Italy – known for the Tower of Pisa, its food (pasta and pizza) & historical architecture (Ancient Rome and the Colosseum).
The country also has a lot to offer. From pleasant beaches to mountains you can sky off.
Italy is also the third-most visited country in Europe, behind France (86 million) and Spain (81 million – both figures are before the pandemic).
But that is due to the country being so diverse.
Italian food is almost worth dying for (okay, maybe not – but you get what I mean! 🤪). The weather is great all-year-round & there are many attractions.
Besides the Colosseum and the Tower of Pisa, you should also see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Pantheon.
Walking on Ponte Vecchio with all the small shops at it is an exciting experience too.
And if you love to party, Italy will be a great country for that too.
There should be no reason to be bored in Italy, I believe!
Dealing with an expensive international roaming bill will certainly not be enjoyable because you forgot to turn off international roaming.
That feature can be expensive, which is why I always recommend getting local SIM cards, like an Italian one, so that you can enjoy local rates.
Italian SIM cards are not cheap, but the prices could be much worse.
You can get an Italian SIM card for 10 EUR (11.10 USD) from TIM, Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), Vodafone & Iliad in their stores. Tourist SIM cards are sold for 20 EUR (22.90 USD) to 25 EUR (28.60). SIM cards are also sold at (Rome) Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO).
Special note for those from Ukraine: be sure to ask about special benefits for Ukrainians. Many mobile operators around Europe have waived fees for you or introduced exclusive plans, including free calls back to Ukraine. Слава Україні! 🇺🇦
Italy has the lowest mobile data rates in the European Union and in Europe in general.
The data allowances are generous, and most mobile operators have activated their 5G NR network, allowing anyone to use it.
One thing that is is unfortunate is that most mobile operators have plan activation fees, ranging from 6.99 EUR to a whopping 49.99 EUR.
When I say plan activation fee, I am not talking about the cost of a plan.
No, this is the fee you pay for the privilege of activating a plan on top of actually buying the plan.
If you live in Italy, or stay in the country for a few months, paying for the fee will pay itself off eventually due to the rather low plan costs.
However, if you are just visiting the country, the cost of SIM cards, plan activation fees & the plan costs will add up.
Sometimes, it may not even be worth getting an Italian SIM card.
Therefore, where relevant, I will give you some alternative options to reduce your expenses.
Otherwise, you would have been better off roaming (okay, not really, but still).
In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Italy. Let's do this.
Original publication: 9th of February 2022. Last updated: 19th of May 2022.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Italy?
Anyone 15 years or older living in or visiting Italy can buy an Italian SIM card from TIM, Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), Vodafone, Iliad & many MVNO with no restrictions.
You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.
Moreover, you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in Italy).
Furthermore, you need to have a SIM-lock-free device.
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Italy?
You can get an Italian SIM card in TIM, Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), Vodafone & Iliad stores. They are also sold at (Rome) Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO).
You can expect to pay the following for Italian SIM cards:
- TIM Italy: 10 EUR or 25 EUR (depending on the store)
- Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre): 10 EUR
- Vodafone Italy: 10 EUR
- Iliad: 9.99 EUR
- MVNOs (like Lycamobile Italy): being added later
The following Italian mobile operators also have SIM cards targetting tourists:
- TIM Italy: 20 EUR (TIM Tourist)
- Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre): 24.99 EUR (Tourist Pass)
- Vodafone Italy: 24.99 EUR (Dolce Vita)
For up-to-date EUR:your currency (let's say GBP) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Can You Use Your Phone in Italy?
Italy uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in Italy. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).
Traditional European frequencies are used in Italy, which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 and 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).
The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American frequencies, which differ from the European ones.
If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU regions 1 and 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in Italy.
If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then there is a possibility you cannot use your phone when in Italy or can only use slower networks (3G or 2G).
If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in Italy (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE and 5G NR.
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Italy
Italy has four mobile operators and various Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs – being added later) offering prepaid services:
- TIM (Telecom Italia)
- Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre)
- Vodafone Italy (Italia)
- Iliad
The following frequencies are used in Italy:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 900 MHz (Band 8), 1500 MHz (Band 32), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: 3500 MHz-3700 MHz (n78)
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in Italy, check out this page by Will My Phone Work (may be outdated or inaccurate at times).
Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).
If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.
A Note about Prepaid Plans in Italy
With some mobile operators, especially the Big Four (TIM Italy, Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), Vodafone Italy & Iliad), there are no dedicated prepaid plans.
Instead, prepaid and postpaid customers can choose whatever plan is offered by the Italian mobile operators.
By default, the plans will renew automatically, like all postpaid plans and many prepaid plans offered by mobile operators worldwide.
Postpaid, or abbonamento, charges get automatically withdrawn from your bank account, credit card, or debit card.
However, in most cases, only Italian accounts are accepted, so that is not an option for a traveler.
Especially because you need a codice fiscale (tax code).
Instead, ask for your plan to be ricaricabile (rechargeable).
