Traveling to Barcelona soon? Get yourself a sim card for Spain on arrival in Barcelona or an e-sim card and stay connected. Don't waste money on high roaming charges or get annoyed by slow overseas data roaming plans. This is a complete guide for buying a sim card at Barcelona Airport. Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per August 2023, the best e-sim cards for Barcelona, the best 4G/5G network in Spain, info about international sim cards and more.
I often go on a weekend trip to Barcelona as it is one of my favorite cities in the world and I simply love F.C. Barcelona. This blog is based on my own experiences and I can already tell you that if you are arriving late at Barcelona Airport BCN, most shops will be closed!
In that case head over to my guide for buying a sim card for Spain in 2023 or make it yourself easy and get an e-sim card. Check out my list of the best e-sim cards for traveling to Spain in 2023.
On Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world. How come? Well, first because every country I visit I look for the best ways to stay connected and have data on my phone. Second, I am already traveling the world full time since 2012 as a nomadic travel blogger and third, I am aiming to travel to every country in the world.
Find sim card guides from: USA, New York, Dominican Republic, Asia, Thailand, Bangkok, Singapore, Bali, Sydney, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and many more. So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and e-sim card advice for your next destination. Bookmark me!
Are you traveling onwards to other countries in Europe after visiting Barcelona? Make sure your Spain sim card includes FREE EU Roaming. Local prepaid sim cards from Lycamobile for example are notorious to NOT include free EU roaming. You can also order a sim card for Europe online. Check out my complete comparison of the best sim cards for Europe in 2023 in this link.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying an Orange sim card at Barcelona Airport, it is the best value for money. For €15 you can get 9 GB data, not a bad prepaid sim card deal for Spain. But...
Buying a sim card at Barcelona Airport is more expensive than in Barcelona city center. You can already get a sim card with 50 GB data for just €10 in the city center in a phone store. Check here my complete guide for buying a sim card for Spain in 2023.
Or even better you can order an e-sim card for Spain and arrange everything online. Have a look below for more info about e-sim cards for Spain or check out my list of the best Spain e-sim card plans in 2023.
Another great alternative is buying an international sim card with global coverage. Traveltomtom world travel sim cards especially to those who visit more countries in one trip. Check out my comparison of the best international sim cards for travelers in 2023 and choose the travel sim card that suits your trip.
Best e-sim cards for Barcelona
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Barcelona in 2023 is an e-sim card. No more visiting a store or swapping physical sim cards. You arrange everything in just a couple clicks. Order an e-sim card for Spain online, receive a QR code, follow the instructions and you are all set in no time.
Airalo
Check out all the following Airalo e-sim card plans for Spain:
- 1 GB for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB for 15 days = $6.5 USD
- 3 GB for 30 days = $8.5 USD
- 5 GB for 30 days = $11.5 USD
- 10 GB for 30 days = $18 USD
- 20 GB for 30 days = $26 USD
Click here to order an e-sim cards for Spain directly through this link.
The above Guay Mobile e-sim cards for Spain are data-only and data is only valid in Spain. Calling and texting is NOT supported. They operate on the 4G/LTE mobile network of Movistar.
SimOptions
If you are looking for Spain e-sim cards that also support calls and include EU data roaming then have a look at the following international e-sim cards that are valid in all of Europe:
- 15 GB + unlimited calls/text for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD (5G ready)
- 8 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 30 GB + unlimited calls/text for 30 days = $44.90 USD
- 20 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to directly order an international e-sim cards for Spain.
When ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Spain make sure your mobile phone is e-sim card compatible and unlocked. Want to get more info about using Spain e-sim cards then check out my complete guide with everything you need to know before ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Spain in 2023.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible then you can also order a physical sim card for Spain online. All the international prepaid sim card deals for Spain are also valid in Europe and within just a couple clicks you can order them at get them delivered to your home address before your trip.
Click here to order one of the Spain international sim card deals for Spain that suits your trip. Click on the link above or the banner above for more info.
Why buying a sim card for traveling to Barcelona
First of all we don't want to get stuck with high roaming charges or slow overseas data plans which limit the data speed. Getting a sim card for your trip to Europe make traveling so much easier. Ordering a taxi through an app, finding the train schedule on the go, getting directions from Google Maps. So many examples that having an internet connection while traveling is very convenient.
Also don't rely on public WiFi, first off it is an unsecured network connection and second, there is no guarantee the WiFi is working or fast enough to roam the internet. Traveltomtom always recommend to stay connected when traveling for much more fun and your own safety.
Arriving at Barcelona Airport - BCN
Barcelona International Airport (BCN) is called El Prat and it has 2 terminals: Terminal 1 + 2. Most intercontinental flights arrive at Terminal 1 and most European flights arrive at Terminal 2. Do you need to travel between the two terminals then you have to take a free shuttle bus which takes about 6-8 minutes.
The terminals are not too big, but can be crowded, especially in the summer season. However, getting around Barcelona Airport is fairly easy and the arrival halls are pretty big. Don't worry, you won't get lost arriving at Barcelona Airport El Prat.
Where to buy a sim card at Barcelona Airport
As said before there are no official mobile internet operator stores at Barcelona Airport although you will find a Vodafone reseller. If you arrive in Terminal 1 then you can buy a sim card for tourists from either the Tech & Fly store or from the Tabacos convenience store.
