Traveling to Poland any time soon? Don't get stuck with high roaming charges or slow overseas data roaming. Traveltomtom recommends buying a prepaid sim card in Poland or get an e-sim card for Poland. The 4G/5G network in Poland is pretty good and data packages are very cheap! This is a complete guide for finding the best sim card for Poland with everything you need to know to stay connected when traveling to Poland.
Find everything you need to know about where to buy a sim card for Poland, up to date prices as per May 2023, the best 4G/5G network in Poland, a comparison of the prepaid sim cards, EU roaming limitations, my recommendation, the best e-sim cards for Poland and even info about international sim cards for Poland.
Staying connected is one of the most important things for me when traveling. In most cases I either buy a local prepaid sim card or I arrive prepared with an e-sim card. As a full time travel blogger and nomad who is also aiming to visit every country in the world I get to new countries all the time and I constantly have to find the best ways to stay connected.
Therefore on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Europe, Asia, USA, Spain, UK, France, Netherlands, Germany, Rome, London, as well as: Mexico, Canada, Thailand, Vietnam, Kenya, South Africa, Turkey, Brazil, etc.
Traveling to Poland is very affordable compared to other European countries. A great 4-star hotel in the city center for less than $80 per night, a meal in a restaurant for just $8... it is all still possible in Poland! And therefore it is also named in my list of the best off the beaten path destinations in Europe for 2023.
Why buying a sim card in Poland
First off, don't rely on public WiFi. What if your hotel room has a weak signal? Are you gonna stand on the hallway to upload a photo? Public WiFi is often slow and there is no guarantee. Also be aware that a public WiFi connection is are through an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN in these cases is very much recommended.
Being connected to the internet makes traveling so much easier. Think about ordering a taxi through an app, looking for a nearby rooftop bar or restaurant with good reviews or getting directions from Google Maps. There are many reasons I can come up with for you to stay connected when traveling to Poland. Buying a prepaid sim card in Poland is easy, done fast and you are instantly connected, just as getting an e-sim card for Poland.
You don't like to swap sim cards and switch phone numbers? There are two solutions for you. You can look into getting WiFi on the road through a pocket WiFi, the old school way or get yourself an e-sim card for Poland.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a Plus sim card for traveling in Poland. They have the best 4G/5G network in Poland and for $1.5 USD you get 6 GB data for 2 weeks.
You can only buy a Poland prepaid sim card in Poland on arrival, but you can avoid that by getting an e-sim card for Poland and they already start from $5 USD.
Another recommendation especially if you are traveling onwards in Europe is an international travel sim card with data. These world travel sim cards with global coverage work in 70-120 countries. Traveltomtom reviewed and compared them one by one and found you the best international sim card deals for traveling in 2023.
Best e-sim cards for Poland
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Poland in 2023 is an e-sim card, no doubt. No need to visit a store or swap physical sim cards, you arrange everything online within just 2 minutes. Order an e-sim card for Poland, receive a QR code, follow the instructions, apply the settings and you are all set. Check out the following Poland e-sim card deals:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $7 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
Click here to directly order a Poland e-sim card or find more info in the link.
The above e-sim cards are data-only and data is only valid in Poland! These LEKKO e-sim cards operate on the LTE 4G Plus network in Poland.
There are also international e-sim cards for Poland. They are valid in 70 - 120 countries, including all of the EU.
- 10 GB data + $2 calling credit (top-up possible) for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 8 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 20 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for Poland directly online.
If your phone is not e-sim card compatible you can also still get physical sim cards for traveling to Poland. Especially for those who also want to make phone calls. E-sim cards are amazing, but they are data only! You can already get an international sim card with 20 GB data for use in all of Europe for $49.90 USD. Click here to order a sim card for traveling in Poland online.
Poland sim cards and traveling in Europe
As of June 2017 the EU banned international roaming fees within the European Union. Therefore the data, voice and text allowance on a Poland sim card should be free to use in every other EU country. But wait...
Poland mobile internet operators asked the European Commission to not be part of the free EU roaming agreement. This request has been honored by the European Commission, due to the very low prices for mobile internet in Poland. However, as of May 2023 a lot of Poland prepaid sim cards are allowing some data for use in the EU. Always ask for the EU roaming restrictions when buying a sim card in Poland.
This means still though that some prepaid Poland sim cards are USELESS for a trip to Europe. I tried it out myself and my Poland sim card did indeed NOT work in Norway and later in Spain neither later that week.