Be aware that when I mention plans later in this guide, the prices or allowances may be higher (prices) or lower (allowances) than the screenshots of the plans.
That is because you may be charged more for a plan when it is rechargable or your allowance is less.
VoLTE & VoWiFi in Italy
VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) is availablein Italy, and it is offered by all mobile operators. However, VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFi calling) is not available.
This means that your phone does not have to downgrade to 2G or 3G when making a call in Italy (unlike mobile operators that do not support VoLTE).
The following mobile operators offer VoLTE only in Italy:
- TIM Italy
- Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre)
- Vodafone Italy
- Iliad
VoWiFi is, as the name implies, calling on a WiFi connection as opposed to on a cellular network.
5G NR in Italy
Commercial 5G NR has been available in Italy since June 2019. It is available on the TIM, Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), Vodafone & Iliad networks. 5G NR is offered to prepaid and postpaid customers with most plans without any surcharges.
Best SIM Card in Italy
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Italy, I recommend going with TIM, Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), Vodafone, or Iliad. TIM has the best coverage with Vodafone. The latter also has the best overall network and the fastest 5G NR speeds. Wind Tre has the fastest 4G/LTE network. Iliad is the cheapest.
- Find out about the best local SIM cards in every country (lookup tool)
Best eSIM in Italy
TIM, Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), Vodafone & Iliad offer eSIMs to prepaid customers – all for the same price as a regular physical SIM card.
However, with plan activation fees between 6.99 EUR to 49.99 EUR (!), it may be cheaper and more convenient to purchase a travel eSIM.
You can get the Italy (Mamma Mia) eSIMs from Airalo.
You have these four options:
- Italy/Mamma Mia 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
- Italy/Mamma Mia 3 GB eSIM for 30 days
- Italy/Mamma Mia 5 GB eSIM for 30 days
- Italy/Mamma Mia 10 GB eSIM for 30 days
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Or you can get Italy eSIMs from Nomad.
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps).
- Check out my Nomad eSIM reviews
For Airalo eSIMs, the links above will automatically get you the Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers available – a code is not necessary.
With these eSIMs, you can skip Italy's SIM card registration scheme entirely and use it immediately upon arriving in Italy!
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, travel eSIMs & travel SIM cards for every country (lookup tool)
If you plan on visiting other neighboring European nations, consider the Eurolink eSIM (six variants: 1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days, 50 GB/90 days & 100 GB/180 days) in Italy and these other countries:
With the Eurolink eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit – averaging 6 USD/country in Europe!
- Check out my Airalo Eurolink eSIM review (tested in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia & Spain)
Not staying in just Europe? Get the Discover Global eSIM with 1 GB of data (7 days – multiple top-ups available) for Italy and these other countries:
TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in Italy and eSIMs worldwide).
Best International/Travel SIM Card for Italy
If you want to buy the best international/travel SIM card for Italy, I recommend going with SimCorner's Europe SIM cards that covers Europe (mainly the European Union) and parts Asia, Central America & South America – all in one SIM card.
However, with plan activation fees between 6.99 EUR to 49.99 EUR, it may be cheaper and more convenient to purchase a travel SIM card.
You have these four options:
- Europe Travel SIM card with 7 GB for 30 days (includes calls)
- Europe & UK Travel SIM card with 12 GB for 30 days (includes calls, SMS & data use in Asia, Central America & South America)
- UK and Europe Travel SIM card with 100 GB for 30 days (includes calls and SMS)
- Europe Data SIM card with 12 GB for 60 days (includes data use in Asia, Central America & South America)
- Check out my SimCorner Europe Travel SIM cards review (12 GB & 100 GB SIM cards – tested in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia & Spain)
The SimCorner Europe SIM cards can be used in Italy and the following other countries:
SimCorner's Europe & UK Travel SIM card (12 GB for 30 days) & Europe Data SIM card (12 GB for 60 days) can also be used in the following Asian, Central American & South American countries:
If this selection of countries is still not enough, get SimCorner's International SIM card with 6 GB of data for 15 days to be used in Africa, the Americas (all), Asia, Europe (also outside of the European Union), the Middle East & Oceania (100+ countries).
Instead of spending between 5 USD to 15 USD for SIM cards in each country, get a SimCorner travel SIM card covering numerous countries for just one price!
Use discount code PHONETRAVELWIZ for extra savings!
- Check out my SimCorner Travel SIM card reviews
SIM Card Registration in Italy
SIM card registration with your passport information is required in Italy. It will be done at the point of sale.
- Find out which countries have a SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
EU Roaming in Italy
Italy is part of the European Union (EU).
Since June 2017, those with EU/EEA (European Economic Area) SIM cards can roam for free in other EU/EEA nations, including Italy.
This means that, in the majority of cases, you do not need to purchase an Italian SIM card if you already have an EU/EEA SIM card because you can roam without additional costs.
However, conditions do apply. Mobile operators in some countries may impose a roaming Fair Use Policy (FUP).
In countries where local mobile data rates are extremely low (such as in the Baltics and Nordics), mobile operators may still charge you for roaming in the EU/EEA.
