Portugal: Buy the Best SIM Cards | 2024 Guide

Portugal – known for its seafood dishes, beaches & architecture.

It is also sometimes called Spain‘s brother, but the Portuguese do not always like to hear it.

They hate it much more if you ask them if they speak Brazillian 🤪 (no, seriously – do not ask that question).

While Greece, Italy & Spain get most of the travelers from up north who want to escape the cold in their own countries and enjoy some sun down south, Portugal is also a popular winter retreat.

But the country, especially the Azores and Madeira, is popular in general, mostly because of its favorable climate.

Besides enjoying the beaches, you can also see many famous landmarks, like Belém Tower and Castelo de S. Jorge.

The Luís I Bridge is rather iconic too, as is Livraria Lello's staircase.

And do not forget about LxFactory and the Time Out Market in Lisbon.

There is no reason to be bored in Portugal. And if you are, enjoy the beaches.

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 a Portuguese one, so that you can enjoy local rates.

SIM cards are not too expensive in Portugal, but they are not cheap either.

You can get a Portuguese SIM card for between 2.50 EUR (2.70 USD) to 30 EUR (32.10 USD) from MEO, 10 EUR (10.70 USD) to 40 EUR (42.80 USD) from NOS & 9.90 EUR to 30 EUR from Vodafone. SIM cards are also sold at Lisbon-Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) and Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO).

Okay, these price ranges are not low at all.

But the 40 EUR NOS SIM card, for example, is a data-only SIM card with unlimited data for 30 days.

And the same applies to the expensive MEO (by Altice) and Vodafone Portugal SIM cards.

So if you already know you will use a lot of data and stay in the country for a month, that starter SIM card will be the best – you would not have to buy a plan for it anyway.

So, what else do you need to know about Portuguese SIM cards? A lot if you want to be informed and save a lot of money.

In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Portugal. Let's get started, shall we?

Original publication: 4th of February 2022. Last updated: 10th of November 2023.

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Table of Contents

What is the Best SIM Card in Portugal?

If you want to buy the best SIM card in Portugal, I recommend going with MEO or NOS. MEO and NOS have the best coverage throughout the country (including in the Azores and Madeira). NOS has the fastest speeds.

So, who are all these mobile operators and what options are available for you?

Portugal has three mobile operators and six Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) offering prepaid services easily accessible to tourists:

• MEO (by Altice Portugal)
• NOS Portugal
• Vodafone Portugal
• Lycamobile Portugal (Vodafone Portugal MVNO)
• Moche Portugal (MEO Portugal youth sub-brand)
• Uzo Portugal Portugal (MEO Portugal MVNO)
• Woo Portugal (NOS Portugal MVNO)
• WTF Portugal (NOS Portugal youth sub-brand)
• Yorn Portugal (Vodafone Portugal youth sub-brand)

In this guide, I will stick to the mobile operators and the most popular MVNOs, all in bold above, to limit the length of this guide (but also not to overwhelm you with all the options available).

But if you are interested in getting a SIM card from one of the unbolded MVNOs, you would have to do the research yourself for the time being. I stopped actively testing and reviewing MVNOs to spend time reviewing travel eSIMs instead, like the ones for Portugal.

Anyone living in or visiting Portugal can buy a Portuguese SIM card without restrictions.

Where Can You Buy a Portuguese SIM Card (+Costs)?

You can get a Portugese SIM card in MEO, NOS & Vodafone stores. Kiosks also sell SIM cards (especially for the MVNOs). Some Portuguese airports sell (tourist) SIM cards (at inflated prices).

You can expect to pay the following for Portuguese SIM cards:

• MEO (by Altice Portugal): 2.50 EUR (regular), 9.99 EUR (regular), 14.99 EUR (data-only) & 30 EUR (data-only)
• NOS Portugal: 10 EUR (regular), 15 EUR (data-only) & 40 EUR (data-only)
• Vodafone Portugal: free (5 EUR top-up), 9.90 EUR & 20 EUR (travel)
• Lycamobile Portugal: 5 EUR, 10 EUR & 15 EUR

The following Portuguese mobile operators also have SIM cards targeting tourists:

• MEO (by Altice Portugal): 15 EUR (in MEO stores)/19 USD (via Airalo) – Ready to Enjoy Portugal eSIM
• Vodafone Portugal: 20 EUR – Vodafone Travelers

Note that SIM cards can be more expensive than those listed above when purchased at an airport.

