Buy an Italian SIM card at the airport the moment you land. This is not optional advice — it's survival advice. Italy runs on Google Maps (finding anything without it is medieval), WhatsApp (how Italians actually communicate — restaurants take reservations via WhatsApp, tour guides send meeting points via WhatsApp), and online train tickets (Trenitalia and Trainline apps). Free WiFi in Italy is unreliable — hotels usually have it, cafés sometimes, public spaces rarely. €20-30 for 30 days of data solves every connectivity problem.
Plan my trip →TIM (Telecom Italia) — best overall coverage, especially in rural areas and south Italy. Tourist SIM: €20-30 for 50-100GB + calls. Available at all major airports. Bring your passport (required by Italian law for SIM purchase).
Vodafone — comparable coverage to TIM, sometimes better deals. Tourist plan: €20-25 for 30-50GB. Airport shops at FCO, MXP, NAP, VCE.
WindTre — cheapest option, coverage slightly weaker in remote areas. €15-20 for 30-50GB. Good for cities and main routes.
Airalo — eSIM app, buy before departure, activate on arrival. Italy plans from €5 (1GB/7 days) to €18 (10GB/30 days). Data only — no calls. Works on iPhone XS+ and recent Android.
Holafly — unlimited data eSIM from €19 (5 days) to €47 (15 days). More expensive per day but truly unlimited. No throttling. Best for heavy users who stream, video call, or navigate constantly.
The eSIM advantage: no airport queue, no passport hassle, activate from your sofa at home the night before departure. The disadvantage: data only (no Italian phone number for calls), and your phone must support eSIM.
Hotels: Almost all include WiFi (quality varies — 5-star hotels ironically often have worse WiFi than budget B&Bs). Cafés/restaurants: Ask for the password — about 50% have it, quality usually poor. Public WiFi: Roma has free "Roma WiFi" in some piazzas (slow, unreliable). Florence has "Firenze WiFi" (same). Don't rely on free WiFi. Buy a SIM/eSIM.