Be sure to head over to the international roaming page to learn whether your mobile operator offers free roaming while in Italy or if restrictions apply.
Roaming in the EU with Italian SIM Cards
Italy and the Italian mobile operators have largely adopted the roam like at home regulations principles early on.
However, some plans have an EU/EEA roaming cap.
Moreover, the standard Fair Use Policy applies where you should not be roaming over 50% of the time over a four-month period.
If you do so, EU roaming rates will apply. You are then better off buying local prepaid SIM cards in other EU nations.
Using Italian SIM Cards in San Marino and Vatican City
San Marino is a country within the borders of Italy. The same counts for Vatican City, although the latter is within the boundaries of Metropolitan Rome.
Both countries, city-states, nation-states, or whatever you want to call them, have their own government.
However, there is no official border crossing or passport checks when entering San Marino or Vatican City.
Due to the size of Vatican City, it does not have a domestic mobile operator – so you cannot buy a Vatican SIM card, as there is none.
Instead, the Italian mobile operators cover Vatican City in full.
You will have good reception throughout the entirety of the city.
San Marino, which is significantly larger than Vatican City, does have a mobile operator – TIM San Marino (which was called San Marino Telecom (SMT) only a week before writing this section.
SMT did not sell prepaid SIM cards anymore for many years – it may do so (again) now that it is part of TIM.
Even then, it is unnecessary to buy a Sammarinese SIM card because the Italian mobile operators also cover all of San Marino.
However, reception and speeds may suffer (slightly) the more inland you go.
Italy Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights
Italy has the lowest mobile data rates in Europe.
Depending on your definition of Europe, Kyrgyzstan may hold that title.
It has an average price of 1 GB of 0.15 USD – the second-lowest in the world (behind Israel).
Italy's average cost of 1 GB of data places it in 4th place.
So, how low is it?
The average price for 1 GB of data in Italy is 1.24 USD, below the European average of 2.50 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.
Italy is one of the 53 countries where the average cost of 1 GB of data is less than 1 USD.
As you can see in the table above, prices have gone down over the years.
Compared to 2019, the average cost of 1 GB of data has decreased by 84.4%.
Cable.co.uk split Europe into three territories: Western Europe, Eastern Europe & the Baltics.
The Western European average cost of 1 GB of data, using Cable.co.uk's definition, is 2.66 USD, which is just slightly more than the overall European average.
With these low rates, does it mean that mobile data speeds are (s)low too? Not at all.
Italy's median mobile download speed is around 36 Mbps.
Italy's mobile download speed is close to the global mean of 30 Mbps.
While many other countries in Europe have much faster mobile download speeds than Italy (including northern neighbor Switzerland, with a median download speed twice as fast as Italy's), it is not slow at all – from a global perspective.
Okay, now it is time to know which mobile operator is the fastest in Italy.
That would be Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), with a median download of 37.11 Mbps. Followed by Iliad (31.94 Mbps), Vodafone Italy (29.36 Mbps) & TIM Italy (25.62 Mbps).
Fast mobile download speeds can be found in Bologna, Florence & Naples, with median download speeds of 38.22 Mbps, 32.72 Mbps & 26.03 Mbps, respectively.
Okay, those numbers were related to 4G/LTE. Who is winning the 5G NR race (for now)?
The mobile operator with the best 5G NR speeds is TIM, with an average download speed of 273.7 Mbps – more than double Vodafone's average 5G NR download speed (126.2 Mbps). Followed by Iliad (103.5 Mbps) and Wind Tre (64.7 Mbps).
This is quite interesting because TIM has the slowest 4G/LTE speeds at the moment, while Wind Tre has the superior 4G/LTE network (in terms of speed).
But when looking at 5G NR, the tables have turned. TIM is outshining its competitors, while Wind Tre is lagging behind.
TIM is still the best performing one when talking about the overall 5G NR network performance.
Although it has to share its throne with Iliad and Vodafone for some categories (5G Games, Video & Voice App experience).
Wind Tre does, however, have the best 5G NR reach and availability – and not by a little too.
So, all this 5G NR talk is fun… but what if you do not have a 5G NR compatible device?
Which mobile operator has the best overall 4G/LTE network?
That would be Vodafone. But remember, TIM has the best 4G/LTE coverage, and Wind Tre has the fastest 4G/LTE speeds.
Oh, and Iliad is the cheapest, with the most expensive plan costing only 9.99 EUR giving you 5G NR access too (and 120 GB of data).
So no wonder that the average cost of mobile data is so low in Italy, ha 🤪.
With reasonable SIM card prices, extensive nationwide coverage, decent mobile download speeds, and incredibly low mobile data rates, you should have a smooth network experience in Italy.
Currency in Italy
Italy uses the Euro with the symbol EUR (which will be used throughout this guide).
However, prices are often listed as just €. For example, 25 EUR = €25.
For reference, below are some exchange rates between EUR and USD (US Dollars):
- 1 EUR = 1.20 USD
- 10 EUR = 12.15 USD
- 100 EUR = 121.55 USD
For up-to-date EUR:your currency (let's say USD) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.
