If you are planning a trip to Italy and looking for the best mobile internet deal, then hopefully this article will help. Finding an an affordable prepaid internet date simcard is quite straightforward in Italy, with a range of great offers. I have presented to you below the best options for having decent internet in Italy.
1. Get the Skyroam Solis
I’m a big fan of Skyroam Solis– think of it as a mobile wifi device ( which you can share with upto 5 other people travelling with you ) + it also doubles up as a charger thanks to its 6000 mah battery.
A really cool travel gadget to have and it works in over 100 countries across the world including Germany so it is a pretty neat gadget to have for any global traveller.
You can buy 1 GB of data ( unlimited, 4G speeds) for $9 a month and for extra GB of data, it costs $9.
The device itself costs $149.99 which is major upfront investment and on top of that you just pay for the data you use.
2. Get your phone unlocked and use a local simcard
This is strategy that a lot of my friends follow. Contrary to what people say, it is perfectly legal to unlock your phone in the UK. I would ask your network first. There are some internet based companies and local shops that will offer to unlock your phone but the costs they charge can be extortionate. My advice-You are best going to network in the first place. Avoid the cowboys.
Buying a internet only simcard in Italy- the best deal?
Tim Tourist
If your phone is unlocked it is simply the case of buying and inserting a local simcard. To buy a simcard you will need to have a form of identity, ideally your passport. Mention that you are a tourist-should be no need to provide a physical address.
In Italy, your best bet is going with TIM.
TIM are offering for 30 days 50GB of data plus 200 minutes talk time ( In Italy and Abroad ) for a one-off payment of €24.99
You can buy the code online from the TIM website-they will send a code to your email address which you can present at the TIM shop to get you simcard. Alternatively you can buy it directly from any TIM shop in Italy.
Illiad
The other option for affordable internet in Italy is a brand new company called Illiad.
They are currently offering a staggering 150GB for just €7.99 ( with a €10 activation fee) So effectively €17.99.
Their coverage is not as good as TIM but it is a really good offer.
This offer is only available at Illiad stores in Italy.
Remember to bring your passport for registration.
3. Phone locked? Buy an unlocked mifi device
If your phone is locked to a network, I suggest buying an unlocked mifi device.
These devices last for 6 hours and can connect upto 10 internet devices, download speeds of up to 150 Mbps and upload speed up to 50 Mbps ( if you get a 4G simcard )
It’s an initial steep investment but pays off on subsequent trips abroad when you can just plug in a local internet data sim and off you go…..
I recommend this TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router which has been great for me, compatible with 4G simcards and currently costs $39.99 at the Amazon store. It lasts upto 6 hours on full charge and you can connect 3 devices to the device.
Once you’ve got the internet device, all you have to do is find a prepaid simcard with a flat internet data plan, and pop into the device as show in the picture above.
Hope you found this piece useful. Feel free to share this with friends across your networks. If you have any tips or further suggestions, please comment below.
Grazie Mille!
Further Reading
Travelling to Germany? Here is an article about tips for mobile internet access in Germany
Travelling to Portugal. Here is an article about tips for mobile internet data in Portugal
Are you going to update this post?
I will do soon, once I find out what deals are available for autumn/winter. If you any information you have to share, please do share
Hi,
I would be travelling to italy but just for 4 days in Florence. I mainly need data access on my android while I am on the move. Voice calls not needed as i do not know anybody there. What can you suggest me for this. The most inexpensive option.
Thanks,
Karan
Hey Karan
I suggest you ask your mobile phone operator about the best deal for using your phone abroad. Where are you based? Otherwise for 4 days, best you stick you using your phone in wifi hotspots in Florence like your hotel..often bars will have free wifi and you always have McDonalds.
What is the best Sim card to buy for england, Scotland, Ireland, wales
Hey Wes…
I haven’t been back to the UK for a few months but Giff Gaff are the best deal at the moment I believe -£12 for unlimited internet. Valid for 30 days.
We confirm, in our experience TIM has always offered a complete coverage over the whole country and the highest transmission speed.
We spent holiday in Italy this summer. It was great! We booked a nano sim card for my iPhone 5, it is cheaper than buying a new one. They delivered the sim card TIM directly to our hotel before we arrived.
