Owais Crawford
If you're travelling to Iceland and want to stay connected, you may want to consider buying a local SIM card. The Keflavik airport has several convenience stores that sell prepaid SIM cards from providers like Síminn, Vodafone, and Nova. These SIM cards offer varying prices and packages for devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers. You can also purchase them at supermarkets, gas stations, kiosks, and drugstores across the country. However, if you're only interested in data services, an eSIM from providers like Nomad or Instabridge might be a more suitable option.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can I buy a SIM card at Iceland airport? | Yes, at Keflavik Airport (Reykjavik Airport) |
| Where in the airport? | Convenience stores, such as the lime green store near Arrivals, 10/11, and Eymundsson bookstore |
| SIM card providers | Síminn, Vodafone, and Nova |
| eSIMs | Not available at the airport; only physical prepaid SIM cards |
| Cost | Varies; e.g. Síminn data-only SIM card for ISK 2,000 with 1GB of data |
| Payment methods | Credit card |
| Other places to buy SIM cards | Gas stations, supermarkets, kiosks, drugstores, and tourist shops |
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What You'll Learn
Sim cards can be purchased at Keflavik airport
If you're travelling to Iceland and want to stay connected, you can purchase a SIM card at Keflavik airport.
There are a few options for buying a SIM card at the airport. Firstly, there is a convenience store within the airport where you can buy a prepaid SIM card. This store is located on the right-hand side as you exit the arrivals door, and it is the only place in the airport where you can buy a physical prepaid SIM card. Here, you can find prepaid SIM cards for tourists from Vodafone, Siminn, and Nova. The store is open 24 hours and accepts credit card payments.
Another option is to purchase a SIM card from the Elko store at the airport, which sells prepaid SIM cards from Siminn and possibly Vodafone. This store is located in the arrivals terminal, and it is important to note that it is in the secure area, so you won't be able to access it once you start the process of going through customs and immigration.
Additionally, you can find SIM cards at the 10/11 store and the Eymundsson bookstore, both located inside the Keflavik airport terminal. These stores offer various plans to suit your needs, and the SIM cards likely come in all three standard sizes: standard, micro, and nano.
It is recommended to get a Siminn SIM card at the airport, as they offer the best coverage, although their prices are the highest. Alternatively, you can purchase a Vodafone SIM card package on your flight to Iceland, which can be ordered ahead of time by providing your flight details. This package typically includes data, unlimited calls within Iceland, and international calling minutes.
By purchasing a SIM card at Keflavik airport, you can ensure that you have a local prepaid option, which can help you save money on roaming charges and take advantage of better deals and tariffs.
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Sim cards are available at convenience stores and gas stations
If you're travelling to Iceland and need to stay connected, you can buy a SIM card at convenience stores and gas stations. In fact, it is recommended that you buy a SIM card at the airport when you arrive, as it can be hard to find mobile phone stores in the city centre.
At Keflavík International Airport, there is a convenience store located near the exit from baggage claim where you can buy a prepaid SIM card. This store is open 24 hours and accepts credit card payments. There is also an Elko store at Reykjavik Airport that sells prepaid SIM cards. These stores sell physical prepaid SIM cards from providers such as Vodafone, Siminn, and Nova.
If you miss the opportunity to buy a SIM card at the airport, you can still purchase one at many gas stations and convenience stores throughout Iceland. These stores often sell the same prepaid SIM cards for tourists as the airport stores. Additionally, tourist shops and retailers with heavy tourist traffic, such as museum gift stores, bookshops, and outdoor stores, may also sell SIM cards.
It's important to note that these stores primarily offer physical prepaid SIM cards, and it may be challenging to find eSIMs at these locations. eSIMs are typically available only in official phone stores of providers like Nova, Vodafone, or Siminn, which are not usually located within airports or convenience stores.
So, if you're looking to stay connected during your time in Iceland, be sure to pick up a SIM card at the airport or at one of the many convenience stores and gas stations available throughout the country.
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Vodafone, Siminn, and Nova are the main providers
If you're travelling to Iceland and want to stay connected, you can purchase a SIM card from one of the country's three main providers: Vodafone, Siminn, and Nova. All three providers offer prepaid SIM cards for tourists, which can be purchased at Keflavik International Airport (also known as Reykjavik Airport).