If, after visiting Poland, you are traveling onwards in Europe then check out my comparison of the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2023 or check my guide for buying a local prepaid sim card in Europe in 2023 with more info about free EU roaming as well as the rules for Brexit.
Mobile internet operators in Poland
There are 4 mobile internet providers in Poland that sell prepaid sim cards for tourists:
- Orange
- T-Mobile
- Plus
- Play
All the above mobile internet providers sell prepaid sim cards for tourists.
Where to buy a sim card for Poland
International airport on arrival
Most intercontinental flights to Poland arrive in Warsaw and the most convenient place to buy a Poland sim card to stay connected is straight away on arrival at Chopin Airport in Warsaw. Luckily it is easy to buy a prepaid sim card at Warsaw Airport Chopin. There are several phone shops in the arrival hall and you can also get sim cards from the Relay and the Starter convenient store.
Phone stores city center
Everywhere around the city center of the main tourist destinations in Poland you can find stores of the mobile internet providers. The easiest way to find one is to use Google Maps and located the nearest one to your hotel. Otherwise another great place to buy a sim card in Poland is a shopping mall, where you will always find mobile phone stores.
Online
Local prepaid sim cards can only be bought on arrival in Poland, but if you want to arrive prepared in Poland and be online as the plane lands then check out buying a sim card for Poland on the internet. There are international prepaid sim cards for Poland and e-sim cards for Poland.
Best 4G/5G network in Poland in 2023
The best sim card for traveling in Poland is not only determined by the price for data packages. Let's also look into the 4G and 5G network strength and data speed. Imagine you take the bus from Warsaw to Gdansk and as soon as you leave the city you have no phone signal anymore. That is not what we want!
Is there 5G in Poland?
Yes, there is 5G in Poland. All the 4 mobile internet providers offer 5G. However, the 5G coverage differs per operator, see the coverage maps below. Poland is working hard to bring 5G all over the country. Check the Poland 4G/5G coverage maps for more details.
Play Poland 4G/5G network coverage
T-Mobile Poland 4G/5G network coverage
Plus Poland 4G/5G network coverage
Orange Poland 4G/5G network coverage
From the above collected data we can see that Orange has the best 4G/5G network overall in Poland in 2023. However, Plus seems to have the best 5G network in Poland as of 2023.
In general, the mobile network coverage in Poland is so extensive that even tourists that go off the beaten path in Poland will find a 4G signal almost everywhere regardless which sim card they use.
Prices Poland sim cards in 2023
All mobile internet providers in Poland have a strong 4G/5G network in the main tourist destinations in Poland so let's compare the prices for prepaid sim card plans.
All the prices below are in Polish Zloty and up to date as per May 2023 with the latest information from the mobile internet providers' websites. As per May 2023 the exchange rate is: 1 PLN = $ 0.24 and $1 USD = 4.15 PLN
Orange Poland sim card
An Orange sim card is free if you get one of the following prepaid plans. All data plans include unlimited calls/text in Poland and Europe as well as free social media apps and are valid for 30 days:
- 30 GB data + free social media apps in Poland = 30 PLN ($7.1)
- 45 GB data + free social media apps in Poland = 35 PLN ($8.3)
- 80 GB data + free social media apps in Poland = 50 PLN ($11.8)
- 150 GB data + free social media apps in Poland = 80 PLN ($18.9)
Big advantage about an Orange Poland prepaid sim card is that they are all 5G ready. From my comparison you will see that this is not the case for all mobile internet operators in Poland.
*3.48 GB EU data roaming included. **4.18 GB EU data roaming included. ***6.96 GB EU data roaming included. ****11.14 GB EU data roaming included. Check the latest Orange Poland sim card offers on the Orange Poland website.
Plus Poland sim card
A Plus Poland sim card costs 5 ZL ($1.20) and comes with 6 GB data and unlimited calls/sms in Poland valid for 15 days. They offer a wide variety of top up data packages:
- 30 GB data in Poland for 30 days = 25 ZL ($5.8)
- 40 GB data in Poland for 30 days = 30 ZL ($7)
- 50 GB data in Poland for 30 days = 50 ZL ($11.6)
Just the top up for example with 30 PLN ($7 USD) will already give you 15 GB bonus and then 15 GB from the package = 30 GB. Then on your first month you get another 200 GB for free and on top of that you can opt for another 1,500 GB data extra.
