Planning your trip to Italy and flying to Milan Malpensa Airport and wondering if you can buy a prepaid sim card on arrival at Milan Airport?
Forget about overpriced and slow overseas data roaming plans, this is your sim card guide for Milan Airport with everything you need to know before buying a sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per May 2025, my recommendation and more about eSIMs for Italy,
In the past I always used to buy a local prepaid sim card in every country, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected.
Traveltomtom also wrote a comparison of the best eSIMs for Italy in 2025 and a complete guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in Italy.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Best eSIMs for Italy
- Why buying a sim card for Italy
- Milan Malpensa Airport
- Where to buy an Italy sim card at Malpensa Airport
- Italy sim cards and free EU roaming
- Prices Italy sim cards Milan Malpensa Airport in 2025
- Best sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport in 2025
- Order a prepaid sim card for Italy online
- How to get to Milan city from Malpensa Airport
Some links in this article about the best sim cards for traveling to Milan 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 does not recommend buying a prepaid sim card at Milan Airport. Tourist sim cards are much more expensive than eSIMs.
The cheapest sim card for tourists at Milan Airport is around $33 USD and you get 18 GB data. You can already get a Jetpac eSIM for Italy with 15 GB data for just $15 USD.
For more detailed info check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling in Italy in 2025.
If your phone is not eSIM compatible then wait till you get to Milan city center and find much better prepaid sim card deals for Italy. See my guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in Italy in 2025.
Another great alternative is a global sim card for travelers. Check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2025 and find the one that suits your trip.
Best eSIMs for Italy
If your phone is eSIM compatible you fix yourself an eSIM for Italy within a couple clicks and as soon as the plane lands you are already online. No more visiting a sim card store and swapping physical sim cards.
You order an eSIM for Italy on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Italy eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Milan it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
Below you will find a selection of some great eSIMs for Italy but there are many more eSIM providers. Find them all in my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Italy in 2025.
SimOptions
Traveltomtom has used sim cards from SimOptions now for more than 5 years in uncountable countries around the world and is therefore a very recommended eSIM provider. Check out our full review of SimOptions.
SimOptions offers a wide range of eSIM but the most interesting eSIMs for Italy are the international eSIMs.
These eSIMs support incoming and outgoing calls/sms and 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 to order an international eSIM for Italy via SimOptions.
If you download the SimOptions app and use the coupon code TOM10 you get an extra 10% discount on all SimOptions eSIMs.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world.
Check out the following Italy eSIM deals from Airalo for 2025:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $33 USD
Click here to order an eSIM for Italy directly online via Airalo.
Definitely check out the Airalo website as they often have ongoing promotion. Just recently they had 50% off on all their Italy eSIM plans.
The above data-only Italy eSIMs from Mamma Mia are only valid in Italy and do not support calling and texting. They operate on the 4G/LTE networks of Vodafone, Iliad and WindTre. That means the Airalo eSIMs for Italy are not 5G ready.
Make sure your phone is eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for Italy.
For more eSIM plans and much more detailed information check out Traveltomtom's guide with everything you need to know before you order an eSIM for Italy in 2025.
Why buying a sim card for Italy
First of all, when buying a prepaid sim card in Milan or getting an eSIM you avoid high roaming charges.
Did you know that overseas data plans limit their internet speed? You will mostly be roaming on 3G! We are already in 2025, we want 5G!
Don't rely on Wifi either. It is no guarantee and also a reminder that public WiFi is through an UNSECURED network. Use a VPN to protect your data.
Last but not least, life is simply much easier with a data connection and it makes traveling in Milan much more fun.
Think about finding nearby restaurants or rooftop bars, looking up info about a historical site you are looking at or simply getting directions from Google Maps, access your banking apps or find your friends when lost.
Documenting all my travel tips in order to help other travelers save money while traveling abroad I already wrote more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Europe, Paris, Geneva, Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, New York, Panama City, Mexico City, Bogota, Cairo, Istanbul, Jeddah, Bangkok Dubai, Hong Kong, Australia and many more.
Traveltomtom also wrote specific Milan and Venice sim card guides and of course a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Italy in 2025.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!
Milan Malpensa Airport
There are 2 terminals at Milan Malpensa airport. Terminal 1 is the new one and is where all intercontinental flights arrive. Terminal 2 is a very old terminal and mainly used for Easyjet only. To give you a complete guide for buying a sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport I also checked out Terminal 2 for you.
Where to buy an Italy sim card at Malpensa Airport
Terminal 1
At Terminal 1 there are two arrival halls: A and B. Both arrival halls have a Money Exchange office straight after luggage collection. The Money Exchange shop is where they sell Italy sim cards. You can't miss them as they have big advertisements displayed for buying a Vodafone sim card.
At Terminal 1 there is also a Tutto Communications, a small booth. They are located close to Arrival Hall B, but this is a tourist trap! Prices are outrageous, more about it later...
Terminal 2
If you arrive at Terminal 2 then in the arrival hall there is no shop that sells an Italy sim card. If you really want to buy a sim card for Italy at Milan Airport Malpensa Terminal 2 go to the Departure hall of Terminal 2. It is in the building next door. There you will find a money exchange shop and they sell Italy sim cards.
Sometimes in Italy things don't make sense and so is buying a sim card at Milan Airport. You can only buy them per 2! Like a couples sim card or what? Solo travelers will just have to deal with it…
At some of the Exchange offices they where very strict, but one was like: ok, you can also buy 1. WEIRD!!!!
