How to Get and Activate Sunrise SIM Cards and eSIM: 2024 Guide for Tourists

Looking for a reliable SIM card? Look no further than Sunrise! With a Sunrise SIM cards and eSIM, you’ll stay connected wherever you go. Enjoy great coverage, affordable plans, and the freedom to choose what suits your needs. Stay connected effortlessly with a Sunrise SIM card.

I. Quick Facts about Sunrise

Sunrise is a Swiss telecommunications provider based in Zurich, owned by Liberty Global

• Full name: Sunrise LLC
• Founded Year: 2000
• Service: mobile, TV and landline phone and internet services
• Market share: Sunrise’s market share stood at around 28% (6/2023)
• Awards: The Sunrise mobile network is the only mobile network in Switzerland to have been awarded the highest rating of “OUTSTANDING” 8 times in a row ( The connect mobile-network test )

II. Why Sunrise When Traveling Switzerland – Coverage and Speed

Sunrise offers the excellent mobile broadband-Internet quality

1. Coverage

Sunrise UPC reports a 4G network coverage of 98%. With 3G, the provider can even supply 99% of the Swiss population. Sunrise UPC’s network coverage does not contain any major gaps. According to the Sunrise website, the 5G network is also already available in “1,000 locations” in Switzerland.

2. Speed

Average Download Speed and Upload Speed are 48.5 Mbps and 13.8 Mbps, respectively. Sunrise is improving its speed every day to meet customer needs

With 5G experience, Sunrise provides excellent download speed of 168.6 Mbps in  the second place 

III. What are the Best Connectivity Options of Sunrise for Travelers to Switzerland?

Travelers can choose to connect to Sunrise in Switzerland through the following options below.

1. Buy SIM from Sunrise:

Use a tourist SIM from your local country

Pros: 

• Affordable

• Diverse packages to suit all types of needs

Cons:

• Easy to lose the main SIM when removing it

2. Use pocket wifi to connect to Sunrise:

As a network sharing device, using an inserted SIM card, it can share the network with other devices within a certain distance.

Pros: 

• The phone does not need to be unlocked to receive the Internet

• Easy to use: turn on and use

Cons: 

• Equipment rental/purchase costs are high

• Must go to the place to buy/wait for delivery

• Always carry it with you

• Must charge or use backup charger

3. Roaming to Sunrise:

Use the same SIM that your home country is using to roam and connect to the Swiss network.

Pros: 

• Don’t have to remove the main SIM so you don’t have to worry about losing the main SIM

• Keep the same number when contacting

Cons: 

• Fees are expensive

• Not all network operators  have connection and cooperation contracts with Swiss network operators

IV. Best Sunrise SIM Cards for Tourists & Cost

Sunrise has five data-featured prepaid plans:

Prepaid Budget (combo)

Price	Plan	Data	Local Minutes	Local SMS	Validity	Activation Code	Deactivation Code
10 CHF	Sunrise Prepaid Budget 10	300 MB	30 calls (max. 2 hours/call)	30 SMS	1 month	BUDGET10	BUDGET10 STOP
15 CHF	Sunrise Prepaid Budget 15	600 MB	60 calls (max. 2 hours/call)	60 SMS	1 month	BUDGET15	BUDGET15 STOP

Young Prepaid Start (combo for the youth)

Price	Plan	Data	On-Net Minutes	Local SMS	Validity
15 CHF	Sunrise Young Prepaid Start 1	“Unlimited”, 500 MB 2	Unlimited	Unlimited	1 month

Prepaid Unlimited (combo)

Price	Plan	Data	Local Minutes	Local SMS	Validity	Activation Code	Deactivation Code
19.90 CHF	Sunrise Prepaid Unlimited 7 Days	Unlimited 1	Unlimited	Unlimited	7 days	7DAYS	7 DAYSSTOP
50 CHF	Sunrise Prepaid Unlimited 30 Days	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	30 days	UNLIMITED30	UNLIMITED30STOP
120 CHF	Sunrise Prepaid Unlimited 90 Days	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	90 days	UNLIMITED90	UNLIMITED90STOP

