I just came back from yet another fantastic trip to Italy. This time I flew to Rome to see the Gladiator in Concert at Circo Massimo, and wow, what an incredible experience that was! The live orchestra was incredible, with over 100 people on stage, performing one of the best movie soundtracks to date, inside such a historical venue. It was one of those once in a lifetime experiences.
Since the return flight from Napoli was almost half the price of flying back from Rome, I decided to extend my trip and spend a few days here as well. And who am I to turn down an opportunity to eat pepper Neapolitan pizza and my own body weight in sfogliatelle?
For this trip I decided to try something different. Instead of buying a limited data plan like I usually do, I bought Sim Local’s unlimited eSIM for Italy to see whether it was actually worth paying a little extra. I have never used an unlimited eSIM before and the idea of streaming up to 10 GB a day sounded very appealing. As it turned out, it couldn’t have been better timing as the WiFi in my hotel was practically non-existent. In fact, everything about the hotel was disappointing, but I wasn’t going to let that ruin my holiday.
After using it throughout my trip, I give it a thumbs up for being the best eSIMs for Italy, especially if you’re planning to use your phone as much as I do. Yes, I have to admit, I can only fall asleep by watching funny videos, and that consumed a lot of data…
In this guide I’ll explain why I chose the Sim Local unlimited eSIM, how it performed during my trip, and whether I think it’s worth buying for your own Italian adventure.
Why I Chose an Unlimited eSIM for Italy
I’ve used eSIMs for several years now and as a travel creator and business owner, I couldn’t imagining travelling without one. They save me from searching for airport WiFi, swapping physical SIM cards or paying expensive roaming charges from my UK provider.
But until this trip, I’d always chosen plans with a fixed amount of data. I’d spend part of every holiday checking how much I had left and wondering whether I should wait until I found WiFi before uploading photos or watching a video.
Italy is a destination in which most of the day you will be outside, exploring. That means not a lot of opportunities for free WiFi. And if you know Italy as good as I do, you know that most of their internet connections are pretty rubbish, so I know never to rely on WiFi. Because, a lot of times, it doesn’t work or the pages won’t load.
When you are out the entire day, there are plenty of apps that require internet, which you will use. Such as Google Maps, which I use constantly. Or GetYourGuide, to pull up the tickets for the attractions I’ve booked. Or my email, which I check constantly. Or, more important than all, my bank app. Google Translate is another great one, to translate menus, because I like to find the most local, family run restaurants, that don’t really cater to tourists because this is where you’ll find the best food. I also constantly connect to my home cameras, to make sure everything is fine. And to watch my cat when I start missing him. And many others. All of these apps eat data, even when you’re not actively using them.
Having unlimited data meant eliminated that step of calculating how much data I am using all the time. I just used my phone as normal, as I was home. And I liked that!
Why I Recommend Sim Local
There are plenty of companies selling eSIMs for Italy, so why did I choose Sim Local?
The first reason was that I had already used Sim Local on previous trips and had a good experience. Setting everything up had always been straightforward, and I’d never had any problems getting connected when I arrived.
The second reason was the unlimited plan.
Sim Local’s Italy Unlimited Pro Data eSIM gives you up to 10GB of high-speed data each day for 15 days. If you use more than 10GB in a single day, your speed is reduced to 1 Mbps until the next daily reset, when your high-speed allowance is restored. I appreciate that Sim Local explains this clearly rather than simply advertising “unlimited” without telling you what that means. You can check out Sim Local’s unlimited eSIM for Italy here. Use code “MYPOCKET” for a 5% discount at checkout.
For most travellers, 10GB of high-speed data every day is far more than enough. Even with lots of navigation, social media, video calls and streaming in the evenings, I never came close to using that much in a single day.
Another feature I liked is that the plan supports 5G where available, connects to TIM and Wind networks in Italy, and allows hotspot sharing, which can be useful if you’re travelling with another device such as a laptop or tablet. I for example prefer to write emails from my laptop rather than my phone, and being able to hot spot when my hotel WiFi doesn’t work, is very important.
The plan is data-only, so you won’t receive an Italian phone number or traditional calls and text messages. That wasn’t an issue for me because I already use WhatsApp for almost all my calls and messages when I travel.
Installation was also very simple, though a little bit different than what I was used to. But more about that, in the installation section below.
Do You Really Need an Unlimited eSIM in Italy?
The answer to this question depends on how you travel. If you’re only visiting Italy for a weekend, spending most of your time connected to hotel WiFi and only using your phone occasionally, you may find that a smaller data plan is enough. But if you plan to use your phone a lot, use data-hungry apps or stream, you will need more than 5GB per trip.
On this occasion, even though I was testing the unlimited eSIM for Italy from Sim Local, I actually needed it more than I realised, because of the non existent WiFi connection in my hotel. Instead of getting anxious about not being able to check my business email, which I agree, is a funny thing to say, but it’s the truth, I simply used the data as normal.
That experience reminded me that you can’t always rely on hotel internet, no matter what the booking website promises. You can find out more about the unlimited Italy eSIM and check the latest details here.