Unfortunately Plus does not mention anything about EU roaming, neither is it completely clear when you can access the 5G network and when not. But from what I understand when buying one of the 3 above prepaid sim card plans is that you can use the 5G network.
Check the Plus Poland website for the latest prepaid sim card deals or more info.
T-Mobile Poland sim card
There is a T-Mobile prepaid sim card for already 5 ZL ($1.2 USD) which comes with 1GB data + unlimited calls and sms in Europe for 5 days. Then you can top up with one of the T-Mobile prepaid plans for 30 days:
- 25 GB data for 30 days = 25 PLN
- 30 GB data for 30 days = 30 PLN
- 40 GB data + 100 GB bonus for 30 days = 35 PLN
- 60 GB data + 100 GB bonus and 5G network ready for 30 days = 45 PLN
If you top up your T-Mobile prepaid sim card you already get bonus data. For example a top up with 20 PLN gets you 5 GB data for 5 days bonus extra.
Also on the T-Mobile Poland website there is no mention of free EU roaming with the prepaid sim card plans.
Play Poland prepaid sim card
The last option for buying a Poland prepaid sim card is Play. The Play prepaid sim cards come with unlimited calls/sms in Europe however, data is only valid in Poland.
- 10 GB data in Poland for 30 days = 25 ZL ($5.9)
- 15 GB data in Poland for 30 days = 30 ZL ($7.1)
- Unlimited GB (20 GB full speed) data in Poland for 30 days = 35 ZL ($8.3)
Check out the Play Poland website for more info.
Best Poland sim card in 2023
International prepaid sim cards and e-sim cards are great alternatives for staying connected when traveling to Poland. However, they are much more expensive than local prepaid sim cards. E-sim cards are the easiest way to get connected in Poland but you also pay already $13 USD for 10 GB data.
The cheapest way to get connected when traveling to Poland, especially for those who use a lot of data are local prepaid sim cards that you can buy on arrival in Poland.
When it comes down to the 4G/5G network strength, we saw that Orange has the most extensive 4G/5G network and Plus has the best 5G network in Poland. Plus is also tested as the fastest mobile data in Poland.
When we look at the prices we can see that prepaid sim cards come with so much data that you can almost call it unlimited. Plus and T-Mobile are giving new prepaid costumers a 100 GB data bonus on the first month. Well if you are looking for a prepaid sim card for tourists in Poland I am sure you are not even able to finish that much data on your holiday in Poland.
It is clear that all internet providers offer amazing prepaid sim card plans for very little money. Sim cards with a lot or even unlimited data are simply cheap in Poland.
Orange includes free social media apps, which is a big plus compared to the other operators. Another big advantage about an Orange Poland prepaid sim card is that they clearly state how much data you can use in the EU and since they also has the best 4G/5G network in Poland Orange is the best sim card for Poland in 2023.
Buy a sim card for Poland online
Prepaid sim cards in Poland are cheap, but finding a person that speaks English can be challenging sometimes, even in the bigger cities. Travel to Poland prepared by ordering a sim card for Poland online and get it shipped to your home address before your trip and you don't need to worry about buying a sim card in Poland on arrival.
Check out the following international sim cards for Poland:
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 order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Poland or click on the link for more info.
Personally I recommend a Three or an Orange international data sim card.
Also another reminder that you can also order an e-sim card for Poland directly online through Airalo if you are looking for the cheapest e-sim cards. OR through SimOptions if you are looking for an e-sim card that is valid in all of Europe.
My experience buying a sim card in Poland
As I told you already before a Poland sim card for traveling in Europe is NOT preferable. Just to test this out I bought the cheapest T-Mobile Poland sim card I could find. For 5 Zloty ($1.2) I got 1 GB data in Poland and in Europe. In Poland it worked perfectly fine, but a couple hours after I landed in Oslo my Orange Poland sim card then kept on saying: insufficient funds while I still had credit and data leftover.
When looking for the best prepaid sim cards to travel in Europe in 2023 I already found out that Poland has an exception within the free EU roaming regulations. Free data roaming in Europe is the best invention since the Euro, but always ask if data roaming in the EU is included and if there are limitations when buying a sim card in Poland.
I hope the above tips for buying a prepaid sim card for Poland and other ways to stay connected were helpful for your upcoming trip to Poland. In case you have any questions don't hesitate to leave me a comment or a question below. 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 May 2023 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world.
Enjoy your trip to Poland!
Some links in this article about the best sim cards for Poland are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using the outgoing links I earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
