Planning your trip to Italy and flying to Milan Malpensa Airport and wondering if you can buy a prepaid sim card on arrival at Milan Airport?
Forget about overpriced and slow overseas data roaming plans, this is your sim card guide for Milan Airport with everything you need to know for staying connected when traveling to Milan.
Find out where to buy a sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport, up to date prices as per September 2024, the best eSIMs for Italy, my recommendation, information about international sim cards and everything else you need to know.
As part of my journey to visit every country in the world I get to a lot of countries and airports and the first thing I used to do was buying a local prepaid sim card to stay connected. Things have changed a lot as nowadays I mostly order an eSIM to stay connected.
Documenting all my travel tips in order to help other travelers save money while traveling abroad I already wrote more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Europe, Paris, Geneva, Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, New York, Panama City, Mexico City, Bogota, Cairo, Istanbul, Jeddah, Bangkok Dubai, Hong Kong, Australia and many more.
Traveltomtom also wrote specific Milan and Venice sim card guides and of course a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Italy in 2024.
If you are more interested in using eSIMs when traveling to Rome then check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Italy in 2024.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!
Some links in this article about the best sim cards for traveling to Milan are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. This is at absolutely no extra cost to you.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for Italy on the internet for your trip to Milan.
The best sim card deal for tourists at Milan Airport is a Vodafone prepaid sim card (no e-sim available) for €30 EUR ($33 USD) with 18 GB data.
You can already get an eSIM for Italy with 15 GB data for just $21.90 USD. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for Italy via either Airalo, SimOptions or Nomad.
For more detailed info check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling in Italy in 2024 including answers to all FAQ about using e-sims.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible or you rather buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Milan then wait till you get to Milan city center and find much better prepaid sim card deals for Italy.
For more info about the best prepaid sim cards for tourists in Italy in 2024 check out my complete guide in the link. Buying a sim card at the airport is convenient, but you also pay a tourist price.
A great alternative is a global sim card for travelers. Check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2024 and find the one that suits your trip. These sim cards will be shipped to your home address before your trip and you arrive all prepared in Italy.
For those people that do not prefer to change sim cards and phone numbers there are eSIMs or portable WiFi devices. In my article about how to get WiFi on the road I give you an HONEST review about pocket WiFi devices.
Best eSIMs for Italy
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Milan in 2024 is an eSIM. You order an e-sim on the internet and you arrange everything within just a couple clicks.
You order an eSIM for Milan on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Italy eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Milan it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an eSIM for Italy. For more info check out Traveltomtom's complete guide for buying an eSIM for Italy in 2024.
Airalo
Check out the following Italy eSIM deals from Airalo:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $33 USD
Click here to order an eSIM for Italy directly online.
The above Mamma Mia eSIMs for Italy are only valid in Italy and phone calls are not supported. The operate on the 4G/LTE networks of TIM, Windtre and Vodafone.
SimOptions
SimOptions sells international eSIMs that are valid in up to 70 countries and they include free EU roaming. These eSIMs also include calling time and come with a phone number.
- 15 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data (5G ready) + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 12 GB data + 30 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for 30 days = $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data + 120 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 50 GB data (5G ready) + 120 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 28 days = $59.90 USD
Click here to order an international eSIM for Italy via SimOptions.
Nomad
Nomad is a third recommended e-sim provider that sells Italy eSIMs for tourists. Traveltomtom has tested and reviewed Nomad eSIMs in more than 10 countries around the world.
Great thing about some of the Nomad eSIMs for Italy is that they are *5G ready.
These are the Italy eSIM plans from Nomad for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $8 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $19 USD*
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $27 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $33 USD*
Click here to order an eSIM for traveling to Italy via Nomad.
With an eSIM you can keep your phone number from home, but make sure your phone is e-sim compatible. Check out everything you need to know before buying an Italy eSIM in my complete guide with the best eSIMs for Italy in 2024.
