Movistar is one of the top mobile network operators in Spain, providing reliable connectivity and fast speeds across the country. As a traveler visiting Spain, getting a Movistar Spain SIM card or eSIM is a great way to stay connected on-the-go without paying expensive roaming charges.
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Founded in 2000, Telefónica Móviles España, S.A.U., known commercially as Movistar, is the leading mobile network operator in Spain. It is a subsidiary of Telefónica, the largest telecommunications company in Spain and one of the largest in the world.
Movistar provides a wide range of mobile and landline telecommunications services in Spain, including mobile voice and data, broadband internet, TV, and other value-added services.
With over 17 million mobile subscribers, Movistar has an extensive retail network of over 600 Movistar stores and 1500 dedicated centres across Spain. They also have thousands of partner agent stores like Amena, Kphone, The Phone House, Worten, and others where you can buy Movistar SIM cards.
Their customer care service is available 24/7 and supports multiple languages including English, Spanish, Catalan, and Basque. You can reach them via phone, email, chat, or social media.
Movistar tied with Orange for the highest nationwide coverage, with users able to connect to a cellular network 99% of the time on average. This ensures reliable connectivity whether in major cities or remote areas.
While all carriers are expanding 5G, Movistar had the second highest proportion of time when users connect to 5G – 16% compared to industry leader Orange’s 17%. 5G delivers faster speeds for activities like streaming.
So you can depend on Movistar’s reliable coverage almost everywhere you travel to in mainland Spain as well as the Balearic and Canary Islands.
Speed tests show Movistar flies above the rest. Download speeds average around 251Mbps on 5G – way faster than rivals. You won’t be twiddling your thumbs waiting for photos to upload from your vacation.
Netflix and YouTube will be super smooth with Movistar in charge. It tops the ratings for video streaming quality on both regular networks and 5G. You can binge watch Spanish shows without any glitches.
Gamers will love Movistar’s low lag too. It leads in multiplayer mobile gaming on both types of connections. Your online battles will be lag-free wherever you play.
With Movistar’s reliability, most of the time your calls, texts and social media will work without issues anywhere in Spain. You’ll stay connected to your vacation memories and pics easily with Movistar powering your trips.
Movistar eSIM is Movistar’s virtual SIM that is now available. With an eSIM you don’t need a physical SIM card, as activation of the phone number is done digitally directly from the menu of a compatible smartphone.
To request activation of the Movistar eSIM and contract your services, you must do it directly at Movistar stores where they can help you configure it on your compatible phone simply.
While Movistar eSIM provides a digital SIM activation without a physical card, it has a significant drawback: Plans must be canceled proactively before leaving the country, whereas unused credit simply expires on prepaid SIMs with no action needed. It’s easy for tourists to forget canceling.
If you insist on using an eSIM option while traveling in Spain, it may be best to consider this more flexible short-term eSIM alternative that will be mentioned below.
Here are some of the best Movistar Spain SIM cards suitable for tourists visiting Spain:
| Plan | Prepago Plus | Prepago Premium | Prepago Total |
| Calls and Texts | Unlimited national calls and texts.200 mins international calls | Unlimited national calls and texts.400 mins international calls | Unlimited national calls and texts |
| Network | Maximum 5G+ | ||
| Validity | 28 Days | ||
| Data | 10+30GB* | 15+60GB* | 20+105GB* |
| Charge (€) | €10 | €15 | €20 |
| Charge (US$) | ~$10.9 | ~$16.3 | ~$21.7 |
| Roaming | Calls and 10GB data in EU | Calls and 14GB data in EU | Calls and 19GB data in EU |
| Pros | Movistar is a well-established operator with a wide network coverageVarious plan options with different data and calling allowances to choose from. Pay as you go plans availableData roll over between plans if not used | ||
| Cons | More expensive than other providersNo mention of data speeds after allowance is used up | ||
Please note that this option requires an existing Spanish phone number to receive an SMS confirmation, which may not be available to new visitors to Spain.
Alternatively, you can also purchase Movistar prepaid SIM cards/eSIM from the following locations:
As an eSIM, it avoids the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards when traveling. Gigago provides eSIM data plans for Spain starting from €3, offering affordable connectivity on Spain’s major network Orange.
Plans ranging from 1 day to 30 days can be purchased directly from Gigago’s website and activated immediately online before your trip.
For Spain, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1 GB for 3 days with $3.00 . Thus, it does not matter how Internet users you are and how long your trip is in Spain, there is always an option for you with Gigago.
Once in Spain, simply enable data roaming on your eSIM compatible device to start using mobile data. Gigago also provides 24/7 customer support via email, WhatsApp and phone to help with any setup or usage issues.
An eSIM from Gigago is a very convenient option for travelers looking for a temporary data plan in Spain that can be arranged from anywhere before their visit.
Yes, with 98% population coverage in Spain you can expect reliable connectivity wherever you travel including beaches, smaller towns and even remote touristic sites.
Yes, Movistar prepaid SIMs and eSIM allow free roaming across the EU. You get domestic Spain rates for roaming calls, texts and data within EU countries.
Yes, standard tethering is enabled on Movistar SIM cards allowing you to connect other devices through hotspot. But streaming video over hotspot may be restricted.
Prepaid SIMs are not locked, so you can change carriers at any time by simply inserting a different SIM
To conclude, getting a Movistar Spain SIM card is the best option for hassle-free connectivity as a tourist. Their prepaid plans offer great value with generous domestic and EU roaming data.
So empower your Spain trip with reliable mobile data and calls connectivity from Movistar at affordable budget pricing. With the convenience of mobile connectivity, you have greater flexibility to tour even offbeat locations confidently without losing touch.
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