Their fees are MUCH lower than banks, and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).
I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Euros, my main currency, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards. Open a Wise account FREE!
Italian Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through TIM Italy, Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), Vodafone Italy, Iliad & many MVNOs that will be added later, and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices & availability
- Recharge / top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans & special packs (such as social media packs)
With that being said, let’s see what Italy has to offer to us.
TIM Italy (Telecom Italia)
TIM Italy (Telecom Italia) is the largest mobile operator in Italy.
It used to be a state-owned mobile operator until it was privatized.
To this day, it is still massive ahead of its competitors in terms of customers (about 10 million more with 30 million subscribers).
TIM is also active in Brazil as TIM Brasil, where it is the third-largest mobile operator with almost double the subscriber numbers than in Italy.
It recently overtook San Marino Telecom (SMT) and rebranded it into TIM San Marino.
TIM uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1500 MHz (Band 32), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: 3700 MHz (n78)
- VoLTE: Yes
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about TIM:
* Coverage
* How to Get a TIM SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* My TIM Review (in Catania & Rome)
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – TIM Italy
TIM has the best coverage throughout Italy.
It also won the Italy Best Mobile Coverage Speedtest Award of 2021.
Below is TIM's coverage map:
SIM Card Price – TIM Italy
You can get a TIM SIM card for 10 EUR with 5 EUR credit or 25 EUR with 20 EUR credit in TIM stores. The Tourist SIM card, called TIM Tourist, costs 20 EUR with 15 GB of data, 8.6 GB EU/EEA data, unlimited chat data 1, 200 local/international minutes 2 for 30 days. TIM SIM cards are also sold at (Rome) Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO).
1 for Facebook Messenger, iMessage, IMO, Skype, Snapchat, Telegram, Viber, WeChat & WhatsApp
2 to Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan & Venezuela
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
It is also possible to get a TIM eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.
TIM does not have a complete list of which devices are supported, except for stating that Huawei, iPhones & Samsung phones can use eSIM.
So I assume the standard phones are supported (Huawei P40 series, iPhone 11/12/13 series & Samsung (Galaxy (Note) (S)20 & 21 series).
While mobile data is insanely cheap in Italy, also with TIM, the cost of SIM cards is on the higher end for European standards.
Moreover, TIM charges a 9 EUR activation cost for activating plans (and 19 EUR if you decide to switch plans).
Therefore, I recommend getting the TIM Tourist SIM card (with no 5G NR yet, unfortunately, but no activation fees either), the SimCorner Italy Travel SIM card, or the Italy (Mamma Mia) eSIMs from Airalo (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days & 10 GB/30 days).
Or get the Eurolink eSIMs covering Italy and 35+ other European countries (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days, 50 GB/90 days & 100 GB/180 days).
Finally, you have the Discover Global eSIM for use in Italy and 80+ other countries worldwide (1 GB/7 days with top-ups available up to 20 GB/180 days).
Using one of these methods can, in many cases, be (much) cheaper than getting a TIM SIM card with a plan due to the high entry costs (SIM card price and plan activation costs).
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, travel eSIMs & travel SIM cards for every country (lookup tool)
Note that TIM offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and if you have enabled it in the settings but no VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).
TIM SIM cards get deactivated if there has been no activity for 13 months (no top-up for 13 months or no activity for 13 months).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – TIM Italy
TIM top-up vouchers are sold in TIM stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Italy.
The following (online) TIM top-ups are available:
- 4 EUR
- 6 EUR
- 12 EUR
- 17 EUR
- 22 EUR
- 25 EUR
- 50 EUR
To top up your TIM SIM card, text the VoucherCode to 40916.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would text 123456 to 40916.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Call 40916 and select option 1 or send a blank SMS (or whatever if your phone will not allow for sending blank texts) to 119 to check your TIM balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the MyTIM app (Android/iOS/Huawei AppGallery).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – TIM Italy
- Giga e Minuti/Data and Minutes (combo)
- Flat Day (data)
- Supergiga (data for data-only SIM card)
- Data Add-Ons (as the name implies)
Giga e Minuti (Data and Minutes) Plans – TIM Italy
The Giga e Minuti (Data and Minutes) Plans are combo plans with data (some with 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
Note that the TIM Young plan is for the youth (up to 25 years old), and the TIM 60+ is for the seniors (60+ years old).
The following Giga e Minuti are available, which initially have to be activated in a TIM store:
Remember: TIM charges a 9 EUR plan activation fee, which is not included in the prices below
| Price | Plan | Data | EU/EEA Data | 5G NR Access? | Local/EU Minutes 1 | Local/EU SMS 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.99 EUR | TIM Young | 50 GB | 20 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
| 12.99 EUR | TIM 60+ | 6 GB | Shared with data allowance | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
| 15.99 EUR | Executive Mobile | 40 GB | 11 GB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
| 19.99 EUR | Magnifica Mobile | 100 GB | 14 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
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)
Flat Day – TIM Italy
The Flat Day is not a plan. Instead, it is the default data rate.
