eSIMS FOR YOUR TRIP TO ITALY IN 2026
Planning Your Trip Travel Essentials Aug 5, 2026, 6:23:17 AM Linda Parker 9 min read
Most of you probably recall using SIM cards, those annoyingly tiny chips of plastic that you insert into your smartphone to help make calls when traveling. At one point, I had a whole bunch of them tucked inside my phone case. I’ve even seen wallets made especially for carrying them.
Times have changed. Those wallets have pretty much gone the way of translation books.
You may not need a physical SIM card anymore because you can now download an eSIM, or embedded SIM. It is a digital replacement for the physical SIM card. In fact, some newer phones do not even have a slot for a physical SIM.
With an eSIM, you go online, choose a temporary phone or data plan, and download it directly to your phone. There are usually several plans to choose from, depending on how much data you need, how long you will be traveling, and which countries you will visit.
For example, Tim always gets more data than I do. He is the planner who has to have his maps and ChatGPT available at all times to help him find his way, along with podcasts and music. I use maps when I do not want to get lost, which I find very easy to do, but I do not use all the other bells and whistles as much as he does.
Do You Even Need an eSIM?
Before buying anything, check with your current phone company.
Your existing plan may already include international roaming, or it may offer an international add-on for an extra fee. For a trip of a week or even a month, that may be all you need.
Ask your carrier:
- Is international data included with my current plan?
- Is there a daily charge, monthly pass, or other international add-on?
- How much high-speed data is included?
- What happens after I reach the data limit?
- How much do calls to the United States cost?
- How much do local calls within Italy cost?
- Are incoming calls and text messages charged?
- Does the plan cover every country I will be visiting?
You will probably need data more than phone calls nowadays. Data allows you to use maps, messaging, email, restaurant websites, transportation apps, and other services while you are away from Wi-Fi.
Make sure you understand both the cost and your phone settings before you arrive. You do not want to accidentally use expensive international roaming without realizing it.
What Is an eSIM?
An eSIM is built into the phone. Instead of taking out a tiny plastic card and replacing it with another one, you download a phone plan and install it digitally.
Generally, you can purchase and install a travel eSIM before leaving home, then connect or activate it when you arrive. The exact process varies by provider. Some plans begin when the eSIM first connects to a supported network, while others may begin when you install or activate the plan.
Read the provider’s instructions before installing it, especially the section explaining when the plan’s validity period begins.
Getting everything installed while you are still at home, with reliable Wi-Fi and time to solve any problems, is usually much easier than trying to do it after landing at the airport.
Will Your Phone Accept an eSIM?
Not every phone supports eSIMs, especially older models.
Before buying a plan, check whether your phone is eSIM-compatible and unlocked. An unlocked phone is not restricted to using only your current mobile carrier.
You can usually check through your phone’s settings.
Apple iPhone
Go to:
Settings > Cellular or Mobile Service > Add eSIM
The wording may be Set Up Cellular, Set Up Mobile, or Add eSIM, depending on the phone, country, and version of iOS.
Samsung Galaxy
Go to:
Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add eSIM
Some older Samsung instructions may use SIM Card Manager or Add Mobile Plan instead.
Google Pixel
Go to:
Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs > Add SIM > Set Up an eSIM
You can also search your phone’s settings for the word eSIM.
Menus and wording change as phones and operating systems are updated, particularly on older phones. If you do not see an eSIM option, check the phone manufacturer’s support page using your exact model number. Also confirm that your particular version of the phone supports eSIMs, since the same model may have different capabilities depending on where it was originally sold.
Italy-Only or Europe-Wide?
Some eSIM plans work only in Italy. Others cover several European countries.
If you are flying directly to Italy, staying there for the reunion, and returning home, an Italy-only plan may be enough.
If you are also visiting France, Germany, Switzerland, Albania, or other countries before or after the reunion, a regional European plan may be more convenient.
Do not assume that every European plan includes every country. Check the actual coverage list before buying. This is especially important if your travels include countries outside the European Union.
Also check what the plan actually includes. Some provide data only. Others may include a local phone number, text messages, or calling.
What We Have Used
When we began our travels in 2023, we had T-Mobile, which included international data. Calls cost a little extra.
It was kind of fun. Each time we arrived in a new country and switched on our phones, a message appeared saying, “Hi! Welcome to ______,” with the name of the country we had just entered. It always knew where we were, and the service was pretty seamless, but not necessarily inexpensive.
It bothered us that we knew we could probably do it cheaper, but we were leery of making the jump.
We finally did in Spain, after T-Mobile began reducing our international service because we had been outside the United States for an extended period. We chose Airalo for data and Tello for our US phone service.