Use the Wise Currency Converter tool (free) for up-to-date EUR (Euro) to your currency (let's say GBP – (British) Pound (Sterling)) exchange rates.

For your convenience, below are some exchange rates between EUR and USD (US Dollars):

• 1 EUR = 1.05 USD
• 10 EUR = 10.70 USD
• 100 EUR = 107 USD

But for any other currency, the Wise Currency Converter tool.

(Travel) eSIMs for Portugal

In recent years, (travel) eSIMs have become extremely popular.

Especially after Apple made iPhones (14- & 15 series) sold in the United States eSIM-only, forcing its users to use eSIMs – even when abroad.

As a result, the adoption of eSIM technology by mobile operators worldwide rose impressively quickly.

Currently, MEO, NOS & Vodafone offer eSIMs to prepaid customers.

In my Portugal eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide (even in Portugal).

Surprisingly, travel eSIMs can be cheaper than a Portuguese SIM card or eSIM in specific scenarios.

Moreover, Europe-wide and global eSIM options are also available at competitive prices (without having to deal with expensive international roaming rates).

In this Portugal SIM card buying guide (the one you are reading), I will stick to the local SIM cards and eSIM, but you can read my Portugal eSIM buying guide for more information about travel eSIMs covering the country.

But here is a quick overview already + applicable discount codes if you are interested in purchasing a travel eSIM for Portugal:

• Airalo: Fofo Mobil (Portugal only – 4G/LTE only), MEO (Portugal only – with 5G NR), Eurolink (39 countries in Europe) & Discover+ (130 countries worldwide + up to 200 worldwide minutes & 200 worldwide SMS)
• Alosim: Portugal & Europe (32 countries)
• Holafly: Portugal & Europe (32 countries) – all variants in both options include unlimited data + up to 120 Europe-wide calls
• Nomad: Portugal, Europe (30 or 35 countries, depending on the variant) & Global (109 or 139 countries, depending on the variant)

Here are some discount codes to sweeten the deal:

• Airalo: DEC15 for 15% off (if you have never bought an Airalo eSIM before). Otherwise, DEC10 for 10% off (for existing users) – only the first 3000 users can redeem either discount code)
• Alosim: PTW for 5% off (as many times as you wish for as many eSIMs as you want)
• Holafly: PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off (as many times as you wish for as many eSIMs as you want)
• Nomad: ADU123 for 3 USD off (on your first-ever Nomad order only)

Once again, check out my Portugal eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.

The eSIM guide is as comprehensive as this SIM card buying guide, but it solely focuses on travel eSIMs (while the guide you are reading focuses on local SIM cards and eSIMs for prepaid users (where applicable).

Portuguese Prepaid SIM Cards Explored

Below, I will guide you through MEO (by Altice Portugal), NOS Portugal, Vodafone Portugal, Lycamobile Portugal (MVNO), 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 said, let's see what Portugal offers us.

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MEO (by Altice Portugal)

MEO by Altice Portugal is the largest mobile operator in Portugal.

Altice, as a company, is also active in the Dominican Republic and the United States (as a cable television provider).

MEO uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
• 5G NR: 3600 MHz (n78) ¹
• VoLTE: Yes
• VoWiFi: No

¹ Currently, MEO lets anyone test out 5G NR for free until the end of March (2022) (extended to the 15th of September October 2022) before charging you for it (how much is unknown – and perhaps they will extend this offer 5 EUR/month). October 2022/January 2023 update: MEO decided not to charge for 5G NR access, unlike previously promised. However, all MEO prepaid plans will be restricted to 40 Mbps (unlike the maximum speed during the trial – this has been postponed to the 15th of January 2023… I have the feeling the speed will never be throttled.).

This is what you will learn about MEO:

* Coverage
* How to Get a(n) MEO SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – MEO (by Altice Portugal)

MEO has extensive coverage throughout Portugal.