If you do not purchase a data-featured plan and use data, you will be charged 2 EUR and get 500 MB until midnight.
If you go over your 500 MB data allowance, you can still browse the web @ 32 Kbps until midnight.
Supergiga Plans – TIM Italy
The Supergiga Plans are data-only bundles (mostly without 5G NR access) for the TIM data-only SIM card.
The following Supergiga are available, which initially have to be activated in a TIM store:
| Price | Plan | Data | EU/EEA Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.99 EUR | Supergiga 20 | 20 GB | 6 GB | 1 month |
| 13.99 EUR | Supergiga 50 | 50 GB | 8 GB | 1 month |
| 19.99 EUR | Supergiga 100 | 100 GB 1 | 16 GB | 3 months |
| 49.99 EUR | Internet 100 GB | 100 GB | 50 GB | 6 months |
| 99.99 EUR | Internet 200 GB | 200 GB | 50 GB | 1 year |
1 5G NR access
Data Add-Ons – TIM Italy
The Data Add-Ons are, as the name implies, data add-ons. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.
The following Data Add-Ons are available, which can be activated on the MyTIM app:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.99 EUR | Giga Day | 10 GB | Until midnight |
| 4.99 EUR | Giga Week | 10 GB | 7 days |
EU Roaming – TIM Italy
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.
My Review – TIM Italy
I had the chance to try out TIM Italy again in March 2022.
While it is still the second-largest mobile operator in Italy, its performance is weak compared to its competitors.
TIM has various shortcomings, but I would still recommend it.
You can read my TIM review here.
APN/Internet Settings – TIM Italy
- Name: WAP TIM
- APN: wap.tim.it
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Wind Tre (formerly Wind & 3 Italy)
Wind Tre, formerly just Wind and Tre (3) Italy, is the second-largest mobile operator in Italy.
The mobile operator is a merger of Wind and Tre, the then third- and fourth-largest mobile operators in the country.
With the merger, it overtook Vodafone Italy in terms of customers.
Moreover, the combined assets (towers and frequencies) resulted in Wind Tre becoming the mobile operator with the fastest mobile download speeds in the country (for 4G/LTE at least).
You may know 3 as a mobile operator that is active in Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Indonesia, Macau, Sweden & the United Kingdom.
Wind Tre uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1500 MHz (Band 32), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: 3700 MHz (n78)
- VoLTE: Yes
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about Wind Tre:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Wind Tre SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Wind Tre (formerly Wind & 3 Italy)
Wind Tre has the best 5G NR coverage throughout Italy.
This was also confirmed by Opensignal.
Below is Wind Tre's coverage map:
SIM Card Price – Wind Tre (formerly Wind & 3 Italy)
You can get a Wind Tre SIM card for 10 EUR in Wind Tre stores. The Tourist SIM card, called Tourist Pass, costs 24.99 EUR with 20 GB of local data, 100 local minutes & 100 international minutes 1 for 30 days. Wind Tre SIM cards are not sold at (Rome) Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO).
1 to Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom & the United States
While the Tourist Pass cannot be extended (30-day validity), you can renew the plan if you have exhausted the plan by texting PASS RESTART to 4033 for 14.99 EUR.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
It is also possible to get a Wind Tre eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.
Wind Tre does not have a complete list of which devices are supported, except for stating that Huawei, iPhones & Samsung phones can use eSIM.
So I assume the standard phones are supported (Huawei P40 series, iPhone 11/12/13 series & Samsung (Galaxy (Note) (S)20 & 21 series).
While mobile data is insanely cheap in Italy, also with Wind Tre, the combination of the SIM card price, plan activation costs & the prices of plans can add up (10 EUR for the SIM card + 6.99 EUR/49.99 (!) EUR plan activation cost + plan cost (minimum of 9.99 EUR) can add up quickly for short-term travelers.
You better not change your mind and switch plans, as you will be charged another 6.99 (re-)activation fee.
Therefore, I recommend getting the Wind Tre Tourist Pass SIM card (with no 5G NR yet and no EU roaming, unfortunately, but no activation fees either), the SimCorner Italy Travel SIM card, or the Italy (Mamma Mia) eSIMs from Airalo (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days & 10 GB/30 days).
Or get the Eurolink eSIMs covering Italy and 35+ other European countries (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days, 50 GB/90 days & 100 GB/180 days).
Finally, you have the Discover Global eSIM for use in Italy and 80+ other countries worldwide (1 GB/7 days with top-ups available up to 20 GB/180 days).
Using one of these methods can, in many cases, be (much) cheaper than getting a Wind Tre SIM card with a plan due to the high entry costs (SIM card price and plan activation costs).
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, travel eSIMs & travel SIM cards for every country (lookup tool)
Note that Wind Tre offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and if you have enabled it in the settings but no VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).
