Traveling to Finland soon and looking for the best ways to stay connected? Don't get stuck with high roaming charges or slow overseas data plans. Traveltomtom recommends buying a prepaid or e-sim card for Finland. This is a complete guide for finding the best way to stay connected when traveling to Finland.
Find out everything you need to know about buying a prepaid sim card in Finland, the best e-sim cards for Finland, where to buy a sim card, the best 4G/5G network coverage, up to date prices as per August 2023, my recommendation, info about EU roaming, international sim cards and more.
Getting connected is the first thing I look for when arriving to a new country. Depending on the length of my trip I either quickly order an e-sim card online or I buy a local prepaid sim card.
I like to document everything about sim cards for tourists and as I am also trying to visit every country in the world you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: Sweden, Norway, Germany, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tanzania, Nairobi, Bali, Thailand, Hong Kong, Panama, Brazil, Algeria, Curacao, USA, New York, Vietnam, Pakistan, Asia and many more.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest e-sim card and prepaid sim card advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends an Elisa sim card for Finland. They have the best 4G/5G network coverage in Finland and for €30 EUR you get unlimited 5G for 1 month. However, for short stays a DNA prepaid sim card offers unlimited data for around $1 USD per day.
Buying a sim card in Finland is unfortunately a little time consuming process as you will often be redirected to a convenience store and the activation you will have to do yourself by scanning your passport, etc.
To not waste any precious holiday time Traveltomtom advices to arrive in Finland prepared by ordering an e-sim card on the internet. They already start $4.5 USD and for $18 USD you already get 10 GB data. There are also international e-sim cards valid in all of Europe and they even let you make unlimited phone calls. More info below.
Another great alternative to stay connected when traveling to Finland is a global sim card with data. These international travel sim card are valid in multiple countries and there are some amazing ones for traveling in Europe. Check out my comparison of the best global sim cards for international travel in 2023 or my list of the best sim cards for Europe travel in 2023.
Best e-sim cards for Finland
Arrange everything online within just a couple clicks. An e-sim card is the easiest way to get connected when traveling to Finland in 2023. You order online, process the payment, receive a QR code, scan it, follow the steps and done you are connected in no-time.
Check out the following e-sim card plans for Finland:
- 1 GB dat for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 30 days = $6.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $8 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
Click here to order your Finland e-sim card directly online or get more info.
The above data-only e-sim cards for Finland are from Finn Communications and data is only valid in Finland. Finn Communications operate on the DNA 4G/LTE network in Finland
If you would like to make calls with your e-sim card then check out the following international e-sim cards for Finland. Big plus is that these e-sims are also valid in all of Europe and up to 70 countries around the world:
- 10 GB data + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 8 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 20 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Order an international e-sim card for Finland directly through this link.
Before ordering an e-sim card for Finland make sure your phone is first of all unlocked and second, your phone needs to be e-sim compatible.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible then don't worry you can still order a sim card for traveling to Finland on the internet. Get yourself an international prepaid sim card for Finland. These sim cards will be delivered to your home address before your trip. For example 20 GB data for $49.90 USD.
See the banner above for more info or click here to order an international sim card for Finland directly online.
Finland sim cards and EU roaming
For several years there are already no more roaming costs within Europe. Meaning you can use your sim card from Finland also in France, Germany, Italy, etc. Unfortunately some Finland prepaid sim cards still have some EU roaming restrictions though.
Therefore I recommend you to always ask about the EU roaming limitations when buying a sim card in Finland. But I can already tell you that most Finland prepaid sim cards are NOT the best deals for a trip around Europe. On the internet you can find much better Europe sim card deals.
Click here for my article with a comparison of the best e-sim and prepaid sim cards for Europe in 2023 or if you would like to know more info about EU roaming and how it works now since Brexit then check out my article with all my tips and tricks for buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Europe.
Mobile internet operators in Finland
In total there are 3 main mobile internet providers in Finland: Telia, Elisa and DNA. All of the provider offer prepaid sim cards for tourists and you can buy them in their shops. Unfortunately the Finland internet operators do not offer e-sim cards for prepaid costumers.
Where to buy a Finland for sim card
Helsinki Airport
The most convenient place to buy a sim card in Finland is of course on arrival at Helsinki Airport. You won't find any of the mobile internet operators at Helsinki Airport, but there is a convenience store that sells prepaid sim cards for tourists: R-kioski
They are located in the main hall on the arrivals level; keep on walking straight when you get out of arrivals and you will find it. At the R-kioski convenience store at Helsinki Airport they sell all the Finland prepaid sim cards listed below.
Retail stores mobile internet providers
In Helsinki city center you can find several mobile phone shops from Telia and Elisa as well as DNA stores. You can easily find them in the main shopping malls. But don't bother going to a Telia shop though as they do not sell prepaid sim cards for tourists.
At the Elisa stores they weren’t really helpful either, but they do sell prepaid sim cards for Finland.
DNA has pop-up stores all over and they do sell and help you set up your sim card for Finland. Telia and Elisa basically forwarded me to any R-kioski shop, a convenience store that is scattered all over Helsinki as well as Helsinki Airport.
