Planning your trip to Spain, flying to Madrid and wondering if you can buy a prepaid sim card at Madrid Airport? In this guide you will find everything you need to know before buying a sim card at Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport.
Find out where to buy a sim card, info about the different terminals, up to date prices as per January 2025, my recommendation, info about eSIMs for Spain and more.
If you want to save on high roaming charges Traveltomtom recommends you to get a prepaid sim card or an eSIM for Spain. Don't get fooled by slow overseas data roaming plans, they are expensive and reduce the data speed.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card at Madrid Airport
- Spain sim cards and EU data roaming
- Arriving at Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport
- Where to buy a Spain sim card at Madrid Airport
- Prices prepaid Spain sim card Madrid Airport 2025
- Best sim card for tourists at Madrid Airport in 2025
- Best eSIMs for Spain
- Order a prepaid sim card for Spain online
- Vlog about buying a sim card at Madrid Airport
- How to get from Madrid Airport to the city center
Some links in this article about the best Madrid sim cards 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!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying an Mas Movil prepaid sim card or if arriving at Terminal 4 an Orange sim card. If you arrive at Terminal 1 Traveltomtom does not recommend to buy an extremely overpriced sim card from the Betel phone store.
In that case wait till you reach Madrid city center or order a sim card for traveling to Madrid on the internet.
Yes, I agree... that sound complicated! Madrid Airport is very spread out and logistically a mess.
To avoid all this hassle simply order an eSIM on the internet and be online as soon as the plane lands. eSIMs already start from just $4.5 USD. Check out my guide with a comparison of the best eSIMs for Spain in 2025.
Traveltomtom recommends a Jetpac eSIM for Spain with 15 GB for $15 USD. SimOptions and Airalo are other approved eSIM providers.
Buying a sim card in a phone store in Madrid city center is much cheaper than at the airport. For more info check my guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Spain in 2025.
Traveltomtom also recommends global sim cards. These sim cards with coverage in multiple countries are very convenient and some of these international sim card deals are great for traveling to Spain and Europe.
Have a look at my article about the best international sim cards for traveling in 2025 and find the one that suits your trip to Europe.
Why buying a sim card at Madrid Airport
It is very simple. You want an Uber to drive you from the airport to your hotel in Madrid? Then you need an internet connection on your phone. Or what about looking for a nice restaurant nearby when walking through the city or getting direction from Google Maps. Having a data connection on your phone makes traveling to Madrid so much easier and therefore more fun.
Don't rely on the public WiFi of your hotel, bar or restaurant. There is no guarantee it works or is fast enough and above all, a public WiFi connection is through an UNSECURED network. In these cases it is recommend to use a VPN to protect your data.
Buying a sim card at Madrid Airport on arrival is easy, but even easier is ordering an eSIM for Spain on the internet.
Because of my journey to visit every country in the world I have been around the world quite a bit.
Another passion of Traveltomtom next to traveling is to document all my travel tips and that why on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Paris, London, Dublin, Lisbon, Rome, Milan, Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona, etc. But also places like Guatemala, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Panama, USA, Canada, Kenya, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and many more.
So when planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me!
Spain sim cards and EU data roaming
Spain prepaid sim cards are a pretty good deal for traveling in Europe, most prepaid sim cards offer free or unlimited roaming in the EU, but always ask your mobile internet provider when buying a sim card in Spain. Sometime they have sneaky rules with data caps outside of Spain. In general I recommend buying a sim card in Spain for traveling in Europe.
Free EU roaming means that when you buy a sim card in Spain you data, voice and text allowance is also valid in other countries in Europe at NO extra costs, so you don't need to buy a new sim card in every European country you go to. Check out my complete guide with all the info for tourists about buying a local sim card in Europe or check my article with the best sim cards for Europe travel.
Arriving at Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport
The Madrid Airport (MAD) consists of 4 different Terminals and terminals are very far apart. Terminal 2 and 3 are outdated but mostly for European arrivals.