Mark
Hi, I found out that Italian SIM-Cards can be used all over Europe and also in the USA at a very convenient rate:
1) Vodafone: 3 € per day, incl. 500 MB, 50 SMS and 50 min (47 EU countries, including Turkey and Croatia + USA until the 15th of June, but maybe they will extend)
2) Wind: 2.50 € per day, incl. 50 MB, 30 SMS and 30 mins (all EU + USA)
3) TIM: 10 € per week, incl. 500 MB, 250 SMS and 250 min.
I prefer using Vodafone because they have almost the best coverage in every country and the data package per day is more than sufficient for my needs. My Italian Vodafone SIM-Card was updated for free by Rechargemysim (the Italian tariff was not changed). More details: http://bit.ly/vodafone_europe
Caveat: be extremely careful with the APN setting!
Hi Aldo
That is a handy piece of information -sounds like Italians have a very good deal. Vodafone offer looks like value for money for short trips abroad. I’ll add this to the article. Thanks
Kash
A tip for the best SIM-Card in Europe: in Italy you can purchase a Vodafone SIM-Card (10 €) and ask them to activate the option “Smart Passport”
With that option, you have 500 MB per day (throtthled after 500 MB, no extra costs) for 3 Euros.
You can install it in a MiFI, set the APN to mobile.vodafone.it (very important: a wrong APN costs lots of money, because it is not covered by the promotion) and you can go online in 47 countries for the same price.
The country list:
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Island, Finland, France, French Guyana, Germany, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Greece, Guadalupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey + USA
If you use it in a smartphone, you also have 50 mins and 50 SMS per day.
But: do not use tethering, otherwise it switches APN and you pay the standard tariff per MB!
Great tip Paul. Added to the article!
What about December 2014 or January 2015. Internet , calls and text prepaid for 4-5 Days.Mostly internet .Rates ?
Hi Heikki
Sorry.Late on this. TIM or Vodafone have both good deals. Hope you found something good?
I live in Italy and I think the best option for your phone is to buy a TIM sim card, which is free, but you are required to buy a minimum credit for phone calls, perhaps 5 or 10 €.
While doing this ask to enable the Internet access at € 2.05 per week.
So, up to a week of stay, you will spend only € 12.05, you will access internet everywhere (I think up to 1 GB of data per week) and you have also € 10 credit for some short calls to your relatives abroad or to your hotel.
Nothing cheaper, I bet!
Vinicio: ace tip! Thanks for this. I’ve updated the article and added your tip to it. Thank you!
We are travelling from Canada to Italy for two weeks. This article is great advice, but I don’t speak a lick of Italian but I’d like to pre-order my SIM. Can I do it through the TIM website?
Thanks!
Hi Denis
I am not sure if you can pre-order. Best bet is waiting till you come to Italy. Just back from Rome and there is no simcards available at Fiumincino airport. If you are coming to Termini station from Fiumincino or Ciampino airport, there is the TIM mobile phone store on the 2nd floor. I got a deal for 4 GB data ( 4g), 200 minutes calls abroad ( including Canada) for €50.
I am traveling to Italy and Austria for 16 days in May month. Which Sim card is best to buy for local calls in Italy and Austria, calls to India and Data services of up to 2gb 3G or 4G with good quality and cost effective. Where to buy the same in Italy. Will it available at Rome Airport ? Please reply soon. Thanks
Hi Dipen
Thanks for dropping by at my blog. Just back from Rome and there is not simcard available at the airport. If you are coming to Termini station from Fiumincino or Ciampino airport, there is the TIM mobile phone store on the 2nd floor. I got a deal for 4 GB data ( 4g), 200 minutes calls abroad ( including India) for €50. Don’t quote me on that but if memory serves me well…
Have a great trip
I am arriving in Bologna (BLQ) Airport on June 10 at around 1 pm in the afternoon and will be in Italy for 10-15 days to visit Venice, Rome, Florence etc.
I need a SIMM card with data. Can anyone help advise me where I can pick a SIMM Card either at the airport or somewhere close by there.