It has a similar superior 4G/LTE coverage experience as its competitors.

Below are the coverage maps of MEO in continental Portugal (left) and in the Azores and Madeira (right) produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – MEO (by Altice Portugal)

You can get a(n) MEO SIM card, called Cartão M Móvel Pré-Pago, starting at 2.50 EUR (with 2.50 EUR credit) or 9.99 EUR (with 5 GB and 1000 minutes/SMS) in MEO stores. Data-only SIM cards (Cartão Enjoy Todo o Tráfego Incluído) are sold for 14.99 EUR with unlimited data. SIM cards are also sold at Lisbon-Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), but not at Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO).

If you are flying into Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, click on the link above to read about the SIM card options at that airport to save some time.

Below is an overview of the four MEO SIM cards:

Price	SIM Card	Credit	Data	Local Minutes	Local SMS	Validity
2.50 EUR	Cartão M Móvel Pré-Pago Livre	2.50 EUR	N/A	N/A	N/A	30 days
9.99 EUR	Cartão M Móvel Pré-Pago	N/A	5 GB	1000 minutes	Shared with call allowance	30 days
14.99 EUR	Cartão Enjoy Todo o Tráfego Incluído €14.99	N/A	Unlimited 1	N/A	N/A	15 days
40 EUR	Cartão Enjoy Todo o Tráfego Incluído €40	N/A	Unlimited 1	N/A	N/A	30 days

It is also possible to get a(n) MEO eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.

You can consider getting a travel eSIM for Portugal, which can, in specific scenarios, be cheaper than getting a SIM card from MEO.

Especially if you get a Europe-wide eSIM (for when you visit at least two or more supported European countries) or a global eSIM (for frequent travelers visiting multiple continents).

In my Portugal eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.

But I will introduce them here quickly:

• Airalo: Fofo Mobil & MEO (Portugal only), Eurolink (39 countries in Europe) & Discover+ (130 countries worldwide + up to 200 worldwide minutes & 200 worldwide SMS) – use code DEC15 (15% off – first-time users only) or DEC10 (10% off)
• Alosim: Portugal & Europe (32 countries) – use code PTW (5% off – no limits)
• Holafly: Portugal & Europe (32 countries) – all variants in both options include unlimited data + up to 120 Europe-wide calls – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
• Nomad: Portugal, Europe (30 or 35 countries, depending on the variant) & Global (109 or 139 countries, depending on the variant) – use code ADU123 (3 USD off – first-time users only)

Once again, check out my Portugal eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.

For now, I will continue with MEO.

Note that MEO offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings but no VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – MEO (by Altice Portugal)

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – MEO (by Altice Portugal)

MEO has three data-featured prepaid plans:

• M Móvel Plans (combo)
• +Internet Plans (data)
• Mobile Broadband Plans (data for data SIM card)

All MEO plans can be activated online.

I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).

To convert EUR to your currency (let's say GBP – British Pound Sterling) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

M Móvel Plans – MEO (by Altice Portugal)

The M Móvel Plans are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

Note that the call and SMS allowances are shared, meaning that you can call/send up to 500 minutes or SMS or 1000 minutes or SMS.

The following M Móvel Plans are available:

Price	Data	Local/EU Minutes/SMS 1	Validity
3.20 EUR	200 MB	500 minutes/SMS	7 days
3.80 EUR	200 MB	1000 minutes/SMS	7 days
3.80 EUR	1 GB	500 minutes/SMS	7 days
4.30 EUR	1 GB	1000 minutes/SMS	7 days
4.60 EUR	3 GB	500 minutes/SMS	7 days
5.10 EUR	3 GB	1000 minutes/SMS	7 days
5.40 EUR	5 GB	500 minutes/SMS	7 days
5.90 EUR	5 GB	1000 minutes/SMS	7 days

¹ for calls/SMS within and to other EU/EEA member states and back to Portugal (NOT from Portugal to other EU/EEA member states)

+Internet Plans – MEO (by Altice Portugal)

The +Internet Plans are data bundles (with 5G NR access).