Most intercontinental flights arrive at either Terminal 1 or Terminal 4.
However, these terminals are 5 kilometers apart. There are shuttles busses that constantly run between the terminals but for just buying a sim card I would not recommend changing terminals.
That said, a sim card for Spain at Terminal 1 is more than DOUBLE the price than a sim card at Terminal 4.
Where to buy a Spain sim card at Madrid Airport
This completely depends at which terminal you arrive. In Terminal 1 there is a big phone shop called: Betel Phone it is in and between the two arrival gates. Unfortunately it is the only place to buy a sim card at Madrid Airport Terminal 1 and prices are HIGH!
At Madrid Airport Terminal 4 there are 3 different places to buy a sim card for Spain: WH Smith shop, The Market convenient store and at Consigna Left Luggage. The WH Smith shop is on your right hand side when you walk into the Arrivals Hall and on your left you will find The Market store and Consigna - Left Luggage.
Keep in mind that the sim card stores at Madrid Airport close very early! Lately I arrived at Terminal 4 around 9.00 PM and all shops were closed.
Prices prepaid Spain sim card Madrid Airport 2025
All prices and info are updated as per January 2025. Prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.98 EUR and €1 EUR = 1.02 USD.
Betel Phone Terminal 1
At Betel Phone Madrid Airport Terminal they only sell Orange prepaid sim cards. Be aware they are expensive! See the prices in the photo above. The Betel Phone opening hours are: 08.00 to 18:30. They close very early and when arriving at Terminal after 6:30 PM there is no place to buy a sim card anymore. Pretty disappointing!
The cheapest prepaid sim card at Madrid Airport Terminal 1 costs €45 EUR ($45 USD) and gives you data for 1 month. All sim card deals offer free EU roaming so you can use your sim card in all of Europe. For more info about free EU roaming check out my guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Europe.
When landing at Terminal 1 it is much cheaper to order your Spain sim card online or get an eSIM for Spain. See below for more info.
WH Smith shop Terminal 4
This convenient store is known for selling prepaid sim cards across major European airports. At the moment they only sell Mas Movil sim cards.
The Mas Movil prepaid sim cards are the best sim card deal I have found all across Madrid Airport.
- 40 GB data = €20 EUR - $20 USD
- 80 GB data = €25 EUR - $25 USD
- 120 GB data = €30 EUR - $30 USD
Packages are valid for 1 month all across Europe. The WH Smith shop is open from 07.00 till 22.00.
The Market Terminal 4
The Market shop is located when you walk to your left when entering the arrival hall. The shop is open from 8.00 till 20.00 and they sell an Orange prepaid sim card for traveling in Spain and in Europe.
For €25 EUR ($25 USD) you get a sim card with 100 GB data with 15 GB free EU data roaming, see the above photo for more details.
Consigna - Left Luggage Terminal 4
The Consigna - Left Luggage store is a little hidden all the way at the end of the terminal on your left hand side past the Market convenience store. It has great opening hours: 05.00 till 23.00.
Here they also sell Orange sim cards, but different ones than at The Market store.
The cheapest Spain sim card deal they offer costs €20 EUR ($20 USD) and you will get 20 GB data valid in all of Europe, see the picture above.
Best sim card for tourists at Madrid Airport in 2025
If you arrive at Terminal 4 you are lucky, because they sell the best sim card deal at Madrid Airport in 2025: Mas Movil.
You can get a Mas Movil sim card at the WH Smith store for €20 EUR ($20 USD) with 40 GB data valid in all of Europe + calling minutes.
The Orange sim card with 100 GB data for €25 EUR ($25 USD) is a great alternative. Unfortunately all sim cards at Madrid Airport are 4G/LTE only, 5G is not supported and you can only get physical prepaid sim cards, there are no eSIMs available.
Also keep in min that shops close at 09.00 PM at Madrid Airport, if you arrive later there is no possibility to buy a sim card at Madrid Airport.
