Iceland SIM Card for Tourists: Plans, Prices & Where to Buy

Síminn and Nova have straightforward prepaid starter packs for visitors who want a physical SIM. Síminn is a useful starting point if included international calls matter, while Nova offers physical SIMs through its stores and ELKO at Keflavík Airport. Roafly suits visitors who want data on an eSIM-compatible phone without a shop visit.

Before buying anything, look at your existing allowance: eligible EU/EEA mobile plans generally include roaming in Iceland, subject to fair-use limits. If you are also weighing rental-car Wi-Fi or a portable hotspot, our guide to internet options in Iceland covers those alternatives.

Iceland SIM Card Prices: Tourist Options Compared

Compare complete starter packs first. Data refills assume you already have a SIM and number, so their prices are not necessarily what a new visitor pays to get connected.

Prices checked on September 28, 2026, using Síminn’s shop, ELKO’s Nova listing and Sýn’s tariff. These are advertised starter-package prices, not quotes for every retailer or delivery method; prices, terms and availability may change.

The lower Sýn price deserves attention, but its missing validity detail prevents a clean comparison with the two 30-day packs. Establish how long the allowance lasts and the full amount payable before choosing it for your trip.

Local Prepaid SIMs: Síminn, Nova and Sýn

Síminn: useful when you need calls as well as data

The Síminn prepaid starter pack combines mobile data with a modest calling allowance. Its included destinations cover Iceland and a specified list of other countries, making it worth considering if you expect to call accommodation, rental companies or people back home.

Its main terms are:

• 50 calling minutes to the listed destinations and 50 texts.

• Data usable in Iceland and within the EEA.

• Physical-SIM activation when you insert the card into your handset.

• Additional credit or data available through Síminn’s website or app.

Check your intended calling destination against the included list; the international allowance does not cover every country.

Síminn also sells a local eSIM version. That is useful for phones without a SIM tray, but its validity starts on purchase, so buying it well before your holiday can use up part of the package period.

Nova: physical SIMs through airport and city shops

Nova is practical if buying from a local shop fits your arrival plans. Its physical starter pack includes calls and texts, although you should establish the included calling destinations before using it for international calls.

ELKO also advertises a 14-day unlimited-data physical starter pack at 5,995 ISK. Both that pack and its 10 GB pack were marked out of stock online when checked; that does not establish availability at individual Nova or airport stores.

Heavy users can ask about the unlimited option, including any relevant hotspot or usage conditions. Light users should compare the actual trip requirement rather than paying for a larger allowance simply because it is available.

Sýn/Vodafone: distinguish the starter SIM from refills

Sýn’s starter SIM, RISAfrelsi refills and data top-ups are separate purchases. This matters because a refill allowance, validity period or price should not be carried across to the starter pack.

Ask for the new prepaid starter SIM, then establish its expiry date, included call destinations and any extra amount due. Until those details are clear, Síminn’s fully specified starter pack is easier to plan around.

Where to Buy a SIM Card in Iceland

Keflavík Airport

You can buy a Nova physical SIM at ELKO in Keflavík Airport. If you want a SIM before collecting your rental car, ask for the current arrival-store package and have mobile data working before leaving.

Watch the distinction between an airport listing and an arrival purchase: ELKO’s lower duty-free price for the Nova 10 GB pack is attached to departure-store collection. It should not be treated as a confirmed price for someone landing in Iceland.

Reykjavík and other towns

Nova’s visitor information lists these store locations:

• Lágmúli in Reykjavík.

• Kringlan shopping centre.

• Smáralind shopping centre.

• Akureyri.

Nova starter packs are also sold through gas stations and airports. Stock varies by outlet, so an operator store is a sensible choice when you want help with registration or setup.

Buying in town works best if you already have a way to reach your first stop. Save the accommodation address, rental collection details and directions before leaving the airport.

