What is the best Italy sim card? Are you planning to travel to Italy and want to stay connected with the best SIM card?
Then this article will explain why getting an eSIM for Italy is the best option.
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As you might know, your mobile provider might offer you to stay connected with roaming charges, but they are usually really high.
Avoid paying high fees and get an eSIM card for Italy instead! It’s easy to buy it online and you can top up anytime.
You should choose an eSIM card for Italy for a few reasons.
Here is everything you need to know when buying the best Italy SIM card:
Table of Contents
Choose the right eSIM card plan for your needs
If you’re planning to travel to Italy, you must choose the right plan for your trip for your eSIM card. You should consider how much data you will use while travelling and whether you will use Wi-Fi service.
If you use Wi-Fi during your travels (hotels and restaurants usually offer these free of charge), you might want to go with the smaller plan (3GB for $10, valid for 30 days).
However, if you’ll be relying on cell phone coverage for your data, you might want a plan with more data. View all data plans offering eSIM for Italy.
Which is the best eSIM for Italy, and how much does it cost?
The best eSIM for Italy is provided by Airalo. Airalo offers the best options for eSIM cards for Italy with the best prices and coverage.
There is a 1GB plan and 3GB plan for those who use mostly wifi, and you just need to be connected for messages or maybe to look up a few things online here and there.
Or perhaps you just have a layover and just need to stay connected with an eSIM in Italy.
I personally think the 5GB eSIM card option is the best for Italy. It is only $14.50.
BEST ESIM DATA PACKAGES FOR ITALY:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24 USD
- 20GB data for 30 days = $33 USD
Save money and time with prepaid eSIM for Italy
Prepaid eSIM cards for Italy offer some of the lowest rates available for data and are super easy to get. You simply download an app, purchase the right data package and follow the steps to activate the eSIM for Italy before you arrive.
Before you arrive in Italy, make sure you switch from your own mobile provider to the eSIM provider (there is a step-by-step guide on how to do it) once you purchase the eSIM card for Italy from Airalo.
Most importantly, once your eSIM card is activated make sure to turn off data for all apps you don’t really use and those who can use a lot of data: Netflix, Instagram, and TikTok will eat up your data quickly, so leave social media scrolling for later on when you connected on wifi. Your data will last longer.
And, if you want the freedom to instantly send those videos home to friends and family of you devouring the best pizza in Florence or standing in the magnificent Colosseum in Rome, the best eSIM for Italy gives you the option to buy more data within minutes, should you reach your data limit.
You can always top up your eSIM card data
Italy is a fabulous destination and maybe you will spend all your data on your eSIM card quicker. No problem at all. The eSIM card is the best sim card for Italy as you can simply top up online.
Get online on wifi, go to Airalo website for eSIM for Italy and simply buy more data. It’s that easy.
- 🔥 Hot Tip: Book accommodation in advance on Booking.com
- 🎟 Book your attractions and tickets online: We recommend Viator and GetYourGuide
- 🔋 Stay charged: This Belkin Power Bank is essential!
- 📸 Join a Group Tour: Find some amazing Group Tours here
- ✅ Get Connected with an eSIM: Fast, easy and affordable! View easy eSIM options here
Why eSIM card is better than a prepaid SIM card in Italy?
If you travel to Italy you can also purchase a local SIM card at any major airport or tourist attraction.
Of course, this allows you to make calls and send text messages within the country where you purchased the SIM card. It also gives you access to local calling rates and data. Purchasing a sim card in Italy at the airport will usually cost you a lot more than getting a sim card in the city centre.
However, I believe buying an eSIM card for Italy is a much better option than buying a local SIM in Italy:
You can get an eSIM card before you leave home as opposed to purchasing one in Italy. This means that you can get online as soon as you touch down in Italy! It’s super convenient.
You can start exploring the 15 Best Places to Visit in Italy right away!
