Are you planning you trip to Germany and flying to Frankfurt and wondering if you can buy a prepaid sim card for tourists at Frankfurt Airport on arrival? Don't get fooled by slow overseas data roaming plans or let high roaming charges ruin your trip. This is a complete guide with everything you need to know about buying a sim card at Frankfurt Airport.
Find out where to buy a prepaid sim card, up to date prices as per February 2024, shop opening times, a vlog about my arrival at Frankfurt Airport, the best e-sim cards for Germany, info about international sim cards for Germany and more.
Traveltomtom is aiming to visit every country in the world and everywhere I go I write sim card guides to help fellow world travelers save money on high roaming charges and find the best ways to stay connected.
There is a whole long list of sim card guide on Traveltomtom from all over the world: Venice, Budapest, Geneva, Zurich, Madrid, Milan, Nairobi, Douala, Dubai, Riyadh, Amman, Istanbul, Cape Town, Miami, New York, Buenos Aires, Sydney, Singapore, Bali, Bangkok, Mexico, Brazil, Philippines, Malaysia and many more places around the world.
Traveltomtom also wrote arrival guides for Berlin Brandenburg Airport as well as a complete guide for the best prepaid sim card for tourists in Germany in 2024.
If you are all about e-sims then Traveltomtom has the ultimate guide guide for you with a comparison of the best e-sim cards for traveling to Germany in 2024.
RELATED: Ultimate Frankfurt Travel Guide for 2024 with 16 things to do, hotel recommendations, rooftop bars, restaurants and day trips.
My recommendation
In fact Traveltomtom does NOT recommend buying a sim card at Frankfurt Airport. Tourist sim cards are sold for tourists prices and there is very limited choice.
If you want to buy a local prepaid sim card in Germany it is adviced to wait till you get to a phone store in the city center of Frankfurt. In that case you would like to read Traveltomtom's guide for finding the best prepaid sim card for tourists in Germany in 2024.
Just for the record, the best prepaid sim card deal at Frankfurt Airport is a Lycamobile sim card with 15 GB data for €40 EUR ($44 USD).
When I tell you that you can already order an e-sim card for Germany with 20 GB data for just $26 USD you understand why Traveltomtom does not recommend tourists to buy a sim card at Frankfurt Airport.
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Another great alternative is for staying connected when traveling to Germany is buying an international sim card for traveling abroad. These sim cards are valid in multiple countries around the world.
Check out Traveltomtom's comparison of these global travel sim cards with data in the link above.
If you are NOT a fan of swapping sim cards then there are 2 alternatives: a pocket WiFi and an e-sim card for Germany. Read my article about getting WiFi on the road and get an honest review about these portable WiFi devices for traveling. It is so old school!
Best e-sim cards for Germany
The easiest way to get a data connection on your phone when traveling to Germany in 2024 is an e-sim card. You arrange everything directly online. No more swapping physical sim cards and visiting a phone store.
You order an e-sim card for Germany on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Germany e-sim card installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Germany 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 e-sim card for Germany.
Traveltomtom wrote a complete guide for using e-sim cards when traveling to Germany, including a comparison of the best e-sim cards, all FAQ's answered and everything else you need to know about e-sim cards.
There are a couple trusted e-sim card providers, here are Traveltomtom's recommendations.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable e-sim provider that sells e-sim cards from pretty much every country in the world. Airalo offers the following e-sim card deals for Germany in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $6.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $22.50 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
Click here to order a Germany e-sim cards directly through Airalo.
Keep in mind that the above Hallo! Mobil e-sim cards for Germany are data-only and only valid in Germany. They operate on the 4G/LTE network of O2 Germany. The 20 GB data e-sim card for $26 USD is the best buy e-sim card for Germany with only $1.3 USD per Gigabyte.
SimOptions
SimOptions is a reliable e-sim provider and Traveltomtom has used SimOptions in more than 50 countries around the world and never faced an issue.
If you also want to make phone calls with your e-sim card then check out the e-sim card deals on SimOptions. SimOptions sells international e-sim cards for Germany with unlimited calling/texting included and free EU data roaming and calls all over Europe.
Here are the SimOptions e-sim card plans for Germany for 2024:
- 15 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data-only (5G ready) 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
- 50 GB data (5G ready) + unlimited calls/text for 28 days = $59.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international e-sim card for Germany via SimOptions.
Nomad
Another trusted and reviewed e-sim provider is Nomad and Traveltomtom has used Nomad now in more than 10 countries. Nomad sometimes has amazing competitive e-sim card plans with cheap prices.
Here are the Nomad e-sim card plans for Germany in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $6 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 e-sim card for Germany from Nomad.
Before you order an e-sim card for Germany make sure your phone is e-sim card compatible. How to find out? Simply ask Google about your phone model.
