Best Germany SIM Cards for Tourists: Where to Buy + Updated Price 2024

Planning a trip to Germany? Knowing how to stay connected during your trip is essential. Despite there being many options to get online while traveling abroad, getting prepaid Germany SIM cards seems to be fast done.

This guide will help you choose the best way to access mobile internet in Germany and find out where to buy SIM cards for the best value. Moreover, you also learn some valuable insights about SIM cards for Germany travel revealed by experienced travelers that are hardly found anywhere else. See below! 

I. Where to Buy a Tourist SIM Card for Germany?

To buy a prepaid tourist SIM card for Germany, you can choose one of the following ways:

1. Buy physical SIM card for Germany before departure

This way comes with 2 options: Buy in stores and buy online. 

If buying in stores, you need to look up the address of stores selling travel Germany SIM cards. 

Usually, you do not need to present your personal information to register the SIM.

If buying online, you need to choose a travel SIM provider, provide your home address and wait for SIM delivery.

Pros: affordable price, being active with pre-order preparation.

Cons: Need to visit stores (if necessary), require SIM swapping

2. Buy at airports upon arrival

After arrival at Germany airports, you can look for stands or kiosks of major mobile network operators in Germany to buy the SIM card deal.

However, you cannot find Telekom Germany SIM cards at the top 5 international airports (Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, or Munich). 

Pros: get Internet access right upon arrival, English support

Cons: Expensive, less plan options, less data, have to go through SIM registration 

3. Buy in the cities of Germany after arrival

You can buy German SIM cards after arriving in German cities. 

Here are some guidelines for buying SIMs for Germany in big cities:

Germany cities	Places to buy SIM cards for tourists
Berlin	Convenience stores like Mediakt, gas stations,  Official stores of German mobile network operators like O2 stores, Vodafone stores, and Telekom stores.  Stores in shopping centers/malls like Alexia at Alexanderplatz Some popular areas to find stores are Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz, Kurfürstendamm,
Frankfurt	SIM card stores are located throughout the city in areas like Zeil, Konstablerwache, Hauptwache etc. Stores of Telekom, Vodafone, O2 sell SIM cards. Stores are also found in shopping malls like Skyline Plaza.
Munich	Larger mobile phone stores as well as branded stores of Telekom, Vodafone, O2 sell SIM cards in prime locations like Marienplatz, Karlsplatz/Stachus and Kaufingerstraße. Drugstores like DM also stock SIM cards from major providers. Stores in malls and shopping centers in Schwabing and Schlachthofviertel areas
Hamburg	Stores located in Jungfernstieg, Mönckebergstraße, Spitalerstraße sell SIMs from all providers. Stores at shopping centers on Mönckebergstraße at Hauptbahnhof are also reliable options.Drugstores across the city offer SIM card choice.

Pros: cheaper than at airport,  more plan options than at airports

Cons: risk of language differences, have to look for stores, have to undergo SIM registration

II. What Are The Best SIM Cards for Tourists?

The best Germany SIM cards are: Telekom (used to be known as T-Mobile), Vodafone, and O2 (Telefonica)

Below are prepaid packages of each operator:

1. Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile)

• MagentaMobil Prepaid M: 3 GB data (at 5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany + 10€ credit, used in 4 weeks = 9.95€ + additional 9.95€ one-time card price.
• MagentaMobil Prepaid L: 5 GB data (at 5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany + 15€ credit, used in 4 weeks = 14.95€ + additional 14.95€ one-time card price.
• MagentaMobil Prepaid XL: 7 GB data (at 5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany + 20€ credit, used in 4 weeks = 19.95€ + additional 19.95€ one-time card price.

2. O2 Germany

• O2 Prepaid S: 6 GB data (at LTE Max. Speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany, used for 4 weeks = 9.99€
• O2 Prepaid M: 12 GB data (at LTE Max. Speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany, used for 4 weeks = 14.99€
• O2 Prepaid L: 18 GB data (at LTE Max. Speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany, used for 4 weeks = 19.99€

3. Vodafone Germany

• CallYa Allnet Flat S: 3 GB data (at 4G/5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany + 200 minutes or SMS from Germany to the EU, used for 4 weeks = 9.99€

• CallYa Allnet Flat M: 6 GB data (at 4G/5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany + 500 minutes or SMS from Germany to the EU, used for 4 weeks = 14.99€
• CallYa Digital: 15 GB data (at 4G/5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany, used for 4 weeks = 20€

▶ Our recommendation: After comparing prepaid SIM cards for Germany, we can see that Vodafone offers the best prepaid plans up to now. 

III. Do I Need to Buy a SIM Card for Germany Travel?

Yes. You need to buy a SIM card for your Germany travel.

Buying a local prepaid SIM card in Germany provides stable and fast internet access throughout your trip. Germany’s mobile networks cover almost the entire country, including rural areas. By getting a SIM you can easily look up directions, translations, restaurant reviews and more while on the go.

With a SIM card, you will not need to rely on unreliable public WiFi hotspots which Germans prefer to avoid for privacy reasons.

