Traveling to Finland and looking for the best sim card to stay connected? Don't get stuck with high roaming charges or slow overseas data plans. This is a complete guide with everything you need to know before buying a prepaid sim card in Finland in 2024.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per November 2024, the best 4G/5G network coverage, my recommendation, info about EU data roaming and more info about eSIMs for Finland,
One of the first things I do when planning my next trip abroad is figuring out what is the best way to stay connected and whether to order an eSIM on the internet or buying a prepaid sim card in my destination.
In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card on arrival but nowadays I mostly order an eSIM on the internet.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card for Finland
- Where to buy a Finland for sim card
- Mobile internet operators in Finland
- Finland prepaid sim cards and EU data roaming
- Best 4G/5G network in Finland in 2024
- Prices Finland prepaid sim cards in 2024
- Best sim card for Finland in 2024
- Best eSIMs for Finland
- Ordering a prepaid sim card for Finland online
Some links in this article about the best sim cards for traveling to Finland 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 an Elisa sim card for Finland. They have the best 4G/5G network coverage in Finland and for around $33 USD you get unlimited 5G data for 1 month.
Because buying a sim card in Finland is a time consuming process and you have to activate your sim card yourself by scanning your passport, etc. Traveltomtom definitely recommends looking into eSIMs.
You are online as soon as the plane lands and eSIMs already start from just $4.5 USD. For example a Jetpac eSIM for Finland with 10 GB data is only $13 USD.
Other reviewed and approved eSIM providers with great Finland eSIMs are SimOptions and Airalo.
Another great alternative to stay connected when traveling to Finland is a global travel sim card with data. These international travel sim card are valid in multiple countries and there are some amazing ones for traveling in Europe.
Check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best global sim cards for international travel in 2024 or my list of the best sim cards for Europe travel in 2024.
Why buying a sim card for Finland
Traveling in Northern Europe and especially Scandinavia is already expensive enough so don't waste money on high roaming costs. Getting a sim card for Finland is easy and done fast. It is the easiest way to avoid high roaming charges. Don't use the data roaming on your sim card from home or receive a shocking phone bill.
Don't rely on public WiFi. Although there is free WiFi in Finland in most places, there is no guarantee it is working and keep in mind that public WiFi is through an UNSECURED connection. The use of a VPN is recommended to protect your data.
What if the signal in your hotel room is too weak or the internet speed is slow? Simply don't rely on others!
Having a working data connection on your phone makes traveling to Finland so much easier. Think about ordering an Uber on the streets or getting directions from Google Maps, finding nearby restaurants with good reviews or finding nearby friends and so on.
As Traveltomtom is on a mission to travel to every country in the world I get to about 30 - 40 different countries every year and therefore I use about 30 different sim cards per year. As I am already traveling full time since 2012 buying prepaid and eSIMs became part of life and that is how Traveltomtom became the ultimate specialist in providing info about sim cards for tourists.
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: Sweden, Norway, Germany, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tanzania, Nairobi, Bali, Thailand, Hong Kong, Panama, Brazil, Algeria, Curacao, USA, New York, Vietnam, Pakistan, Asia, Europe and many more.
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!
Where to buy a Finland for sim card
Helsinki Airport
The most convenient place to buy a sim card in Finland is of course on arrival at Helsinki Airport. Unfortunately there is no phone store at Helsinki Airport, but there is a convenience store that sells prepaid sim cards for tourists: R-kioski.
They R-kioski convenience store is located in the main hall on the arrivals level; keep on walking straight when you get out of arrivals and you will find it.
Mobile internet providers stores
In Helsinki city center you can find several mobile phone shops from Telia and Elisa as well as DNA stores. You can easily find them in the main shopping malls.
But don't bother going to a Telia shop though as they do not sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. You can only buy a Telia prepaid sim card in a convenience store.
At the Elisa stores they weren't really helpful either, but they do sell prepaid sim cards for Finland.
DNA has pop-up stores all over and they sell tourist sim cards and help you set up your sim card for Finland.