At the airport, you can find SIM cards at the convenience store located on the right-hand side as you exit the arrivals area. This store sells prepaid SIM cards from all three providers and is open 24 hours, accepting credit card payments. Another option within the airport is the Elko store, which also sells prepaid SIM cards for tourists.
Each provider has its own unique features and benefits. Siminn is considered to have the best network coverage, offering 2G, 3G, and steadily growing 4G operations. Their packages vary in price depending on the deal you choose. Vodafone, Siminn's biggest competitor, offers competitive prices and great packages, including voice and data starter packs. They also have good coverage, sometimes even better than Siminn in certain areas. Nova, considered the unofficial phone service provider of Iceland, has the most extensive network coverage and very affordable prices. Their signal works especially well in the southwestern part of the island, including the capital city of Reykjavik. However, you may experience some connectivity issues in other parts of the country, particularly the north and remote regions.
In addition to the airport, you can also purchase SIM cards from the official stores of Vodafone, Siminn, and Nova, which are located outside the city centre of Reykjavik. Alternatively, you can find their prepaid SIM cards at gas stations and tourist shops throughout Iceland, including museum gift stores, bookshops, and outdoor stores.
It's worth noting that while eSIMs are available in Iceland, they can only be purchased from the official phone stores of the three providers and are not typically available at the airport. Therefore, if you prefer an eSIM, it's advisable to research and purchase one before your trip.
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Siminn is recommended for best coverage
If you're travelling to Iceland and want to stay connected, you can buy a SIM card at Keflavík International Airport, also known as Reykjavik Airport. There is a convenience store within the airport where you can purchase a SIM card, and an Elko store at the airport that also sells them.
The convenience store sells prepaid SIM cards for tourists from Vodafone, Siminn, and Nova. According to one source, when asked which provider had the best network coverage, the store clerk was clear in his answer: Siminn.
Siminn is the oldest telecommunications service provider in Iceland and is one of the largest to this day. They have an ever-expanding 4G network in addition to the largest 3G distribution network in Iceland. There aren't many places in the country where you won't have cell phone coverage, even in the vast wilderness of the central highlands.
You can get a Siminn SIM card delivered to your hotel in Iceland, or you can get an eSIM before your arrival. They offer a range of different payment plans, including prepaid and monthly payments for corporate and private customers.
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eSIMs are a cheaper alternative
You can buy a SIM card at Keflavík International Airport (also known as Reykjavik Airport) in Iceland. There is a convenience store within the airport where you can buy a prepaid SIM card for tourists from Vodafone, Siminn, and Nova. However, the store does not sell eSIMs.
In addition to being a cheaper alternative, eSIMs offer other advantages. They are embedded directly in your handset, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card tray. This frees up space in the phone, potentially allowing for a larger battery or additional features. eSIMs also reduce the number of holes in a handset, providing more protection from moisture and dust. They can even enable smaller handset sizes and are ideal for wearables like smartwatches.
While eSIMs offer many benefits, there are also some potential downsides. Currently, it is not as easy to switch devices with an eSIM as it is with a physical SIM card. If your handset stops working, you can simply remove a physical SIM card and put it in another phone. With an eSIM, you cannot remove the chip and put it in another phone. However, you can store up to five virtual SIM cards on one eSIM, allowing you to quickly switch between different networks.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can buy a SIM card at Keflavik International Airport (also known as Reykjavik Airport). There is a convenience store within the airport where you can buy a SIM card, and there are also stores in the airport that sell Síminn SIM cards (and possibly Vodafone SIM cards, too).
The three main companies that provide mobile phone service in Iceland are Síminn, Vodafone, and Nova, listed in order of both quality and price. Síminn has the best coverage but is the most expensive. Most sources recommend getting a Síminn SIM card at the airport, but you can also buy a Vodafone SIM card on the plane or in the airport.
Yes, you can also buy a SIM card at supermarkets, gas stations, kiosks, drugstores, and tourist shops and retailers with heavy tourist traffic, such as museum gift stores, bookshops, and outdoor stores. You can also buy a SIM card online before you arrive.
Yes, you could get a travel eSIM instead. eSIMs are often cheaper and can be bought before you arrive in Iceland.
