Traveling to Ireland and flying to Dublin and wondering if you can buy a prepaid sim card on arrival at Dublin Airport? Don't waste money on high roaming charges or get fooled by slow overseas data roaming plans. This is a complete guide with you everything you need to know about buying a sim card at Dublin Airport.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per February 2024, info about EU data roaming, the best e-sim cards for Ireland and much more.
One of the first things I do when planning my next trip is figuring out how to stay connected. In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card on arrival, nowadays I mostly use e-sim cards. Which sim card I prefer depends on how long I stay and how much data I need for my trip.
As part of my journey to travel to every country in the world I get to a lot of different countries every year. Being a full time nomadic travel blogger I always need to find ways to stay connected and 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: Asia, USA, New York, Newark, Miami, Canada, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Dubai, Istanbul, Turkey, Abu Dhabi, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Egypt, Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam and many more.
Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide for the best prepaid sim card for tourists in Ireland in 2024.
Why buying a sim card at Dublin Airport
A local prepaid sim card is one of the best ways to avoid getting stuck with high roaming charges on your trip to Ireland. The most convenient place to buy a prepaid sim card for Ireland is of course on arrival at Dublin Airport.
Staying connected while traveling to Ireland makes life so much easier. Think about ordering an Uber, finding a cool pub nearby, getting direction from Google Maps or simply staying in touch with friends and family.
Yes, there is public WiFi in Ireland, but not when you are on your way. Also a reminder that public WiFi is through an UNSECURED network, the use of a VPN is recommended.
Therefore Traveltomtom always recommends to stay connected with either an e-sim card or a local prepaid sim card. Dublin Airport is the easiest, fastest and most convenient place to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Ireland.
However, an e-sim card is an even easier way to stay connected and you arrive prepared, but only if your phone is e-sim compatible.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a Three sim card for Ireland at Dublin Airport. For €30 EUR ($33 USD) you get unlimited data and the Three 4G/5G network is the best in Ireland.
Buying a sim card at the airport is always a little more expensive than when you buy your sim card in Dublin city center in a phone store. Check out Traveltomtom's guide for the best prepaid sim card for Ireland in 2024 for more detailed info about Ireland prepaid sim cards.
So what about e-sims? Within just a couple clicks you arrange everything online and there is no need to buy a sim card at Dublin Airport anymore. As soon as the plane lands you are online.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Ireland via SimOptions, Nomad or Airalo.
Another great alternative is a so called travel sim card with global coverage and data. Traveltomtom recommends these international sim cards for a trip to Europe. Have a look at Traveltomtom's comparison of the best international sim cards in 2024 or at my list with the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024.
Best e-sim cards for Ireland
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Dublin in 2024 is an e-sim card. You order online and set everything up in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a sim card shop or swapping physical sim cards.
You order an e-sim card for Dublin on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have an Ireland e-sim card installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Dublin 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 Ireland.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable e-sim provider that sells e-sim cards from pretty much every country in the world. Have a look at the Airalo e-sim card plans for Ireland in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $7 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $9 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $22 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $32 USD
Click here to directly order an e-sim card for Ireland.
The above data-only e-sim cards from Fáilte are only valid only in Ireland, calls are NOT supported. Fáilte e-sim cards operate on the 4G/LTE network of Eir and Three.
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.
SimOptions sells international e-sim cards that are valid in multiple countries, including Ireland and they also come with a phone number and support incoming and outgoing calls/sms.
Here are the SimOptions e-sim card plans for Ireland for 2024:
- 15 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data-only (5G ready) for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 12 GB data + 30 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls in Europe for 30 days = $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data + 120 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 50 GB data (5G ready) + 120 minutes international calls + unlimited calls in Europe for 28 days = $59.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international e-sim card for Ireland 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 Ireland in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $6 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $12 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 Ireland via Nomad.
Make sure that your phone is unlocked and your phone is e-sim compatible before buying an e-sim card for Ireland.
Is your phone unlocked but not e-sim compatible then you can to order a physical prepaid sim card for traveling in Ireland. What about a prepaid sim card with 30 GB data in Ireland and Europe for $44.90 USD? You can order a physical prepaid sim card for Ireland via SimOptions.
Ireland prepaid sim cards and EU data roaming
Good news is that most of the prepaid sim cards in Ireland include free data roaming in Europe. That means that with the prepaid sim card you buy in Dublin you can roam the internet in Paris, Rome, Madrid, etc. at no extra costs. All your data, voice and text bundles are valid all across the EU countries.
However, it is adviced you always ask before buying a sim card at Dublin Airport about the limitations and restrictions on EU data roaming.
Since Brexit the UK is not part of the EU anymore and EU data roaming might not be available in the United Kingdom. For more info about Brexit and EU data roaming check out Traveltomtom's UK prepaid sim card guide for 2024. Or read all my tips and tricks for buying a local sim card in Europe on arrival in my complete guide including more info on EU data roaming.
