Getting Austria SIM Card – Guide for Tourists

Planning to buy an Austria SIM card for your upcoming trip to the beautiful country of Austria. Follow this guide!

I. Should I Buy a New SIM Card for My Austria

• Using your home SIM card with roaming – This can work but can be very expensive, with high data roaming fees charged by your home provider.
• Renting a pocket WiFi hotspot – These rental devices provide a small footprint WiFi network for multiple devices. However, data costs tend to be high, and battery life is limited.
• Buying a local Austria SIM card – Getting a pay-as-you-go SIM with a local Austrian number is affordable and provides excellent coverage. SIMs can be purchased at airports, train stations and shops.

For most travelers, getting a local Austria SIM card is the best option. With an Austria SIM, you’ll have cheap local call rates and fast speeds on the nationwide 4G/LTE networks. Plus you’ll have the convenience of keeping your regular phone number for calls and texting.

II. Austria SIM Card Types – Which One is the Best for Tourists?

When looking to buy a SIM card in Austria, you’ll find two main options:

Physical SIM vs eSIM

• Physical SIM – This is the standard mini, micro or nano SIM card that inserts into your phone.
• eSIM – An embedded digital SIM integrated into the phone. eSIMs are programmable tocontain profile info to connect to mobile networks.

As a tourist, it’s recommended to get an eSIM for your Austria trip, which provide hassle-free international roaming without the headaches of physical SIM swapping.

Data SIM vs Voice/Data SIM

• Data Only SIM – Provides only a data connection for internet access and messaging over apps. Does not have calling capabilities. Ideal for tablets, laptops and secondary travel devices.
• Voice and Data SIM – Provides both phone calling and data connection. This is the most convenient option for everyday use in your primary smartphone.

For most tourists who want to use their regular phone number, having a voice and data SIM in Austria is the way to go. This provides a fully functioning connection for calls, text, apps and internet access. Many tourist SIM packages also come with some included local calling minutes.

III. How Much Data is Enough for a Tourist SIM Card for Austria?

When estimating data needs, here’s a quick guide to how much data common travel activities typically use

For a short trip to Austria of around one week, a data allowance of 2-3GB should be sufficient for most travelers. This will provide the ability to use maps, search things online, share some photos and occasionally stream music or video.

For longer trips of 2-4 weeks, 5-10GB of data is recommended. This gives more headroom for regular video calling, streaming entertainment and using the internet frequently throughout your trip.

IV. How Much Does a Austria SIM Card Cost?

Here are the latest SIM card costs on the top Austria providers:

Austria SIM Card Cost

For a two week Austria trip, the dedicated tourist SIMs provide an excellent value. They include generous data amounts along with local calling and texting. Prices are around €20-30 for a 2 week tourist SIM.

If staying longer, the regular monthly SIMs with a data amount of at least 10-15GB provide similar value pricing. Savvy travelers can also opt for unlimited data plans from providers like Spusu for maximum flexibility.

V. Austria eSIM – Alternative to Physical SIM Cards

For most tourists, getting a regular physical SIM card in Austria is still the simplest and most compatible option. But frequent travelers with newer eSIM compatible devices may appreciate the added convenience of using a digital SIM profile.

Here are some benefits of choosing an Austria eSIM for your trip:

• No need to physically swap SIM cards to activate service
• Remote provisioning – eSIM profile can be set up before trip
• Dual SIM capability – use your regular number and local data SIM
• Improved security – profiles locked to specific devices

Check out GIGAGO for Austria eSIMs you can activate conveniently before your trip.

VI. Where to Buy a Austria SIM Card?

Airport Kiosks and Shops

Once you arrive in Austria, you can conveniently buy SIM cards at airport. Major providers have stores or kiosks located in the arrivals area.

SIM Card Shops in City

All major Austrian cities have dedicated SIM card shops located conveniently in tourist centre and shopping districts. Providers like A1, Magenta and Drei all have numerous city shops.

💡Notes: If you need to purchase in-country, Vienna airport provides the best selection and hours. Check Austria Airports SIM for more details.

VII. How to Use Austria SIM

Using your Austrian SIM card is very straightforward:

• Make sure your phone is unlocked. Most modern phones are unlocked out of the box globally.
• Insert the SIM and power on your phone. For eSIMs, scan the QR code provided to add the plan to your device.
• Follow the prompts to activate the SIM and select a data package if required. You may need to have the in-country dial code +43 dialed to activate.
• Top-up your account as needed by purchasing data add-ons or a new plan. This can be done online or through vouchers purchased at shops.
• If you have a voice and data SIM, you’ll be assigned an Austrian phone number. Make sure to give this number to family so they can contact you.
• When swapping SIMs, power down your phone fully before inserting the new SIM to avoid issues.

For more tips, check out our Austria SIM activation guide. Enjoy seamless connectivity with your Austria SIM!

VIII. Best Mobile Operators for Austria SIM Card

Drei’s affordability, flexibility, coverage and focus on travelers make it an excellent choice for budget-conscious tourists visiting Austria.

Check Top Mobile Operators in Austria for more details

IX. Tips for Saving Data on Austria SIM

To reduce your data usage in Austria:

• Connect to free WiFi whenever available at hotels, cafes and attractions
• Download maps offline on Google Maps to avoid using data when navigating
• Enable data saving mode in your phone settings
• Limit bandwidth heavy activities like video streaming
• Use messaging apps instead of voice calls
• Switch on airplane mode when not actively needing data

Following these tips will help you save data on your Austria SIM. Stick to essential browsing to avoid burning through your data too quickly.

X. FAQs

XI. Conclusion

Equipped with a Austrian SIM, you’ll have unlimited freedom to navigate, share trip photos and stay connected stress-free.

Check out our Austria-eSIM plans and connect immediately on arrival! Have an amazing trip in Austria!