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How to Get Wifi in Italy: A Guide for Tourists
10 May 2024
pocket wifi
Joseph Philipson
When traveling in Italy, you must have a means to connect to the internet. Whether it’s looking for directions in Venice (you’ll need them), booking a restaurant in Rome, or contacting your Airbnb in Milan, it pays to have a fast and stable internet connection.
There are multiple ways to stay connected while you travel through Italy and enjoy the Dolce Vita. Each option has pros and cons.
The Best Ways of Getting WiFi in Italy
When travelers say WiFi, they’re talking about a data connection. This allows you to browse the internet, send messages, and call over services like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Viber, FaceTime, and Telegram.
A data connection can also let you stream videos while relaxing at your accommodation, get directions and view maps, and even back up all your lovely vacation photos to the cloud. Trust us, with beautiful sites like St. Mark’s Square, the Colosseum in Rome, Florence Cathedral, or the colored houses lining the bays in Cinque Terre, you’ll want to get your photos backed up as soon as possible!
Most tourists will choose to rent a pocket WiFi because it’s the best option in terms of price and connectivity, it’s still worth seeing the other options because no two tourists are alike.
So which solution should you use to connect to the internet as you travel through “the boot”?
Pocket WiFi
Pocket WiFi is a small portable device that provides a WiFi hotspot for users to connect their devices to the internet.
The Pocket WiFi device connects to a mobile data connection and then creates a WiFi hotspot to which all compatible devices can connect.
Devices like smartphones, tablets, etc., can all connect to a pocket WiFi device, and many pocket WiFi devices allow up to 10 simultaneous connections.
Pros
Pocket WiFi allows multiple devices to connect at once. All your travel companions can access the internet, which keeps everybody happy.
The device is small, so you won’t have to drain your smartphone battery by tethering other devices.
Cons
Pocket WiFi is a separate device, so you’ll have an extra thing to carry. However, pocket WiFi devices are typically small and no larger than your average smartphone.
Cost
You can enjoy pocket WiFi from Hippocketwifi in Italy from €4.90 per day. This comes with 1GB of data per day in Italy and across the rest of Europe.
You can rent your pocket WiFi in Italy here with Hippocketwifi.
from
3.95€
per day
Your rental must be at least 3 days
From
€For days in with data plan
SIM Cards
A SIM card is a tiny card with a chip. They’ve been used for years in phones and mobile devices to connect to mobile networks. Your SIM card allows you to make calls, receive messages, and browse the internet, and it’s also associated with your phone number.
You can also browse the internet in Italy using an Italian SIM card from local or international operators.
For this solution, you put the new SIM card into your smartphone or tablet and can then start browsing the internet.
Pros
With a dedicated SIM card, you won’t need an extra device. Just put the SIM card into your device and start browsing.
Cons
With a data SIM card for Italy, you may need to remove your everyday SIM card if your device only has one slot. This means you won’t be reachable via your usual phone number.
If you need WiFi throughout Europe, remember that prepaid SIM cards don’t function across several countries.
Cost
SIM cards within Italy range from €8 for 3GB in a week to €25 for 50GB. You can use Europe-wide providers for SIM cards or opt for one of Italy’s more popular domestic mobile carriers, such as TIM, Iliad, Wind, Vodafone, or Three.
You can buy travel SIM cards from:
- Phone stores: Phone retailers and specific network stores, like TIM, Vodafone, Wind, etc.
- Airports: Be careful, as some of these can be very expensive.
- Online: This is typically the best option, as you can compare prices and services before buying.
eSIM
An eSIM card provides the same options as a SIM card, but instead of physically inserting one, eSIM cards are simply set up through the device itself.
Pros
Like a SIM card, an eSIM card doesn’t require an additional device or physical SIM card.
This also means it doesn’t have the disadvantage of replacing your other SIM, as compatible devices will have another eSIM set up for their domestic carrier.
Cons
eSIM cards are only available for more modern devices that support eSIM. Check first that your device is eSIM compatible before buying an eSIM to travel in Italy.
An eSIM isn’t a great option for tourists looking to access the Internet via a laptop, computer, or tablet, either. They’ll need to tether their internet connection from their phone, which is typically slower and will drain their battery.
As pocket WiFi devices tend to have better antennae than cellphones, SIM cards and eSIM cards won’t likely provide as good connections in more rural areas like the Dolomites and the remote yet beautiful areas of Sicily and Calabria.
Cost
Unlimited data eSIM cards for Italy cost around €19 for five days or €27 for a week. Typically, the longer you have your SIM card, the less you’ll pay per day.
Data Roaming International Plan
Your domestic carrier may also provide international data roaming for Italy. You won’t need a new SIM or a pocket WiFI device in this case.
Pros
Data roaming can be set up directly through your domestic carrier and even once you arrive in Italy. When you arrive in Italy, your carrier usually sends you a message telling you how to do so.
Cons
Data roaming is notoriously expensive, even more so if you have yet to contract a data roaming service before you arrive at your destination.
Cost
The exact cost depends on your carrier and the services you have contracted. However, some users have spent thousands on unexpected roaming costs!
Use Free WiFi
You could always travel to Italy without an international data solution and rely on free WiFi hotspots in cafés, public squares, etc.
Pros
The most significant advantage of free WiFi is that you don’t have to pay anything. You also won’t need an extra device like pocket WiFi or an additional SIM card.
Cons
The downside to free WiFi is that the networks may be unsecured or even a scam. You can’t guarantee that public networks are safe, and in popular tourist destinations, scammers have even set up fake networks to steal personal data from unsuspecting tourists.
You can’t guarantee a public WiFi network’s speed or connection quality, which may result in a slow connection, especially if many others are using the same connection simultaneously.
Cost
As the name suggests, free WiFi doesn’t cost anything. However, some “free” networks may limit how long you can use them or even require you to provide an email address or sign up for a mailing list to use them.
How to Choose the Best WiFi Option for Your Italy Trip
How you choose the best WiFi option for a trip to Italy will depend on how you intend to use it. Here are just some of the factors you need to consider.
Rental Duration
Different solutions come with differing associated costs depending on how long you intend to use them.
Solutions become cheaper over more extended periods. Always check the prices for the exact amount of time you’ll be using the service.
You’ll see that the prices initially advertised for pocket WiFi, SIM cards, eSIM cards, and roaming options are the least you’ll pay over more extended visits to Italy. For short trips, your daily fees may be more than quoted.
Connectivity
The connection type and speed will also affect the cost. 4G connections are typically cheaper than the faster (around 100x) 5G connections.
For casual users looking to browse the internet, check messages, or get directions to the Trevi Fountain, 4G network connections will likely be fast enough.
5G connections are recommended for business users or those looking to send larger files or stream high-quality video.
Data Limit
Some solutions have a data limit, while others offer “unlimited” data. Generally, the unlimited options are more expensive and have some caveats or “fair use” policies.
Checking your typical mobile data usage helps determine whether you have enough data. You can do this on your smartphone to give you an idea of how much data you’ll need. Remember that your typical data usage mightn’t be the same while traveling around Italy.
After all, you may use maps more often if you get lost roaming Venice’s tiny streets or through lots of data FaceTiming friends and loved ones from Vatican City!