Wind Tre SIM cards get deactivated if there has been no activity for 13 months (no top-up for 13 months or no activity for 13 months).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Wind Tre (formerly Wind & 3 Italy)
Wind Tre top-up vouchers are sold in Wind Tre stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Italy.
The following (online) Wind Tre top-ups are available:
- 5 EUR
- 10 EUR
- 15 EUR
- 25 EUR
- 50 EUR
To top up your Wind Tre SIM card, call 4242 and follow the instructions.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Dial *123# to check your Wind Tre balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the WINDTRE app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Wind Tre (formerly Wind & 3 Italy)
Wind Tre has two data-featured plans: Di Più Plans (combo) & Solo Internet (data).
Di Più Plans – Wind Tre (formerly Wind & 3 Italy)
The Di Più Plans are combo bundles with data (with 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
Note that the Young 5G plan is for the youth (up to 30 years old).
Unfortunately, the elderly cannot get this plan 🤪.
The following Di Puì Plans are available, which initially have to be activated in a Wind Tre store:
Remember: Wind Tre charges a 6.99 EUR plan activation fee, which is not included in the prices below
| Price | Plan | Data | EU/EEA Data | Local/EU Minutes 1 | International Minutes 2 | Local/EU SMS 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.99 EUR | Young 5G | 40 GB | 5.9 GB | Unlimited | N/A | Unlimited | 1 month |
| 12.99 EUR | Di Più Lite 5G | 25 GB | 8.6 GB | Unlimited | N/A | 200 SMS | 1 month |
| 14.99 EUR | Di Più Full 5G | 50 GB | 9.9 GB | Unlimited | 50 minutes | 200 SMS | 1 month |
| 29.99 EUR | Di Più Unlimited 5G | Unlimited | 19.7 GB | Unlimited | 200 minutes | 200 SMS | 1 month |
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)
2 to Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom & the United States
Solo Internet Plans – Wind Tre (formerly Wind & 3 Italy)
The Solo Internet Plans are data-only bundles (without 5G NR access).
Solo Internet Plans can be activated on the WINDTRE app:
Remember: Wind Tre charges a 49.99 EUR plan activation fee for the Cube Lite and Cube Full plans, which is not included in the prices below. You are better off going with the Internet Card plans, which Wind Tre does not charge activation fees for
| Price | Plan | Data | EU/EEA Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.99 EUR | Cube Lite | 20 GB | 6.6 GB | 1 month |
| 12.99 EUR | Cube Full | 75 GB | 8.6 GB | 1 month |
| 19.99 EUR | Internet Card | 100 GB | 13.2 GB | 3 months |
| 24.99 EUR | Internet Card 200 | 200 GB | 16.4 GB | 3 months |
EU Roaming – Wind Tre (formerly Wind & 3 Italy)
You can use your Wind Tre 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.
APN/Internet Settings – Wind Tre (formerly Wind & 3 Italy)
- Name: WINDTRE
- APN: internet.it
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Vodafone Italy (Italia)
Vodafone Italy (Italia) is the third-largest mobile operator in Italy.
It used to be the second-largest mobile operator until Wind and Tre (3) Italy merged into Wind Tre.
Vodafone is the mobile operator with the best overall (4G/LTE) network performance.
Vodafone, as a company, is active in Africa (mostly as Vodacom), Asia, Europe, the Middle East & Oceania.
Vodafone uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: N/A – shut down for 4G/LTE and 5G NR refarming
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: 3700 MHz (n78)
- VoLTE: Yes
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about Vodafone:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Vodafone SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Vodafone Italy
Vodafone has extensive coverage throughout Italy.
It has the best 4G/LTE availability.
This was also confirmed by Opensignal.
Below is Vodafone's coverage map:
SIM Card Price – Vodafone Italy
You can get a Vodafone SIM card for 10 EUR with 5 EUR credit in Vodafone stores. The Tourist SIM card, called Dolce Vita, costs 24.99 EUR with 30 GB of data, 15 GB EU/EEA roaming data, unlimited social media data 1 & 600 local/international minutes 2 for 1 month. Vodafone SIM cards are not sold at (Rome) Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO).
1 for Facebook, Instagram, Waze & WhatsApp
2 to Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States & Venezuela
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
It is also possible to get a Vodafone eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.
Vodafone does not have a complete list of which devices are supported, except for stating that Huawei, iPhones & Samsung phones can use eSIM.
So I assume the standard phones are supported (Huawei P40 series, iPhone 11/12/13 series & Samsung (Galaxy (Note) (S)20 & 21 series).
While mobile data is insanely cheap in Italy, also with Vodafone, the cost of SIM cards is on the higher end for European standards.
Moreover, Vodafone charges a 6.99 EUR activation cost for activating plans.
Therefore, I recommend getting the Vodafone Dolce Vita Tourist SIM card (with no 5G NR yet, unfortunately, but no activation fees either), the SimCorner Italy Travel SIM card, or the Italy (Mamma Mia) eSIMs from Airalo (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days & 10 GB/30 days).
Or get the Eurolink eSIMs covering Italy and 35+ other European countries (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days, 50 GB/90 days & 100 GB/180 days).
