E-sim card in US or buy sim card in Italy

Forget physical SIM cards. As most iPhones after the iPhone 12 don’t have a physical SIM card, it’s much easier with an eSIM. Buy it before you leave, activate it when you arrive. It’s what we’ve been doing since 2022. We have T-Mobile but I’ve found that their connection is always lackluster and one must still purchase an international plan anyway. eSIMs can be many different types, global, regional, data only, data and talk. I’ve been using Airalo, which I’ve found to have the widest array of choices regarding packages. Also, many newer iPhones have 2 or more eSIMs, not that you’d need it unless you were traveling to multiple places, but, in a ah event, I’d get the global eSIM.

I use Airalo as well. I purchase prior to leaving us and activate line upon landing at destination.

Check with your carrier. It might be easier to use an international plan, or like with Verizon, you can upgrade your plan for a short period of time very inexpensively.

I have a an international plan with my carrier as well, AT&T. $10 a day any time I use voice or data internationally.
Maybe you carrier offers that?
Kevin

Fraubarr- international plans from American cell carriers are never worth it and it’s always better to use an eSIM. We’ve had T-Mobile since 2014 and while we used their international plans in the past, the availability of eSIMs the last several years has made buying an international plan, of which T-Mobile only offers two, $35 & $50, they’re not consistent and connectivity varies, while when using an eSIM I’ve almost never had an issue connecting, even in the most remote areas, such as the extreme tip of Puglia, or beaches on Greece islands that are accessible only by boat and have zero cell coverage due to cliffs, mountains or other. Last year my wife went to Cambodia for a veterinary volunteer event, and I got her the T-Mobile package only because she had trouble installing the eSIM this time. It added close to $100 to my monthly. Get the eSIMs, you’ll be glad you did.

jonrossjan - I completely understand, but it depends on your carrier. If I upgrade my plan for a month with Verizon, it costs me an extra $15, and the coverage has always been excellent. I can also upgrade for a partial month and it’s prorated. I was just marking the OP aware of another option to investigate.