Best place to buy burner or pay as you go phone in Florence

nbereny, There are quite a few hotspots for sale, maybe $75 to $100? But I don't recommend that, as the data plans may be very expensive. And also the hotspot is good for nothing else. A second phone can be a hotspot, and can be a backup phone if needed.

I'd really suggest buying a used UNLOCKED cellphone on Ebay or other places. If your regular phone is Apple, then find an older one. If Android, I like the Samsung S9 or thereabouts. Old enough to be maybe under $l00, and new enough to have wifi hotspot and wifi calling.

Absolutely you need to be sure it is unlocked and can do wifi hotspot and wifi calling. What would be very nice to have would be esim capability, but esim might mean a newer phone, and more money. Maybe a used Pixel phone with esim capability. Others here will have other suggestions.

Thank you for this reply. Unfortunately we are already in Florence so trying to find a local place that can sell us a used unlocked phone to load up with an eSIM. She will have an iPhone she will use on WiFi so looking for a good data plan that she can use. Any leads locally would be welcome!

First of all, what is wrong with the Vodaphone store? The service you will receive may well be worth more than any additional cost.

Italy is not a technological wasteland. There should be cell phone shops all over Florence. In addition, Amazon operates in Italy - you should be able to find a cheap no-name phone on amazon.it and have it shipped to a locker if you don't have an address where you can receive packages.

Thank you for your response. Definitely researching Amazon but just wanted to get setup in person if I could. I also did send a message to the Vodafone store but my sense was they sell new phones which are expensive.

If she already has a phone, just get her to buy an actual Simcard from a Vodafone or TIM store….they are all over Florence.
I do that each year I visit with no problems.
There will be cards and plans that fit the length of her stay.
No need to buy another phone.
Also, ask her school or college in Florence if they have info about any student phone plans.

There is a Vodafone shop in via Martelli, few steps from the Duomo. If you do not like it, just in front there is a WindTre shop.

If you want a large electronics shop, that probably would be overkill, take T2 tram direction Peretola (it does not stop anymore at Piazza dell'Unità, but it stops on both sides of the railway station), get down at San Donato stop, just in front of a little shopping mall. On its back there is a large Media World shop, choose a phone and then ask for a SIM prepagata.

@ SJ-thank you. Plan to go there tomorrow yo see if they have cheap phones. She doesn’t want a new sim in her phone because then she loses access to all her authentications and her number. Hence the burner phone for making calls and hot spotting. She is checking with her school program as well. They were the ones who said she needs voice access.

@lachera- will check out Vodafone and windre to see which works out. Thank you.

She doesn’t want a new sim in her phone because then she loses access to all her authentications and her number.

This isn't true. But I don't know that I'd ask your daughter to manage dual SIMs if this is her (and your) understanding.

Ideally you'd have purchased a cheap unlocked phone in the US, but you should be able to find a cell phone store in Florence that will sell you something inexpensive, along with a cheap plan. The actual Windtre and Vodafone stores are likely to be a lot more expensive. I'd (seriously) be looking for a pretty sketchy-looking place that caters to locals.