Italy sim cards and free EU roaming
Great thing about free EU roaming nowadays is that you can use the data, voice and text allowance from your Italy sim card also in Madrid, London, Stockholm and every other place in Europe. All prepaid Italy sim cards offer free data roaming however, most of the Italy internet providers limit the use of data outside Italy. Therefore always ask your provider when buying a sim card in Italy.
I wrote a complete guide with tips and tricks and everything you need to know about buying a local sim card in Europe.
Prices Italy sim cards Milan Malpensa Airport in 2025
All info and prices are up to date as per May 2025 and prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.88 EUR and €1 EUR = $1.13 USD.
Terminal 1 Exchange Office
There are several Exchange offices and they all sell Vodafone prepaid sim cards but at different prices.
Between Arrival Hall A and B (only 3 minute walk) you find 3 Exchange Shops.
All the packages are for 2 sim cards so you get twice the package below.
- 18 GB data in all of Europe, no roaming costs for 30 countries
- 500 minutes in Italy
- 300 minutes international
- Texting is NOT included
- Valid for 30 days
The price? In Hall B you pay €60.50 EUR ($63 USD), in Hall A you pay €56.50 EUR ($58 USD) and in another Exchange shop they charge €55.50 EUR ($57 USD).
The Exchange shops are literally within 100 meters from each other. Why they all have a different price for the same sim card packages is very strange!
There is also a slightly cheaper option for €51.50 ($53 USD) depending on which Exchange Store you go but you get 2 sim cards with each only 8 GB instead of the above 18 GB.
All the above Vodafone Italy sim cards can be topped up through the Vodafone Italy website after 30 days. You then get the same package for only €10 EUR.
After telling them multiple times that I only wanted to buy 1 prepaid sim card I was offered the following at one of the Exchange shops:
- 8 GB data + 500 minutes + 150 int. minutes = €30 EUR - $31 USD
Well, well, well... told you it was complicated buying a prepaid sim card for tourists at Milan Airport.
Tutto Communications
As I mentioned earlier there is also a little sim card booth just next to Arrival Hall B. I have done research for buying sim cards at Rome Airport, Venice Airport, Paris Airport, Frankfurt Airport, Amsterdam Airport and many more but never have I seen outrageous prices like this!
When I saw it I was like: who the hell on earth pays €169 EUR for 20 GB data? Like for real?
You can also buy 3 GB data for €69 EUR. INSANE!
Please people I hope when you are reading this you are also laughing. Things like this is why I love to write travel tips for people traveling around the world, because never ever buy a sim card for this price! It is a scam!
To prove I was not lying I took photos of what they offer. The offered sim cards are from WindTre.
The Tutto Communications booth also offers Lyca Mobile Italy sim cards. Also these sim cards are extremely overpriced and NOT worth buying!
Please avoid this sim card booth shop completely! I am only mentioning it to give you a complete guide for buying a sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport and of course helping you NOT to waste money and travel more, because in the end that is what I love doing.
My passion for traveling turned me into a professional travel blogger. Read my story of continuously traveling around the world since 2012 in the link above.
Terminal 2 Exchange Office Departures
The Exchange office at Departures Terminal 2 sells only a package of 2 Vodafone Italy sim cards for €60.50 EUR ($66 USD). For that price you get the following per sim card:
- 18 GB data in all of Europe, no roaming costs
- 500 minutes in Italy
- 300 minutes international
- Texting is NOT included
- Valid for 30 days
This Vodafone Italy sim card can be topped up through the Vodafone Italy website for the second month. The same package then only costs €10 EUR ($10 USD).
Best sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport in 2025
A Vodafone prepaid sim card is the only sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport worth considering.
The best prepaid sim card at Milan Airport is from Vodafone Italy. For around €30 EUR ($31 USD) you get for 18 GB data to use everywhere in Europe and 500 minutes.
It is a simple conclusion that eSIMs for Italy are cheaper than buying a sim card at Milan Airport.
If your phone is eSIM compatible then simply order your sim card for Italy on the internet. You can already get a Jetpac eSIM for Italy with 15 GB data for just $15 USD.
Check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Italy in 2025.
If you want the best Italy prepaid sim card deals then simply wait till you get to Milan city center and you can buy a prepaid sim card with 100 GB data for just $19 USD.
However, Milan Malpensa Airport is about 45 minutes away from the city.
Order a prepaid sim card for Italy online
If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Milan online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Milan 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 Italy, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Italy:
- 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 directly order an international prepaid sim card for Italy via SimOptions.
Personally I would recommend the last options from either Bouygues Telecom or Orange with a lot of data, but that is just because I am a heavy data user.
Also a last reminder that you can easily order an eSIM for Italy if your phone is eSIM compatible.
For more info about using eSIMs for traveling to Italy read my guide with everything you need to know before buying an Italy eSIM in 2025.
How to get to Milan city from Malpensa Airport
Apart from taxis there are two other options: bus and train. Both run very frequent, busses go every 10 minutes, train every 20 minutes. A one-way bus ticket cost €10 and busses can be found right outside Arrival Hall A. My bus from Milan city to Malpensa Airport took only 40 minutes, but on the way back it took 1,5 hours. The advantage of taking a bus is that they have 3 other stops before they end at Milan Central Station.
The train is slightly more expensive and costs around $19 USD one-way but guarantees you to reach Milan Central Station in 57 minutes. The train station is 3 minutes walk from both arrival halls and tickets can easily be bought at the train station.
I am sure some of the above tips for buying an Italy sim card at Milan Malpensa Airport were helpful. If you have any more questions please leave me a comment below and I will be more than happy to help.
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 May 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Milan!