Online purchase

Síminn offers physical SIM ordering and local eSIM purchases online. Keep delivery arrangements separate from the SIM price when ordering a physical card.

With an eSIM, installation and package activation are not always the same event. Follow the terms for the exact product you buy, particularly if you are arranging it several weeks before departure.

Registration, Activation and Top-Ups

Buying a prepaid SIM and registering ownership of its number are separate questions in Iceland. Avoid assuming that every operator requires a resident account—or that every prepaid service has identical registration rules.

Nova explicitly offers unregistered prepaid numbers that are not linked to an Icelandic identification number, known as a kennitala. Registering the number enables use abroad and helps you recover the same number if the SIM is lost. Nova accepts a passport or driving licence for registration in store.

Use this short setup checklist:

1. Bring an unlocked phone. It must also have a physical SIM slot for a physical card, or support eSIM for a digital plan.

2. Establish the package start and expiry. Síminn’s physical starter activates on insertion; its local eSIM activates on purchase.

3. Keep the SIM carrier and number. They are useful when topping up or asking for help.

4. Test the service. Load a webpage with Wi-Fi switched off, and test an included call if calls are part of your reason for buying.

Síminn supports online top-ups by payment card. Its recurring or registered-card products are separate from the starter pack, so select a one-off recharge if that is all you need. The validity of a refill may differ from the original starter allowance.

Local SIM or Roafly eSIM?

Local prepaid service makes sense when you need an Icelandic number, conventional calls and texts, or a physical card for a phone without eSIM support. Roafly is a practical alternative when maps, messaging, bookings and browsing are the main jobs.

Roafly’s standard Iceland packages include 5 GB for $9.90 and 10 GB for $16.90, each valid for 30 days, with Nova and Síminn listed as supported networks. Prices checked on September 28, 2026; prices and terms may change.

You can install an Iceland eSIM before travelling, use hotspot within the purchased allowance and top up if you need more data. The plans are data-only: they do not include an Icelandic phone number, conventional calls or SMS.

The smaller allowance can suit light use alongside accommodation Wi-Fi. More photo uploads, video and hotspot sharing make the larger allowance more useful; trip length alone does not determine consumption.

If you want a wider provider comparison after deciding on eSIM, compare eSIM plans for Iceland in the dedicated guide.

Coverage and Roaming for Your Iceland Trip

Select a network with your route in mind. Reykjavík sightseeing and a journey through remote valleys place different demands on connectivity, and a large data allowance cannot compensate for an area without signal.

Before driving, download offline maps and save accommodation details and tour meeting points. Use mobile data for fresh road and weather information while you have a connection. Our guide to driving in Iceland covers the road and vehicle decisions that go alongside planning your route.

Multiple listed networks should not be read as a promise of uninterrupted coverage or automatic switching. Keep offline information available whichever SIM you choose.

Onward travel adds another purchase question. Síminn’s 10 GB starter includes data use within the EEA, while Nova requires registration for using its prepaid number abroad. Roafly’s Iceland country plan is for Iceland; choose a product covering the next destination if your journey continues elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my existing WhatsApp number?

Yes. You can continue using your existing WhatsApp account over the new mobile-data connection without changing its number to the local SIM number. Keep access to your original number in case WhatsApp asks you to verify the account again.

Can I keep my regular SIM active too?

That depends on your phone’s dual-SIM capabilities. With a compatible device, select the travel SIM for mobile data and retain your regular line for calls or verification messages.

Receiving messages, answering calls and using data on your home line have different roaming terms. Review those charges separately and disable mobile-data switching to the home line if you want to avoid unintended data use.

Our recommendation: Start with Síminn if you want a clearly specified physical starter pack with international calling minutes, or Nova if its buying locations suit your trip. Roafly is the straightforward choice for pre-arranged, data-only connectivity; visitors whose home plan already includes enough Iceland roaming may need no additional SIM.

Roafly publishes this guide and offers the travel eSIM discussed above.