Good to know: It may be surprising that not all cafes or restaurants in Germany have free WiFi. Germans love privacy and they do not use unsecured WiFi much.

Here’s a brief overview of connectivity options for travelers in Germany:

▶ Our recommendation: a Germany SIM provides the best balance of speed, coverage, convenience and value for money during your trip. 

However, as a foreigner, you need to go through registration. If you do not like this, go for eSIM which helps you avoid  registration hassles.

IV. What to Prepare to Buy Prepaid SIM cards in Germany?

You have to prepare some essential documents such as: passport, ID card,….

As mentioned earlier, to buy a prepaid SIM card in Germany, you need to register. If you choose to buy SIM cards at gas stations, you need to carry out the registration online.
It is required to set up a video call through the providers’ website and show your passport. 

▶ Our recommendation: We recommend NOT TO BUY a prepaid SIM card for Germany at any random store due to this hassle. If you want to avoid this registration scheme, consider using eSIM. Just a simple click and you get your eSIM for Germany in your phone almost instantly. 

V. What Types of Germany SIM Cards Are Available For Tourists?

In terms of form, there are basically 2 types of SIM cards for tourists to Germany: physical and digital one.

Look at the comparing table below to understand about each type:

Criteria	Prepaid physical Germany travel SIM card	Prepaid Germany travel eSIM
Features	– Separate physical nano-SIM card – Include data-only and data + calls and texts plans	– Integrated digital SIM profile – Also include data-only and data + calls and texts plans
How it works	Insert nano-SIM card into phone slot	Scan QR code to activate eSIM profile on compatible phone
Where to buy	Online before departure, mobile carrier stores, electronics retailers, some gas stations, airports.	Online from mobile carriers or multi-country eSIM providers
Cost	Usually €10-20 for starter pack	Typically similar or slightly higher costs than physical SIM
Pros	– Wide availability.  – No compatibility issues	– No need to insert a SIM card.  – Convenient to swap between providers and countries easily. – Faster activation. – No need to present passport
Cons	– Need to visit stores and insert a SIM card.  – Risk of losing primary SIM. – Occasional connectivity issues if SIM swapped too often.	– Limited provider and phone compatibility.

From the table above, it can be seen that eSIMs offer greater convenience if your phone is compatible, while physical SIMs provide hassle-free usage but require an extra step of inserting the nano-SIM card.

▶ Our recommendations:

• If your phone is not compatible with eSIM and you do not need to make analog calls and texts, choose physical Germany data-only SIM cards.
• If your phone supports eSIM, choose data-only eSIM plans for Germany. You can still stay in touch with other people through applications like WhatsApp, Viber, etc. 

VI. Germany eSIM – Alternative to Physical SIM Cards to Get Internet in Germany

These days, eSIM technology is becoming more and more popular. As a result, mobile carriers all over the world had to quickly adopt eSIM support.

But if you purchase an eSIM from any of these mobile operators, you must comply with Germany’s SIM card registration regulations. So it is better to buy eSIM from an eSIM provider like Gigago. 

Gigago offers multiple data plan options for Germany, starting from a 3-day plan with 300MB per day for $5 as their most minimal plan. They also have 5-day, 7-day, 10-day, 14-day, 15-day, 20-day, 25-day, 28-day, and 30-day plans ranging from 1GB to 50GB of data, with prices from $5 up to $136.90.

The data speeds up to 4G/LTE/5G speeds depending on network coverage. You can refer Gigago’s Germany eSIM for more details.

VII. How long does a tourist SIM card last in Germany?

The duration of a tourist SIM card in Indonesia varies depending on the provider and the package you choose. Typically, tourist SIM cards are designed to last for short-term visits and may offer validity periods such as:

• 7 days
• 14 days
• 30 days

For example, Vodafone Germany offers several popular data packages that are widely loved and frequently used, such as the following:

Some providers might offer flexible options or extensions if you need additional time. It’s always a good idea to check the specifics with the provider when purchasing the SIM card to ensure it matches the length of your stay.

VIII. How to Use Germany Prepaid SIM Cards and eSIM

1. Using prepaid Germany tourist SIM Cards

Here are quick steps for using a Germany tourist SIM card:

• Choose a prepaid SIM card from Telekom, O2, or Vodafone.
• Insert the SIM into your unlocked phone after removing your current SIM.
• Turn on your phone to connect to the mobile network.
• SIM cards come with instructions in English or German.
• Save customer service numbers in case of issues during travel.

2. Setting up and activating Germany eSIM 

• Check if your phone is unlocked and eSIM-equipped
• Choose an eSIM provider like Gigago
• Purchase an eSIM plan online,
• Receive a confirmation email that includes QR code
• Scan the QR code or important details to activate your eSIM

IX. FAQs

X. Conclusion

Travel SIM cards play an important role in helping tourists stay connected conveniently while visiting Germany. By purchasing an affordable prepaid local SIM for Germany, tourists can enjoy reliable cellular data and call/text services via Germany’s robust mobile networks. For those with eSIM-supported device, using eSIM is the best alternative.