At the Telia and Elisa stores the staff basically forwarded me to any R-kioski shop, a convenience store that is scattered all over Helsinki as well as Helsinki Airport.
Convenience store
R-kioski is one of those convenience stores in Finland that sell prepaid sim cards for tourists.
In general Traveltomtom does not recommend buying a prepaid sim card at a convenience store because the staff has very little knowledge about sim cards.
The activation is a manual process that involves a couple steps and therefore pretty inconvenient for tourists. It may seem like there is no other option.
When buying a prepaid sim card in Finland you have to bring your passport. The sim card will be registered on your name and passport number, even in the convenience store, but then you have to do the registration with your passport manually.
Online
Buying a prepaid sim card in Finland is a bit of a hassle and therefore even more reasons to simply order your sim card for Finland on the internet.
Ordering an eSIM for Finland gets you connected in just a couple simple steps and you are online as soon as the plane lands. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for Finland via Jetpac, SimOptions or Airalo.
If your phone is not eSIM compatible you can order a physical prepaid sim card for Finland via SimOptions.
When you buy a sim card for Finland on the internet you don't need your passport, or any form of ID verification, you just need your email address.
Mobile internet operators in Finland
In total there are 3 main mobile internet providers in Finland: Telia, Elisa and DNA.
All operators offer prepaid sim cards for tourists. As of 2024 the mobile internet providers now also offer eSIMs for tourists as well as physical prepaid sim cards. You can only get an eSIM in an official DNA or Elisa store.
Finland prepaid sim cards and EU data roaming
There are no more roaming costs within Europe. Meaning you can use your sim card from Finland also in France, Germany, Italy, etc. However, there are always restrictions and some Finland prepaid sim cards have some EU data roaming limitations.
Therefore always ask about the EU data roaming limitations when buying a prepaid sim card in Finland.
But it is an easy conclusion that on the internet you can find much better sim card deals for traveling in Europe.
Traveltomtom put together a comparison of the best eSIM and prepaid sim cards for Europe in 2024 or if you would like to know more info about EU data roaming and how it works now since Brexit then check out my article with all my tips and tricks for buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Europe.
Best 4G/5G network in Finland in 2024
First let's have a look at the 4G/5G network coverage maps and lets compare the 4G/5G mobile data network of Telia, Elisa and DNA to determine which provider has the best mobile data network in Finland in 2024.
Is there 5G in Finland?
Yes, there is a pretty decent 5G network in Finland but it is limited to the major cities and tourist destinations in Finland. If you go off the beaten path do not expect a 5G signal in Finland. However, when traveling off the beaten path in Finland it is all about being disconnected.
DNA Finland 4G/5G network coverage map
Elisa Finland 4G/5G network coverage map
Telia Finland 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 Finland in 2024.
From the above network coverage comparison we can see that Elisa has the most extensive network coverage as well as the best 5G network in Finland in 2024. The Telia network is pretty comparable and the DNA network in the South of Finland is also very extensive.
If you travel to the northern regions in Finland then I would recommend you buying an Elisa sim card, because of its strong 4G/5G network in those areas. Click here for more detailed maps of the 4G/5G network coverage in Finland.
Prices Finland prepaid sim cards in 2024
All info and prices are updated as per November 2024. Prices are in Euros and $1 USD = €0.94 EUR and €1 EUR is $1.06 USD.
In phone stores of DNA and Elisa you can opt for an eSIM. If you buy a sim card in a convenience store you can only get a physical prepaid sim card.
Elisa
Elisa offers a lot of different prepaid sim cards for tourists with unlimited data:
- Unlimited data at 4G speed (14 GB in EU) + including calls/sms = €29.99 EUR ($33 USD)
- Unlimited data at 5G speed (16 GB in EU) + including calls/sms = €34.99 EUR ($37 USD)
- Unlimited data at 5G+ speed (18 GB in EU) + including calls/sms = €39.99 EUR ($43 USD)
Plans are valid for 1 month and data is valid in all the Baltic and Scandic countries and there is limited free EU data roaming included.
