Are you traveling to Iceland soon and wondering what is the best tourist sim card for your trip? Don't waste money on high roaming charges and slow overseas data roaming plans.
This is the ultimate guide with everything you need to know before buying a prepaid sim card in Iceland in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per January 2025, the best 4G/5G network in Iceland, info about eSIMs, buying a sim card at Reykjavik Airport and more.
It took me 106 other countries before I finally visited Iceland. As expected it turned out to be an epic trip with glaciers, hikes, caves, black sand beaches and even the northern light. Read all about it in my trip report Iceland country no. 106 as part of my series of visiting every country in the world.
In the past I used to buy a prepaid sim card in every country, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected when traveling aborad.
Traveltomtom also wrote a guide for the best eSIMs for traveling to Iceland in 2025.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card for Iceland
- Where to buy a sim card for Iceland
- Mobile internet operators in Iceland
- Iceland sim cards and EU data roaming
- Prices Iceland prepaid sim cards in 2025
- Best mobile data network in Iceland in 2025
- Best sim card for Iceland in 2025
- Best eSIMs for Iceland
Some links in this guide about the best prepaid sim cards for traveling to Iceland are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra costs to you.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Simmin sim card for Iceland. Simmin has the best 4G/5G network in Iceland and a prepaid sim card for tourist with 10 GB data will cost you around $23 USD.
Not too bad but...
A Jetpac eSIM for Iceland with 20 GB data is only $20 USD.
If you have an eSIM compatible phone then you are better off with an eSIM and you are online as soon as the plane lands. Check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for Iceland in 2025 for more eSIM plans.
Another great alternative to stay connected on your trip to Iceland is a travel sim card. These international prepaid sim cards with data are valid in multiple countries see my guide with a comparison of the best global sim cards with data for travelers in 2025.
Make sure your phone is unlocked otherwise an eSIM or prepaid sim card won't work in your phone. If you are unsure about this ask your mobile internet provider in your home country.
Why buying a sim card for Iceland
Isn't Iceland most famous for its outdoor activities and road trips? So what if you are looking for directions on Google Maps or there is an emergency in your family? You are going to wait for the hotels WiFi? Bars and restaurants in Iceland mostly have free WiFi as well, but since everything is so remote, don't rely on these slow public WiFi connections.
Also reminding you that public WiFi is through an UNSECURED connection. Be sure to protect your data, the use of a VPN in these cases is recommended.
Getting a prepaid sim card or an eSIM for traveling in Iceland is easy. It is set up fast and you get a good amount of gigabytes for a fair price. For these reasons I always recommend travelers to stay connected when traveling abroad. It simply makes traveling so much easier.
Being a full time travel blogger and nomad one of the most important things of planning my next trip abroad is looking for ways to stay connected. Therefore I always compare local prepaid sim cards with eSIMs and pick my favorite.
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: USA, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Dublin, Denmark, Copenhagen, Ireland, Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Thailand, South Africa, Kenya, Europe, Asia, Australia, etc.
So whenever you are planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!
Where to buy a sim card for Iceland
Buying a sim card at Reykjavik Airport Keflavik
The most convenient place to buy a prepaid sim card in Iceland is upon arrival at Reykjavik Airport. As soon as you walk out of the Arrivals door on your right hand side you will see a lime green convenient store.
This convenience store is the only place in Reykjavik Airport where you can buy a prepaid sim card. At the convenience store they sell prepaid sim cards for tourists from Vodafone, Siminn and Nova. You can only get a physical prepaid sim card, there are no eSIMs for tourists available.
Iceland sim card insider tip: I asked the guy behind the counter which provider had the best network coverage and he was clear in his answer: Siminn! Find more info about the best 4G/5G network in Iceland in 2025 below.
The convenience store is open 24 hours and you can pay by credit card. There is also an Elko store at Reykjavik Airport that sells prepaid sim cards for tourists.
Phone stores Reykjavik city center
Unfortunately in the city center of Reykjavik you can't find any of the mobile phone stores. The Siminn, Nova and Vodafone store are all located a little outside of the city center. So even more reasons to buy a sim card at Reykjavik Airport when traveling to Iceland and you didn't buy a sim card online.
As part of my research I went to the stores of the official mobile internet providers in Reykjavik and found out that Vodafone, Siminn and Nova sell the exact same Iceland prepaid sim cards for tourists as at Reykjavik airport and also at gas stations.
Your best bid for buying a sim card in Iceland if you missed the opportunity at Reykjavik KEF airport is at gas stations.
Online
To save precious time on your holiday to Iceland order your sim card online. Forget about the hassle of buying a prepaid sim card in Iceland. There are amazing eSIMs deals for Iceland on the internet.
SimOptions has international eSIMs for all of Europe with 70 GB and unlimited calls/sms for around $55 USD. A Jetpac eSIM for Iceland with 10 GB data is only $13 USD.
