I've found an old phone I can use to put a sim card in it but it doesn't accept eSims so it'll have to be a physical sim. I've heard not to purchase sims at the airport since there so expensive and i don't believe ill be able to go to a store once i land to buy a sim card. any recommendations for a physical sim card i can buy ahead of time? I found one called simcorner if anyone has any experience with that in Italy please let me know.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
1141 posts
I recently bought one at the Paris airport and did not find it expensive at all. In fact, the gal at the store completely switched out the cards for me and did everything, it was a great experience.
Posted by
SoCal
1262 posts
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1160 posts
Many train stations - like Milan - have all the various providers represented. I've used the TIM at the Milan train station to buy sim cards more than once.
Non-vendor airport stalls often bundle unwanted things - maps or city guides - with their sims to charge more for them than you'd pay at the vendor. If the phone vendor has a shop at the airport prices are probably the same. Check the prices at whichever airport but otherwise wait until you're in town - either at the train station or near your hotel. You can use WiFi without a sim in the interim.
My $.02,
=Tod
Posted by
SoCal
177 posts
Yes I’ve used the physical TIM SIM card in Venice in my iphone. Back in 2023, I bought the tourist SIM card online from TIM sim site, printed out my info/receipt and showed to the clerk. The TIM store clerk installed the SIM card for me and I asked him to call my phone to confirm it worked. I added 5€ to include Switzerland but the rest of Europe was included. It was about 30€ for the month of calls and data. That cost/offer may have changed. Be sure to use an actual TIM store for this method. I went to this one: Ruga degli spezier, 385, Ruga dei Spezieri, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy not far from Rialto Bridge.
It worked very well. (lots of folks there use what’s app for calls, so that will work on Wi-Fi without sim if you need it).
Good luck!