Sims Card Help

This topic is so widely discussed, and is seems like you’ve tried to research it. Maybe you you could ask specific questions regarding how you’re confused, so those points can be clarified.

I suggest you look into TIM Tourist. This is for a physical SIM card, not an eSIM. It will work in Spain and Portugal, though speeds might be throttled down. If you’re landing at FCO, there is a TIM kiosk near the baggage claim area where you can redeem your prepaid voucher or purchase if you haven’t prepaid. If arriving at a different airport, you’ll have to find a TIM store and they’re plentiful. Ive used TIM over 5 times and have always been happy with their service.

First of all, remember: to use an Italian SIM card, your phone must be unlocked. If you bought your phone from your carrier with a monthly payment, then it may be locked to them until it is paid off. Even after that, you may need to ask them for a code to unlock it. This code is used the first time you insert a new SIM card - you type in the unlock code ONE time, and once the phone is unlocked, you never need the unlock code again.

Your phone must also be fairly modern and have all of the LTE frequencies used in Europe to work well. If you have an expensive phone you probably have all the frequencies you need. If it's more of a budget phone or older, it may not. Check the model number to find out whether it will work well for international roaming.

If you get an Italian SIM card, you will have an Italian phone number while the Italian SIM is active. So texting others in your group who may be using their phones from home (with their original numbers) may not be simple at least at first. Consider setting up WhatsApp with people to stay in touch perhaps - don't even need a SIM card for that if you are on WiFi. If you are from the US, consider setting up Google Voice first before you leave home, because you can use that to call and text US phone numbers for free (even without a SIM card while in Europe, if you are on WiFi).

Otherwise...you will need to go to a mobile store in Italy to get the SIM and have it registered. In some countries, you don't need to register a SIM, but in Italy you do. They need a copy of your passport. Takes a few minutes but otherwise is no big deal. Make sure you get a SIM card prepaid plan that includes roaming in other European countries. Roaming fees are not allowed within the EU but there may be other restrictions.

Here's some more info on Italian SIM card options:

https://prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com/wiki/Italy

And remember to get the phone shop to give you your new phone number!
We didn’t realize in Rome last visit that the shop had not given us our new number….went back the next day and sorted it out.

I have used TIM in the past but decided to try Vodafone this time. I am quiet pleased,the data is robust and the Vodafone staff seem more efficient than TIM. Odd that you didn’t get a receipt with your purchase of the sim card . I got a paper with all the details, including the phone number. I purchased a GSM unlocked phone in Copenhagen pre covid ,newest Samsung Galaxy at the time. I keep my US galaxy phone secure at my accommodation, never carry it with me when I am out.