Finally, you have the Discover Global eSIM for use in Italy and 80+ other countries worldwide (1 GB/7 days with top-ups available up to 20 GB/180 days).
Using one of these methods can, in many cases, be (much) cheaper than getting a Vodafone SIM card with a plan due to the high entry costs (SIM card price and plan activation costs).
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, travel eSIMs & travel SIM cards for every country (lookup tool)
Note that Vodafone offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and if you have enabled it in the settings but no VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).
Vodafone SIM cards get deactivated if there has been no activity for 13 months (no top-up for 13 months or no activity for 13 months).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Vodafone Italy
Vodafone top-up vouchers are sold in Vodafone stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Italy.
The following (online) Vodafone top-ups are available:
- 5 EUR
- 10 EUR
- 15 EUR
- 25 EUR
- 50 EUR
To top up your Vodafone SIM card, text the VoucherCode to 42010.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would text 123456 to 42010.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
You can also recharge online with (international/EU) debit and credit cards.
Call 414 to check your Vodafone balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the My Vodafone Italia app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Vodafone Italy
- Shake It (combo for the youth)
- Red Max (combo)
- Infinito (combo)
- Giga Speed (data)
Shake It Plans – Vodafone Italy
The Shake It Plans are combo plans with data (and 5G NR access), minutes & SMS for the youth (up to 30 years old).
Unfortunately, the elderly cannot get one of these plans 🤪.
The following Shake It Plans are available, which initially have to be activated in a Vodafone store:
Remember: Vodafone charges a 6.99 EUR plan activation fee, which is not included in the prices below
| Price | Plan | Data | EU/EEA Data | Local/EU Minutes 1 | Local/EU SMS 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.99 EUR | Shake It Fun (25 years) | 50 GB | 10 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
| 14.99 EUR | Shake It Easy (30 years) | 100 GB | 20 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
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)
Red Max Plan – Vodafone Italy
The Red Max Plan is a combo plan costing 19.99 EUR with 100 GB (with 5G NR access), unlimited local/EU minutes & unlimited local/EU SMS for 1 month.
Red Max can be activated on the Vodafone Italia app.
Remember: Vodafone charges a 6.99 EUR plan activation fee, which is not included in the prices above and below
| Price | Plan | Data | Local/EU Minutes 1 | Local/EU SMS 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.99 EUR | Red Max | 100 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
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)
Infinito Plans – Vodafone Italy
The Infinito Plans are combo plans with unlimited data (and 5G NR access), unlimited (local) minutes & unlimited SMS.
The following Infinito Plans are available, which can be activated on the My Vodafone Italia app:
Remember: Vodafone charges a 6.99 EUR plan activation fee, which is not included in the prices below
| Price | Plan | Data | EU/EEA Data | World Roaming 2 | Local/EU Minutes 1 | International Minutes 3 | World Roaming Minutes 2 | Local/EU SMS 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36.99 EUR | Infinito | Unlimited @ 10 Mbps | 21.9 GB | 1 GB | Unlimited | 1000 minutes | 200 minutes | Unlimited | 1 month |
| 59.99 EUR | Infinito Black | Unlimited | 32.8 GB | 5 GB | Unlimited | 1000 minutes | 500 minutes | Unlimited | 1 month |
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)
2 in Albania, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey & the United States
3 the EU/EEA and Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand & the United States
Giga Speed Plans – Vodafone Italy
The Giga Speed Plans are data-only plans (without 5G NR access).
The following Giga Speed Plans are available, which initially have to be activated in a Vodafone store:
Remember: Vodafone charges a 10 EUR plan activation fee (not 6.99 EUR like the other plans), which is not included in the prices below
| Price | Plan | Data | EU/EEA Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.99 EUR | Giga Speed 20 | 20 GB | 5.5 GB | 1 month |
| 13.99 EUR | Giga Speed 50 | 50 GB | 7.7 GB | 1 month |
EU Roaming – Vodafone Italy
You can use your Vodafone 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.
APN/Internet Settings – Vodafone Italy
- Name: Vodafone IT
- APN: mobile.vodafone.it
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Iliad
Iliad is the smallest mobile operator in Italy.
However, it is the cheapest option out there (of the Big Four).
In fact, you will not pay more than 10 EUR for a plan with Iliad, which features 120 GB of data, 7 GB EU/EEA data, unlimited local/EU minutes & unlimited local/EU minutes for 1 month.
And Iliad has promised that it will never raise its prices, even though it keeps increasing the allowances of its plans.
You can say that Iliad singlehandedly managed to drop telecommunication prices in Italy by around half due to its pricing strategy – even though mobile data rates were already low in the country.
As Wind and Tre (3) Italy decided to merge into Wind Tre, a fourth mobile operator was allowed to enter the Italian telecom market, which Iliad won.
Iliad is by the same group that owns Free Mobile France, which also disrupted the telecommunications market in France.
Anyway, while Iliad is the cheapest, its coverage still lacks behind the competitors (will be discussed later), so does its speed.