Prepaid Flat (combo)

Price	Plan	Data	On-Net Minutes	On-Net SMS	Validity	Activation Code
20 CHF	Sunrise Prepaid Flat	“Unlimited”, 500 MB 1	Unlimited	Unlimited	1 month	FLATSTART

Prepaid Surf (data)

Price	Plan	Data	Validity	Activation Code	Deactivation Code
7.50 CHF	Prepaid Surf	250 MB	1 month	SURF	SURF STOP
15 CHF	Prepaid Surf XL	1 GB	1 month	SURFXL	SURFXL STOP
30 CHF	Prepaid Surf 3 XL	3 GB	1 month	SURF3XL	SURF3XL STOP
45 CHF	Prepaid Surf 5 XL	5 GB	1 month	SURF5XL	SURF5XL STOP

V. Does Sunrise Support eSIM in Switzerland?

Although Salt Mobile does offer eSIMs, they are currently not available for prepaid customers. 

If you’re planning to travel to Switzerland, it’s worth considering a travel eSIM as they can sometimes be more cost-effective than purchasing a SIM card from Salt Mobile. 

This is especially true if you opt for a Europe-wide eSIM or a global eSIM. 

VI. Where to Buy a Sunrise SIM card and eSIM?

There will be two main ways to get a Sunrise SIM Card when traveling to Switzerland. 

1. Purchasing a SIM card before you travel 

This option can save you time and hassle. Instead of searching for a local store and going through paperwork, you can easily find online stores that offer SIM cards for travelers. They have different plans to suit your needs, and many of them deliver right to your address.

There are benefits to buying a SIM card before you travel. Firstly, you’ll have a reliable connection during your trip, allowing you to navigate and translate. Online providers offer options tailored to different regions and customer preferences, including data, talk time, and even hotspot data.

Buying from a trusted online operator ensures a secure choice, protecting you from potential hacks and avoiding the risks of connecting to unsafe public Wi-Fi networks.

One option is the digital SIM card from Gigago, which doesn’t require physical delivery. Just visit their website, select your destination, and receive a QR code for installation and activation.

For Switzerland, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1 GB for 3 days with $5.00 . What is great about Gigago’s Switzerland eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, varying between $5.00 – $136.90 . 

2. Purchasing a SIM card once you arrive in Switzerland. 

There’s a wide variety available, including subscription plans and prepaid options. Just remember to bring necessary documentation and ensure your cell phone is unlocked for global use.

VII. How to Activate Sunrise SIM/eSIM in Switzerland?

It’s extremely easy to active this SIM Card, just follow basic steps below: 

1. How to Use a Sunrise SIM Card in Switzerland?

You only need to follow these simple steps and everything will be ready.

1. Insert the SIM card: Locate the SIM card slot on your device
2. Power on your device: Turn on your device and wait for it to recognize the SIM card
3. Activate the SIM card
4. Set up APN settings if you can not use the eSIM.
5. Check your services.

2. How to Activate Sunrise eSIM?

Getting started with an Sunrise eSIM for Switzerland is quite easy as follows:

1. Install the eSIM
2. Activate the eSIM
3. Set up the eSIM
4. Start using the eSIM: Once the eSIM is activated and set up, you can start using its services.

VIII. How to Top-up Sunrise SIM/eSIM

To top up your Sunrise mobile SIM card, you can follow these steps:

• Visit the Sunrise top-up page at this URL: Top up prepaid credit | Sunrise .

• On the top-up page, you will see different options to select the amount you want to top up. Choose the desired amount by clicking on it (eg, CHF 10.-, CHF 20.-, etc.).

• After selecting the amount, enter the mobile number associated with your Sunrise SIM card that you want to refill.

• Click on the “Refill” or “Top up” button to proceed.

• If you are already a Sunrise prepaid customer, you can manage your prepaid number by logging into “My Sunrise” for more options and features.

You can also explore other top-up methods, such as using a credit card, visiting a post office, or using an SBB ticket machine. The instructions for these alternative methods are provided on the top-up page.

IX. FAQs about Sunrise in Switzerland