Planning your trip to Poland and wondering what is the best way to stay connected? Don't get stuck with high roaming charges or slow overseas data roaming plans. This is a complete guide for finding the best sim card for traveling to in Poland in 2024.
Find everything you need to know about prepaid sim cards in Poland, where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per August 2024, the best 4G/5G network in Poland, a comparison of the mobile internet operators, EU data roaming restrictions, the best eSIMs for Poland, my recommendation, info about international sim cards and more.
Traveltomtom recommends buying a prepaid sim card in Poland or get an eSIM for Poland. The 4G/5G network in Poland is pretty good and data packages are very cheap on as well prepaid sim cards as eSIMs.
Staying connected is one of the most important things for me when traveling and therefore finding the best sim card is a vital part of my travel planning.
In the past I always used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival, but nowadays I pretty much always travel with eSIMs.
As a full time travel blogger and nomad who is also aiming to visit every country in the world I constantly get to new countries and I change sim cards pretty much every week.
Since I like to document all my travel tips you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: Europe, Spain, UK, France, Netherlands, Germany, Rome, London, but also outside of Europe: Asia, USA, Mexico, Canada, Thailand, Vietnam, Kenya, South Africa, Turkey, Brazil, Dubai, Argentina, Australia, Singapore, etc.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!
Traveling to Poland is very affordable compared to other European countries. A great 4-star hotel in the city center for less than $100 per night, a meal in a restaurant for just $10... it is all still possible when visiting Poland in 2024!
Therefore Poland is also named in my list of the best off the beaten path destinations in Europe for 2024.
Some links in this article about the best sim cards for Poland are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using the outgoing links I earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
Why buying a sim card in Poland
First off, don't rely on public WiFi. What if your hotel room has a weak signal? Are you gonna stand on the hallway to upload a photo? Public WiFi is often slow and there is no guarantee. Also be aware that a public WiFi connection is are through an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN in these cases is very much recommended.
Being connected to the internet makes traveling so much easier. Think about ordering a taxi through an app, looking for a nearby rooftop bar or restaurant with good reviews or getting directions from Google Maps. There are many reasons I can come up with for you to stay connected when traveling to Poland. Buying a prepaid sim card in Poland is easy, done fast and you are instantly connected, just as getting an eSIM for Poland.
You don't like to swap sim cards and switch phone numbers? There are two solutions for you. You can look into getting WiFi on the road through a pocket WiFi, the old school way or get yourself an eSIM for Poland.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends an Orange prepaid sim card for traveling in Poland. They have the best 4G/5G network in Poland and for $7.5 USD you get 30 GB data.
You can only buy an Orange prepaid sim card on arrival in Poland in a phone store. If you want to arrive prepared then order an eSIM on the internet and arrange everything within just a couple clicks. eSIMs already start from just $5 USD.
eSIMs are without a doubt the easiest way to stay connected on your trip to Poland in 2024. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for Poland via Airalo, SimOptions or Nomad.
Another recommendation especially if you are traveling onwards in Europe is an international travel sim card with data. These are so-called world travel sim cards. Traveltomtom reviewed and compared them one by one and found you the best international sim card deals for traveling in 2024.
Check out Traveltomtom's list of the best prepaid and eSIMs for traveling to Europe in 2024.
Best eSIMs for Poland
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Poland in 2024 is an eSIM. No need to visit a phone store or swap physical sim cards, you arrange everything online within just 2 minutes.
You order an eSIM for Poland on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Poland eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Poland 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 eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for Poland.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world and never faced an issue. Here are the Airalo eSIM plans for Poland for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $7 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
Click here for more info or to order a Poland eSIM via Airalo.
The above eSIMs from Airalo are data-only and data is only valid in Poland! These Cześć eSIMs operate on the 4G/LTE network of Plus.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another reliable eSIM provider that sells eSIMs from pretty much every country in the world. SimOptions sells international eSIMs for Poland valid all of the EU including unlimited texting and calling:
- 15 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data-only (5G ready) 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 Poland directly online.