If you have an eSIM compatible phone then you are better off with an eSIM and you are online as soon as the plane lands. Check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Iceland.
If your phone is not eSIM compatible you can buy an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Iceland via SimOptions.
Mobile internet operators in Iceland
There are 3 mobile internet providers in Iceland: Vodafone, Siminn and Nova. All of them offer prepaid sim cards for tourists. There are physical prepaid sim cards as well as eSIMs available for tourists.
However, in reality it is hard to get an eSIM on arrival in Iceland because they only supply eSIMs in official phone stores of Nova, Vodafone or Siminn.
So for example at Reykjavik Airport there are no phone stores of Nova, Vodafone or Siminn, only convenience stores. So you can only buy a physical prepaid sim cards, no eSIMs.
Iceland sim cards and EU data roaming
Since 2017 there are no roaming costs anymore within Europe and since Iceland is part of the EU you can use your Iceland sim card in every other country in Europe at no extra costs. That simply means that you can use the data bundle of your Iceland sim card also in Amsterdam, London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, etc.
When buying a prepaid sim card in Iceland always ask the provider for the EU data roaming restrictions.
There are also designated sim cards for tourists traveling to Europe. In my comparison of the best prepaid and eSIMs for Europe in 2025 you will find a list of (e)sim cards that you can directly order online and are valid in all if Europe.
For more info about EU data roaming, Brexit, UK sim cards, etc. check out my complete guide with tips for buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Europe in 2025.
Prices Iceland prepaid sim cards in 2025
All info and prices are updated in January 2025 and prices are in Icelandic Krona: $1 USD = 140 ISK and 100 ISK = $0.71 USD.
All the below sim cards for Iceland can be bought at Reykjavik Airport Keflavik at the lime green convenient store or at phone stores in Reykjavik and even at gas stations.
As of 2025 you can now also get eSIMs for tourists in Iceland, but only at phone stores of Nova, Vodafone and Siminn, not at Reykjavik Airport.
Vodafone Iceland
Vodafone offers a prepaid starter kit for tourists including 1 GB data and 3 GB for your tablet or dongle.
- 1 GB data + unlimited calling + sms for 30 days = 1,790 ISK ($13 USD)
Then you can top up with one of the above packages:
- 1 GB data = 2,190 ISK - $16 USD
- 10 GB data = 3,190 ISK - $23 USD
- 25 GB data = 5,190 ISK - $37 USD
- 50 GB data = 6,190 ISK - $44 USD
- 150 GB data = 8,190 ISK - $58 USD
- 500 GB data = 10,190 ISK - $73 USD
There is also no info if free EU data roaming is included in a Vodafone prepaid sim card.
Nova Iceland
- 2 GB data in all of EU + unlimited calling/sms in Iceland = 1,990 ISK - $14 USD
- 20 GB data (10 GB in EU) + unlimited calling/sms in Iceland = 2.690 ISK - $19 USD
- 100 data (15 GB in EU) + unlimited calling/sms in Iceland = 3,490 ISK - $25 USD
- 250 data (25 GB in EU) + unlimited calling/sms in Iceland = 6,690 ISK - $48 USD
Siminn
- 10 GB data in all of EU + 50 minutes in all of EU + 50 sms in Iceland = 2,900 ISK - $21 USD
- 10 GB data only in all of EU = 2,900 ISK - $21 USD
Best mobile data network in Iceland in 2025
Equally or even more important for finding the best prepaid sim card for Iceland is the mobile internet coverage. Where can you find a signal when traveling in Iceland. Especially in a country with so many remote places to visit it is not easy to stay connected.
Below you can find a comparison of the Iceland 4G/5G coverage maps of Siminn, Vodafone and Nova in order to find the best 4G/5G network in Iceland in 2025.
Is there 5G in Iceland?
Yes, there is 5G in Iceland. However, as per 2025 it is still pretty much concentrated in areas around the capital Reykjavik. Nova Mobile has the best 5G network in Iceland in 2025. But let's have a closer look below.
Nova Iceland network coverage
Vodafone Iceland network coverage
Siminn Iceland network coverage
Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2025 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in Iceland in 2025.
We can clearly see that Siminn has the best mobile data internet network in Iceland in 2025. Especially those tourists who are going all around Iceland and are traveling on the ring road I recommend buying a Siminn prepaid sim card just because of their extensive 4G/5G network.
Best sim card for Iceland in 2025
Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that eSIMs for Iceland are actually cheaper than local prepaid sim cards. Therefore Traveltomtom strongly recommends ordering an eSIM for Iceland if your phone is eSIM compatible.
An international eSIM for all of Europe with 70 GB and unlimited calls/sms is around $55 USD. Order this Europe eSIM via SimOptions or check out a Jetpac eSIM for Iceland with 10 GB data is only $13 USD.
