Orange Spain SIM Cards & eSIM for Tourists: How to Get and Activate

Orange is one of the major mobile operators in Spain with excellent nationwide coverage. Their prepaid SIM cards provide fast mobile data at affordable rates. Orange also offers eSIM connectivity for compatible phones.

This detailed guide explains everything you need to know about getting and using an Orange Spain SIM card or eSIM as a tourist.

I. Quick Facts about Orange

Orange Spain is the top mobile provider in the country. As part of the large Orange telecom group in Europe, it was originally called Amena but changed to Orange in 2006 like its parent company.

• Company Name: Orange España Virtual, S.L.U
• Services: Mobile network, fixed broadband, TV
• Subscribers: 15.7 million (Q3 2022)
• Coverage: 99% population coverage with 2G, 4G and 5G
• Stores: 300 Orange stores, presale points at 6000 locations
• Customer Support: 24/7 support by phone and online chat in Spanish and English

II. Why Orange When Traveling Spain – Coverage and Speed

The OpenSignal report in January 2024 has some interesting insights to share about the performance of the Orange network in Spain. Let’s take a look!

1. Orange Coverage in Spain

According to the latest mobile network report, Orange is delivering reliable coverage for users across Spain. Orange tied with Movistar for the award recognizing the highest percentage of time spent connected at 99%, meaning customers can count on staying online almost everywhere.

Additionally, Orange took home the top prize for 5G availability, with its next-gen network reachable for nearly 17% of the time on average. That beats Movistar by over a percentage point 

You can expect good Orange reception even in smaller towns and rural areas. The mobile coverage is excellent throughout mainland Spain as well as the Balearic and Canary islands.

2. Orange Speed

While download speeds are still faster overall with Movistar, Orange posted some improvements. Average download speeds rose around 10% from last time to 38.8 Mbps on all technologies combined. 5G speeds specifically lifted 4.8% to a very respectable 175.5 Mbps. 

So while Movistar may lead in speed for now, it looks like Orange is continuing to enhance connectivity options both near and far for its Spanish subscriber base. All in all, Orange provides customers with solid coverage both indoors and out across the country.

III. What are the Best Connectivity Options of Orange for Travelers to Spain?

When traveling to Spain for an extended period of time, visitors have two main options for cellular connectivity – getting an Orange Spain SIM card, or relying on roaming with their home carrier through Orange roaming. Both have their pros and cons depending on the length and purpose of the trip.

This table breaks down the similarities and differences between Orange Spain SIMs and Orange roaming to allow travelers to weigh the benefits of each approach:

Feature	Orange Spain SIM card	Orange Roaming Service
Cost	Cheaper long-term option as no roaming charges	More expensive as you pay roaming charges
Data limits	Higher data limits as you get a local Spanish plan	Lower data limits as roaming data is more expensive
Speed	Full local speed on Spanish 4G/5G networks	May be slower due to roaming limitations
Coverage	Full coverage within Spain on Orange network	Coverage depends on roaming agreements between Orange and other networks
Calls/texts	Calls and texts within Spain at local rates	Calls and texts abroad at roaming rates which can be high
Setup	Need to purchase SIM card in Spain	Already have SIM from home carrier, no purchase needed
Flexibility	Can manage and change plan easily in Spain	Stuck with home carrier plan while roaming abroad
Pros	Cheaper long stays, full local benefits	Convenient for occasional/short trips abroad
Cons	Need to purchase SIM, set up account	Higher costs from roaming charges for data/calls/texts

In summary, an Orange Spain SIM card provides better value for longer stays in Spain by avoiding roaming charge

IV. Best Orange Spain SIM Cards for Tourists & Cost

Here are the best SIM card options from Orange Spain for tourists along with the pricing:

Plan	Go Fly	Go Run	Go Walk	Holidays Pass 5	Holidays Pass 15
Calls and Texts	Unlimited			50 national and international minutes	100 national and international minutes
Network	4G/LTE
Validity	28 Days			5 Days	15 Days
Data	100GB	50GB	25GB	Unlimited
Charge (€)	€20	€15	€10	€15	€25
Charge (US$)	~22$	~16$	~10.8$	~16$	27.2$
Roaming	Roaming in the EU
Pros	The most complete offer with the largest amount of storable GB for the same price as other plans	A balanced offer in features and price.	The most affordable plan, suitable for light users.	Similar to the above but for an even shorter period and fewer minutes.	A plan with more data for a shorter period of days, designed for holidays.

The Orange Holiday SIM card is designed for tourists with 15 days of validity. For longer stays, you can also get a regular Orange prepaid SIM with monthly plans.

Both options provide generous data, calls and texts at reasonable prices. You can buy the SIMs online or in-store without any contract or commitment.

V. Does Orange Support eSIM in Spain?

In addition to physical SIM cards, Orange also offers eSIM plans for tourists. An eSIM (embedded SIM) allows you to activate mobile data plans directly on eSIM capable phones without needing a physical plastic SIM.

Orange eSIM profiles provide the same number, service plan, and billing experience as physical SIM cards. Users have the ability to store multiple international eSIM profiles from various carriers on devices like the iPhone, and easily switch the active profile wirelessly when traveling abroad. If an eSIM device requires repair services, the profile must first be deleted as eSIMs cannot be reinstalled once removed.