If your phone is not eSIM compatible you can order a physical prepaid sim card for traveling to Poland. You can already get an international prepaid sim card with 30 GB data for use in all of Europe for $44.90 USD. Click here to order a physical prepaid sim card for Poland via SimOptions.
Poland prepaid sim cards and EU data roaming
As of 2017 the EU banned international roaming fees within the European Union. Therefore data, voice and text allowance on a Poland prepaid sim card should be free to use in every other EU country. But wait...
Poland mobile internet operators asked the European Commission to not be part of the free EU data roaming agreement. This request has been honored by the European Commission, due to the very low prices for mobile internet in Poland.
That said, since 2024 a lot of Poland prepaid sim cards are allowing some data for use in the EU. Always ask for the EU roaming restrictions when buying a prepaid sim card in Poland and you are traveling onwards to other countries.
So be careful as some prepaid sim cards from Poland are USELESS for a trip to Europe. I tried it out myself and my Poland sim card did indeed NOT work in Norway and later that week neither in Spain.
A prepaid sim card from Poland is not recommended for traveling in Europe as there are a lot of EU data roaming restrictions. So just to test this out on my last trip to Poland I bought the cheapest T-Mobile Poland sim card I could find. For 5 Zloty ($1.2) I got 1 GB data in Poland and in Europe.
In Poland it worked perfectly fine, but just an hour after I landed in Oslo my Orange Poland sim card then kept on saying: insufficient funds while I still had credit and data leftover.
If, after visiting Poland you are traveling onwards in Europe then check out my comparison of the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024 or check my guide for buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Europe in 2024 with more info about free EU data roaming as well as the rules for Brexit.
Mobile internet operators in Poland
There are 4 mobile internet providers in Poland that sell prepaid sim cards for tourists:
- Orange
- T-Mobile
- Plus
- Play
All the above mobile internet providers sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. Unfortunately as of August 2024 the mobile internet operators in Poland do not provide eSIMs, tourists can only get a physical prepaid sim card in phone stores in Poland.
Where to buy a sim card for Poland
International airport on arrival
Most intercontinental flights to Poland arrive in Warsaw and the most convenient place to buy a prepaid sim card for Poland is straight away on arrival at Chopin Airport in Warsaw. Luckily it is easy to buy a prepaid sim card at Warsaw Airport Chopin. There are several phone shops in the arrival hall and you can also get sim cards from the Relay and the Starter convenient store.
Traveltomtom has not landed himself ones on Warsaw Airport, but will soon travel to Warsaw to record a vlog and write a blog about buying a sim card at Warsaw Airport.
Phone stores city center
Everywhere around the city center of the main tourist destinations in Poland you can find stores of the mobile internet providers. The easiest way to find one is to use Google Maps and located the nearest one to your hotel. Otherwise another great place to buy a sim card in Poland is a shopping mall, where you will always find mobile phone stores from Orange, Play, T-Mobile or Plus.
Online
Local prepaid sim cards can only be bought on arrival in Poland, but if you want to arrive prepared in Poland and be online as the plane lands then check out buying a sim card for Poland on the internet.
There are international prepaid sim cards for Poland and eSIMs for Poland.
eSIMs are without a doubt the easiest way to stay connected on your trip to Poland in 2024. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for Poland via Airalo, SimOptions or Nomad.
Best 4G/5G network in Poland in 2024
The best sim card for traveling in Poland is not only determined by the price for data packages. Let's also look into the 4G and 5G network strength and data speed. Imagine you take the bus from Warsaw to Gdansk and as soon as you leave the city you have no phone signal anymore. That is not what we want!
Is there 5G in Poland?
Yes, there is 5G in Poland. All the 4 mobile internet providers offer 5G. However, the 5G coverage differs per operator, see the coverage maps below. Poland is working hard to bring 5G all over the country. Check the Poland 4G/5G coverage maps for more details.
Play Poland 4G/5G network coverage map
T-Mobile Poland 4G/5G network coverage map
Plus Poland 4G/5G network coverage map
Orange Poland 4G/5G network coverage map
Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2024 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in Poland in 2024.
