Portugal eSIM
Mobile data for your trip to Portugal. Install at home, switch it on when you land.
Network: NOS, Vodafone, MEO (5G)
- Hotspot works. As it should.
- QR code in your inbox within minutes of paying.
- Your days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed.
- Data only. Your own number keeps working for calls and texts if you leave it on. Not sure your phone works with eSIM? Check it first
Details
- Coverage
- Portugal. Networks: NOS, Vodafone, MEO (5G). Uses several local networks and switches automatically when one has no coverage.
- Validity
- 3 to 30 days, depending on the plan. The days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Hotspot
- Allowed. Share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner.
- Top-up
- Need more? Top up on the same eSIM.
- How it works
- Buy, install at home on wifi and switch on after landing. Read the guide
How much data do you need?
Set your trip length and how many hours a day you use each type of app. We suggest a plan that fits.
These numbers are estimates. Video quality, app settings and background updates change how much you use.
Travelling in Portugal: the quick facts
Portugal is the hills and trams of Lisbon, the palaces of Sintra and the cliffs and beaches of the Algarve. Below you find what helps to know before you land, and how our Portugal eSIM with hotspot keeps you and your laptop online in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and on Madeira and the Azores.
- CurrencyEuro (EUR, €)
- PlugsType C and F, 230 V, as in Germany and FranceSame as most of Europe
- LanguagePortuguese, English widely spoken in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve
- Emergency112 for police, ambulance and fire
- Taxi appsUber, Bolt and metered taxis
- NetworksNOS, Vodafone and MEO (5G where available)
- Time zoneUTC+0, UTC+1 in summer; the Azores are one hour behind
Most visited places in Portugal
Most trips start in Lisbon, with a day trip to Sintra or the coast. Many add Porto, the Algarve or a flight to the Azores.
Alfama, Lisbon
Lisbon's oldest quarter, with steep lanes, the Sé Cathedral and viewpoints over the river. Tram 28 runs through it, so go early to skip the queue. Further west, Belém has Jerónimos Monastery and a walk along the river.
Sintra
Palaces and gardens in green hills, about 40 minutes by train from Lisbon. Book Pena Palace tickets online, especially in summer.
Praia da Ursa
A wild beach below the cliffs near Cabo da Roca, reached by a steep footpath. The waves are strong, so it is better for photos than for swimming.
Ribeira, Porto
Colourful houses along the Douro river, with the port wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia across the water. Porto is about three hours from Lisbon by train.
The Algarve
Golden cliffs, sea caves and beaches on the south coast. Boat trips to the caves leave from Lagos, PortimĂŁo and Benagil.
The Azores
Volcanic islands in the Atlantic, about two hours by plane from Lisbon, with crater lakes, hot springs and whale watching. The weather changes fast, so keep a spare day.
How do we compare?
Cheaper than Airalo and Holafly on every Portugal plan, and hotspot is always included.
| Feature | Best choiceArrivalSIM | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
Hotspot on every planChecked per country before a plan goes online | Yes | Depends on network | Max 1 GB/day |
Cheaper on every plan5 GB for 30 days from €6,49 | Yes | No | No |
Cheaper unlimited weekUnlimited for 7 days from €21,49 | Yes | No | No |
Personal contactHelp from a real person when you need it | Yes | 24/7 chat | 24/7 chat |
Money-back guaranteeFull refund as long as the eSIM is not installed | Within 14 days if not installed | Within 14 days if unused | Within 6 months if unused |
Top up the same eSIMAdd data when you run low | Yes | Yes | Days only |
Fixed GB and unlimitedPick a plan that fits your trip | Yes | Yes | No |
Checked on each provider's own website.
eSIM vs Portugal SIM card
You can also buy a prepaid SIM card from Vodafone, MEO or NOS, at Lisbon Airport or in a shop in town. You need your passport to register it. Here is how it compares with our eSIM.
| Topic | ArrivalSIM eSIM | Local SIM card |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Online, install at home | Operator shop or Lisbon Airport |
| Online when you land | Straight away | After buying and setup |
| Price | Plan price incl. VAT | About €15 to €20 for a tourist SIM |
| Passport | Not needed | Needed |
| Keeps your own SIM | Yes | Comes out (unless dual SIM) |
| Local number for calls | Data only | Calls included |
Staying a month or longer and using a lot of data? Then a local SIM can cost less per GB. For a trip of one or two weeks, the eSIM saves you the shop visit and you are online as soon as you land.
Money in Portugal: euros, cards and ATMs
Portugal uses the euro (EUR, €). Cards and contactless payments work almost everywhere, including on Lisbon's metro and buses.
- Cards and phone payments work in most shops and restaurants. Small cafés, markets and some taxis prefer cash.
- Use bank ATMs with the blue Multibanco (MB) sign. Standalone Euronet machines add high fees.
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your own currency, choose euros.
- In Lisbon you can tap your bank card on the metro, buses and trams. A Navegante card (€0.50) makes rides cheaper and also works on the trains to Sintra and Cascais.