The following +Internet Plans are available:

Price	Data	Validity
3.99 EUR	0.25 GB	1 month
6.99 EUR	0.5 GB	1 month
9.99 EUR	1 GB	1 month
14.99 EUR	5 GB	1 month

Mobile Broadband Plans – MEO (by Altice Portugal)

The Mobile Broadband Plans are data bundles (with 5G NR access) for the Cartão Enjoy Todo o Tráfego Incluído SIM card (data-only SIM card).

Note that Mobile Broadband Plans are for local use only – you cannot roam for free in the EU/EEA with these bundles.

Price	Data	Validity
8 EUR	10 GB	30 days
15 EUR	30 GB	30 days
20 EUR	60 GB	30 days
30 EUR	Unlimited	30 days

EU Roaming – MEO (by Altice Portugal)

You can use your MEO allowances in the following EU/EEA member states without paying roaming fees:

As MEO does not have dedicated EU/EEA roaming allowances, you can use your full allowance without restrictions in other EU/EEA member states.

Note that the Broadband Plans are for local use only.

APN/Internet Settings – MEO (by Altice Portugal)

• Name: Internet MEO
• APN: meo

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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NOS Portugal

NOS Portugal, just NOS and not to be confused with the Dutch Broadcasting Foundation (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting in Dutch), is the second-largest mobile operator in Portugal.

It also has the best overall network performance in the country.

It used to be the smallest mobile operator of the Big Three, until it invested a lot in its services.

Now, it has overtaken Vodafone Portugal and is looking to kick MEO (by Altice) off its throne (or not – I do now know NOS' intentions 🤪.

NOS uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
• 5G NR: 700 MHz (n28) & 3500 MHz (n78) ¹
• VoLTE: Yes
• VoWiFi: Yes

¹ All NOS Portugal customers, including prepaid, get free 5G NR access until the 15th of November 2022. From then, NOS Portugal plans to charge you 5 EUR a month for 5G NR usage – this trial has been going on for more than a year, so I have no idea what its plans are

This is what you will learn about NOS:

* Coverage
* How to Get a(n) NOS SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – NOS Portugal

NOS has the best coverage throughout Portugal.

It also won the Portugal Best Mobile Coverage Speedtest Award of 2021.

It has a similar superior 4G/LTE coverage experience as its competitors, but it has a better 4G/LTE availability.

Below, are the coverage maps of NOS in continental Portugal (left) and in the Azores and Madeira (right) produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – NOS Portugal

You can get a(n) NOS SIM card for 10 EUR with 5 GB of data and 1500 minutes/SMS in NOS stores. Data-only SIM cards (Kanguru Livre XL) are sold for 15 EUR or 40 EUR with unlimited data for eight days or 30 days. SIM cards are also sold at Lisbon-Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) but not at Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO).

If you are flying into Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, click on the link above to read about the SIM card options at that airport to save some time.

Below is an overview of the three NOS SIM cards:

Price	Data	Local/EU Minutes/SMS	Validity
10 EUR	1 GB	80 minutes/SMS	30 days
15 EUR	Unlimited	N/A	8 days
40 EUR	Unlimited	N/A	30 days

It is also possible to get a(n) NOS eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.

You may want to get a travel eSIM for Portugal, which can be cheaper than getting a SIM card from NOS (in some cases).

Especially when getting a Europe-wide eSIM if you do not stay in just Portugal or a global eSIM valid for up to a year if you want one eSIM to work practically worldwide.

My Portugal eSIM buying guide analyzes various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.

Here is a quick introduction to them:

• Airalo: Fofo Mobil & MEO (Portugal only), Eurolink (39 countries in Europe) & Discover+ (130 countries worldwide + call and text feature) – use code DEC15 (15% off – first-time users only) or DEC10 (10% off)
• Alosim: Portugal & Europe (32 countries) – use code PTW (5% off – no limits)
• Holafly: Portugal & Europe (32 countries) – these eSIMs have unlimited data + calling feature – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
• Nomad: Portugal, Europe (up to 35 countries) & Global (up to 139 countries) – use code ADU123 (3 USD off – first-time users only)

For more information, such as the prices and data allowances, check out my Portugal eSIM buying guide.

But let's continue with NOS for now.

Note that NOS offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.

