URL: https://esimworld.co.uk/sim-card/italy/
Buy: https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-italy/
Source: eSIM World (esimworld.co.uk)
Author: Nadezhda Semenova, entrepreneur, co-founder of the Trippy travel service, https://esimworld.co.uk/author/
Updated: 26 October 2026
Prices: in pounds (GBP) at the rate of 31 Oct; the site shows the rate of the day.

# Best eSIM for Italy from the UK? Check your plan first, then compare

Your own SIM may already be the best eSIM for Italy. Ten of the 15 UK networks include Italy within a fair-use limit that starts at 5GB a month; EE, Vodafone, Three, Sky and VOXI charge £2 to £2.75 a day or sell a pass (checked on 24 October 2026). Our Italy plan is £2.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, data only.

This site is not affiliated with any of the networks mentioned here; we sell eSIMs. [How we compare](https://esimworld.co.uk/how-we-compare/)

Italy was the third most visited country for residents of Great Britain in 2025, with an estimated 5.7 million visits ([ONS Travel trends 2025](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism/articles/traveltrends/2025)). An Italy eSIM from the UK earns its place when your network charges by the day, your cap is smaller than your trip, or you stay for weeks.

[See our Italy eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-italy/)

## Is roaming free in Italy on my UK network?

Yes on ten networks, up to a limit, and no on five. O2 allows 25GB, Lebara 30GB, Lyca Mobile 12GB (35GB on its largest plans) and SMARTY 12GB (checked on 24 October 2026). giffgaff, Talkmobile and Asda Mobile allow 5GB; Talkmobile gives 15GB if you joined before 14 March 2023. A fortnight of maps and photo backups can pass 5GB.

iD Mobile gives your full UK allowance "until further notice", on a promotion; its usual limit is 30GB. Tesco Mobile says "There's no cap/usage limit", and BT puts Italy in Roam Like Home. Including Europe is each network's choice, not a legal duty. Roaming in Italy on UK networks is set out in full on [EU roaming after Brexit](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/europe/).

Five networks charge, and the start date of your plan sets the rate:

| Network | Charge in Italy | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| [EE](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/ee/) | £2.72 a day | plans launched from 7 July 2021 |
| [Vodafone](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/vodafone/) | £2.75 a day | pay monthly from 11 August 2021 without Euro Roam or Global Roam |
| [Three](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/three/) | £2.75 a day | Lite and Lite+, joined or upgraded from 18 December 2025; £2 a day if you joined from 1 October 2021 to 17 December 2025 |
| [Sky Mobile](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/sky-mobile/) | £2 a day | all plans except Diamond VIP |
| [VOXI](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/voxi/) | pass from £2.60 for 1 day | without a pass, your allowances stop abroad |

VOXI's own pages disagree about Italy. Its help page puts Italy in Zone B, where you need a European Roaming Pass. Its charges page lists Italy in the Europe zone and again in Rest of the world Zone 1. We follow the help page: Zone B, pass required.

## Rome city break or two weeks at Lake Garda: the sums

Three days of use in Rome cost £6 to £8.25 at the daily rates (our arithmetic from the networks' published rates). Fifteen days at the lakes cost £30 to £41.25. On VOXI passes the same trips come to £7.40 and £20. Our Italy plan is £2.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, data only: a different product.

Each "day" is one on which you use the phone, not one spent away.

| Network | 3 days of use (Rome) | 15 days of use (lakes) | Pass the network sells |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE (plans from 7 July 2021) | £8.16 | £40.80 | Weekly EU Pass £16.50; 12-days EU Pass £27.50 |
| Vodafone (no Euro Roam) | £8.25 | £41.25 | 8-day pass £16; 15-day pass £21 |
| Three (Lite, from 18 December 2025) | £8.25 | £41.25 | Go Roam in Europe 3 days £5; 14 days £24 |
| Sky Mobile (not Diamond VIP) | £6 | £30 | none; the £2 a day is the pass |
| VOXI | £7.40 (2-day pass £4.80 + 1-day pass £2.60) | £20 (15-day pass) | 8-day pass £15; 15-day pass £20 |
| Our Italy plan, data only | 1 GB over 7 days: £2.99 | 2 GB over 15 days: £3.99; 5 GB over 30 days: £5.99 | no UK number, no calls or texts |

Sources: [EE price guide](https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/mobile/sim-only-price-plans/_ee-pay-monthly-standard-and-non-standard-price-guide-31st_March_2026_1.1.pdf) (24 October 2026), [Vodafone](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/global-roaming) (24 October 2026), [Three](https://www.three.co.uk/support/roaming-and-calling-abroad/roaming-abroad/go-roam) (24 October 2026), [Sky](https://www.sky.com/shop/mobile/roaming) (24 October 2026), [VOXI](https://www.voxi.co.uk/help/roaming-international/does-voxi-have-european-roaming) (24 October 2026).

A network pass keeps your UK number, minutes and texts. Our plan is a data-only eSIM in GB and days plans, and it starts on first connection to a network in Italy. [Roaming or eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming-or-esim/) walks through the decision.

Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast are on the mainland, which our Italy plan covers. At Lakes Maggiore and Como a phone can pick up a Swiss network. Six of the 15 UK networks charge Switzerland outside their Europe zone ([which ones](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/europe/)).

## Are San Marino and Vatican City in my network's zone?

On ten networks both cost the same as a day in Italy; on EE, for example, that is £2.72 a day. Lebara and Lyca Mobile charge extra in both, and Asda Mobile in San Marino (checked on 24 October 2026).