For much more detailed information about using e-sim cards for traveling to Germany, FAQ about e-sim cards, more e-sim offers, plans and the best deals can be found in my detailed guide about the best e-sim cards for traveling to Germany in 2024.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible you can order a physical prepaid sim card for Germany on the internet. For example an international sim card with 10 GB data and unlimited calls and texts in Europe for $24.90 USD. Cheaper than the best sim card deal at Frankfurt airport. Click here for more info or to order a physical prepaid sim card for Germany via SimOptions.
Germany prepaid sim cards and EU data roaming
Always double check if your Germany prepaid sim card includes free EU data roaming. That means you can use the sim card you buy in Frankfurt in for example Amsterdam, Rome or Helsinki at no extra costs.
Be aware that there are much better sim cards for traveling in Europe then the prepaid sim cards for Germany that you can buy at Frankfurt Airport. If you are visiting multiple in Europe then check out my guide with all my tips for buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Europe with much more details about EU data roaming.
Or make it yourself easy and arrive prepared in Europe with a sim card from Traveltomtom's list of the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024 that you can order directly on the internet.
Where to buy a German sim card at Frankfurt Airport?
When arriving at Frankfurt Airport there are three arrival halls A, B and C. I checked all of them and there are only two places to buy a German prepaid sim card at Frankfurt Airport and both of the shops are in Arrival Hall B. When you arrive in arrival Hall B, you can not miss the Vodafone, T-Mobile and O2 signs, they are right in front of the door that you come out.
There are two different shops next to each other: Currency Exchange and the Ortel store.
The Currency Exchange is open from 06.00 am to 9.30 pm and the Ortel Store only from 09.00 am to 07.00 pm on week days and 10.00 am to 05.00 pm in weekends.
Don’t get fooled by all the signs saying buy your German sim cards here and Vodafone or Ortel Mobile. There are only two mobile operators available: Lebara and Lycamobile.
Here is my YouTube video about my arrival at Frankfurt Airport and my experiences buying a prepaid sim card to stay connected on my trip to Germany.
Prices prepaid sim cards at Frankfurt Airport
There is very limited choice when it comes to buying a sim card for your trip to Germany at Frankfurt International Airport. Two shops, two sim card deals, that is it!
All info below is updated as per February 2024 and prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.91 EUR and €1 EUR = $1.09 USD.
As of February 2024 it is not possible to buy an e-sim card for Germany at Frankfurt Airport on arrival. All the phone stores only provide physical prepaid sim cards. If you want an e-sim card for traveling to Germany then check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best e-sim cards for Germany in 2024.
Ortel - Lycamobile
- 15 GB data + unlimited calls for 28 days in all of Europe = €40 EUR - ($44 USD)
Lycamobile operates on the network of Vodafone Germany.
Currency Exchange - Lebara
At the Currency Exchange shop they only sell a Lebara prepaid sim card. For €39 EUR - ($43 USD) you get 10 GB data + unlimited calls in Germany and 250 international minutes, valid for 28 days.
Lebara operates on the network of O2 Germany.
Best sim card at Frankfurt Airport in 2024
If you are looking for the best prepaid sim card for Germany then Frankfurt Airport is not the best place to be! There is not much choice and the packages are expensive. However, the best sim card deal at Frankfurt Airport is the one from Lycamobile. For €40 EUR ($44 USD) you get 15 GB data.
But the overall conclusion is simple: Traveltomtom does not directly recommend buying a sim card at Frankfurt Airport. Why? The sim cards for tourists are overpriced and you can find much better sim card deals in phone stores around Frankfurt or simply order you sim card for traveling to Frankfurt on the internet.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Germany via either Airalo, Nomad or SimOptions.
Find more detailed info in Traveltomtom's guide for finding the best e-sim card for your trip to Germany in 2024.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible then what? Wait till you get to Frankfurt city center and go to a phone store to buy a prepaid sim card for Germany. Which one? Click here to read my complete guide for buying a tourist sim card for Germany in 2024.
Or if that all sounds like too much hassle I recommend you to order one online.
Buy a prepaid sim card for Germany online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Germany online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Germany 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 Germany, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Germany:
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 Germany via SimOptions.
Personally Traveltomtom recommends the Bouygues Telecom or the Orange sim card with 30 GB data. I have used these sim cards a lot in the past and never had an issue.
But as mentioned many times before nowadays when traveling to Europe or Germany I always use an e-sim card. It is just so easy and done fast and as soon as the plane lands you are online.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Germany via either Airalo, Nomad or SimOptions.
For more detailed info check out Traveltomtom's complete guide with everything you need to know before ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Germany in 2024.
I am sure at least some of the above all the above tips for buying a sim card at Frankfurt Airport were helpful. If you have any questions please leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help you out.
Traveltomtom flies a lot from Frankfurt Airport with Qatar Airways (check out my vlog about the amazing Q-Suite from Qatar Airways).
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 Febraury 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world.
Enjoy your trip to Frankfurt!
Some links in this article about buying a sim card at Frankfurt Airport are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I earn a small commission. This is at absolutely no extra cost to you of course!