Want to order a physical sim card for traveling in Europe online and get it shipped to your home address? For $21.90 USD you get 15 GB and unlimited calls/sms in Europe. Click here to check out all the Italy physical prepaid sim card deals for tourists that you can order via SimOptions.
Italy sim cards and free EU roaming
Great thing about free EU roaming nowadays is that you can use the data, voice and text allowance from your Italy sim card also in Madrid, London, Stockholm and every other place in Europe. All prepaid Italy sim cards offer free data roaming however, most of the Italy internet providers limit the use of data outside Italy. Therefore always ask your provider when buying a sim card in Italy.
I wrote a complete guide with tips and tricks and everything you need to know about buying a local sim card in Europe.
Milan Malpensa Airport
There are 2 terminals at Milan Malpensa airport. Terminal 1 is the new one and is where all intercontinental flights arrive. Terminal 2 is a very old terminal and mainly used for Easyjet only. To give you a complete guide for buying a sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport I also checked out Terminal 2 for you.
Where to buy an Italy sim card at Malpensa Airport in 2024
Terminal 1
At Terminal 1 there are two arrival halls: A and B. Both arrival halls have a Money Exchange office straight after luggage collection. The Money Exchange shop is where they sell Italy sim cards. You can’t miss them as they have big advertisements displayed for buying a Vodafone sim card.
At Terminal 1 there is also a Tutto Communications, a small booth. They are located close to Arrival Hall B, but this is a tourist trap! Prices are outrageous, more about it later...
Terminal 2
If you arrive at Terminal 2 then in the arrival hall there is no shop that sells an Italy sim card. If you really want to buy a sim card for Italy at Milan Airport Malpensa Terminal 2 go to the Departure hall of Terminal 2. It is in the building next door. There you will find a money exchange shop and they sell Italy sim cards.
Sometimes in Italy things don’t make sense and so is buying a sim card at Milan Airport. You can only buy them per 2! Like a couples sim card or what? Solo travelers will just have to deal with it…
At some of the Exchange offices they where very strict, but one was like: ok, you can also buy 1. WEIRD!!!!
Prices Italy sim cards Milan Malpensa Airport in 2024
Info and prices below are updated as per September 2024 and prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.9 EUR and €1 EUR = $1.11 USD.
Terminal 1 Exchange Office
The exact same shops basically sell the exact same Vodafone Italy sim card packages. Vodafone is the only prepaid Italy sim card they offer. For some strange reason they differ slightly in price for the same package. Arrival Hall A and B are only 3 minute walk from each other and in and between you find 3 Exchange Shops.
These are the Vodafone Italy sim card welcome packs they offer:
All the packages are for 2 sim cards so you get twice the package below.
- 18 GB data in all of Europe, no roaming costs for 30 countries
- 500 minutes in Italy
- 300 minutes international
- Texting is NOT included
- Valid for 30 days
The price? In Hall B you pay €60,50, in Hall A you pay €56,50 (+1 sim card gets free social media) and in and between the two arrival halls there is an Exchange shop that sells the same Italy sim card for €55,50.
The Exchange shops are literally within 400 meters from each other. Why they all have a different price for the same sim card packages is very strange! Welcome to Italy! :)
There is also a slightly cheaper option for €50/€51,50 depending on which Exchange Store you go but you get 2 sim cards with each only 8GB instead of the above 18GB. If you want to buy just 1 sim card instead of two you pay €30 for this package. So you get 8GB, 500 minutes in Italy, 150 minutes international.
All the above Vodafone Italy sim cards can be topped up through the Vodafone Italy website after 30 days. You then get the same package for only €10!
Tutto Communications
As I mentioned earlier there is also a little sim card booth just next to Arrival Hall B. I have done research for buying sim cards at Rome Airport, Venice Airport, Paris Airport, Frankfurt Airport, Amsterdam Airport and many more but never have I seen outrageous prices like this!
When I saw it I was like: who the hell on earth pays €169 EUR for 20 GB data? Like for real? You can also buy 3 GB data for €69 EUR. INSANE!
