SIM Card Guides

How to buy a Switzerland SIM card: Traveler’s guide

Stay online with a Switzerland SIM card on your trip. Explore Switzerland's best prepaid SIM cards, including packages, prices, and digital alternatives.

A local SIM card for Switzerland will help you book restaurant reservations on the fly, find your way through charming villages, and send all those important messages home. But how do you get one?

In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about Switzerland SIM cards — from where they’re sold to how much they cost. We’ll also share an unlimited data travel eSIM alternative that may be a better fit for your trip.

In this article

Where to buy a Switzerland SIM card

You can either:

Get your data SIM card before you travel, via an online store.
Buy your Switzerland SIM card once you arrive at the airport.
Wait until you’ve settled in and buy one locally in Switzerland.

1. Purchase your Switzerland SIM card before you travel

To get started on your Swiss adventure as soon as you land, your best bet is to buy before you fly. Here are a couple of third-party retailers offering to deliver physical SIM cards to the United States:

SimCorner: 12 GB of mobile data Switzerland travel SIM card
travSIM: Prepaid Switzerland SIM card including mobile data, calls, and texts
SimOptions: SIM cards for Switzerland from $24.90
Telestial: “Pure Europe” SIM card covering Switzerland

Top tip: Purchase physical SIM cards for Switzerland well before your trip, since delivery might take 5-10 (or more) business days.

2. Get a Switzerland SIM card at the airport

Purchasing a prepaid SIM card in one of Switzerland’s airports (Zurich Airport or Geneva Airport) means you can get connected shortly after landing. You can easily find SIM card stores like Swisscom and Salt in the airport shopping mall just after you clear customs and collect your baggage.

One downside of this is that you’ll pay a higher price than you would elsewhere, just like with any purchase made in an airport.

3. Get a Switzerland SIM card at convenience stores

Coop, Migros, and various kiosks throughout Switzerland, including city centers, tourist spots, and transportation hubs, sell prepaid Switzerland SIM cards.

You’ll typically find a section dedicated to mobile accessories and SIM cards, often near the checkout area. Here, you can choose from a variety of Swiss SIM card operators.

What you need to get a prepaid SIM card in Switzerland

There are a few key requirements for registering a prepaid SIM card in Switzerland. Here’s what you’ll need:

Valid passport and/or visa
Proof of accommodation/address (hotel confirmation, rental agreement, or local address)
Registration form (filled at the time of SIM registration)
Copy of your passport (retained by the provider you choose)
Unlocked phone (ensure your phone isn’t carrier-locked)
Phone compatibility (both dual SIM and single SIM phones are compatible)
Valid payment method (carry your credit/debit card and cash just in case)

How much does a Swiss SIM card cost?

The cost of a prepaid SIM card starts at $22 for 2 GB and goes up to $45 for 5 GB. The price depends on the plan you choose and how long you’ll use the card.

Most prepaid SIM cards come with a small amount of mobile data, minutes, and texts so you can use your cell phone in Switzerland. If you run out, you’ll need to buy extra packages to use mobile data.

Best SIM card for Switzerland

Here are some Switzerland SIM card options from top mobile internet operators, including Sunrise, Swisscom, and Salt, alongside their plans and pricing.

Sunrise SIM card

Sunrise is one of Switzerland’s leading mobile network providers, known for its extensive coverage and reliable service. Here are their prepaid SIM card plans ideal for both short and long trips:

Budget flat: 30 days of Unlimited data, SMS, and calls for 25 CHF (~$30)
Budget 10: 30 calls, 30 SMS, and 300 MB for 10 CHF per month (~$12)
Budget 15: 60 calls, 60 SMS, and 600 MB for 15 CHF per month (~$18)
Unlimited 7 days: 7 days of unlimited calls, SMS, and data for 19.90 CHF (~$24)
Unlimited 30 days: 30 days of unlimited calls, SMS, and data for 50 CHF (~$61)
Unlimited 90 days: 90 days of unlimited calls, SMS, and data for 120 CHF (~$146)

Swisscom SIM card

Swisscom is one of Switzerland’s premier mobile network providers and offers a special Switzerland SIM card for tourists called Prepaid Flat 7. You get unlimited data, calls, and SMS within Switzerland for 7 days for 20 CHF.

Other plans include:

Prepaid Flat 30: unlimited data, calls, and SMS for 30 days for 65 CHF (~$79)
Prepaid Flat 90: unlimited data, calls, and SMS for 90 days for 150 CHF (~$183)

Salt SIM card

This operator is fairly new but a popular choice among tourists in Switzerland. You can get a prepaid tourist SIM card for free with 10 CHF of credit included. To top up your card, choose one of their tariffs: fixed data packs or day-to-day rates (pay 1.99 CHF per day for unlimited data).

100 MB for 3 CHF (~$4)
500 MB for 9 CHF (~$10)
1 GB for 15 CHF (~$18)

All packs are valid for 30 days.

Skip the sign-ups with Holafly’s eSIM for Switzerland

If you’re overwhelmed with all the choices and lengthy registration processes, consider Holafly’s eSIM for Switzerland. An eSIM is a virtual SIM card embedded in your phone’s hardware.

It doesn’t need a physical card or installation and is as simple as scanning a QR code and activating the eSIM. Holafly’s Switzerland eSIM offers unlimited data roaming and excellent coverage and connectivity (using Sunrise and Salt networks) across Switzerland.

Here’s a quick comparison between Switzerland SIM cards and a Holafly eSIM for Switzerland:

Plan	Validity	Data	Price
Holafly eSIM	Flexible	Unlimited	$74.90
Sunrise	30-day SIM plan	Unlimited	(~$61)
Swisscom	30-day SIM plan	Unlimited	(~$79)
Salt	30 days	1 GB	(~$18)

While Switzerland’s Sunrise SIM card is slightly cheaper than Holafly’s Switzerland eSIM, the latter comes with instant connection as soon as you land and no long registration processes.

It’s fully flexible, meaning you can match your eSIM plan to your vacation and never pay for more than what you need!

Enjoy an easy activation process through a QR code, 24/7 support, and 500 MB of daily hotspot sharing.

Plus, if you opt for an eSIM for Europe, you will get internet in over 40 European destinations — not just Switzerland! It’s an ideal choice if you’re planning a Euro tour.

An alternative for longer journeys, remote workers, and students is Holafly Plans. With 170+ destinations covered in a single, monthly-rolling plan, you can enjoy flexible plans including unlimited data usage and hotspot for only $64.90/month.

Check out our other guides on how to buy and what the best options are for:

Plans that may interest you

Mahnoor Bangush

SEO Content Writer

Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!

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