Convenience store
R-kioski is one of those convenience stores that sell prepaid sim cards in Finland. In general Traveltomtom does not recommend buying a prepaid sim card at a convenience store because the staff has very little knowledge about sim cards. The activation is a manual process that involves a couple steps and therefore pretty inconvenient for tourists. It may seem like there is no other option, but...
When buying a prepaid sim card in Finland you have to bring your passport. the sim card will be registered on your name and passport number, even in the convenience store.
Online
Simply get your sim card for Finland online. Order an e-sim card or get yourself an international prepaid sim card that will be delivered to your home address before your trip.
This is also the easiest way to avoid registration. When you buy a sim card for Finland on the internet you don't need your passport, you just need your email address.
Best 4G/5G network in Finland in 2023
First let’s have a look at the 4G/5G network coverage and see who has the best mobile network in Finland.
Is there 5G in Finland?
Yes, as of 2023 there is a pretty ok 5G network in Finland but it is limited to the major cities and tourist destinations in Finland. If you go off the beaten path do not expect a 5G signal in Finland.
DNA Finland 4G/5G network map
Elisa Finland 4G/5G network map
Telia Finland 4G/5G network map
From the above network coverage comparison we can see that Elisa has the most extensive network coverage as well as the best 5G network in Finland in 2023. However, the Telia network is pretty comparable and the DNA network in the South of Finland is also very extensive.
If you travel to the northern regions in Finland then I would recommend you buying an Elisa sim card, because of its strong 4G network in those areas. For more detailed maps of the 4G/5G network coverage in Finland click on the link.
Prices Finland prepaid sim cards in 2023
Info and prices below are updated as per August 2023 and prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.91 EUR and €1 EUR is $1.10 USD.
Elisa
Elisa offers a lot of different prepaid sim cards for tourists with unlimited data:
- Unlimited data at 4G speed (14 GB in EU) + including calls/sms = €29.99 EUR
- Unlimited data at 5G speed (16 GB in EU) + including calls/sms = €34.99 EUR
- Unlimited data at 5G speed = €29.99 EUR
Plans are valid for 1 month and data is valid in all the Baltic and Scandic countries and there is limited free EU data roaming included.
If you are looking for a sim card for Finland with unlimited data then this is a great sim card deal that I would recommend for tourist traveling to Finland. Check the Elisa webiste for more info.
Telia
Telia offers 2 prepaid sim cards for tourists
- Unlimited data on 4G speed (18 GB data in EU) = €19.90 EUR
- prepaid sim card with €7 credit = €4.90 EUR
Check the Telia website for their latest deals.
DNA
DNA may have the smallest network, but buying a DNA prepaid sim card is worth it if you stay just a couple days in Helsinki and around. You can buy a DNA Finland prepaid sim card for €4.90 EUR and you get €5 credit.
For €0.89 EUR you can already get unlimited data per day, meaning for €5 EUR you can get 5 days of unlimited data in Finland. They also have a prepaid sim card plan:
- unlimited data at 5G speed for 30 days = €24.90 EUR
For more info check the DNA website.
Best sim card for Finland in 2023
All the mobile internet operators offer monthly prepaid plans with unlimited data for a good price. However, who travels to Finland for a whole month? Many people visit Finland for a short trip only and especially for those there is no need to buy a monthly plan with unlimited data. In that case DNA Finland is the best-buy prepaid sim card for Finland in 2023 as it offers unlimited data for less than €1 EUR per day.
If you stay longer and especially if you go on a road trip you are probably better off with an Elisa or Telia sim card with unlimited data.
May you go off the beaten path then definitely buy a Telia or Elisa sim card for Finland as they have the best data networks.
Buying a sim card for Finland online
If buying a sim card in Finland sounds like a waste of time and too much effort and especially for those that have a smartphone that is not e-sim compatible there is the option of ordering an international prepaid sim card for Finland on the internet. These pre-activated sim cards will be shipped to your home address before your trip and it is plug and play on arrival in Finland.
Check out the following international sim card deals:
Three Data Pack 10 GB - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe and UK
- Valid 30 days
Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90
- 8 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe and UK
- Valid 14 days
Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 20 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe and UK
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
Three PAYG MBB 12 GB - $59.90
- 12 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Valid for 1 year
Three PAYG MBB 24 GB - $79.90
- 24 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Valid for 2 years
Click here to order an international sim card for Finland directly online or find more info in the link.
Personally I can recommend the Orange Holiday Europe sim card for traveling in Europe. I have used it multiple times for my trips to Europe and I never had any issues. Nowadays I use the e-sim card version for traveling to Europe.
A last reminder that if your phone is e-sim compatible you can arrange everything online by either ordering a data-only e-sim card for Finland or an international e-sim card for traveling to Finland.
I am sure some of the above tips for buying a sim card for Finland were helpful. If you have any further question please leave me a message below or reach out to me on social media and I am happy to help you out with questions about Finland sim cards.
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of August 2023 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Finland!
Some links in this article about the best sim cards for traveling to Finland are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you.