Please people I hope when you are reading this you are also laughing. Things like this is why I love to write travel tips for people traveling around the world, because never ever buy a sim card for this price! It is a scam!
To prove I was not lying I took photos of what they offer. If you haven’t laughed your ass off today this is your moment! Go for it… :)
The offered sim cards are from WindTre Italy by the way, but I bet they are NOT related to Tutto Communications.
The Tutto Communications booth also offers Lyca Mobile Italy sim cards. Also these ones are extremely overpriced and NOT worth buying!
Please avoid this booth completely! I am only mentioning it to give you a complete guide for buying a sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport and of course helping you NOT to waste money and travel more, because in the end that is what I love doing.
My passion for traveling turned me into a professional travel blogger. Read my story of continuously traveling around the world since 2012 in the link above.
Terminal 2 Exchange Office Departures
The Exchange office at Departures Terminal 2 sells only a package of 2 Vodafone Italy sim cards for €60,50. For that price you get the following per sim card:
- 18 GB data in all of Europe, no roaming costs
- 500 minutes in Italy
- 300 minutes international
- Texting is NOT included
- Valid for 30 days
This Vodafone Italy sim card can be topped up through the Vodafone Italy website for the second month. The same package then only costs €10 EUR ($11 USD).
Best sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport in 2024
This is of course a very easy conclusion as Vodafone Italy is the only sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport worth considering. Still can’t get my head around why you can only buy them per two though. But in fact this sim card deal is not so bad at all if you are with two people.
The best prepaid sim card at Milan Airport is Vodafone Italy. For around €30 EUR ($33 USD) you get for 18 GB data to use everywhere in Europe and 500 minutes.
However, if your phone is e-sim compatible and you know the prices for Italy eSIM plans then it is an easy conclusion that ordering an eSIM for Italy on the internet is cheaper, faster and easier than buying a prepaid sim card at Milan Airport.
Check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Italy in 2024.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible or you rather buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Milan then wait till Milan city center and buy your sim card for tourists there. Check out my guide with everything you need to know before buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Italy in 2024.
Order a prepaid sim card for Italy online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Milan online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Milan with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Italy, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Italy:
1. O2 Go Card - $24.90
- 10 GB data
- $2 calling credit (no top-up)
- valid for 30 days
- valid in 34 countries
- 4G/LTE
2. Three Data Pack - $24.90
- 10 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms
- Valid 30 days
- Valid in 56 countries
- 4G/LTE
3. Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90
- 12 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 30 minutes worldwide
- 200 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
- Valid in 34 countries
- 4G/LTE
4. Bouygues Telecom - $44.90
- 30 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- Valid 30 days
- Valid in 47 countries
- 4G/LTE
5. Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 30 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
- Valid in 34 countries
- 4G/LTE
Click here to directly order an international prepaid sim card for Italy via SimOptions.
Personally I would recommend the last options from either Bouygues Telecom or Orange with a lot of data, but that is just because I am a heavy data user.
Also a last reminder that you can easily order an eSIM for Italy if your phone is e-sim compatible. Traveltomtom recommedns ordering an Italy eSIM via either Airalo or SimOptions. No more swapping a physical sim card and you keep your own phone number.
For more info about using eSIMs for traveling to Italy read my guide with everything you need to know before buying an Italy eSIM in 2024.
How to get to Milan city from Malpensa Airport
Apart from taxis there are two other options: bus and train. Both run very frequent, busses go every 10 minutes, train every 20 minutes. A one-way bus ticket cost €10 and busses can be found right outside Arrival Hall A. My bus from Milan city to Malpensa Airport took only 40 minutes, but on the way back it took 1,5 hours. The advantage of taking a bus is that they have 3 other stops before they end at Milan Central Station.
The train is slightly more expensive and costs €13 one-way but guarantees you to reach Milan Central Station in 57 minutes. The train station is 3 minutes walk from both arrival halls and tickets can easily be bought at the train station.
I hope all the above tips for buying an Italy sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport were helpful. If you have any more questions please leave me a comment below and I will be more than happy to help.
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 September 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Milan!