Another reason to look into getting an eSIM for Spain. Find out everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Spain in my complete guide.
At Madrid Airport they sell prepaid sim cards for Spain at tourist prices compared to phone stores in Madrid city center , the airport sim cards are much more expensive.
The official mobile internet operator stores of Vodafone, Orange, Yoigo and Movistar have amazing sim card deals and for €10 EUR ($11 USD) you can already get a prepaid sim card for tourists with 50 GB data.
Read all about it in my article about the best Spain sim cards for tourists in 2025 and also find out which mobile internet provider has the best 4G/5G network coverage in Spain.
Best eSIMs for Spain
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Spain in 2025 is an eSIM. No more visiting a store or swapping physical sim cards. In just a couple clicks you can order and instal an eSIM for Spain.
For your interest: in phone stores in Spain they do NOT provide eSIMs, they only sell physical prepaid sim cards for tourists.
You order an eSIM for Spain on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Spain eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Spain it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
For much more details and answers to all the FAQ's about eSIMs check out Traveltomtom's guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Spain in 2025.
SimOptions
Bouygues Telecom
- 15 GB data-only for 15 days = $15.90 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $32.90 USD
- 60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $39.90 USD
Orange Holiday Europe
- 12 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $28.90 USD
- 30 GB data + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 70 GB data + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 28 days = $55.90 USD
Click here to order an eSIM for Spain via SimOptions.
All the above international eSIMs are valid all over Europe and they include free EU data roaming. The best thing about these eSIMs for Spain is that they also include calling and texting and they all come with a phone number. Some of them support 5G, other eSIMs only 4G/LTE.
Airalo
Airalo is a trusted and reviewed eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world. Here are the Airalo eSIM plans for Spain in 2025:
- 1 GB for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB for 15 days = $6.5 USD
- 3 GB for 30 days = $8.5 USD
- 5 GB for 30 days = $11.5 USD
- 10 GB for 30 days = $18 USD
- 20 GB for 30 days = $26 USD
Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for Spain via Airalo.
The above Guay Mobile eSIMs for Spain are data-only and data is only valid in Spain. Calling and texting is NOT supported. They operate on the 4G/LTE mobile network of Movistar.
For more details and many more eSIM deals check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for Spain in 2025.
Order a prepaid sim card for Spain online
If buying a sim card at Madrid Airport sounds like too much effort and your phone is not eSIM compatible then don't waste time at Madrid Airport and simply order a physical prepaid sim card online before your trip to Spain.
Get an international sim card that covers Spain delivered to your home address. Easy, quick and convenient... just put it in your phone on your arrival and it gets activated automatically.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Spain:
- 15 GB data-only for 15 days = $15.90 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 10 GB data + unlimited calls/sms for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 12 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $51.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international physical prepaid sim card for Spain via SimOptions.
Also a last reminder that you can also order an eSIM for Spain, simple and fast.
Want to know more about using eSIMs for traveling to Spain then click on the link and find a comparison of the best Spain eSIMs in 2025 and much more detailed info.
Vlog about buying a sim card at Madrid Airport
Different terminals, different sim card stores.
Here is a vlog about my experiences buying a sim card at Madrid Airport on arrival at Terminal 4.
I also went to Terminal 1 for you and recorded a vlog to show you everything. Please if you can like the video for my effort.
How to get from Madrid Airport to the city center
Outside of every terminal there are busses leaving constantly for the city center, but my preferred way of traveling from Madrid Airport to the city center is by Uber. In Spain an Uber is affordable. A bus ticket costs €7 EUR ($8 USD) and can be bought on the bus. The journey takes around 40 minutes depending at which stop you get off.
I hope some of the above tips for buying a prepaid sim card at Madrid Airport were helpful for your upcoming trip to Spain. If you have any questions please leave me a message below and I am happy to help. Also regarding Madrid travel tips.
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 January 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Madrid!