For more eSIM plans see my comparison of the best eSIMs for Iceland in 2025.
If your phone is not eSIM compatible and you want to buy a prepaid sim card in Iceland then Traveltomtom recommends a Siminn sim card. They have starter pack for tourists for $21 USD and you get 10 GB data.
Siminn has the most extensive 4G/5G network in Iceland and good prepaid sim card deals for tourists and therefore Siminn is the best prepaid sim card in Iceland in 2025.
The cheapest prepaid sim card for Iceland is actually from Nova. A Nova sim card gives you 20 GB data for around $20 USD but their network coverage is much weaker.
Best eSIMs for Iceland
An eSIM is the easiest way to get data on your phone when traveling to Iceland in 2025. No more visiting a sim card shop or swapping physical sim cards. Order your eSIM online and arrange everything in just a couple clicks.
You order an eSIM for Iceland on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have an eSIM for Iceland installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Iceland it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
Check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Iceland for more info.
Jetpac
Jetpac quickly made name in the eSIM world by not only offering very affordable eSIM solutions, but also by adding a couple benefits for travelers who order an eSIM via Jetpac. Check out our extensive Jetpac eSIM review with all pros and cons.
Check out the Jetpac eSIM plans for Iceland in 2025:
- 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $7 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $17 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $28 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $39 USD
Click here to order a Jetpac eSIM for Iceland.
Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 10% off on all Jetpac eSIMs when using the promo code: TOMTOM10 at check out!
The Jetpac Iceland eSIMs are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. Jetpac eSIMs operate on the 4G/5G network of Nova. 5G is supported.
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 Iceland for 2025:
- 1 GB for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB for 15 days = $7.5 USD
- 3 GB for 30 days = $10 USD
- 5 GB for 30 days = $14 USD
- 10 GB for 30 days = $23 USD
- 20 GB for 30 days = $36 USD
Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for Iceland directly online via Airalo.
The Nenna Mobile eSIMs from Airalo are data-only eSIMs and only valid in Iceland. Incoming and outgoing calls/sms are not supported. Nenna Mobile operates on the 4G/LTE network of Nova.
SimOptions
SimOptions is a very reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using SimOptions for ordering your Iceland eSIM.
The Traveltomtom Team wrote down all pros and cons about SimOptions in our complete SimOptions Review.
Why using SimOptions? They offer eSIMs including calling and texting in all of Europe.
These eSIMs support incoming and outgoing calls/sms as they come with a phone number.
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 + unlimited calls/text + 30 minutes international for 14 days = $28.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 120 minutes international for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 70 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 120 minutes international for 28 days = $55.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international eSIM for Iceland via SimOptions.
If you download the SimOptions app and use the coupon code TOM10 you get an extra 10% discount on all SimOptions eSIMs.
These eSIMs are valid all over Europe and they include free EU data roaming. The best thing about these eSIMs for Iceland is that they also include unlimited calling and texting.
Before ordering an eSIM for Iceland make sure your phone is eSIM compatible.
For many more eSIM plans check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for Iceland in 2025.
Buy a prepaid sim card for Iceland online
If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Iceland online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Iceland 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 Iceland, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Iceland:
- 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 to order an international prepaid sim card for Iceland via SimOptions.
Personally Traveltomtom recommends the Bouygues Telecom or the Orange sim card. I have used these sim cards a lot in the past and never had an issue.
But nowadays I always use an eSIM for traveling to Europe. It is just so easy and done fast and as soon as the plane lands you are online. You arrange everything online within just a couple minutes.
Check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for Iceland in 2025.
Portable WiFi devices for Iceland
Don't want to change the sim card in your phone? There is an alternative for buying an Iceland sim card.
Hotspot.rent Iceland
In front of the convenient store at Keflavik Airport you will also find a Hotspot.rent machine to order a portable WiFi device for Iceland. It will let you connect up to 10 devices at the same time while it gives unlimited 4G/5G. The price per day is 1,600 ISK ($11 USD). You have to rent the device for minimal 3 days.
You can print out your voucher and pick up your portable WiFi device around the corner. Fairly easy. As I didn't try it out myself I don't know about the battery life of the portable wifi device and the speed if you connect with more than 1 person, but keep in mind that you all share the same line and that data speed will significantly drop if you are using the portable wifi device with multiple people at the same time.
May be an option for those who are traveling to Iceland with kids, but not my preferred way to stay connected.
I am sure some of the above tips for buying a prepaid sim card in Iceland were helpful. If there is anything I can still help you with don't hesitate to leave me a comment below.
Curious what the life of a full time nomad and travel blogger who is aiming to travel to every country in the world looks like? Check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom. As per January 2025 I have been to more than 155 countries.