Traveling to Frankfurt soon? Avoid high roaming charges while traveling in Germany, get yourself a local prepaid sim card or an e-sim card! This is a complete guide for buying a sim card at Frankfurt Airport. Where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per August 2023, 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.
As I fly a lot with Qatar Airways from Frankfurt Airport, check out my video of the amazing Q-Suite from Qatar Airways, therefore you can find me regularly at Germany's biggest international airport.
Traveltomtom is aiming to visit every country in the world and everywhere I go I write local sim card guides to help fellow world travelers save money on high roaming charges and find the best ways to stay connected. Not only did I write about the best European sim card for tourists in 2023 but also detailed guides for buying sim cards at: Venice, Budapest, Geneva, Zurich, Madrid, Milan, Nairobi, Douala, Dubai, Riyadh, Amman, Istanbul, Cape Town, Miami, New York, Buenos Aires, Sydney, Singapore, Bali, Bangkok and many more places around the world.
RELATED: Ultimate Frankfurt Travel Guide for 2023 with 16 things to do, hotel recommendations, rooftop bars, restaurants and day trips.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend buying a sim card at Frankfurt Airport. Sim cards are overpriced and there is very limited choice. It is better to wait till you get to Frankfurt city center. Therefore check out my article about the best prepaid sim card for Germany in 2023. However, the best sim card deal at Frankfurt Airport is a Lycamobile sim card with 15 GB data for €40 EUR.
Another great alternative is for staying connected when traveling to Germany is buying an international sim card for traveling abroad Check out my comparison of these global travel sim cards with data in the link and find the one that fits your trip to Europe, also updated in August 2023.
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 most convenient and easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Frankfurt in 2023 is an e-sim card. You simply order online, receive a QR code, scan it, follow the instructions and you are connected in less than 2 minutes.
Check out the following Germany e-sim card deals:
- 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 an e-sim card for Germany directly online.
The above data-only e-sim cards for Germany are from Hello! Mobil and only valid in Germany. They operate on the 4G/LTE network of O2 Germany.
If you also want to make phone calls there is another website that offers e-sim cards for Germany with calls included and free EU roaming and calls all over Europe:
- 8 GB data + unlimited calls for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited calls for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 30 GB data only in Germany = $59.90 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for Germany including calls.
Before ordering a Germany e-sim card make sure your phone is e-sim compatible. How to find out? Simply ask Google.
You can also a physical sim card for Germany online. For example an international sim card with 12 GB data and unlimited calls and texts in Europe for $30 USD. Cheaper than the best sim card deal at Frankfurt airport. Click here to directly order this international sim card for Germany and see many more options.
Germany sim cards and free EU roaming
Always double check if you Germany sim card includes FREE EU roaming. That means you can use the sim card you bought in Frankfurt also in Amsterdam, Rome or even Helsinki at no extra costs.
Be aware: Germany sim cards are some of the worst for traveling in Europe as they have a lot of restrictions. I wrote a guide with the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2023 and another guide with all my tips for buying a local sim card in Europe, including a list of the best prepaid sim card deal per country.
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.
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 August 2023 and prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.91 EUR and €1 EUR = $1.10 USD.
Ortel - Lycamobile
- 15 GB data + unlimited calls for 28 days in all of Europe = €40
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 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 2023
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 you get 15 GB data.
But the overall conclusion is simple: do NOT buy a Germany sim card at Frankfurt Airport!
So what is next? Wait till you get to Frankfurt city center and buy your sim card for Germany there. Which one? Click here to read my complete guide for buying a Germany sim card in 2023. Or if that all sounds like too much hassle I recommend you to order one online.
Buy a sim card for Germany online
Want to save time and money and arrive prepared in Germany? Then order an international sim card for Germany online. These international prepaid sim cards will be shipped to your home address and are automatically activated from its first use.
All the below international prepaid sim card offers are valid in Germany and all over Europe:
Three data pack 10 GB - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Unlimited calls/sms within Europe and UK
- Valid 30 days
Three data pack 12 GB - $29.90
- 12 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Unlimited calls/sms within Europe and UK
- Valid 30 days
O2 Go Card - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- $2 calling credit - top up possible
- Valid 30 days
Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 20 GB data in Europe and in the UK
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe and the UK
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
Click here to directly order an international prepaid sim card for Germany online or find more deals.
Also another reminder that you can order an e-sim card for Germany within just 2 minutes. If you are looking for a data-only e-sim card for Germany then click here. There are also international e-sim card for Germany including calling minutes and valid in all of Europe. Click on the link for more info. You can already find an e-sim card for Europe with 20 GB and unlimited calls for $49.90 USD.
Interested in watching a video about my experiences on arrival at Frankfurt Airport then click below.
I hope all the above tips for buying a sim card at Frankfurt Airport were helpful. If you still have questions please leave me a comment below and 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 2023 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!