We read each network's own zone list:

| Network | San Marino | Vatican City |
|---|---|---|
| EE, O2, Three, Vodafone, VOXI, Sky Mobile, iD Mobile, Tesco Mobile, SMARTY | same zone as Italy | same zone as Italy |
| BT | Roam Like Home, Zone 1b | Roam Like Home, Zone 1a |
| giffgaff, Talkmobile | same zone as Italy | not named |
| Asda Mobile | Rest of World 1: data £1 a MB (PAYG price book) | same zone as Italy |
| Lebara | Zone 5: add-on, 1GB £4 for 8 days | Zone 5: add-on, 1GB £4 for 8 days |
| Lyca Mobile | Zone 2, charged | Zone 5, charged |

"Not named" is not "excluded", so ask giffgaff or Talkmobile before you rely on it. Our Italy plan's coverage note names neither place, and our Europe plan does not list them; our Global plan lists both.

## How we compared eSIMs for Italy (checked on the date shown)

On 24 October 2026, sellers' 5GB, 30-day Italy plans cost £6.99 to £9.99 on their UK pages; ours is £5.99. Every figure is a data-only plan with exactly the data and days in the row.

We name no seller, and the table is not a ranking.

| Basket | Sellers' range, 24 October 2026 | Our Italy plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1GB, 7 days | £2.99 to £3.50 | £2.99 |
| 3GB, 30 days | £5.23 to £6.99 | £4.99 |
| 5GB, 30 days | £6.99 to £9.99 | £5.99 |
| 10GB, 30 days | £9.99 to £15.99 | £10.99 |
| 20GB, 30 days | £14.99 to £22.49 | £14.99 |

Promotions are left out, and so are prices a UK visitor sees in dollars: that buyer is not quoted pounds. Networks and speeds differ by plan, so the rows are not like for like.

For 4G/5G coverage, read the plan listing. Our Italy plan names Vodafone Italy, WindTre and Iliad and covers the mainland, Sicily, Sardinia, Capri, Ischia and Elba. Our Europe plan lists Iliad and WindTre in Italy, and our Global plan adds TIM (checked on 24 October 2026).

## Italian SIM card or eSIM?

An eSIM is set up at home and switches on when it first connects in Italy. An Italian SIM card is bought in a shop after you land; take your passport. We hold no Italian retailer price list, so we compare nothing on price.

The Italy SIM card vs eSIM choice turns on your phone: an eSIM needs an eSIM-compatible phone that is not locked to your UK network. Install before you travel, on home Wi-Fi, following [the install guide](https://esimworld.co.uk/how-to-install-esim/). A dual SIM phone can keep your UK number for calls and texts with data on the eSIM ([keep your UK number](https://esimworld.co.uk/help/keep-your-uk-number/)).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is roaming free in Italy on my UK network?

Yes on ten of the 15 UK networks, within a fair-use limit that starts at 5GB a month. EE, Vodafone, Three, Sky and VOXI charge £2 to £2.75 a day or sell a pass. Check your plan's start date and limit first.

### Which SIM card is best in Italy?

For a short trip, the one you already have if your network includes Italy. An eSIM suits a phone that can take one and a plan that charges by the day or caps your data. A physical SIM is the only route if your phone cannot take an eSIM.

### How much does a SIM cost in Italy?

We hold no Italian retailer price list. For an eSIM, sellers' 5GB, 30-day plans ranged from £6.99 to £9.99 on 24 October 2026, and ours is £5.99, data only.

*Sources are linked in the text; reviewed by Nadezhda Semenova. For the terms of your own contract, check with your network.*

## Sources

- [GOV.UK: Italy travel advice](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy)
- [ONS: Travel trends 2025](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism/articles/traveltrends/2025)
- [EE: Pay Monthly price guide, 31 March 2026 (PDF)](https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/mobile/sim-only-price-plans/_ee-pay-monthly-standard-and-non-standard-price-guide-31st_March_2026_1.1.pdf)
- [EE: roaming costs](https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/roaming/roaming-costs)
- [O2: EU roaming](https://www.o2.co.uk/eu-roaming)
- [Vodafone: global roaming](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/global-roaming)
- [Three: Go Roam](https://www.three.co.uk/support/roaming-and-calling-abroad/roaming-abroad/go-roam)
- [Sky Mobile: roaming](https://www.sky.com/shop/mobile/roaming)
- [VOXI: European roaming](https://www.voxi.co.uk/help/roaming-international/does-voxi-have-european-roaming)
- [VOXI: charges](https://www.voxi.co.uk/charges)
- [BT: what is Roam Like Home](https://www.bt.com/help/mobile/going-abroad/using-bt-mobile-abroad/what-is-roam-like-home-)
- [giffgaff: roaming in the EU](https://help.giffgaff.com/en/articles/229458-everything-you-need-to-know-about-roaming-in-the-eu)
- [Talkmobile: roaming charges](https://talkmobile.co.uk/roam-charges)
- [Asda Mobile: PAYG price book (PDF)](https://mobile.asda.com/pdf/Asda-Mobile-Retail-Price-Book-PAYG-Sept-25.pdf)
- [Lebara: roaming rate finder](https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/roaming/roaming-rate-finder.html)
- [Lyca Mobile: roaming](https://www.lycamobile.co.uk/en/roaming/)