Staying connected at a glance
- Carriers and shopsTourist SIMs are available from Vodafone, Orange, and Movistar.
- At the airportThe airport lists a Sim Local shop that sells prepaid SIM cards and eSIMs.
- In the cityFree Wi-Fi is offered at the Plaza Mayor tourist information centre, at city information offices and in squares such as Plaza Mayor, Santo Domingo, Callao and Olavide. Parks like El Retiro and Madrid Río have time limits (Madrid tourism site).
Local SIM or eSIM
| eSIM | Local SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | In the app, before you fly | At a carrier shop after arrivals |
| Ready when you land | Yes, if installed before the flight | After you have bought and set it up |
| Phone number | Data only, no number | Depends on the pack, see the carrier page |
| Plans and prices | Shown live below, by data size and days | On the carrier or airport page |
Local SIM details change. Confirm them with the carrier or the airport.
Set it up before you fly
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked: eSIM compatible phones.
- Pick a plan for your destination below.
- Payment is taken once the eSIM is ready.
- Install it at home over Wi-Fi: tap Install in the app or scan the QR code.
- After landing, switch on data roaming for the eSIM line.
- Most plans start when your phone first connects there.
Prefer a daily allowance? 1 GB per day · 7 days for €6.49: full speed up to 1 GB a day, then 512 Kbps until the next day.
Picked like in our shop: the cheapest plan with about 0.7 GB a day. Live prices for Spain.
Questions and answers
Madrid: can tourists buy a local SIM card?
Yes. Visitors can buy a local SIM from Vodafone, Orange, and Movistar. An eSIM set up at home is the alternative if you want data the moment you land.
Can I buy a SIM card at Madrid airport?
Yes. Look for Sim Local at the airport, or skip the search and install an eSIM at home before you fly.
Madrid: tourist SIM or eSIM, which is better?
A tourist SIM suits you if you want a local plan or number. An eSIM suits you if you want data the moment you land, without a counter visit.
Spain: how much data does a week need?
About 5 GB suit a typical week of maps, messages and rides. How much data do I need helps you pick a size.
Does the eSIM come with a phone number?
No. Plans are data only. Keep your own SIM for calls and texts, and use messaging apps over data.
Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue
How we check our data · Prices and plans come live from our catalogue; facts come from official sources, listed where we use them.
Sources: Turismo Madrid: Wi-Fi hotspots · Aena: SimLocal InMotion at Madrid-Barajas · Aena: Wi-Fi at Madrid-Barajas