Oh, you can also use VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – NOS Portugal

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – NOS Portugal

NOS has five data-featured prepaid plans:

• Pré-pagos Tarifários de Telemóvel/Prepaid Cellphone Tariffs (combo)
• Prepaid Mobile Voice+Data Plans (combo)
• Pacotes de Internet Mensais/Monthly Internet Packages (data)
• Prepaid Internet Plans (data)
• Pré-pagos Net Móvel/Net Mobile (data)

All NOS plans can be activated on the NOS App (Cliente NOS) app.

I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).

To convert EUR to your currency (let's say GBP – British Pound Sterling) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

Pré-pagos Tarifários de Telemóvel (Prepaid Cellphone Tariffs) – NOS Portugal

Pré-pagos Tarifários de Telemóvel (The Prepaid Cellphone Tariffs) are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

Price	Plan	Data	Local Minutes	International Minutes	Local SMS	Validity
7.50 EUR	Tarifário Mundo	500 MB	N/A	charged per minute	N/A	30 days
21 EUR	Tarifário Like	5 GB	1000 minutes	N/A	1000 SMS	28 days
24 EUR	Tarifário Like de 10 GB	10 GB	1000 minutes	N/A	1000 SMS	28 days

Prepaid Mobile Voice + Data Plans – NOS Portugal

The Prepaid Mobile Voice + Data Plans are combo bundles with data (with 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

Price	Data	Local Minutes	International Minutes	Local SMS	Validity
15.99 EUR	10 GB	500 minutes	N/A	500 SMS	30 days
20 EUR	10 GB	500 minutes	30 minutes 1	500 SMS	28 days
27.99 EUR	50 GB	3500 minutes	N/A	3500 SMS	30 days
32 EUR	Unlimited	Unlimited	N/A	Unlimited	30 days

¹ 30 minutes to the following destinations: Brazil, Switzerland, USA, Angola, Morocco, Cape Verde and Canada

Pacotes de Internet Mensais (Monthly Internet Packages) – NOS Portugal

The Pacotes de Internet Mensais (Monthly Internet Packages) are data plans (with 5G NR access).

The following Pacotes de Internet Mensais are available:

Price	Data	Validity
3.99 EUR	250 MB	1 month
6.99 EUR	500 MB	1 month
9.99 EUR	1 GB	1 month

Prepaid Internet Plans – NOS Portugal

The Prepaid Internet Plans are data bundles (with 5G NR access).

Price	Data	Validity
15 EUR	Unlimited	8 days
35 EUR	Unlimited	30 days

¹ @1 gbps of speed

Pré-pagos Net Móvel (Net Mobile) – NOS Portugal

The Pré-pagos Net Móvel (Net Mobile) are data plans (with 5G NR access).

Price	Data	Validity
15 EUR	Unlimited	8 days
40 EUR	Unlimited	30 days

EU Roaming – NOS Portugal

You can use your NOS allowances in the following EU/EEA member states without paying roaming fees:

As NOS does not have dedicated EU/EEA roaming allowances, you can use your full allowance without restrictions in other EU/EEA member states.

Note that the Tarifários Kanguru plans are for local use only.

APN/Internet Settings – NOS Portugal

• Name: NOS Internet
• APN: umts OR internet

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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Vodafone Portugal

Vodafone Portugal, just Vodafone, is the smallest mobile operator in Portugal.

It was the first mobile operator to reach a download speed of 600 Mbps on 4G/LTE-A (also known as 4G+) back in 2015.

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
• 3G: 900 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 900 MHz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
• 5G NR: 3500 MHz (n78)
• VoLTE: Yes
• VoWiFi: Yes

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 Portugal

Vodafone has extensive coverage throughout Portugal.

It has a similar superior 4G/LTE coverage experience as its competitors.

Below are the coverage maps of Vodafone in continental Portugal (left) and in the Azores and Madeira (right) produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – Vodafone Portugal

You can get a Vodafone SIM card, for free but needs a minimum of 5 EUR top-up or for 9.90 EUR with 5 GB of data 1000 minutes/SMS for 28 days in Vodafone stores. SIM cards are also sold at Lisbon-Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) and Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO).