Dublin Airport
There are two different terminals: 1 and 2. Terminal 1 is mostly used for European flights and Terminal 2 for intercontinental flights. That means if you are flying Delta Airlines, United, Airlines, Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, etc you will arrive in Terminal 2.
Can I buy a sim card at Dublin Airport?
Yes you can! Although there are not many options for tourists and no official phone stores at Dublin Airport, there are several places where you can buy a sim card for Ireland.
Where to buy a sim card at Dublin Airport
Strange enough there are more opportunities to buy a sim card at Dublin Airport Terminal 1. This is not where the majority of the intercontinental tourists arrive but well…
At Terminal 1 you can buy an Ireland sim card at the WH Smith shop as well as at the Left Luggage store. You can easily find them either right or left when you enter the arrival hall.
At Terminal 2 the easiest place to buy a sim card at Dublin Airport is at the SPAR convenient store directly next to entrance into the arrival hall. There is a little baggage wrap kiosk downstairs at Departures that sell the exact same Ireland sim card for tourists.
Prices for sim cards at Dublin Airport in 2024
There are only a few options for buying a prepaid sim card at Dublin Airport and they pretty much sell the same Ireland sim cards: Lycamobile, Vodafone Ireland and Three.
Info and prices below are updated as per February 2024 and prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.92 EUR and €1 EUR is $1.08 USD.
Keep in mind that you can only buy a physical prepaid sim card at Dublin Airport, e-sim cards for tourists are NOT available.
Lycamobile prepaid sim card
A Lyca Mobile activated sim card costs €25 EUR ($27.5 USD), does not come with any package, but give you €20 EUR credit to choose any package you want from their website. For example you can choose 35 GB data in Ireland and unlimited calling and texting in Ireland for €20 EUR ($22 USD), but be aware only 5.5 GB can be used for roaming in the EU.
Im personally NOT a fan of Lycamobile because there are always some hidden restrictions like reduced data speed, capped EU roaming, etc. So for traveling within Europe I definitely do not recommend buying a Lycamobile sim card at Dublin Airport.
Vodafone Ireland prepaid sim card
They have a couple different Ireland sim cards on offer:
- 20 GB data in Europe + 100 minutes calls & unlimited text in Ireland for 30 days = €25 EUR - $27.5 USD
- 5 GB data in Europe + €10 EUR credit for 30 days = €25 EUR - $27.5 USD
- 15 GB data in Europe + unlimited calls & texts + 100 minutes in Europe for 30 days = €35 EUR - $38.5 USD
Three Ireland prepaid sim card
A Three Ireland sim card isn’t sold in Terminal 2, only at Terminal 1 at the WH Smith shop.
- Unlimited data in Ireland (8 GB EU data roaming) + unlimited sms in Ireland for 30 days = €30 EUR - $33 USD
Best prepaid sim card at Dublin Airport
Traveltomtom is not a fan of Lycamobile because they mostly lure you in with great offers but only to find out later there are a lot of restrictions.
A Three prepaid sim card can only be bought in Terminal 1 and most intercontinental flights arrive at Terminal 2, which kind of is a bummer because a Three prepaid sim card is the best sim card at Dublin Airport. For €30 EUR ($33 USD) you get unlimited data.
The walk is not far from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 is not far though so it is worth it.
At Terminal 2 the best sim card is a Vodafone prepaid sim card with 20 GB data and unlimited calling and texting for €25 EUR ($27.5 USD). You can buy them across Dublin Airport at several kiosks and convenience stores.
When arriving at Terminal 2 you can impossible miss the SPAR supermarket on your left hand side. This is where you will find the Vodafone Ireland sim cards at Dublin Airport.
If this all sounds like too much hassle and you actually have an e-sim compatible phone than simply order an e-sim card for Ireland and forget about buying a sim card on arrival at Dublin Airport. With an e-sim card you are online as soon as the plane lands.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Ireland via SimOptions, Nomad or Airalo.
If you are traveling onwards to other countries in Europe then check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best prepaid and e-sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024.
Order a prepaid sim card for Ireland online
If buying a prepaid sim card on arrival in Dublin sounds like too much hassle or you simply rather buy a sim card for Ireland on the internet but your phone is not e-sim compatible then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Ireland 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 Dublin, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Ireland:
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 traveling in Ireland in 2024.
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 Ireland 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 Ireland via SimOptions, Nomad or Airalo.
How to get from Dublin Airport to the city
Busses are running 24 hours between Dublin Airport and the city center. Taxis are expensive in Dublin and Uber is kind of non-existing from the airport. I tried to order one on my recent trip and it wasn't really successful.
Busses are the best way to travel from Dublin Airport to the city center and back. They leave just outside Terminal 1 and 2 and are around €8 EUR ($9 USD) one-way and take around 30 minutes.
I am sure some of my tips about buying a sim card for Ireland at Dublin Airport were helpful. In case you have any questions, please leave me a comment below. I am happy to help out.
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 February 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Dublin!
Some links in this article about the best sim cards for traveling to Dublin are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. This is at absolutely no extra cost to you.