreases the longer you stay.

For example, their Italy eSIM costs £6 per day, but a 10-day plan is £30, reducing the cost to £3 per day. If you're staying longer, a 30-day plan costs £60, bringing the price down to £2 per day.⁸

Since these are data-only plans, you’ll be able to keep your UK phone number. And if you’re travelling with other people, you can keep them all covered by sharing up to 500 MB of daily data via hotspot.⁸

Airalo

At Airalo, you can choose from six plans under their Mamma Mia offering. Prices start at £4 for a 7-day plan with 1 GB of data. Next is their 15-day plan, which includes 2 GB of data for £7.⁹

The remaining four options are 30-day plans offering 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB and 20 GB of data, priced at £8.50, £12.50, £20.50 and £28 respectively.⁹

Spend like a local in Italy with Wise

While you’re choosing which Italy SIM card to buy for your upcoming trip, you might also want to check out options for holiday spending.

The Wise international debit card can be a convenient choice. For a one-time cost of just £7, you can spend and withdraw like a local in Italy and 150+ more countries. You can also send money to pay for a rental car, accommodation or the like while still in the UK.

With the Wise card, your pounds are automatically converted at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. You’ll just pay a small conversion fee, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 29-Jan-2025