If you are flying into Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, click on the link above to read about the SIM card options at that airport to save some time.

Below is an overview of the two Vodafone SIM cards:

Price	Credit	Data	Local/EU Minutes/SMS	Validity
5 EUR	5 EUR	1 GB	500 minutes/SMS	28 days
9.90 EUR	N/A	5 GB	1000 minutes/SMS	28 days

Short-term visitors and tourists can also get the Vodafone Travelers SIM cards – Vodafone's tourist offering.

For 20 EUR, you get 10 GB of data, 500 local/EU minutes/SMS & 50 international minutes (to the EU/EEA, Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand & the United States – all for 30 days

It is also possible to get a Vodafone eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.

You should consider getting a travel eSIM for Portugal because they can sometimes be cheaper than getting a SIM card from Vodafone.

Especially if you get a Europe-wide eSIM or a global eSIM.

I discuss various eSIM options of eSIM providers for Portugal in my Portugal eSIM buying guide, which are:

• Airalo: Fofo Mobil & MEO (Portugal only), Eurolink (39 countries in Europe) & Discover+ (130 countries worldwide + minutes and SMS) – use code DEC15 (15% off – first-time users only) or DEC10 (10% off)
• Alosim: Portugal & Europe (32 countries) – use code PTW (5% off – no limits)
• Holafly: Portugal & Europe (32 countries) – unlimited data eSIMs which allow for (limited) calls – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
• Nomad: Portugal, Europe (up to 35 countries) & Global (up to 139 countries) – use code ADU123 (3 USD off – first-time users only)

As I said, check out my Portugal eSIM buying guide for more information, as I have to continue with Vodafone for now.

Note that Vodafone offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings.

Oh, you can also use VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Vodafone Portugal

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Vodafone Portugal

Vodafone has two data-featured prepaid plans: Vodafone Ready (combo) & Internet Móvel Pré-Pago/Vodafone Go Total (data).

All Vodafone plans can be activated on the My Vodafone (Portugal) app.

I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).

To convert EUR to your currency (let's say GBP – British Pound Sterling) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Vodafone Ready – Vodafone Portugal

The Vodafone Ready is a combo bundle with data (with 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

Price	Data	Local Minutes	Local SMS	Validity
15 EUR	1 GB	500 minutes	500 SMS	28 days
18 EUR	3 GB	500 minutes	500 SMS	28 days
21 EUR	5 GB	1000 minutes	1000 SMS	28 days
24 EUR	10 GB	1000 minutes	1000 SMS	28 days

Internet Móvel Pré-Pago/Vodafone Go Total Plans – Vodafone Portugal

The Internet Móvel Pré-Pago/Vodafone Go Total Plans are data plans (with 5G NR access @ max. 50 Mbps) for the Vodafone Go Total SIM card (data-only SIM card).

Note that Tarifários Kanguru are for local use only – you cannot roam for free in the EU/EEA with these bundles.

The following Internet Móvel Pré-Pago/Vodafone Go Total Plans are available:

Price	Data 1	Validity
5 EUR	Unlimited	2 days
10 EUR	Unlimited	5 days
15 EUR	Unlimited	10 days
20 EUR	Unlimited	15 days
25 EUR	Unlimited	20 days
30 EUR	Unlimited	25 days
35 EUR	Unlimited	30 days
90 EUR	Unlimited	85 days

¹ speed throttled to 10 Mbps after using more than 200 GB

EU Roaming – Vodafone Portugal

You can use your Vodafone allowances in the following EU/EEA member states without paying roaming fees:

As Vodafone does not have dedicated EU/EEA roaming allowances, you can use your full allowance without restrictions in other EU/EEA member states.

Note that the Internet Móvel Pré-Pago/Vodafone Go Total plans are for local use only.

APN/Internet Settings – Vodafone Portugal

• Name: Vodafone Internet
• APN: net2.vodafone.pt
• Username: vodafone
• Password: vodafone

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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Lycamobile Portugal

Lycamobile Portugal, just Lycamobile, is a Vodafone Portugal MVNO.

Lycamobile, as a brand, is known for offering low rates for international calls abroad, and it is active in various other European countries, Australia, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda & the United States.

