Best eSIM for Italy: I Tested Sim Local — Here's What I Found
/After two weeks in Italy, I can confidently say I found the best eSIM for Italy. I was in Italy recently for 2.5 weeks and I was everywhere from the cities to the most remote mountains in Italy like deep in the Dolomites.
The best eSIM I used in Italy was Sim Local and it was worth it! I had 20GB which gave me SMS texts, International calls, Local calls and fast internet at 4G speeds.
I used Sim Local's Orange Holiday World 20GB plan for US$35. It came with 20GB of data at 4G speeds, SMS texts, international calls, and local calls and it held up across mountain passes, remote villages, and everything in between. It's the best eSIM for Italy I've used, and I've tried a few.
Here's everything you need to know.
Why I Needed a Reliable eSIM for Italy
a snapshot of why i think sim local is the best esim for italy
I am a heavy data user on this trip because I have my laptop where I do use it for hotspot but beyond that, all the activities I did require heavy maps usage like hiking and biking. I'm talking full-on Google Maps navigation while driving mountain roads, hiking trail apps running in the background, and of course searching for the best gelato within a 2km radius at all times.
Losing signal wasn't an option and a bit risky in the Dolomites so I heard good reviews about Sim Local and it also has a really good customer service with a proper human you can chat to.
So I went with Sim Local, a provider I'd been hearing good things about. And after two weeks of putting it through its paces, I'm glad I did. I paid $35.00 and it was worth it for the 2.5 weeks I was there.
Before this trip I'd used a couple of other eSIM providers in Europe with mixed results: one worked fine in cities like for example Airalo but dropped completely the moment I got into the countryside, another throttled my speed so aggressively after the first day that Google Maps was barely loading. I wanted something I could actually rely on for a trip where connectivity mattered.
One thing I noticed before even buying: Sim Local has a Find My Plan tool on their website that asks you four simple questions about your trip and usage, then tell you the right plan for you. If you're not sure which plan to get, start there.
They also have physical stores and vending machines at major European airports including London Heathrow, Gatwick, Vienna, Madrid, and Athens so if you've somehow forgotten to sort it before you leave, you can grab one on the way through. That said, just do it in advance. The five minutes at home beats queuing at the airport.
📱 Get Sim Local HERE
💜 Tip: You get 5% off with my code THEGONEGOAT
Which Sim Local Plan Did I Use for Italy?
I went with the Orange Holiday World 20GB plan — $35 for 30 days, which covered my entire 2.5-week trip with room to spare. Here's what's included:
20GB of data at 4G speeds
SMS texts
International calls
Local calls
Hotspot/tethering — no cap, no restrictions
Coverage across 72 countries — great if Italy is part of a bigger trip
My heaviest usage days (full-day drives with maps running, photos uploading, messaging home) didn't get close to the 20GB limit. If you're an even heavier user or planning a longer trip, Sim Local has larger and unlimited options too and you can use the Find My Plan tool to figure out what fits.
My Experience with Sim Local in Italy
here is my experience of using one of the best esims in italy
From the moment I landed, the eSIM was ready to go. I'd installed it 2 days before the trip and mid-way through I accidentally disrupted the installation process but in a few minutes, it was solved by their Sim Local 24/7 customer service which I had a real human to chat with!
So the second I touched down, I had data. There was no queuing for a SIM at the airport and not getting overwhelmed by all the options given by other people from Reddit.
For me, the coverage really worked well! Sim Local connects to multiple networks in Italy rather than locking you onto one. On this trip, it jumped between:
Telecom Italia (TIM)
Vodafone Omnitel
Wind Tre
Iliad Italy
I noticed this most in the Dolomites — we'd round a bend and the signal would shift networks mid-drive without me even noticing sometimes to TIM/ Vodafone and so on.
I had constant 4G in the mountains and it worked perfectly when using all my maps. I streamed music on hikes. I called home from a rifugio at 2,700 meters. I've had eSIMs completely cut out the moment you leave a main road in alpine terrain.
How Easy Is It to Install Sim Local?
it is quite easy and there is a 24/7 customer support if you’re using sim local
It was one of the easiest eSIM installs I've done with an actual human support. Here's how it works:
Buy your plan — use this link to save 5%. Choose your data amount and duration.
Activate your new eSIM by downloading the plan or scanning the QR code
Turn on Data Roaming in your mobile settings.
That's it. You're connected.
I'd recommend activating it before you leave home, where you have a strong Wi-Fi connection. It takes maybe 2 minutes total, and then your eSIM is sitting ready for the moment you land.
Also you should know that once installed, set Sim Local as your default data line and keep your home SIM on for calls only. This way you won't accidentally burn through expensive roaming data from your regular plan.
Your phone needs to be eSIM compatible, which most phones released after 2018 are. If you're on an older device or a budget Android, double-check before buying. The Sim Local website lists compatible devices, so it takes about 30 seconds to confirm. The good thing about this company is that if you buy a plan and never activate it, they offer a no-questions-asked refund within 14 days. I think this is a nice safety net if your plans change at the last minute.
