Flying to Lisbon Airport soon and looking for the best way to stay connected on your trip to Portugal? Avoid high roaming charges when traveling to Portugal and get yourself a local prepaid sim card or an e-sim card for Portugal. This is your guide for buying a prepaid sim card at Lisbon Airport . Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per August 2023, the best 4G/5G network in Portugal and even information about international and e-sim cards for Portugal.
Buying a local prepaid sim card or getting an e-sim card is the best way to avoid roaming charges and slow overseas data roaming. Looking for ways to get connected is the first thing I do when I visit a new country. As I am also trying to travel to every country in the world you can already find more than 200 prepaid sim card guides on Travelotmtom from all over the world: Brazil, Madrid, Oslo, Dublin, Ireland, Norway, Paris, London, Europe, Asia, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Marrakech, Mexico, USA, Colombia, Thailand, Bali, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and many more.
So when planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and e-sim card advice for your destination. Bookmark my blog! :)
RELATED: Ultimate 2023 Guide for 3 Days in Lisbon! With everything you need to know, itinerary, best places to visit, cool things to do, etc.
My recommendation
The options for buying a sim card at Lisbon Airport are very limited. When buying a sim card at Lisbon Airport Traveltomtom recommends a Vodafone prepaid sim card. For €25 you will get 10 GB data in Portugal and Europe.
It is ok, but not the best deal. If you are traveling onwards in Europe then check out my list of the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2023 and find way better deals.
In Lisbon city, you will find better Portugal prepaid sim card deals. Check out my guide for the best Portugal sim card for tourists in 2023 and find a sim card with 10 GB data + free social media for €12.5.
But even easier is of course an e-sim card. They start already from $4.5 USD, but you can also find 30 GB for $19 USD. Check out all the e-sim card deals for Portugal in this link. Also more info below.
Another great alternative is an international sim card with coverage in Portugal. These global travel sim cards are pre-activated and will be send to your home address before your trip to Europe. Check out my comparison of the best international travel sim cards in 2023 and find the one that suits your trip the best.
Best e-sim cards for Portugal
The easiest way to get connected on your trip to Portugal is an e-sim card. You order online, you receive a code, enter it in your mobile and you are connected. Simple as that! Check out the following e-sim card deals for Portugal:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $7 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $17 USD
- 30 GB data for 15 days = $19 USD
Click here to order a Portugal e-sim card directly online or get more info.
The above Portugal e-sim card deals are data-only and your data allowance is only valid in Portugal. Also phone calls are NOT supported.
If you want an e-sim card for Portugal that also can make phone calls then look into the following international e-sim cards. These e-sim card deals are valid in more than 70 countries, including all of the EU plus they also support calls in all of Europe, including of course Portugal:
- 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 directly order one of the above international e-sim cards for Portugal or find more info.
With an e-sim card you keep your own number, but make sure your phone is e-sim card compatible.
If you prefer a physical sim card or your phone is not e-sim card compatible then don't worry you can also still buy a physical prepaid sim card for Portugal. ORder one online and save youraself the hassle of buying a sim card at Lisbon Airport on arrival. An international prepaid sim card for Portugal will be shipped to your home address before your trip to Portugal. Get for example 20 GB data for $49.90 USD. Click here to order a sim card for Portugal directly online and see all the offers and find more info.
Portugal prepaid sim cards and free EU roaming
When buying a Portugal sim card for traveling in Europe first double check first with your mobile operator if your data is valid all over Europe. Most of the prepaid sim card plans in Portugal allow free EU roaming, which means that means you can use your Portugal sim card all over Europe at NO extra costs. For more info about free EU roaming and tips and tricks for buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Europe check my guide in the link.
If you want to arrive prepared for your trip to Europe you can also buy sim cards online that are valid in all of Europe. Check out my comparison of the best Europe sim cards in 2023.
