Your home mobile plan's international roaming costs €8-15/day. A 2-week Italy trip = €112-210 just for data. An eSIM costs €5-19 total for the same trip. The savings are absurd. The setup takes 3 minutes. And you'll have faster, more reliable data than roaming provides. This guide compares every option — eSIM providers (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad), Italian physical SIMs (Iliad, Vodafone, TIM), and the honest pros/cons of each. Full connectivity guide →
Plan my Italy →Airalo — the most popular travel eSIM. Italy plans: 1GB/7 days €5, 3GB/30 days €11, 5GB/30 days €16, 10GB/30 days €26. Pros: cheapest per GB, activate before departure, works immediately on landing. Cons: no phone number (data only), can't make calls without WiFi calling. Best for: short trips, light data users, people who use WhatsApp for calls.
Holafly — unlimited data. Italy plans: 5 days €19, 10 days €34, 15 days €47, 20 days €54. Pros: truly unlimited (no throttling), no worrying about data usage, activate before departure. Cons: more expensive than Airalo per day, no phone number, speed can vary (4G not always 5G). Best for: heavy data users, people who stream video, Google Maps addicts, longer trips where peace of mind beats per-GB savings.
Nomad eSIM — mid-range. Italy plans: 1GB/7 days €4, 5GB/30 days €12, 10GB/30 days €18. Similar to Airalo, slightly different pricing. Check both before buying.
Iliad — the Italian market disruptor. €7.99/month for 150GB data + unlimited calls/SMS. Buy at Iliad vending machines (Rome Termini, Milan Centrale, major malls) or Iliad stores. Need: passport + Italian address (hotel address works). Pros: absurdly cheap, Italian phone number (useful for restaurant reservations, WhatsApp), full phone functionality. Cons: requires visiting a store/machine in Italy, physical SIM (need SIM tray tool), monthly auto-renewal (cancel before leaving). Best for: stays of 2+ weeks, digital nomads, anyone who wants a real Italian number.
TIM Tourist SIM — €30 for 200GB + 200 min calls, valid 30 days. Available at TIM stores (most airports and train stations). More expensive than Iliad but easier to buy (tourist-oriented, staff speaks English).
1-week trip, light data (3-5GB): Airalo 3GB €11 — cheapest, simplest. 1-week trip, heavy data: Holafly unlimited 5 days €19 — no stress. 2-week trip: Holafly unlimited 15 days €47 OR Iliad €7.99/month (if you can visit a store). 1+ month: Iliad €7.99 — no contest, the best deal in European mobile data. Need Italian phone number: Physical SIM only (Iliad or TIM).
eSIM: Buy online (Airalo app / Holafly website) → scan QR code → install on phone → activate on landing. Takes 3 minutes. Requires eSIM-compatible phone (iPhone XS+, Samsung S20+, Pixel 3+, most 2020+ phones). Physical SIM: Buy at airport/station store → insert → activate. Staff helps with setup. Both work within minutes of activation.