Weather and best time to visit Lisbon and Portugal
Lisbon has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. This pattern is for Lisbon. The Algarve is drier and sunnier, and the Azores can have rain in any month.
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Spring
March to MayMild and green, with fewer crowds. A good time for Lisbon, Sintra and the Azores.
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Summer
June to SeptemberHot and dry, with almost no rain in July and August. Beach season in the Algarve, but the Atlantic stays cool.
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Autumn and winter
October to FebruaryMild but wetter, with November as the wettest month in Lisbon. Fewer tourists and lower hotel prices.
Uber vs Bolt: which taxi app to use in Lisbon
In Lisbon and Porto, Uber and Bolt both work well and are often cheaper than a regular taxi. Prices change with demand, so install both and compare for each ride.
Uber
Works in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve. You see the price before you book and pay by card in the app.
Bolt
Works the same way as Uber and is sometimes a little cheaper. Available in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve.
Taxis
Licensed taxis in Lisbon are black with a green roof, or beige. They use a meter, and you find them at taxi ranks or hail them on the street.
Uber and Bolt at Lisbon Airport
Drivers do not pick up at the arrivals kerb. Follow the signs to the pick-up point in the P2 car park, and the app shows you the way. Install the apps at home, because sign-up sends a code to your own number.
Internet rules in Portugal: EU roaming, SIM registration and VPN
Already have EU roaming?
With a phone plan from an EU country, you use your own bundle in Portugal at no extra cost. An eSIM still helps when your bundle at home is small, when you stay for a long time, or when you use a lot of data, for example for remote work. EU roaming is meant for travel: if you spend more time abroad than at home, your provider may add a surcharge, and some plans set a lower data limit abroad.
Roaming from outside the EU
Phone plans from the UK, the US, Australia and many other countries outside the EU often charge a daily fee for using your phone in Portugal. Check your provider's roaming rates before you travel. With our eSIM you pay one price for the whole trip.
SIM registration and VPN
A local prepaid SIM card is registered with your passport. Our eSIM needs no passport. Popular apps and websites work normally in Portugal, and you can use a VPN if you want one.
Source: Your Europe on roaming in the EU. Rules change, so check your own provider's roaming terms before you travel.
Internet in Lisbon for tourists: coverage and hotspot
With our eSIM you have mobile data in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and across Portugal, including Madeira and the Azores. It uses NOS, Vodafone and MEO, with 5G where available. Coverage is best in cities and along the coast. In the mountains, in national parks and on the smaller islands, expect gaps.
Using hotspot in Portugal
- Install the eSIM at home on wifi before departure and leave the line off.
- After landing in Lisbon, Porto or Faro, switch it on, set it for mobile data and turn on data roaming.
- Turn on Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Hotspot and tethering (Android). Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Step by step: iPhone install guide, Android install guide. Need more data later? Top up the same eSIM.
A note from our founder
Portugal is, in my opinion, one of the best countries in Europe. It has wonderful nature, delicious pastéis de nata (called pastéis de Belém at the famous bakery in Belém) and one of my favourite capital cities. I have personally been to Lisbon twice, to the Algarve and to the Azores. The nature amazes me every time, and Praia da Ursa is one of my favourite beaches in the world. It's a place where you want to be connected, as you simply want to share the beauty that you see around you. I'd love to connect you with the world, and I hope you have the best time in Portugal. Safe travels.
Peter, founder of ArrivalSIM
Portugal eSIM FAQ
Do I need an eSIM in Portugal if I have EU roaming?
For a short holiday, often not. With a phone plan from an EU country you use your own bundle at no extra cost. An eSIM helps when your bundle is small, when you stay for months, or when you use a lot of data or hotspot for work.
Should I buy and install the eSIM before I travel to Portugal?
That is the easiest way. Install it at home on wifi and switch it on after landing. Installing in Portugal also works, as long as you have wifi to download it.
Does the eSIM work in Madeira and the Azores?
Yes. The islands are part of Portugal and use the same networks. Coverage is good in towns, but expect gaps in the mountains and on remote parts of the coast.
Does hotspot work with the Portugal eSIM?
Yes. Hotspot is included on every plan, so you can share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner. Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
When do my days start?
When the eSIM first connects in Portugal. Installing at home does not start your plan.
Which plan fits two weeks in Portugal?
Light use, such as maps, messaging and some social media: the 10 or 20 GB plan. Streaming or laptop work: the 15-day unlimited plan. The data calculator above helps you choose.
Is ArrivalSIM cheaper than Airalo in Portugal?
Yes. When we compared prices on their own websites, every Portugal plan of ours cost less than the same plan at Airalo or Holafly, from 1 GB to 50 GB and unlimited. Holafly only sells unlimited plans, priced per day.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, you get a full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed. Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.
Ready for Portugal?
Plans from €2,99 including VAT
Pick your plan, install it at home before you fly and you are online when you land. Travelling on? We cover 190+ countries.
Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.