It took me the better part of a day to get everything set up because, of course, it did not go according to plan.
We still use Tello to keep our US phone numbers and receive SMS verification codes. We eventually stopped using Airalo because it did not work well for us in Albania.
Fortunately, eSIMs have improved, and they are usually easier to set up now, although there can still be bugs. We downloaded eSIM io in Poland a few months ago and never did get it to work, but it had worked seamlessly for Tim in Munich a month earlier.
We also tried a Vodafone eSIM in Germany that did not work for us. Here in Albania, however, Vodafone has been fantastic.
That does not necessarily mean one provider is good or bad everywhere. What works best often depends on the country, the local network being used, and the particular plan you purchase.
Which eSIM Company Should You Choose?
When you search online for the “best eSIM,” you will find plenty of top-10 lists. The problem is that the rankings, prices, plans, and even the companies keep changing.
Rather than declaring that one company is always the best, we suggest comparing several established providers and checking what they currently offer for Italy and any other countries you will visit.
There are two general places to look.
Mobile Companies Offering Travel eSIMs
Traditional mobile companies may sell travel eSIMs even if you are not already one of their regular customers.
Your existing carrier may also provide sufficient international service through your regular plan. For example, T-Mobile’s international plans vary according to the customer’s US plan and may include international data, texting, or optional international passes.
Companies Specializing in Travel eSIMs
These companies primarily sell eSIMs for travelers:
These providers offer different combinations of country-specific, regional, and global plans.
This is not intended to be a ranking or a complete list. Other reliable providers may be available by the time you travel.
When comparing plans, look at:
- Countries included
- Amount of data
- Number of days the plan lasts
- Whether it is data-only
- Whether it includes calls or text messages
- Whether it provides a local phone number
- Which local mobile network it uses
- Whether hotspot or tethering is allowed
- When the plan activates
- Whether you can add more data
- Whether customer support is available if something goes wrong
Also check whether the plan allows you to top up your data. For example, if you buy 3 GB for seven days and use it all by day five, many providers will let you purchase additional data without replacing or reinstalling the eSIM. Not every plan allows this, so check before you buy.
Do not choose a plan only because it appears first on a “best eSIM” list. Check what it offers specifically in Italy and in every other country on your itinerary.
Do You Need a Local Phone Number?
Many travel eSIMs provide data but do not give you a local telephone number.
That may be perfectly fine. Most of us now communicate using WhatsApp, email, or other internet-based services.
WhatsApp is widely used in Italy and is helpful for contacting friends, tour guides, drivers, hotels, and businesses that use WhatsApp. It is also useful for creating a reunion group to coordinate, gossip, complain, or whatever else the group wants to do.
There may still be situations when you need to call an ordinary Italian phone number, such as a restaurant or business that does not use WhatsApp. If that matters to you, check whether your eSIM includes local calling or whether your regular phone plan allows international calls at a reasonable cost.
Can You Keep Using Your US Number?
Yes, in many cases you can keep your regular US SIM active while also using an eSIM for travel data.
Many newer phones allow you to choose one SIM for calls and text messages and another for mobile data. The exact options depend on your phone.
Be careful with the settings. You want the travel eSIM to handle your mobile data without your US carrier quietly charging you for international roaming.
Usually, you should:
- Select the travel eSIM as the line for mobile data.
- Turn off Data Roaming for your US line.
- Turn on Data Roaming for the travel eSIM if the provider’s instructions require it.
- Turn off automatic cellular-data switching unless you understand exactly how your phone will use it.
- Leave your US line active only if you want to receive calls or verification text messages and understand what your carrier may charge.
The names of these settings differ between Apple and Android phones, so follow the instructions provided by your eSIM company and your regular carrier.
Before You Leave Home
Before traveling, check the following:
- Does your phone support eSIMs?
- Is your phone unlocked?
- Does your existing phone plan already include international service?
- Will you visit only Italy or several countries?
- How much data do you normally use?
- Do you need ordinary phone calls or only data?
- Do you want to keep receiving calls and verification texts on your US number?
- Can the eSIM be purchased and installed before departure?
- When does the plan activate?
- Does the plan include every country you plan to visit?
- Which line will your phone use for mobile data?
- Have you turned off data roaming on the US line, if appropriate?
Do a little homework before choosing the plan that works best for you. Then install it before leaving home, when possible, so you are ready to connect as soon as you arrive in Italy.
The technology is much easier than it used to be, but it is still smart to get everything organized before your flight. Then you can concentrate on enjoying Florence instead of standing in the airport trying to figure out your phone.
