Buying the best SIM card for traveling in Slovenia
As travelers, we know that staying connected during a trip is essential these days. Every time we have friends and family visiting us, the first question we are asked is about what SIM card to buy for traveling through Slovenia. To make this simple for you, we have compiled a full guide with all the prepaid SIM card options available in Slovenia and a full comparison below.
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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.
Comparing the prepaid SIM card options in Slovenia
If you are looking for a local SIM card for traveling in Slovenia, here is a quick comparison of the best options available:
| Company | Best package price | Data coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Bob | €9.99 | 70 GB (8.1 GB in EU) |
| A1 | €6.99 | 20 GB (5.73 GB in EU) |
| Telekom Slovenije | €7.95 | 3 GB |
| Telemach | €6.99 | 20 GB (6 GB in EU) |
| HOT (Hofer Telekom) | €9.99 | 80 GB (5 GB in EU) |
| Izi mobil | €11.90 | 40 GB (10 GB in EU) |
| Airalo (international eSIM) | €20 | 5 GB in EU |
| Nomad (international eSIM) | €14 | 5 GB in Slovenia |
Which one is the best prepaid SIM card in Slovenia?
The best options for SIM cards for traveling in Slovenia are HOT, Telemach, and A1. These three companies offer very comparable services, within a similar price range and good accessibility.
If you need larger data coverage while traveling in Slovenia, HOT may be the best option for you. Besides the MAXI package which costs €9.99 and gives you 80 GB of data, they also offer a more complete option that gives you 150 GB for only €15.99. For people who work online and rely heavily on mobile data while traveling abroad, this is the best option in our opinion.
However, the HOT SIM card is provided by a supermarket chain, which means you won’t get a lot of assistance when purchasing the card. If you would rather buy a SIM card from a mobile operator in Slovenia, we would recommend either A1 or Telemach. Both companies have local stores in every Slovenian city with agents that will be able to provide specialized assistance and help you get set.
What do you need to buy a SIM card in Slovenia?
Unlike in other European countries, you do not need to present an ID or passport document to buy a prepaid SIM card from most Slovenian mobile providers, which is amazing news for international travelers.
Here, you can easily purchase a SIM card in supermarkets, petrol stations, and convenience stores without having to present any residency or ID proof.
However, it is important to mention that some companies will request you to sign up by providing your personal details for using EU data when leaving Slovenia. This is because they need to comply with general EU regulations when providing coverage in other countries. It is nothing too complicated though, HOT for instance will only ask you to fill out your name, email, address, and date of birth.
Where to buy a prepaid SIM card in Slovenia?
You will find Slovenian SIM cards for sale in Ljubljana and every important city around the country. Some companies sell their SIM cards only in proprietary stores, others have them available at petrol stations, convenience shops, and supermarkets. Below we have made a summary of where to buy SIM cards from each Slovenian phone company.
PS: Unfortunately, it is not possible to buy any Slovenian prepaid SIM card at the Ljubljana Airport, but you will have access to free wifi when arriving. This airport is very small and it is not very connected to countries outside of the EU, which is the reason why there isn’t much to offer.
Buying SIM cards in Slovenia
HOT – You can buy HOT SIM cards at any Hofer supermarket.
A1 – A1 SIM cards can only be purchased at A1 stores, but the good news is that they are easily found in every Slovenian city. In Ljubljana, for instance, there is one A1 store right in the city center, on the corner of Prešeren Square.
BOB – You can buy a BOB SIM card at the following establishments: Petrol or OMV gas stations, Big Bang, Post of Slovenia, Trafika tri dva, Kiosk, Mercator, and Interspar.
Telekom Slovenije – SIM cards can be purchased at Telekom stores.
Izi Mobil – Their SIM cards can be found in many private stores, check here their store finder.
Want to avoid the hassle of having to buy a SIM card after arriving in Slovenia? Buy an e-SIM online and have it all set up before your plane lands! We use Airalo for most of our trips, check their options for SIM cards in Slovenia.
What is the best SIM card option for traveling to Slovenia and other European destinations?
Slovenia is usually not the only destination for most travelers who visit the country. If this is also your case, it makes sense to purchase a SIM card that will give you good data coverage not only while traveling through Slovenia but also for the rest of your trip.
As we have shown above, Slovenian SIM card providers offer reduced data coverage for other EU countries. To make sure you will be covered with enough data throughout your trip, we recommend buying an e-SIM that has coverage throughout the EU, such as the options offered by Airalo.
Read also:
Most popular questions about buying a prepaid SIM card in Slovenia
Yes, American phone providers will normally charge roaming fees if you use your mobile data or phone in Slovenia. There are two possible alternatives to avoid the roaming fees:
– Before your trip, you can purchase a data package with coverage in Europe from your American mobile provider. This is often a costly solution, we do not recommend it.
– You can purchase a local Slovenian or European SIM card for the duration of your trip, as described in this blog post.
When compared to international SIM card options, the local Slovenian mobile providers offer very affordable data packages. For this reason, buying a local SIM card once you land in Slovenia may be the best option for staying connected while you explore the country.
Another great benefit of the local companies is that you can buy a Slovenian SIM card in many places around Ljubljana and other cities. Even petrol stations and convenience stores offer such products, which means you can be connected very quickly and easily.
The only situation where we don’t recommend buying a SIM card in Slovenia directly is if you will be traveling throughout Europe and Slovenia is not your first or main country of destination, as mentioned above. In this case, check other European SIM card options.
Yes, both countries are part of the EU so this means you will have no roaming fees when using your Slovenian SIM card in Croatia and vice versa. However, make sure you pay attention to the coverage available for use in the EU. Most Slovenian phone providers will give you reduced data coverage for use in the EU compared to what you get in Slovenia.
If you will be visiting Slovenia and Croatia during one trip, we recommend buying a prepaid SIM card in the country you arrive in. This way, you will be able to stay connected throughout your trip and benefit from EU coverage when going abroad.
Yes, if you have an Orange SIM card with coverage in Europe, it will also work in Slovenia. Make sure the plan you are using allows access throughout Europe, not only in your home country. If you still need to buy your Orange SIM card, you can buy one here!
Staying connected during your trip will only make it easier. In Ljubljana, you will be able to find public wifi connections throughout the city, but when traveling to more remote locations such as Velika Planina or even Lake Bohinj, it will get harder to find networks to connect with for free.
Purchasing a SIM card for traveling in Slovenia becomes even more important if you will be traveling by car because then you can access Maps to guide you around.
If you opt to buy a Slovenian SIM card, it will come with a Slovenian local number, which starts with +386. If you want to keep your original phone number, the best option is to purchase an e-SIM. Check the options available at Airalo, our favorite e-SIM provider, and the one we use for staying connected when we travel abroad.
Other Slovenia travel guides
- What to see in Ljubljana
- Best things to do in Bled
- Driving in Slovenia as a foreigner
- Renting a car in Slovenia
- Exploring the Triglav National Park
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Slovenia, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Slovenia 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.
- Slovenia Map: Check out our custom-made Map with 290+ must-see spots!
- Recommended hiking gear: Check our recommendations on Amazon if you will be hiking in Slovenia!
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!
There is no E-Sim for prepaid SIM card. Meaning if you come from US where the iPhone since 14 are only e-sim, you can’t get a sim card in Slovenia!
Hi, yes, that’s correct. There are only regular SIM cards offered if you are looking for prepaid options in Slovenia. Slovenian operators offer eSims only if you sign up for a plan. That’s why we recommend either Airalo or Nomad if you are looking for an eSim.
Best,
Edo