My Experience with Sim Local in Italy: Is This The Best eSIM for Italy?
it was such a fuss-free experience if you take the 30 day plan
Short answer: yes.
Long answer: it depends what you need — but for the type of trip I was doing, it absolutely was.
I used the 30-day plan which came with a generous daily data cap. For context, my heaviest usage days (full-day drives with maps, photos uploading, messaging back home) didn't come close to hitting the limit.
If you're doing Italy as part of a bigger Europe trip, this is a great option to have as they cover 72 countries.
The things that genuinely impressed me:
Full 4G in the mountains — on multiple occasions I compared my Sim Local signal to a friend's different provider, and mine was consistently better. Sometimes theirs had no signal at all.
Hotspot works perfectly — I shared my connection to my laptop one evening when the hotel Wi-Fi was terrible and it worked great!
Zero speed throttling that I noticed — some eSIMs slow you down after a certain amount of daily data even on "unlimited" plans. I didn't experience that.
The only minor hiccup: when I activated the eSIM while driving through a patchy area near a mountain pass, it took about 5 minutes to fully connect. Turns out that was just because I had weak signal at that moment. Once I hit a town, it connected immediately.
📱 Get Sim Local HERE
💜 Tip: You get 5% off with my code THEGONEGOAT
How Does Sim Local Compare to Other eSIMs?
Since I've tried a few different providers over the years, here's how Sim Local stacks up.
| Sim Local (recommended) | Airalo | Holafly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data | 20GB (or unlimited options) | Capped only | "Unlimited" (with throttling) |
| Speed | 4G, no throttling | 4G, can throttle | Subject to fair usage limits |
| Hotspot | Unlimited | Limited | 500MB–1GB/day |
| Multi-network | Yes (TIM, Vodafone, Wind Tre, Iliad) | Single network | Single network |
| Customer support | 24/7 via phone, WhatsApp & email | App-based | App-based |
| Refund policy | 14-day no questions asked | Limited | Limited |
Sim Local vs Airalo
Airalo is probably the most well-known eSIM marketplace out there, and it's perfectly decent. But for Italy specifically, Airalo only offers capped data plans, you'll hit a ceiling and then either run out or pay more to top up. If you're a light user, that might be fine. But if you're navigating all day, you may actually burn through fast.
Sim Local's unlimited options change the game and it is great value for money.
Sim Local vs Holafly
Holafly also offers unlimited data, which sounds great on paper. But when you read the fine print, their "unlimited" comes with a vague Fair Usage Policy meaning they can throttle your speed at any point without clearly telling you when or how much.
Also, their hotspot allowance is limited to just 500MB–1GB per day. For anyone working remotely or sharing data to a laptop, it’s really tough!
Sim Local is transparent about its caps and puts no limit on hotspot usage.
The bottom line: if you want a reliable, transparent eSIM for Italy that doesn't leave you guessing, Sim Local is the one.
FAQ: Is Sim Local The Best eSIM for Italy?
Does Sim Local work in the Italian mountains and Dolomites?
Yes — this is one of its strengths. Multi-network coverage means it switches between carriers automatically, which is exactly what you need in alpine terrain. I had 4G in areas where my travel companion (on a different provider) had no signal at all.
Can I use Sim Local as a hotspot?
Yes, with no daily hotspot cap unlike Holafly which limits you to 500MB–1GB per day.
What phones are compatible?
Most phones released after 2018 support eSIM. Check the Sim Local website's device compatibility list to confirm yours as it takes about 30 seconds.
What if I buy a plan and don't use it?
Sim Local offers a no-questions-asked refund within 14 days of purchase if you never activate the plan.
How do I get support if something goes wrong?
Sim Local has 24/7 customer support via phone, WhatsApp, and email. I used their chat support when I hit a snag during installation and it was resolved in minutes.
Is there a Sim Local discount code?
Yes — use code THEGONEGOAT for 5% off your plan.
What if I forget to buy before my trip?
Sim Local has physical stores and vending machines at London Heathrow, Gatwick, Vienna, Madrid, and Athens airports. Still better to sort it in advance, but the option is there.
So What’s The Verdict?
For the type of trip I was doing such as heavy maps usage, mountain hiking, remote villages, working remotely on hotspot — yes, it absolutely was. I have no qualms about using Sim Local and think it is worth it after using it for 2.5 weeks
The Orange Holiday World 20GB plan at $35 gave me everything I needed: reliable 4G across multiple networks, unlimited hotspot, real human support when I needed it, and zero connectivity anxiety for the duration of the time when I was there.
If you're heading to Italy and want to arrive with data already sorted, skip the airport SIM queues and get your Sim Local eSIM before you leave.
📱 Get Sim Local HERE
💜 Tip: You get 5% off with my code THEGONEGOAT
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