But you will not have any issues with Iliad in most cases.
Iliad uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: N/A – never had it
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: 3500 MHz (n78)
- VoLTE: Yes
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about Iliad:
* Coverage
* How to Get an Iliad SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Iliad
Iliad has the worst coverage in Italy.
However, you will still have cellular reception almost everywhere.
Below is Iliad's coverage map:
SIM Card Price – Iliad
You can get an Iliad SIM card for 9.99 EUR in Iliad stores. Iliad SIM cards are not sold at (Rome) Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO).
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
It is also possible to get an Iliad eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.
Iliad does not have a complete list of which devices are supported, except for stating that Huawei, iPhones & Samsung phones can use eSIM.
So I assume the standard phones are supported (Huawei P40 series, iPhone 11/12/13 series & Samsung (Galaxy (Note) (S)20 & 21 series).
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, travel eSIMs & travel SIM cards for every country (lookup tool)
Unlike Iliad's competitors, it does not charge plan activation fees.
Moreover, you will not spend more than 9.99 EUR for a plan (Giga 120) – and that one features 120 GB of data.
So yeah, Iliad is the most affordable option in Italy of the Big Four (even though Iliad has ten million customers less than #3 – Vodafone Italy).
Note that Iliad offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and if you have enabled it in the settings but no VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Iliad
Iliad top-ups are sold in Iliad stores, kiosks & electronics shops throughout Italy.
To top-up your Iliad SIM card, follow the instructions given on the Iliad Sim-Box machine.
You can also recharge online with (international/EU) debit and credit cards.
You can check your balance online.
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Iliad
Iliad has one data-featured plan: Plans. It may not even be called plans, but it has no clear name.
Anyway, it is a combo bundle with data, minutes & SMS.
These Plans are available, which can be activated online.
| Price | Plan | Data | EU/EEA Data | Local/EU Minutes 1 | Local/EU SMS 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.99 EUR | Voce | 40 MB | Shared with data allowance | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
| 7.99 EUR | Giga 80 | 80 GB | 6 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
| 9.99 EUR | Giga 120 | 120 GB 2 | 7 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 month |
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)
2 5G NR access
You also get a call allowance for international use. However, they can only used for calling fixedline phones.
EU Roaming – Iliad
You can use your Iliad 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.
APN/Internet Settings – Iliad
- Name: Iliad
- APN: iliad
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Other Ways to Stay Connected When Traveling in Italy
The cheapest way to get online in Italy is to get a SIM card from one of the mobile operators unless you have an EU/EEA SIM card and can roam for free in Italy.
However, local SIM cards are not your only method of staying online when abroad.
Below are some other options to consider.
International Roaming
Roaming is the most convenient way to stay connected.
You do not have to buy a new SIM card, and people at home can easily reach you on your current phone number.
However, roaming has many downsides as well. It can be insanely expensive.
International/Travel SIM Cards
International SIM cards or travel SIM cards are SIM cards made for travelers.
The rates charged are often lower than international roaming, but they are almost always higher than what local mobile operators will charge you.
Get to know more about international and travel SIM cards.
Mobile Hotspots (Pocket WIFI)
Mobile hotspots, or pocket WIFI, are small devices that connect to the local mobile operators of the country you are visiting.
Mobile hotspots are ideal for families or those traveling in a large group, as they allow you to connect multiple devices to one hotspot without the need of each traveler having to buy a SIM card.
You can either buy a mobile hotspot or rent one.
Free WIFI Networks
Nothing beats free, right? Paying nothing to stay connected may be the best option.
Until you remember that free hotspots are not available everywhere (especially when on the move) and that free connections are often extremely slow.
Just make sure to protect your internet traffic with a VPN when connected to open WIFI connections. It is worth it.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Italy
Getting a SIM card from TIM, Wind Tre, Vodafone, or Iliad would do you well when considering an Italian SIM card.
Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other European Countries
Visiting other countries in Europe? Check out my Europe SIM card buying guide, covering other European nations, such as:
Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.
Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences
Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do:
Support Phone Travel Wiz
It takes a lot of time to analyze, translate & review the SIM card options worldwide (especially to test them out).
Your support helps me keep producing impartial content by eliminating the need to recommend international SIM cards as the best local SIM card (but some of them CAN be useful).
Every Ko-Fi donation, one-time or monthly, helps me to spend more time creating local SIM card buying guides.
Check Out My Resource Page
Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience?
Check out my travel resources page for the best companies to use when you travel!
Save money with international SIM cards, on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises & accommodation.
Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!
Start Your Own Online Business – Make Money While Traveling
Do you want to learn how I started an online business that allows me to generate income while traveling?
In my starting an online business guide, I tell you which tools, services & products I have for this site and my YouTube channel.
If I can start a business about something I am passionate about (phone travel), then you can do it too!
Learn About Your Phone Travel Options
You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally.
Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.
Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks
I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out!
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A lot of useful videos are uploaded multiple times a week, and you do not want to miss out on them!
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