The Tech & Fly store is located in the arrival hall of Terminal 1 and when you walk out into the arrival hall you will see it right in front of you on the other side of the arrival hall. Inside the Tech & Fly store there is a Vodafone reseller shop. They only sell physical prepaid sim cards, no e-sim cards.
The Tabacos convenience store is outside, just after the sliding door on your right hand side if you walk out of the terminal building. This convenience store also sells Spain prepaid sim cards for tourists. At the Tabacos convenience store they only sell physical Orange prepaid sim cards, no e-sims for Spain.
In Terminal 2 there is a little store called Tienda del Viajero, also a baggage storage. This store also sells prepaid sim cards for traveling in Spain. It is located in the middle of Hall B. Here they inly sell Orange prepaid sim cards, no Spain e-sim cards.
Prices prepaid sim cards at Barcelona Airport
Sim card plans and prices constantly change but the below info is updated with the latest info as per August 2023. Prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.91 EUR and €1 EUR = $1.10 USD.
Orange
At the Tabacos convenience store they have 3 different Orange prepaid sim cards for Spain valid for 28 days:
- 50 GB data (15 GB EU data roaming) + unlimited calls in Spain + extras = €15 EUR
- 100 GB data (20 GB EU data roaming) + unlimited calls in Spain + extras = €20 EUR
- 50 GB data + 800 (international) minutes = €15 EUR
For more specifications see the price sheet above. As you can see the Orange prepaid sim cards for Spain are not too expensive!
Vodafone
At the Vodafone sim card shop inside the Tech & Fly store they also sell 3 prepaid sim cards for tourists for traveling in Spain and Europe:
- 200 GB data (42 GB EU data roaming) + unlimited calls in Spain + 300 international minutes = €45 EUR
- 220 GB data (51 GB EU data roaming) + unlimited calls in Spain + 300 international minutes = €60 EUR
- 250 GB data (58 GB EU data roaming) + unlimited calls in Spain + 300 international minutes = €70 EUR
The Vodafone sim cards for tourists are also sold for tourists prices. Prepaid sim cards for Spain are pretty cheap, but not at the Vodafone store at Barcelona Airport. See my article about the best sim cards for Spain in 2023 and you will be shocked how overpriced the sim cards at Barcelona Airport are.
Best sim card at Barcelona Airport in 2023
When we take all the international sim cards for Spain and the e-sim cards for Spain into the comparison of the best sim card for traveling to Barcelona then it is an easy conclusion that e-sim cards for Spain that you order on the internet are great value compared to the Vodafone sim card prices at Barcelona Airport.
However, the Orange prepaid sim card plans sold at the Tabaco store in Terminal 1 and the Tienda del Viajero in Terminal 2 are the best sim card at Barcelona Airport in 2023.
Spain e-sim cards already start from $4.5 USD for 1 GB data so if you use your phone just to stay in touch, get directions from maps and check your email then this is a great solution. Keep in mind that your phone needs to be compatible for e-sim cards.
Also, for $44.90 USD you get a sim card for traveling in all of Europe with 30 GB data. Find out everything about using e-sim cards for traveling to Spain in my complete guide including a comparison of the best e-sim cards for Spain in 2023.
Even international prepaid sim cards that you order online and get delivered to your home address before your trip are great value and make your arrival in Spain easy.
The Tabaco Shop may be a little hidden, just outside the terminal doors, but worth checking out. They have their own Orange kiosk inside the shop and the super friendly ladies installed my Spain sim card for me on my phone within just 2 minutes and a previous trip to Barcelona. Great service. The last two times though when I visited Barcelona in 2023 I used an e-sim card for traveling to Europe.
Order a sim card for Spain online
Does this all sounds like too much hassle and you want to make it much easier for yourself? Is your phone not compatible for an e-sim card? Then why not ordering an international sim card for Spain online? Get a pre-activated sim card that works in Spain send to your home address and arrive prepared for your Spain holiday. Check out the following international sim card deals for Spain:
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
There are also international sim cards for 1 year and for 2 years. Click on the link below for more info!
O2 Go Card - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- $2 calling credit
- Valid 30 days
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 directly order an international prepaid sim card for Spain online.
Personally Traveltomtom recommends you either the Three or Orange option above. You can order them and many other international sim cards directly through the links above.
Last reminder that you can also order an e-sim card for Spain and keep your number from home. On Airalo you can get data-only e-sim cards for Spain from $4.5 USD and on SimOptions you can get yourself an international e-sim card including calling and sms valid in all of Europe starting from $24.90 USD. Then last but not least Nomad has the cheapest best value e-sim card deals with 15 GB data for $27 USD.
Related: Best E-Sim Cards for Traveling to Spain in 2023.
How to get from Barcelona Airport to the city
It is very easy to take the bus just outside the Terminals. They are called A1 or A2 and both head to Plaza Catalunya.
They cost €5.90 EUR and there is wifi on board. They run basically every 5 minutes. If you arrive at Barcelona Airport at night take Bus N18, they only cost €2.20 EUR. You can buy your bus ticket from Barcelona Airport to the city online already and save all the hassle at the airport.
Don't forget to check out my blog with the must do's for a weekend in Barcelona.
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I hope the above tips for buying a Barcelona sim card were helpful for your upcoming trip. In case you still have any questions please don't hesitate to leave me a comment below. I am more than happy to help you out, also with Barcelona travel tips.
Go check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom for some extra wanderlust. As of August 2023 I traveled to more than 155 countries on my road to visit every country in the world.
Enjoy your trip to Barcelona!
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