To learn about Lycamobile’s frequencies, jump back to Vodafone Portugal’s frequencies (but you will not have 5G NR access).

This is what you will learn about Lycamobile:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Lycamobile SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Lycamobile Portugal

Lycamobile is a Vodafone Portugal MVNO, meaning Lycamobile uses the Vodafone Portugal network and does not have its own mobile infrastructure.

To find out what to expect in terms of coverage with Lycamobile, jump to the Vodafone Portugal Coverage section.

Note that you will not have 5G NR access with Lycamobile.

SIM Card Price – Lycamobile Portugal

You can get a Lycamobile SIM card for 5 EUR, 10 EUR, or 15 EUR, with the same value in credit or with a plan from Lycamobile resellers, including grocery stores, gas stations & electronic shops.

Lycamobile has no eSIMs.

You can consider getting a travel eSIM for Portugal, which can, in specific scenarios, be cheaper than getting a SIM card from Lycamobile.

Especially if you get a Europe-wide eSIM (for when you visit at least two or more supported European countries) or a global eSIM (for frequent travelers visiting multiple continents).

In my Portugal eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.

But I will introduce them here quickly:

• Airalo: Fofo Mobil & MEO (Portugal only), Eurolink (39 countries in Europe) & Discover+ (130 countries worldwide + up to 200 worldwide minutes & 200 worldwide SMS) – use code DEC15 (15% off – first-time users only) or DEC10 (10% off)
• Alosim: Portugal & Europe (32 countries) – use code PTW (5% off – no limits)
• Holafly: Portugal & Europe (32 countries) – all variants in both options include unlimited data + up to 120 Europe-wide calls – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
• Nomad: Portugal, Europe (30 or 35 countries, depending on the variant) & Global (109 or 139 countries, depending on the variant) – use code ADU123 (3 USD off – first-time users only)

Once again, check out my Portugal eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.

For now, I will continue with Lycamobile.

Be aware that there is no VoLTE or VoWiFi with Lycamobile.

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Lycamobile Portugal

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Lycamobile Portugal

Lycamobile has two data-featured prepaid plans: Minutes and Data Plans (combo) & Data Bundles.

I will list all the prices in EUR (Euro).

To convert EUR to your currency (let's say GBP – (British) Pound (Sterling)) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Minutes and Data Plans – Lycamobile Portugal

The Minutes and Data Plans are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

Dial the Activation Code to activate Minutes and Data Plans:

Price	Plan	Data	EU/EEA Data	Local/EU Minutes	International Minutes 1	Local/EU SMS	Validity	Activation Code
3.25 EUR	Lyca Flex 7 Days	2 GB	2 GB	500 minutes	N/A	100 SMS	7 days	*139*51503#
8 EUR	Lyca National XS	5 GB	2 GB	500 minutes	N/A	500 SMS	1 month	*139*51001#
10 EUR	Lyca Globe S	2 GB	1 GB	250 minutes	250 minutes	50 SMS	1 month	*139*5010#
15 EUR	Lyca National M	20 GB	13.6 GB	1000 minutes	N/A	1000 SMS	1 month	*139*51003#
15 EUR	Lyca Globe	4 GB	2 GB	500 minutes	500 minutes	N/A	1 month	*139*1015#

¹ International minutes to all countries in the Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, India, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine Lyca and Kyvstar and USA.

Data Bundles – Lycamobile Portugal

The Data Bundles are, as the name implies, data plans (without 5G NR access).

Dial the Activation Code to activate Data Bundles:

Price	Plan	Data	EU/EEA Data	Validity	Activation Code
5 EUR	Data XS	1 GB	Shared with data allowance	1 month	*139*2005#
10 EUR	Data M	3 GB	Shared with data allowance	1 month	*139*2025#

EU Roaming – Lycamobile Portugal

You can use your Lycamobile 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 – Lycamobile Portugal

• Name: Lycamobile
• APN: data.lycamobile.pt
• Username: lmpt
• Password: plus

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Portugal

Getting a SIM card from MEO or NOS would do you well when considering a Portuguese SIM card.

Going to other places around the world? You should also check out my SIM card buying guides for other destinations worldwide.