Don’t miss our EUROPE CITY GUIDES
- ROME 3 Days Itinerary
- VENICE 1-Day Itinerary
- FLORENCE 2 Days Itinerary
- AMSTERDAM 3 Day Itinerary
- PARIS 4 Days Itinerary
- BUDAPEST 2 Days Itinerary
- PRAGUE 2 Days Itinerary
- LONDON 1 Day Itinerary
- ATHENS 1 Day Itinerary
- BERLIN 2 Days Itinerary
- VIENNA 2 Days Itinerary
- LISBON 2 Days Itinerary
Keep your original SIM card in your phone
Another big bonus is that when you buy eSIM for Italy you don’t need to take out your own physical SIM card – so you’re able to receive your messages from home.
Once you buy the eSIM card you can navigate the app in English. Should you get a local sim card in Italy, all messages and top up must be done in Italian or with a help of a person at the phone store.
This is why the best sim card for tourist in Italy is eSIM. It also happens to be one of the cheapest sim card in Italy.
Now that you are instantly connected upon your arrival in Italy with the best eSIM – don’t miss our detailed city guides and itineraries for Italy, listed on our ITALY Destination page.
Travel Planning Resources
✈️ Flights: We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com is our preferred platform for booking hotels and accommodation.
🏥 Travel Insurance: We recommend Heymondo (Get 5% off Heymondo) & SafetyWing
🚌 Transportation: Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.
🚘 Car Rental: We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.
👫 Group Tours: G Adventures OR compare multi-day tours worldwide with Tourradar.
📸 Day Tours & Trips: GetYourGuide & Viator are the only two platforms you need.
📚 Lonely Planet: The Best Range of Travel Guides & Ebooks, and FREE Shipping! (use code RACHELDAVEY10 for a 10% discount)
🎒 Luggage: Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack or Samsonite Luggage Range.
🛄 What to Pack: Don’t forget your Universal charger and a good power bank. To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers.
🐶 Become a House Sitter: Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.
💰 Send Money Anywhere: WISE & Revolut are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.
📶 Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM allows you to get connected the moment you land at your destination, and you can avoid those expensive data roaming charges. We LOVE this product! Use promo code NOMAD15 for 15% off ALL eSIMs (new Airalo users only) OR use NOMAD10 for 10% off ALL eSIMs (for existing Airalo users)
✅ Check out our Travel Gear and Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!
2 Comments. Leave new
Great article, but it still doesn’t seem to address a specific issue. Airalo app does not provide call minutes.
I need to get an eSIM, preferably before leaving the US, and be able to make and receive calls on a local number – I don’t want to force those calling me to have to place International call, hence the need for a local phone number in Italy. And, I will be spending a great deal of time away from available Wi-Fi sources. Any suggestion would be most appreciated
Hi Frank, all of the eSIMs available on Airalo are data-only, meaning they’re not assigned a phone number and cannot make or receive calls or text messages. So yes you are right, the eSIM is the solution to have data at a reasonable price while travelling internationally without needing another local sim card. But you can have eSIM active for data and your own physical SIM from the USA to receive or make calls.
If you need to receive calls while in Italy, there are two options:
You can get Airalo eSIM for all your data needs and when someone from the USA will call your US number, they will be only charged the same as if you were in the US. However, you will be charged roaming charges based on your mobile provider. Check with them as maybe receiving calls might not be too expensive.
Your other option is to get a local Italian SIM from a mobile provided once you land. So if anyone calls that number, you won’t be charged but, of course, if it is a call from the US they will have to pay an international phone call fee and if you were to call the USA it would be the same for you.
The easiest option to have free phone calls between USA and ITALY is to simply use data-based apps for phone calls. You can download Whatsapp APP: a free, multiplatform messaging app that lets you make video and voice calls, send text messages, and more — all with just a Wi-Fi connection. It’s super easy and anyone in the US can do the same. You can then call for free! The alternative is to use Facebook messenger to make a call which is also data-based. Of course, then there is also ZOOM, SKYPE etc.