To utilize an eSIM as the main mobile line, Orange customers can visit any retail store location or call customer support to have their existing SIM swapped for an eSIM profile for a one-time fee of 5 euros.

If you’re looking for a different choice using Orange mobile network, gigago.com also provides some fairly convenient eSIM options you could consider

VI. Where to Buy Orange Spain SIM cards and eSIM?

1. Buy a physical Orange Spain SIM Card:

You can find your nearest store location by using the store locator on the Orange Spain website

If you’re looking to get an Orange SIM card in Spain, you’ve got a few good options to choose from.

Visit an Orange store: The most straightforward is to head to your nearest Orange store. You can find store locations easily on the Orange website by entering your city or zip code. The staff at Orange stores are super helpful and will get you set up in no time.

Authorized Retailer: If there’s no Orange store handy, no worries! Lots of other stores sell Orange SIMs too. Places like FNAC, El Corte Inglés tech sections, and some Vodafone stores usually have them in stock. You may also find SIMs at local newsstands or convenience stores.

You can order an Orange SIM card online from the Orange Spain website and have it delivered to your home or business address. Go to: https://www.orange.es/sim-moviles/comprar-sim, select the prepaid SIM card option, add to cart and complete the purchase.

Another option is to purchase an Orange SIM card from one of the numerous vending machines located across Spain. These self-service kiosks are usually found at metro stations, airports such as: Madrid, Barcelona,…and other public places.

2. Buy an Orange eSIM online:

Here are the common steps to buy an Orange eSIM:

• Find an eSIM provider that operates in Spain and offers Orange networks. You can order an eSIM online from GIGAGO before your trip for instant activation upon arrival.
• Sign up for an Orange eSIM plan with gigago.com. Choose a data plan that suits your needs. Some plans offer pay-as-you-go options while others have monthly plans.
• GIGAGO will then generate an Orange eSIM profile containing your plan details and phone number. They will email you the eSIM profile or provide a QR code to scan.
• Activate the eSIM on your phone. Once activated, your Orange eSIM will automatically connect to the network and you can start using your data.

For Spain, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1 GB for 3 days with $3.00 . What is great about Gigago’s Spain eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, varying between $3.00 – $95.90 . 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.

The eSIM setup on your device should only take 2-3 minutes once you have the profile from GIGAGO. If you’re having trouble activating, their support team can help troubleshoot via live chat on WhatsApp available in many languages like English, Spanish, French, etc. for quick resolution.

VII. How to Activate Orange Spain SIM Cards/eSIM?

1. How to Activate Orange SIM Cards

• Make a backup of your contacts before activating your new SIM card. This is recommended in case you need to restore them later.
• Have the following personal information ready for verification:
  • CIF/NIF/Identification document number
  • Document number
  • Last 4 digits of your bank account (for contract customers only)
• Enter the mobile number where you want to activate the SIM card.
• Input the SIM card number, which includes the fields that make up the full number. This is mandatory for activation.

Once activated, you can start using your mobile number and line on the new SIM card immediately. 

2. How to Activate Orange eSIM

To get set up, begin by selecting the Gigago Orange eSIM plan for Spain and simply follow these brief steps:

• Install the eSIM
  • Select the device you will install it on (iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel)
  • Follow the QR code installation process if you have the code, or the manual installation instructions if needed
• Activate the eSIM
  • Open the activation email from Gigago and follow the steps to activate the eSIM
• Set up the eSIM
  • Give the eSIM a name and set it as the default data connection
  • Set roaming permissions to allow connectivity in Spain
• Start using the Orange eSIM for Spain

Once activated and set up, data services will start working automatically

VIII. How to Top Up Orange Spain SIM Cards/eSIM?

You can top up or recharge your Orange Spain SIM card using multiple convenient options:

1. Top up Online through the Orange Website:

• Go to orange.es and click on “Top Up Online”
• Enter the phone number you want to top up
• Enter the amount you want to add (minimum of €5)
• Choose if you want to pay by credit/debit card or Bizum
• Enter your payment details and click “Make Payment”

2. Top up by Phone by Calling 1470:

• When prompted, say “RECARGA”
• Specify the top up amount
• Provide your credit/debit card details including number, expiration date and CVC code

3. Mi Orange App Top up:

• Download Mi Orange app and log in
• Go to “Recargas” (“Top Ups”) section
• Select phone number to top up from dropdown
• Choose top up amount between €5-€300
• Select payment method (cards or Bizum)
• Enter necessary payment details and top up is applied instantly

4. Other Top up Methods

You can top up your Orange prepaid SIM card at various retail stores across Spain. Some of the popular store chains where you can top up include:

• Supermarkets like Alcampo, Carrefour, Día, El Corte Inglés etc.
• Convenience stores like tobacco shops
• Orange stores

Most tourists find online top using international credit/debit card or PayPal to be the most convenient method to recharge their Orange Spain SIM without having to go find a store.

IX. FAQs about Orange Spain SIM Cards

X. Conclusion

Getting an Orange SIM card in Spain is quick, convenient and affordable for tourists. Their prepaid plans provide excellent value with generous data and roaming across Europe.

Through reliable eSIM providers like GIGAGO, you can order Orange Spain eSIM online right before your trip.

With extensive nationwide coverage, fast 4G/5G speeds, and great prepaid deals, Orange SIM cards let you stay connected anywhere in Spain.