Many thanks
Hi Kamal
Spoke to my friend at the Bologna Tourism Board and says you should be able to buy a simcard at the Newsstand and Kiosk in Bologna Airport.
here the link to the shops http://www.bologna-airport.it/en/travellers/services-e-shopping-at-the-airport/terminal-maps/ground-floor.aspx?idC=61965&idO=159805&LN=en-US
Shame you are not spending anytime in Bologna. Such a beautiful city but I am sure you will have a great time in Venice, Rome and Florence.
Hi,
Many thanks. I will check at the airport upon arrival. Have also downloaded location of 2 TIM Stores not far from the airport and have printed out road maps to get there.
Forgot to mention in my earlier msg, I am actually spending the last 3 days of my trip in Bologna and flying out from there.
Many thanks again
Hi,We will land at Malpensa Airport in late June ,then will pick up our rental at the airport before we drive to Bologna. Is there a TIM store at the airport to pick up a prepaid sim card? We’ll stay in Bologna, then go up to Parma before we drive to Lake Garda then over to Lake Como before we ditch the car for our last days in Milano. Any suggestions or cheaper car locations than the airport? Thanks for any help.
Hi Donna
I am based in Portugal so I can’t answer your question. You can ask TIM on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TelecomItalia In Bologna for sure I know they have few store locations so you can buy from there. Have a great trip
Hello, I am wondering if I can do this trick when I am taking a 20day cruise in Italy? The Cruise will be MSC Fantasia which i believe is along the coasts of Italy.
I plan on buying a local simcard. Having unli-internet or a big package then using it as a hotspot/internet for my laptop.
2 Questions:
1.) Is the signal going to reach the Cruise ship?
2.) And I believe the Cruise will go also to spain and italy back and forth. So which mobile carrier is best for my plans?
Hey Mikee
I know the marketing guy at MSC Cruises so I’ve asked him 🙂 Reply coming soon
Best wishes
Kash
Wow thats great news! and a fast reply. Hope to hear from you and your marketing guy.
Hi,
Im going to visit Venis & Verona for 1 week, then next time to another cities in Italy everytime I have free time.
Was wondering is TIM still the cheapest for data plan?
I will only use it for FB ix a day, then checking emails, whatsapping & sometimes checking the maps.
Also was wondering if with TIM, I can turn-on / turn-off the internet access, because as stated by Vinicio “While doing this ask to enable the Internet access at € 2.05 per week”, so im assuming I can turn it on-off weekly.
Moreover, until when I can keep the credit because like I said I want to visit another italian cities within a year & I thin I will visit quiet often.
Thanx
Hi Ronald
I am based in Portugal so I sadly can’t give you this information. Worth dropping TIM a line maybe and asking them? Via Twitter https://twitter.com/TelecomItaliaTw or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TelecomItalia
Great article, it was very helpful. For a recent update, I just spent 1 month in Italy, May of 2016, and I used TIM. We walked into a TIM shop in Venice and asked about the tourist data-only option, which was 4GB for something like 35 Euros (I forgot exact price). Funnily enough there was a tourist deal on a 30 day SIM that also had 4GB data and some minutes and text as well, for a few Euros less, so we went with that. Maybe it was 30 Euros. We were only in the North, but I always had service, even high in the Alps. I used it in my unlocked iPhone.
I had read somewhere that after you buy a TIM SIM you need to wait a day before using data, otherwise the data plan won’t be activated yet and you’ll be paying high data rates, and won’t have enough credit for the actual plan to start. I don’t know if that’s true, but just in case I waited about 24 hours before using data and had no issue.
Magic Michela. Good to know. I will add your comment to the post. Thanks for the feedback!
Suggestion: if you want something really inexpensive, you just can go to a coop supermarket (the only problem could be the assistant not speaking English well)
for 5€/mth you get 100 min 100sms 1GiB (mins and text are valid only to italian numbers)
for 4€/mth 1GiB data traffic (Italy only)
for 6€/mth you get 2 GiB data traffic (Italy only)
for 9€/7days you get 500MiB of data to be used in any EU country.
sim usually cost 10€ with 5€ airtime
plans don’t require minimum subscription time nor activation fees.
it uses TIM network
you can top-up at every tobacco or ATM or supermarket or online
Sim lasts 2yr after top-up (instead of 1yr of other carriers)
Is there any option for us who need sim card with at least 10 gb of internet?