Best Tourist Sim Cards in Iceland in 2024
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Iceland across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
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If you plan on visiting Iceland, having a sim card will be essential for a smooth travel experience. With internet access, navigating unfamiliar cities becomes a breeze. You can easily discover the finest dining establishments, get directions to your accommodation, reserve a taxi, and share photos with your loved ones on the go.
While roaming may be an option, international fees can quickly accumulate. That’s why we recommend either using an eSIM or purchasing a local sim card, as they offer access to local phone rates.
Fortunately, obtaining either an eSIM or local sim card in Iceland is incredibly simple. This guide aims to provide you with all the necessary information about purchasing a sim card in Iceland, including current pricing and the most suitable sim card for your needs.
The best sim card in Iceland is the 20GB prepaid sim card by Nova. All three mobile network operators offer fairly similar prepaid packages in Iceland for a similar price so they will all work well for you, however, Nova is slightly cheaper than Vodafone and Siminn.
Nova has the best 5G network in Iceland while Siminn has the best 4G network and Vodafone’s network is overall pretty close.
You can buy any of these sim cards easily in the 10/11 or Elko stores at the airport when you arrive. Just keep an eye out for them.
If you’re looking for the most convenient option, I recommend purchasing an Airalo Iceland eSim over the local sim cards. This eSim runs on the extensive and reliable Nova network and costs 3,140 ISK (23 USD) for 10GB of data which is almost the same price as the local sim card offered by Nova. I consider the extra 500 ISK to be worth the convenience.
If you’re looking for the cheapest sim card in Iceland then you should also look at the Airalo eSims. for 1,365 ISK (10 USD) you get 3GB of data, or for 1,900 ISK you get 5GB of data. This should be enough for most travellers visiting Iceland. So although you get less data than the local sim cards, if you’re a budget traveller you can easily save money with an eSim instead.
A Tourist Sim Card in Iceland costs 2,690 ISK in December 2024, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Iceland will cost between $4.50 USD and $36 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 Iceland which includes 5GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $14 USD.
The three main sim card providers in Iceland are Vodafone, Nova and Siminn.
All three offer surprisingly good coverage and data speeds across Iceland. Of course, go in with your expectations in check – once you leave Reykjavik you can expect to experience intermittent mobile internet the further you travel.
I recommend Nova as it is both the cheapest option and has the best 5G network, but genuinely all three are really solid choices. If you’re looking for the most convenient option I strongly recommend opting for this eSim by Airalo instead as it works out to be roughly the same price and a lot more convenient.
Vodafone has the third best coverage across Iceland which means you may be better off with one of the other two options. This is not to say it’s bad, it’s actually very good and you probably wouldn’t even notice the difference.
With the alternatives being better and more competitively priced I recommend seeking them out when you arrive in Reykjavik instead.
The price of a Vodafone tourist sim card in Iceland is 3,190 ISK.
The plan offered by Vodafone stores includes 10GB data valid for 1 month.
Nova is my preferred sim card provider in Iceland. Their network is the most extensive for 5G and a close second overall after Siminn.
As it’s so close you are unlikely to notice the difference, but you might feel the difference in price as Nova is typically the cheapest option. As Nova is pretty comparable and the price is cheaper I recommend them as the best choice.
They can typically be purchased easily from 10/11 or Elko when you arrive at the airport.
The price of a Nova tourist sim card in Iceland is 2,690 ISK.
The plan offered by Nova stores offers 20GB data (15GB in EEA) valid for 1 month.
Siminn is both the oldest and largest telecommunications company in Iceland. As a result, they have invested heavily into their infrastructure and offer the best coverage across the country.
Although it’s usually considered to be fairly similar to Nova, if you’re looking for the best sim card possible then I also comfortably recommend opting for a Siminn sim card.
The price of a Siminn tourist sim card in Iceland is 2,900 ISK.
The plan offered by Siminn stores includes 10GB data + 50 minutes valid for 31 days.
Identify the mobile providers in Iceland: Vodafone, Nova and Siminn are your best options in Iceland.
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 Iceland. 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 not legally necessary in Iceland to bring your passport with you in order to purchase a sim card. However, I still recommend bringing it just in case as it can be a major hassle to head into a Vodafone, Nova or Siminn store only to have to come back again later with your passport – trust me, I’ve done this more than once!
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 Vodafone that includes 10GB data for 3,190 ISK.
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay 2,690 ISK 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 Iceland 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 Iceland then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Iceland 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 Vodafone, Nova and Siminn. 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 Iceland 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 Iceland 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 Iceland. The Airalo Iceland 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 $14 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 Iceland without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Iceland is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Iceland 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 Iceland eSim uses the Nova network to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the Nova networknetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Iceland.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Iceland eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $4.50 USD
2GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $7.50 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $10 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $14 USD
10GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $23 USD
20GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $36 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 5GB data plan for $14 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 Iceland eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Iceland eSim uses the Nova/Siminnnetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Iceland
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Iceland 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, known as an embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is integrated into a device like a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike physical SIM cards, it doesn’t need to be physically inserted or removed from the device.
Instead, the eSIM is built into the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This allows users to easily switch between different mobile networks or plans without the hassle of physically changing SIM cards.
eSIM technology offers convenience, flexibility, and user-friendliness, especially for frequent travelers or those who frequently switch between mobile networks or travel internationally. It eliminates the need to buy and insert physical SIM cards, making it more convenient to manage multiple mobile connections on a single device.
To activate an eSIM, users can either scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or manually input the activation details. Once activated, the device can connect to the selected 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.
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