Best prepaid SIM cards in Romania for tourists
Traveling to Romania soon? Then you need to start checking the best SIM card options for your trip to Romania.
The good news is that the local operators offer good options for prepaid SIM cards in Romania. In this guide, we’ve put together the alternatives available so you can compare and decide for yourself which one is the best match.
If you will be traveling to multiple countries, we personally recommend getting an eSIM instead. Continue reading and you will understand why.
RECOMMENDED
Need an eSIM?
If you’re short on time, check the options from our most recommended providers for mobile internet around the world: Airalo and Nomad.
Mobile operators in Romania offering prepaid SIM card options
There are currently 4 mobile operators in Romania but only 3 of them offer prepaid SIM card options that would be suitable for travelers.
The main mobile operators in Romania are:
- Orange
- Telekom Romania
- Vodafone
- Digi (they don’t offer prepaid SIM cards though)
Until last year, there used to be one other strong mobile operator in Romania: Lycamobile. However, they shut down their services in Romania on 31 December 2023.
For the sake of this guide, I will not cover the offers from Digi. Even though they are one of the main companies in Romania, they don’t offer prepaid SIM card options since 1 July 2023. Without this, they are no longer an attractive option for travelers like you and me.
Price comparison: local prepaid SIM cards in Romania
| Mobile provider | Price | Data coverage | EU coverage? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | From 5 EUR | From 5 GB | Yes |
| Telekom Romania | From 2 EUR | From 2 GB | No |
| Vodafone | From 4 EUR | From 75 GB | Yes |
| Airalo (eSIM) | From 4.14 EUR | Packages from 1 GB | Yes |
Orange prepaid SIM card options in Romania
Orange is one of the largest European mobile providers. They are also present in Romania, with one of the best offers of prepaid SIM cards.
Orange has very extensive coverage in Romania, dare I say they are actually the best local provider when it comes to that. For this reason, an Orange SIM card is a great option for traveling through Romania, so you can rest assured you will have a connection on the road.
Here is the price breakdown of their prepaid SIM card offers:
| Price (EUR) | Data coverage* | Data coverage in EEA* | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 150 + 5 GB | 6.46 GB | 28 days |
| 6 | 160 + 6 GB | 7.75 GB | 28 days |
| 8 | 280 + 8 GB | 10.33 GB | 28 days |
| 12 | 300 + 12 GB | 15.49 GB | 21 days |
| 16 | 460 + 16 GB | 20.65 GB | 28 days |
Depending on the time of your trip, you may get additional coverage in the form of an internet bonus. They constantly run different campaigns that give you over 100 GB in bonus data once you activate the prepaid SIM card. At the moment I am writing this post, for example, they are running a campaign that gives you at least 150 GB of bonus internet per plan (as shown above).
Orange prepaid SIM cards are a good option for traveling to Romania. Make sure you check if the plan you are getting has EEA roaming coverage activated if you will be traveling to multiple countries.
For more information about their plans, check out the Orange website.
Telekom Romania prepaid SIM card options
Telekom, the same brand that operates as T-Mobile in the USA, is another option for mobile providers in Romania.
We were told they do not have the best coverage, so when we travel, we try to avoid using them unless this is the most accessible option. I know that sometimes you can’t be on the hunt for a SIM card for long and if this is the only one available, it’s alright.
Here are the prices for the prepaid SIM card plans offered by Telekom Romania:
| Plan | Price (EUR) | Data coverage | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Unlimited Mini | 2 | 2 GB | 7 days |
| N5 | 5 | 5 GB | 28 days |
| Mobile Unlimited | 6 | 6 GB | 30 days |
| Mobile Unlimited 8 | 8 | 8 GB | 35 days |
The prepaid SIM cards from Telekom Romania do not have roaming in the EEA included for internet access. You get free roaming for calls, but not for data coverage.
This means that if you plan to travel to Romania and other countries within the same trip, your SIM card will not work once you leave Romania.
For more information about their prepaid plans, check out their website.
Vodafone prepaid SIM card options in Romania
Vodafone is one of the major mobile operators in Europe and they are also present in Romania.
From these 3 options available, Vodafone is the second-largest mobile operator in Romania. They offer some of the best options of prepaid SIM cards in Romania for those of you who will be traveling to multiple countries.