My Experience Using the Sim Local eSIM in Italy
I downloaded my Sim Local eSIM before leaving the UK, which is something I always recommend doing when travelling with an eSIM. It means you can arrive at your destination, connect to the airport WiFi connection and just activate the eSIM. And that’s it, you’re connected.
As soon as I landed in Rome, I switched my phone settings over and connected to the local network. Within minutes, I was online and I could load Google Maps to find how to get to my hotel.
Whilst in Rome, I could check my email no matter where I was. Overall, the connection was strong for more than 95% of the time. In Napoli, it was the same. That’s where I used my phone even more, as those streets in the historic city centre are like a maze.
I also used my data in smaller ways that made a big difference. Looking up information about attractions while standing outside them, checking reviews before choosing a restaurant and translating words I didn’t understand all became effortless.
These are the little things you don’t always think about before a trip, but they are exactly the moments when having mobile data makes travelling smoother.
Sim Local vs Other eSIM Providers for Italy
When searching for the best eSIM for Italy, you’ll quickly find plenty of options. Companies such as Airalo, Holafly and Nomad all offer travel eSIMs, and each one has different plans depending on how much data you need and how long you’re travelling for.
The right choice depends on your travel style.
Some travellers prefer buying a smaller data package because they know they won’t use their phone much. Others want unlimited data because they don’t want to monitor their usage throughout their holiday.
For me, the unlimited option was the biggest advantage of Sim Local’s Italy eSIM.
Here is how I would compare the options:
| eSIM provider | Best for | Things to consider |
| Sim Local | Travellers who want unlimited data and don’t want to worry about usage | The unlimited plan includes 10GB of high-speed data per day, followed by reduced speeds if you exceed this amount |
| Airalo | Travellers looking for a range of smaller data packages | Plans usually focus on a fixed amount of data rather than unlimited usage |
| Holafly | Travellers who want unlimited data plans | Check the fair usage terms of each plan before buying |
| Nomad | Travellers looking for flexible data options | Available plans and prices vary depending on the destination |
For my trip, Sim Local was the option that suited my travel habits best. I knew I would be using my phone regularly, and I liked not having to think about conserving data.
That said, if you are someone who only checks messages occasionally and spends most of your time offline, a smaller plan might be enough.
How to Install a Sim Local eSIM for Italy
One of the reasons I like travelling with eSIMs is how easy they are to set up. Usually, all you have to do is click the “Install” button in the app, and that’s it.
On this occasion though, I had to install the eSIM using the QR code. Which wasn’t a big deal, but make sure your phone supports photos of QR codes, as you will need to take a screenshot of your screen to make it work. On this time I had to install it from my phone’s connection settings, which was very easy, but different than usually. Once I turned the roaming on, I was connected.
The eSIM activates automatically when it connects to a supported network in Italy.
Things to Know Before Buying an Italy eSIM
Before buying any eSIM, there are a few things worth knowing.
First, make sure your phone is unlocked and compatible with eSIM technology. If your phone is locked to a network, you may not be able to use a travel eSIM.
Second, remember that Sim Local’s Italy eSIM is data-only. It does not come with an Italian phone number, and it does not include traditional calls or SMS. For most travellers this isn’t a problem because apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype allow you to call and message using your data connection.
Third, while the plan offers unlimited data, the high-speed allowance is subject to a daily fair usage policy. You receive up to 10GB of high-speed data each day, and after that speeds are reduced until the next reset. For normal holiday use, this is more than enough.
Finally, coverage can vary depending on where you travel. Sim Local connects through established local networks in Italy, including TIM and Wind, with strong coverage in many urban areas. As with any mobile network, coverage can vary in more remote or mountainous locations.
Is Sim Local the Best eSIM for Italy?
After using it during my trip to Rome and Naples, I can happily say that Sim Local’s unlimited eSIM is the one I would choose for future trips to Italy.
I liked the convenience this eSIM provides. I didn’t have to search for WiFi, worry about running out of data or decide whether something was worth using my allowance for.
Travelling in Italy is all about enjoying the moment. It’s about eating amazing food, drinking Aperols in the early evening, enjoying gelato, way too much gelato, and embracing that Italian dolce vita we all secretly crave. Having relying internet in your pocket, especially when you are a one man band running your own business, like me, makes the trip easier.
For travellers who use their phones regularly and want the convenience of staying connected throughout their trip, an unlimited eSIM for Italy is a great option.
For my own travels, Sim Local ticked all the boxes. It was easy to install, worked when I needed it and gave me the freedom to use my phone without constantly checking my data usage. You can check Sim Local’s unlimited eSIM for Italy here and all the other plans by click here. And don’t forget my gift to you, the 5% discount at checkout by using the code “MYPOCKET”.
And after a trip where the hotel WiFi was practically unusable, I was very grateful that I had it.
For more similar articles, check out my recommendations below:
- How to choose the best eSIM for Morocco
- How to choose the best eSIM for Canada
- How to choose the best eSIM for Japan
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