From the above collected data Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that Orange and T-Mobile have the best 4G/5G network in Poland in 2024.
In general, the mobile network coverage in Poland is so extensive that even tourists that go off the beaten path in Poland will find a 4G/LTE signal almost everywhere regardless which sim card they use.
Prices Poland sim cards in 2024
All mobile internet providers in Poland have a strong 4G/5G network in the main tourist destinations in Poland so let's compare the prices for prepaid sim card plans.
All the prices below are in Polish Zloty and up to date as per August 2024 with the latest information from the websites of the mobile internet providers. As per August 2024 the exchange rate is: 1 PLN = $ 0.25 USD and $1 USD = 3.96 PLN.
Orange
An Orange prepaid sim card is free if you get one of the following prepaid plans. All data plans include unlimited calls/text in Poland and Europe as well as free social media apps and are valid for 30 days:
- 30 GB data + free social media apps in Poland = 30 PLN ($7.5 USD)
- 45 GB data + free social media apps in Poland = 35 PLN ($8.7 USD)
- 80 GB data + free social media apps in Poland = 50 PLN ($12.5 USD)
- 150 GB data + free social media apps in Poland = 80 PLN ($20 USD)
Big advantage about an Orange Poland prepaid sim card is that they are all 5G ready. From my comparison you will see that this is not the case for all mobile internet operators in Poland. You can only opt for a physical prepaid sim card, eSIMs for tourists are not available in Orange stores.
*3.48 GB EU data roaming included. **4.18 GB EU data roaming included. ***6.96 GB EU data roaming included. ****11.14 GB EU data roaming included. Check the latest Orange Poland sim card offers on the Orange Poland website.
Plus
A Plus Poland sim card costs 5 ZL ($1.20) and comes with 6 GB data and unlimited calls/sms in Poland valid for 15 days. They offer a wide variety of top up data packages:
- 30 GB data in Poland for 30 days = 25 ZL ($6.2 USD)
- 40 GB data in Poland for 30 days = 30 ZL ($7.5 USD)
- 50 GB data in Poland for 30 days = 50 ZL ($12.5 USD)
Just the top up for example with 30 PLN ($7 USD) will already give you 15 GB bonus and then 15 GB from the package = 30 GB. Then on your first month you get another 200 GB for free and on top of that you can opt for another 1,500 GB data extra.
Unfortunately Plus does not mention anything about EU roaming, neither is it completely clear when you can access the 5G network and when not. But from what I understand when buying one of the 3 above prepaid sim card plans is that you can use the 5G network.
Check the Plus Poland website for the latest prepaid sim card deals or more info. You can only opt for a physical prepaid sim card, eSIMs for tourists are not available in Plus stores.
T-Mobile
There is a T-Mobile prepaid sim card for already 5 ZL ($1.2 USD) which comes with 1 GB data + unlimited calls and sms in Europe for 5 days. Then you can top up with one of the T-Mobile prepaid plans for 30 days:
- 25 GB data for 30 days = 25 PLN ($6.2 USD)
- 30 GB data for 30 days = 30 PLN ($7.5 USD)
- 40 GB data + 100 GB bonus for 30 days = 35 PLN ($8.7 USD)
- 60 GB data + 100 GB bonus and 5G network ready for 30 days = 45 PLN ($11.2 USD)
If you top up your T-Mobile prepaid sim card you already get bonus data. For example a top up with 20 PLN ($5 USD) gets you 5 GB data for 5 days bonus extra.
Also on the T-Mobile Poland website there is no mention of free EU roaming with the prepaid sim card plans. You can only opt for a physical prepaid sim card, eSIMs for tourists are not available in T-Mobile stores.
Play
The last option for buying a Poland prepaid sim card is Play. The Play prepaid sim cards come with unlimited calls/sms in Europe however, data is only valid in Poland.
- 10 GB data in Poland for 30 days = 25 ZL ($6.2 USD)
- 15 GB data in Poland for 30 days = 30 ZL ($7.5 USD)
- Unlimited GB (20 GB full speed) data in Poland for 30 days = 35 ZL ($8.7 USD)
Check out the Play Poland website for more info. You can only opt for a physical prepaid sim card, eSIMs for tourists are not available in Play stores.
