Coming to Italy from abroad? Italian SIM card or eSIM: which to choose and what you need
Tourists, seasonal workers, students and family visiting Valtellina: when an eSIM activated online in minutes, with no ID, is all you need, and when an Italian SIM card with a local number, data and calls is the better deal.
A week's skiing in Bormio or Livigno, a season working in a hotel, a few months of study or a visit to family in Valtellina: if you are coming to Italy from abroad you need mobile data, and you often don't know where to go for a SIM card. At the FIX4ALL shops in Sondrio, Tirano, Colico and Chiavenna you will find both options: a travel eSIM, which you activate online in a few minutes, and an Italian SIM card from a mobile operator, with an Italian number, calls and plenty of data.
Here we explain the differences, what you need to activate each one and which is the better choice for you.
In short:
- Travel eSIM: data only, bought online and delivered by email with a QR code. No ID needed, just an email address. Ideal for holidays and short stays.
- Italian SIM card: an Italian number, calls, texts and lots of data every month at a low price. Activated in store with a valid identity document (if you come from abroad, your passport is fine). Ideal if you are staying for weeks or months.
- If you have a SIM from an EU country, you can usually use it in Italy with roaming just like at home: an Italian SIM is only worth it for long stays.
Who needs a SIM card or an eSIM in Italy?
- Visitors from Switzerland, the UK or outside Europe: with many plans, roaming in Italy is expensive or not included.
- Seasonal workers in the hotels and ski areas of Bormio, Livigno, Madesimo and Aprica, staying for the whole season.
- Students and trainees staying for a few months.
- Family and friends visiting who want to stay connected without nasty surprises on their bill.
- Visitors from the European Union staying for a long time: “roam like at home” is designed for travel, not for living permanently in another country.
Option one: a travel eSIM
An eSIM is a digital SIM: there is no card to insert, you download it to your phone by scanning a QR code. It sits alongside the SIM you already have, so your home number stays active for calls and messages, while for data you use an Italian network.
No ID, in a few minutes
For a travel eSIM you don't need to show any ID and you don't need to come to a shop: choose your pack at fix4all.it/en/esim/italia, enter your name and email address, and you get the QR code straight away, on screen and by email. It is the quickest option if you have just arrived, or if you want to be online as soon as you land: you can buy it and install it before you leave home.
How much does it cost?
Prices of our eSIMs for Italy, VAT included, updated October 2026:
| Pack | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 GB · 7 days | €7.99 |
| 5 GB · 15 days | €15.99 |
| 10 GB · 30 days | €18.99 |
| 20 GB · 30 days | €22.99 |
| Unlimited · 15 days | €26.99 |
If your trip also takes you to other countries, there is the Europe pack, which works in Italy and in neighbouring countries with the same eSIM. If you run out of data, you can top up the same eSIM from your order page.
What you need to know
- Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked: every iPhone from the XS / XR onwards and many recent Android phones. To check on Android, dial *#06# and look for «EID».
- It is data only: to make calls, use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other apps. You don't get an Italian number.
- The days in the pack start from your first connection in Italy, not from when you buy it.
Option two: an Italian SIM card from a mobile operator
If you are staying in Italy for weeks or months, an Italian SIM card is usually the better deal: the operators' monthly plans give you far more data for less money, calls and texts to Italian numbers and an Italian number, which is handy for work, the doctor, deliveries and anyone who needs to call you.
What you need to activate it
In Italy the law requires anyone activating a SIM card to be identified. That is why an Italian SIM card is activated in store and you need a valid identity document: if you come from abroad, your passport is fine. Bring it with you: we'll tell you if the operator you choose needs anything else and help you all the way through activation.
Which operator?
We work with the main operators: Fastweb, WindTre, Iliad, ho. Mobile, Kena and others. With Fastweb we have dedicated terms, with more data and a lower price than the standard offers. We'll recommend the one with the best coverage where you are staying: in the mountains not all networks work equally well, and we know Valtellina and Valchiavenna inside out. You will find the offers on our mobile plans page (in Italian).
eSIM or Italian SIM card: the comparison
| Travel eSIM | Italian SIM card | |
|---|---|---|
| Where to activate it | Online, in a few minutes | In store |
| ID | Not needed, just an email address | Valid ID (passport) |
| Italian number | No, data only | Yes, with calls and texts |
| Duration | From 1 to 30 days, can be topped up | Monthly plan, for as long as you like |
| Data | The pack you choose, or unlimited | Usually much more per month |
| Phone | Must support eSIM | Any unlocked phone |
| Best for | Holidays and short stays | Work, study, long stays |
Which to choose: a few examples
- A ski weekend from Switzerland: an Italy eSIM with 1 GB for 7 days, €7.99. No roaming, no paperwork.
- Two weeks' holiday between Valtellina, Lake Como and Milan: a 5 GB eSIM for 15 days, or unlimited if you use a lot of social media and maps.
- A winter season in a hotel in Livigno or Bormio: an Italian SIM card, for an Italian number and lots of data at a low price for all your months of work.
- A student here for a semester: an Italian SIM card. If you arrive without knowing your way around yet, you can start with an eSIM for the first few days and come to a shop in your own time.
- Your phone doesn't support eSIM: an Italian SIM card from one of our shops, which works in any unlocked phone.
Where to find us
Drop in to the FIX4ALL shops in Sondrio, Tirano, Colico and Chiavenna: we'll check your phone with you, help you install the eSIM or activate the Italian SIM card that suits you best. Advice is free. If your phone has a problem, we can repair it in the same shop.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need ID for a travel eSIM?
No. For a travel eSIM all you need is your name and email address: you buy it online and get the QR code straight away. ID is only needed to activate an Italian SIM card from a mobile operator.
What ID do I need for an Italian SIM card as a foreigner?
A valid identity document: if you come from abroad, your passport is fine. Bring it to the shop: we'll tell you if the operator you choose needs anything else.
Do I get an Italian number with the eSIM?
No, the travel eSIM is data only. Your home number stays active on your own SIM; to call people in Italy you can use WhatsApp or other apps, or get an Italian SIM card.
Will my phone work with an Italian SIM card?
Yes, if it is unlocked, meaning it isn't tied to an operator in your home country. If you are not sure, we can check it in store in a minute.
I'm from an EU country: do I need one?
For a holiday, usually not: roaming works just like at home, within the limits of your plan. If you are staying for a long time for work or study, an Italian SIM card is the better deal and avoids the roaming limits for people living permanently abroad.
See our eSIMs for Italy or drop in to your nearest FIX4ALL shop for your Italian SIM card.