Arriving at Lisbon Humberto Delgado International Airport (LIS)
There are two terminals at Lisbon Airport but ALL flights arrive at Terminal 1. Terminal 2 is only used for departures for in general low-cost carriers and European flights. Lisbon Airport is a pretty small airport and Terminal 1 tends to be busy. The Arrival Hall is pretty spcaious and has ATM's, currency exchange, convenience stores and of course shops where you can buy a sim card for Portugal.
Where to buy a sim card for Portugal at Lisbon Airport
There are three places where you can buy a sim card at Lisbon Airport. As soon as you walk into the arrival hall you can see a big Vodafone store on your right hand side and right in front of you there is an Exchange kiosk that sells a Portugal sim card for tourists.
You can also buy a Portugal sim card at luggage belt 8, there is another exchange desk from Unicambio with 2 ATM’s and a Lycamobile sign where they sell prepaid sim cards for tourists.
Sim card prices at Lisbon Airport in 2023
There are 3 different sim cards for tourists at Lisbon Airport for sale. The choice is very limited! Normally prices for sim cards at airports are more expensive, but not in Lisbon. The Vodafone store at Lisbon airport sells the same Portugal sim cards for tourists as in the stores around Lisbon.
Prices and info below are up dated in August 2023 and prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.91 EUR and €1 EUR is $1.10 USD.
Vodafone Lisbon Airport
The picture above is outdated, below you will find the Portugal prepaid sim card deals that are offered by Vodafone Portugal:
- 10 GB data in Europe + 500 minutes OR sms + 30 international minutes - valid for 30 days = €20
- 30 GB data ONLY for Portugal - valid for 30 days (hotspot available) = €30
Exchange stores
- 4 GB data ONLY for Portugal + 500 international minutes + 100 sms - valid for 30 days = €10
Best sim card at Lisbon Airport in 2023
The Vodafone store does not only offer more service than the Exchange kiosk, they also have the best prepaid sim card deal for Portugal at Lisbon Airport and that is why Vodafone is the best sim card at Lisbon Airport. For €20 you get 10 GB data.
However, the cheapest sim card at Lisbon Airport can be bought from the Currency Exchange and is a Lycamobile sim card for €10. You will have to do the registration and activation yourself. The employee at the currency exchange will hand over your sim card package and next costumer please... there is no service. Also these people are no sim card specialist! So therefore Traveltomtom never recommends buying a sim card from these kind of places unless you know what you are doing.
The Vodafone sim card includes free EU roaming, the Lycamobile sim card is only valid in Portugal.
When traveling onwards in Europe take a look at the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2023 and find way better deals or check out my complete guide for finding the best sim card for Portugal in 2023. You will find out where to a NOS Portugal sim card, the best prepaid sim card in Portugal.
Buy a sim card for Lisbon online
As already mentioned there are some sim card deals for Lisbon that can be bought online. Get yourself an international sim card for Portugal shipped to your home address before your trip. No hassle buying a sim card at Lisbon Airport this way, just put it in your phone on your arrival and it gets activated automatically.
Check out the following sim card deals for Portugal:
1. 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
2. O2 Go Card - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- $2 calling credit - top up possible
- Valid 30 days
3. Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 20 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
Click here to oder one of the above international sim card deals for Portugal directly online or find more info in the link.
Another last reminder that Portugal e-sim card deals are amazing and for $19 USD you get 30 GB data and you keep your own phone number. Click here to order an e-sim card for Portugal or find more info.
How to get from Lisbon Airport to the city
There are several busses outside the arrival hall, just follow the signs for busses. A ticket costs €4 and can be bought on the bus by credit card. Depending on where you go it takes around 45 minutes to reach your destination in the city center.
Best way to get from Lisbon Airport to the city center is by Uber. A normal taxi will charge you around €25, but an Uber will cost probably only 50% of that price depending where in the city you want to be dropped off. There is free WiFi at Lisbon Airport, use it to order an Uber in case you did not buy a sim card at Lisbon Airport yet.
I hope the above tips for buying a prepaid sim card at Lisbon Airport were helpful for your upcoming trip to Lisbon. If you have any questions please leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help you out.
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Enjoy your trip to Portugal!
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