Best sim card for Poland in 2024
International prepaid sim cards and eSIMs are great alternatives for staying connected when traveling to Poland. The prices for eSIMs for Poland became very competitive and for $13 USD you get 10 GB data and it is the easiest way to get connected when traveling to Poland.
So is this the best sim card for traveling to Poland in 2024? Well, this depends on the type of traveler you are and of course if your phone is eSIM compatible.
eSIMs are without a doubt the easiest way to stay connected on your trip to Poland in 2024. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for Poland via Airalo or SimOptions.
If you really want to find the cheapest way to get connected when traveling to Poland then you have to buy a local prepaid sim card in Poland on arrival. Especially for those who use a lot of data buying a local prepaid sim card in Poland is a great solution and not expensive.
When it comes down to the 4G/5G network strength, Traveltomtom concludes that Orange has the most extensive 4G/5G network together with T-Mobile.
When we look at the prices we can see that prepaid sim cards come with so much data that you can almost call them Poland prepaid sim cards with unlimited data.
Plus and T-Mobile are giving new prepaid costumers a 100 GB data bonus on the first month. Well if you are looking for a prepaid sim card for tourists in Poland I am sure you are not even able to finish that much data on your holiday in Poland.
It is clear that all internet providers offer amazing prepaid sim card plans for very little money. Sim cards with a lot or even unlimited data are very cheap in Poland.
Orange includes free social media apps, which is a big plus compared to the other operators. Another big advantage about an Orange Poland prepaid sim card is that is clearly stated how much data you can use in the EU.
Since they also has the best 4G/5G network in Poland Traveltomtom concludes that Orange is the best prepaid sim card for Poland in 2024.
Order a prepaid sim card for Poland online
Prepaid sim cards in Poland are cheap, but finding a person that speaks English can be challenging sometimes. Forget about finding a phone store on arrival.
If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Poland online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Poland 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 Poland, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Poland:
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 for more info or to order an international prepaid sim card for Poland via SimOptions.
Personally Traveltomtom recommends the Bouygues Telecom or the Orange sim card with 30 GB data. I have used these physical prepaid sim cards a lot in the past and never had an issue.
But as mentioned many times before when traveling to Europe or Poland nowadays I always use an eSIM. It is just so easy and done fast and as soon as the plane touches the ground you are online.
A last reminder that if your phone is eSIM compatible you can also order an eSIM for Poland directly online through Airalo if you are looking for the cheapest eSIMs or through SimOptions if you are looking for an eSIM that is valid in all of Europe. Nomad also has competitive data-only eSIM plans for Poland.
My experience buying a sim card in Poland
A couple years ago on my trips to Poland I always used to buy a prepaid sim card in either an Orange or a T-Mobile store. I mostly traveled overland to Poland and in the first place I would stay overnight I would go to a store.
It is not easy to find staff that speaks English, but luckily I also speak fluent German so that helps. If you are English speaking then be prepared to use Translate in store and it can be a bit challenging.
In general buying a local prepaid sim card in Poland is easy, but most of all cheap and you get a lot of data.
That said, just to save time on my last trip I visited Krakow for a couple days and simply got myself an eSIM from Airalo with 10 GB data for just $13 USD. You arrange everything within a couple minutes on the internet and as soon as the plane lands you are online.
While doing my research for the best prepaid sim cards to travel in Europe I already found out that Poland has an exception within the EU data roaming regulations. Free data roaming in Europe is the best invention since the Euro, but always ask if data roaming in the EU is included and if there are limitations when buying a sim card in Poland.
I hope the above tips for buying a prepaid sim card for Poland and other ways to stay connected were helpful for your upcoming trip to Poland. In case you have any questions don't hesitate to leave me a comment or a question below. I am more than happy to help you out.
If you are interested what it looks like traveling to every country in the world then check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom for some serious wanderlust. As of August 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world.
Enjoy your trip to Poland!