Best Tourist Sim Cards in Hong Kong in 2025
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Hong Kong across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
Menu
When visiting Hong Kong, having a sim card for internet access is essential for easy navigation and convenient travel. With internet connectivity, you can effortlessly search for the finest restaurants, find directions to your accommodation, book taxis, and share photos with your loved ones on the go.
While roaming is an option, it can quickly accumulate exorbitant fees when traveling internationally. Therefore, we strongly recommend either acquiring an eSIM or a local sim card to take advantage of local phone rates. Luckily, obtaining either option in Hong Kong is incredibly straightforward, but it’s helpful to determine which one suits your needs best.
This comprehensive guide aims to provide you with all the relevant information regarding purchasing a sim card in Hong Kong, including the most recent pricing details and the optimal sim card for your requirements.
CSL offer the best tourist sim card in Hong Kong with 12GB data for just $88 HKD. CSL have extremely wide coverage across the city. This tourist sim card is valid for 10 days which is plenty for most people visiting Hong Kong, but if you are staying longer they also offer a 30 day option for $118 HKD. You can purchase either card from the official CSL retail stores as well as 7-eleven, Circle K and Vango convenience stores across Hong Kong.
An even cheaper option which has become popular recently is to purchase a SoSIM from any Watsons store around Hong Kong. I haven’t tried this yet but I’ve heard from a lot of people that this is the go-to for physical sim cards in Hong Kong, largely due to the low price. This is definitely the most economical option and what I will use personally (instead of CSL) on future trips to Hong Kong.
The Airalo Hong Kong eSim also uses the CSL network and costs around 94 HKD for 5GB data valid up to 30 days. Considering the price is very similar I would recommend purchasing the Airalo eSim over the CSL local sim card above. For most people, 5GB of data will be more than enough and the convenience of an eSim far outweighs the extra data in my opinion.
In fact, if you don’t require much data you can purchase an Airalo Hong Kong eSim for as little as 39 HKD which is insanely cheap.
You can purchase the Airalo eSim online when you arrive in the airport (or even before you leave home) enabling you to access the internet immediately without having to visit any stores.
A Tourist Sim Card in Hong Kong costs $39 HKD for SoSim or $88 HKD for CSL in January 2025, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Hong Kong will cost between $5 USD and $19 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.
I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting Hong Kong which includes 5GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $12 USD.
CSL, China Mobile Hong Kong and Three are the three main sim card providers that dominate the market in Hong Kong.
All three offer competitive sim card packages with similar pricing and networks, with CMHK lagging a bit behind.
A third player that entered more recently is SoSim which shares the same network and parent company as Three. Their pricing is much cheaper than the others making them the best option for most tourists visiting Hong Kong.
CSL is the oldest and most famous telco company in Hong Kong. They boast a wide coverage network, efficient services and the fastest network speeds.
Their mobile plans are reasonably priced and include plenty of data as well as texts and minutes. It’s appropriate for any tourists and is the best tourist sim card in Hong Kong.
The price of a CSL (Hong Kong Telecom) tourist sim card in Hong Kong is $88 HKD.
The plan offered by CSL (Hong Kong Telecom) stores includes 12GB 5G data valid for 10 days.
China Mobile Hong Kong offers suitable tourist sim cards in Hong Kong that can be easily picked up in convenience stores all across the country.
The sim cards are similarly priced to Three and CSL with similar data limits. Their network is generally quite good, but it is considered to be the slowest in Hong Kong making it an acceptable but less ideal pick.
The price of a China Mobile Hong Kong tourist sim card in Hong Kong is $78 HKD.
The plan offered by China Mobile Hong Kong stores offers 1GB data per day valid for 7 days.
Three is also one of the leading telecommunictions companies in Hong Kong. Their network is pretty much comparable to CSL meaning you will have great coverage across the country and reliable, fast network speeds.
Their plans are typically considered a bit more economical than CSL but the difference is negligible.
Another option is SoSim which is owned by the same parent company as Three. This sim card can easily be purchased from any Watsons pharmacy around Hong Kong and costs just 39 HKD for 50GB data – this is pretty much unheard of and makes it by far the best deal in Hong Kong.
SoSim uses the exact same network as Three (due to sharing a parent company) meaning you essentially get the same sim card but pay half the price.
The price of a Three tourist sim card in Hong Kong is $78 HKD.
The plan offered by Three stores includes 2GB data per day valid for 30 days.
Identify the mobile providers in Hong Kong: CSL (Hong Kong Telecom), China Mobile Hong Kong and Three are your best options in Hong Kong.
Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can be found all over any major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. You can’t buy sim cards in airports in Hong Kong. If you’re on a budget it is usually cheaper to use the airport wifi instead and purchase your sim card in a store near your hotel.
Bring the necessary documents: It is mandatory in Hong Kong to bring your passport into the store so that the staff can register it with your sim card. Without this, CSL (Hong Kong Telecom), China Mobile Hong Kong or Three staff will be unable to sell you a sim card.
Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are likely to be your best option, for example the prepaid plan by CSL (Hong Kong Telecom) that includes 12GB 5G data for $88 HKD.
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay $39 HKD for SoSim or $88 HKD for CSL to purchase your sim card. The staff in-store will help you install the sim card and activate it for you.
Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always try searching for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine before leaving. If it’s not, the staff will be able to help you adjust your settings.
Buying a prepaid sim card for Hong Kong at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.
However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.
In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.
If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in Hong Kong then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Hong Kong have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.
If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.
I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as CSL (Hong Kong Telecom), China Mobile Hong Kong and Three. Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in Hong Kong are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.
Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.
If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in Hong Kong with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.
The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.
The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!
An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.
We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to Hong Kong. The Airalo Hong Kong eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.
In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $12 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in Hong Kong without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Hong Kong is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Hong Kong and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.
Airalo’s Hong Kong eSim uses the CSL network to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the CSL networknetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Hong Kong.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Hong Kong eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $5 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $8.50 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $12 USD
10GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $19 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 5GB data plan for $12 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.
An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.
Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s Hong Kong eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Hong Kong eSim uses the Hutchison Telecommunications/Hong Kong Telecommunicationsnetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Hong Kong
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Hong Kong eSim:
Unlimited data valid for 5 days – Price: $19 USD
Unlimited data valid for 7 days – Price: $27 USD
Unlimited data valid for 10 days – Price: $34 USD
Unlimited data valid for 15 days – Price: $47 USD
Unlimited data valid for 20 days – Price: $54 USD
Unlimited data valid for 30 days – Price: $64 USD
Unlimited data valid for 60 days – Price: $84 USD
Unlimited data valid for 90 days – Price: $99 USD
An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, is a type of digital SIM card that is securely built-in to electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. Unlike traditional SIM cards, which need to be physically inserted or removed from a device, an eSIM does not require any physical manipulation.
Instead, the eSIM is a permanent part of the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network provider. This allows users to easily switch between different mobile networks or plans without the hassle of physically changing SIM cards.
One of the major advantages of eSIM technology is its convenience, flexibility, and user-friendliness. This is especially beneficial for frequent travelers or individuals who frequently switch between networks or travel internationally. With eSIMs, users no longer need to purchase and insert physical SIM cards, which makes managing multiple mobile connections on a single device much more convenient.
To activate an eSIM, users can either scan a provided QR code from their mobile network provider or manually enter the activation details. Once activated, the device can connect to the chosen mobile network and access voice, data, and messaging services, just like with a traditional SIM card.
eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:
Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.
Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.
Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.
OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.
Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.
These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is.
© Travel Sim Expert – Designed by us.