If you are looking for a sim card for Finland with unlimited data then this is a great sim card deal that I would recommend for tourist traveling to Finland. Check the Elisa webiste for more info.
Telia
Telia offers 2 prepaid sim cards for tourists
- Unlimited data on 4G speed (18 GB data in EU) = €19.90 EUR ($22 USD)
- prepaid sim card with €7 EUR credit = €4.90 EUR ($5.5 USD)
Check the Telia website for their latest deals.
DNA
DNA may have the smallest network, but buying a DNA prepaid sim card is worth it if you stay just a couple days in Helsinki and around. You can buy a DNA Finland prepaid sim card for €4.90 EUR and you get €5 credit ($5.5 USD).
For €0.89 EUR ($1 USD) you can already get unlimited data per day, meaning for €5 EUR ($5.5 USD) you can get 5 days of unlimited data in Finland. They also have a prepaid sim card plan:
- unlimited data at 5G speed for 30 days = €24.90 EUR ($27 USD)
For more info check the DNA website.
Best sim card for Finland in 2024
All the mobile internet operators offer monthly prepaid sim cards for tourists with unlimited data for a fair price. However, most people do not travel to Finland for a whole month and need unlimited data.
There are eSIMs for Finland with very competitive prices. For example a Jetpac eSIM for Finland with 15 GB data for just $17 USD and you can arrange everything online. No need to go to a phone store in Finland with your passport to buy a prepaid sim card.
Airalo has Finland eSIMs starting from just $4.5 USD and SimOptions has amazing eSIM plans for traveling in Europe.
If you stay longer and especially if you go on a road trip you are probably better off with an Elisa or Telia sim card as they have the best 4G/5G mobile data network coverage.
All in all Traveltomtom rates Elisa as the best prepaid sim card in Finland in 2024.
Best eSIMs for Finland
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Finland in 2024 is an eSIM. You arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a phone store and swapping physical prepaid sim cards.
You order an eSIM for Finland on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Finland eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Finland it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
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 Finland for 2024:
- 1 GB dat for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 30 days = $6.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $8 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
Click here for more info or to order a Finland eSIM via Airalo.
The above data-only eSIMs for Finland are from Finn Communications and data is only valid in Finland. Finn Communications operate on the DNA 4G/LTE network in Finland. 5G is not support and neither are incoming and outgoing calls.
SimOptions
If you would like to make calls with your eSIM then check out the following international eSIMs for Finland offered by SimOptions. On top of that most of the eSIMs from SimOptions offer free EU data roaming:
- 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 = $22.90 USD
- 12 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $28.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $32.90 USD
- 60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $39.90 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 for more info or to order an eSIM for Finland via SimOptions.
Before ordering an eSIM for Finland make sure your phone is first of all unlocked and your phone needs to be eSIM compatible.
There are more providers tested and reviewed by the Traveltomtom Team that offer eSIMs for Finland: Firsty, GigSky, Sim Local, etc.
Ordering a prepaid sim card for Finland online
If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Finland online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Finland 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 Finland, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Finland:
1. O2 Go Card - $24.90 USD
- 10 GB data
- €2 EUR calling credit
- Valid 30 days
2. Three Data Pack - $24.90 USD
- 10 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- Valid 30 days
3. Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90 USD
- 12 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 30 minutes worldwide
- 200 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
4. Bouygues Telecom - $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data
- Unlimited calls in Europe
- Valid 30 days
5. Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 30 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
Click here for more info or to order a physical prepaid sim card for Finland via SimOptions.
Traveltomtom has used the Bouygues, Three as well as the Orange physical prepaid sim cards in the past and I was always satisfied. However, it is no secret that nowadays I rather use eSIM for traveling to Europe instead of physical prepaid sim cards.
If your phone is eSIM compatible then here is a last reminder that you can arrange everything online in just a couple clicks.
I am sure some of the above tips for buying a sim card for Finland were helpful. If you have any question please leave me a message below and I am happy to help you out with your questions about traveling to Finland or Finland sim cards.
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 November 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Finland!