Traveling to Ireland and flying to Dublin and wondering if you can buy a tourist sim card 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 before buying a sim card at Dublin Airport in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per January 2025, info about EU data roaming, my recommendation, info about eSIMs for Ireland and more.
In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card in every country, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected when traveling abroad.
Traveltomtom also wrote a guide for the best eSIMs for traveling to Ireland in 2025.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card for Ireland
- Arriving at Dublin Airport
- Where to buy a sim card at Dublin Airport
- Ireland prepaid sim cards and EU data roaming
- Prices for sim cards at Dublin Airport in 2025
- Best prepaid sim card at Dublin Airport
- Best eSIMs for Ireland
Tourist sim cards at Dublin Airport differ from sim card prices in phone stores in Dublin city center. See my guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in Ireland for more info
Some links in this article about the best tourist 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.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a Three sim card for Ireland at Dublin Airport. For around $31 USD you get unlimited data and Three has an excellent 4G/5G network in Ireland.
Buying a sim card at the airport is always a little more expensive. In a Three store in Dublin city center you pay $21 USD for the same sim card.
Check out Traveltomtom's guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Ireland in 2025 for more detailed info.
If your phone is eSIM compatible then simply get yourself an eSIM. No need to buy a sim card at Dublin airport and... eSIMs already start from just $1 USD.
A Jetpac eSIM for Ireland gives you 10 GB for just $13 USD and Sim Local has a Lycamobile eSIM for Ireland with 100 GB data for just $21.50 USD.
Check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for Ireland in 2025 for many more eSIM plans.
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 2025 or at my list with the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2025.
Why buying a sim card for Ireland
A 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 eSIM 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 eSIM is an even easier way to stay connected and you arrive prepared, but only if your phone is eSIM compatible.
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.
Arriving at 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.
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 than Terminal 2. The majority of the intercontinental tourists will arrive in Terminal 2.
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 also sells prepaid sim cards for tourists.
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 2025. 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.
Prices for sim cards at Dublin Airport in 2025
At Dublin Airport you can buy sim cards from: Lycamobile, Vodafone and Three.
All info and prices are up to date as per January 2025 and prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.96 EUR and €1 EUR is $1.04 USD.
Keep in mind that you can only buy physical prepaid sim cards for tourists at Dublin Airport, there are no eSIMs for tourists available.
Lycamobile prepaid sim card
A Lycamobile sim card is €25 EUR ($26 USD) and comes with €20 EUR credit. You can choose your data plan on the Lycamobile website. Not ideal as that means you need WiFi to activate your data plan.
For €20 EUR you can activate a 35 GB data plan for Ireland including unlimited calling and texting, 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 in Europe Lycamobile sim card are not my first recommendation.
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 - $26 USD
- 5 GB data in Europe + €10 EUR credit for 30 days = €25 EUR - $26 USD
- 15 GB data in Europe + unlimited calls & texts + 100 minutes in Europe for 30 days = €35 EUR - $36 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 - $31 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 is a bummer because a Three prepaid sim card is the best sim card at Dublin Airport. For €30 EUR ($31 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 ($26 USD). You can buy them in the Spar supermarket in Terminal 2 and across Dublin Airport at several kiosks and convenience stores.
If your phone is eSIM compatible then simply get yourself an eSIM. No need to buy a sim card at Dublin airport and... eSIMs already start from just $1 USD.
A Jetpac eSIM for Ireland gives you 10 GB for just $13 USD and Sim Local has a Lycamobile eSIM for Ireland with 100 GB data for just $21.50 USD.
Check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for Ireland in 2025 for many more eSIM plans.
If you are traveling onwards to other countries in Europe then check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best prepaid and eSIMs for traveling in Europe in 2025.
Best eSIMs for Ireland
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Ireland in 2025 is an eSIM. 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 eSIM for Ireland on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have an Ireland eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Ireland it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
For more info check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Ireland in 2025.
Here are some recommendations.
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 Ireland 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 Ireland.
Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 10% off on all Jetpac eSIMs when using the promo code: TOMTOM10 at check out!
The Jetpac Ireland eSIMs are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. Jetpac eSIMs operate on the 4G/5G network of Three. 5G is supported.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable eSIM provider that sells eSIMs from pretty much every country in the world.
Have a look at the Airalo eSIM plans for Ireland in 2025:
- 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 eSIM for Ireland.
The above data-only eSIMs from Fáilte are only valid only in Ireland, calls are NOT supported. Fáilte eSIMs operate on the 4G/5G networks of Eir, Vodafone and Three.
SimOptions
SimOptions is a reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used SimOptions in more than 50 countries around the world and never faced an issue. Read here our complete Simoptions review.
SimOptions sells international eSIMs that are valid in all of Europe, including Ireland and they also come with a phone number and support incoming and outgoing calls/sms. Therefore the SimOptions eSIMs are also rated as the best eSIMS for Europe in 2025.
Here are the international eSIMs from SimOptions valid in all of Europe.
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 Ireland via SimOptions.
Make sure your phone is eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for Ireland.
For many more eSIM plans check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for Ireland in 2025.
Order a prepaid sim card for Ireland online
If your phone is not eSIM compatible and buying a prepaid sim card on arrival in Dublin sounds like too much hassle then you can order an international prepaid sim card for Ireland.
Arrive prepared in Ireland with a physical prepaid sim card that 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 Ireland, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online. Plug and play.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Ireland:
- 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 for more info or to order an international prepaid sim card for traveling in Ireland.
Personally Traveltomtom recommends the Bouygues Telecom or the Orange sim cards. 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 eSIM. It is just so easy and done fast and as soon as the plane lands you are online. Check out my guide for the best eSIMs for Ireland.
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 €11 EUR ($12 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 January 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Dublin!