Here are the prices of their prepaid plans:
| Price (EUR) | Data coverage | Data coverage in EEA | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 117 GB | 5 GB | 7 days |
| 5 | 75 GB | / | 28 days |
| 6 | 150 GB | / | 28 days |
| 15 | Unlimited | 18.95 GB | 21 days |
| 40 | Unlimited | 50.49 GB | 28 days |
As you can see, you can get very good internet coverage for incredibly affordable prices with Vodafone.
Make sure you check the roaming option if you will be traveling outside of Romania since this is included only with certain prepaid plans.
Our recommendation of the best prepaid SIM card in Romania
Now that you have an overview, it is time for us to share our personal recommendations.
Orange is the brand we would recommend using for prepaid SIM cards in Romania. Not only their coverage is the best, but they are also one of the largest brands which means their SIM cards are available everywhere.
It is very easy to find an Orange prepaid SIM card at local shops or even at the airport. I also like that they offer the possibility of roaming in the EEA for certain plans – but you need to read the fine print of the plan before you buy to really check its conditions!
Vodafone would take the second spot on our recommended list. If you will be traveling out of Romania, Vodafone may be the best option. The main reason why I recommend Orange first is the national coverage since the best way to explore Romania is by going on a road trip through the country – and you don’t want to be left out of data at that point.
Best SIM card for traveling to Romania and other countries
If you plan on visiting Romania and other countries within the same trip, the best option is to get a SIM card that will give you coverage within all or multiple destinations.
Changing SIM cards in every new country is a really time-consuming and annoying task.
Since Romania is part of the EU & EEA, they are within the no-roaming zone that is defined by law. Unfortunately for us travelers, many of the prepaid plans do not offer any data coverage available for roaming.
In our experience, the best option for multi-country travel is to get an eSIM instead. Read below our recommendations.
Don’t know what an eSIM is? Check our guide on how eSIMs work
Best eSIM for Romania
Over the past few years of traveling, we have tested multiple eSIM companies during our trips. There are only two brands we can confidently recommend: Airalo and Nomad.
They have very accessible prices, but more importantly, they are the only two companies that have not left us hanging.
We have tested other brands in the past and their product simply didn’t work or had a terrible connection – which is a problem you don’t want to have because it is something you find out only once you are traveling.
While using Airalo and Nomad, we always had a good connection. Everything worked very easily.
You can combine different packages depending on your itinerary. Check their offers:
Where to buy a prepaid SIM card in Romania
You can buy a local SIM card in Romania in multiple places:
- Grocery stores
- Kiosks
- Gas stations
- Electronic shops
- Official stores of the mobile providers
If you don’t want any issues, the best option is to simply go to the official store of the mobile provider once you arrive in Romania. In the store, the agents will be able to help you set everything up.
Can you buy a SIM card at Bucharest Airport in Romania?
Buying a SIM card is possible at the Bucharest Airport in Romania. Look for the Relay store or another convenience store.
The airport currently doesn’t have any official store of mobile providers.
FAQ – Popular questions about buying a prepaid SIM card in Romania
Which mobile network works best in Romania?
Of the companies that offer prepaid SIM card options in Romania, Orange has the best coverage, followed by Vodafone and then Telekom.
However, the difference might not be noticeable if you do not go outside the main cities and centers.
Is it easy to buy a prepaid SIM card in Romania?
Yes, it is very easy. All you have to do is go to one of the local stores, buy the SIM card with the plan, and activate it. You can start using it in only a few minutes.
If I have a SIM card from another EU country, can I use it in Romania?
Since the EU is part of a no-roaming zone, it will depend on the plan you have. Many mobile operators offer data coverage across the EU but prepaid plans are often excluded from that benefit.
For example, we currently live in Slovenia and we can use our SIM card in Romania because our plan has EU data coverage included. So, we don’t need to buy a local SIM card anymore.
Are roaming fees expensive in Romania?
If your mobile plan does not have data coverage available in Romania, you can expect the roaming fees to be quite expensive. I have personally never seen a case where the roaming fees are worth it.
It is better to get a local prepaid SIM card. If you want to avoid the hassle, you can simply buy an eSIM before your trip and get connected as soon as you land! Check Airalo’s prices.
Other SIM card guides
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to the Balkans, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to the Balkan region on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that we get a small commission from any purchase you make, at no additional cost to you!
