Scotland SIM Cards: Everything You Need To Know

Visiting Scotland soon? Make sure to know what to expect when it comes to purchasing a Scotland SIM card.

Fortunately, Europe is one of the best places where you can buy a SIM card easily.

You should be able to find a cheap SIM card pretty much anywhere in Europe. In fact, most data packages are affordable, which makes the whole thing easier!

In this guide, we’ll explain where to buy a SIM card in Scotland in person and online. We’ll also discuss prepaid SIM cards and eSIMs if your mobile supports them.

Before you read this guide, you may wonder if you actually need a SIM card in Scotland.

If you don’t mind not having Internet, you’ll likely find free Wifi in restaurants, shopping malls, and hotels.

That said, if you need data to get around, call a cab, or translate English – you may want to get a SIM card for your travels in Scotland.

Best SIM Cards In Scotland

If you’re traveling in Scotland, we recommend using a SIM card from Three, Vodafone, O2, or Airalo. (I’ll get back to Airalo later on, so keep reading to learn more!)

That said, if you’re planning on visiting other countries during your trip to Europe, you might want to make sure to pick an option that offers coverage in other European countries.

How To Buy A SIM Card In Scotland

You can either buy a Scotland prepaid SIM card in person in some international airports, mobile provider stores, convenience stores, or online.

Usually, you can expect higher costs and low data offers at the airport, so we don’t recommend buying a SIM card at the airport.

That said, you won’t necessarily find SIM card shops in every airport, so it’s essential to keep this in mind. And, when you see a shop, you might also have limited options.

For this reason, I’d recommend buying a SIM card directly from the mobile provider store. Note that you may need your passport to buy one.

Although, this means you won’t get data right upon your arrival. So, if you prefer to be connected at all times, you could use an eSIM or purchase a European prepaid SIM card online.

Now, let’s take a look at the data plans offered by Three, Vodafone, and O2.

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Three SIM Cards

Three offers two different types of prepaid plans:

• 25 GB, valid for 30 days for GBP 15 ($18.49)
• Unlimited data, valid for 30 days for GBP 35 ($43.13)

Vodafone SIM Cards

Vodafone has several different prepaid plans available:

• 7 GB, valid for 30 days for GBP 10 ($12.32)
• 20 GB, valid for 30 days for GBP 15 ($18.49)
• 40 GB, valid for 30 days for GBP 20 ($24.65)
• 100 GB, valid for 30 days for GBP 30 ($36.97)
• Unlimited data, valid for 30 days for GBP 40 ($49.30)

O2 SIM Cards

O2 offers several main SIM-only plans for tourists:

• 7 GB, valid for 30 days for GBP 10 ($12.32)
• 20 GB, valid for 30 days for GBP 15 ($18.49)
• 30 GB, valid for 30 days for GBP 20 ($24.65)
• 100 GB, valid for 30 days for GBP 30 ($36.97)

Overall, we think Vodafone is the best option if you plan to buy your SIM card in person.

That said, any would do if you can’t find their store!

How To Buy A Scotland Prepaid SIM Card Online

If you wish to have your SIM card ready for your arrival, you could purchase it online or on websites like Amazon.

You’ll find different plans on Amazon. For example, the OneSimCard works in more than 200+ countries and gives you data for $0.01 per MB. Scotland is included.

But there are many other options worth considering, so have a look and make sure the countries you plan on visiting are listed.

Browse your options on Amazon

Finally, the last option is to buy an eSIM card for Scotland or, if you’re traveling to multiple countries, an eSIM plan for Europe.

How To Buy An eSIM Card For Scotland

eSIM is a new concept that allows you to have a virtual SIM card inside your phone.

If your mobile phone supports eSIM cards – it’s definitely one of the best options to get data in Scotland.

Curious? Learn more about eSIMs for travelers on eSIM Roamers.

I started using eSIM as soon as my mobile phone supported it. To buy eSIMs, I usually use Airalo, a reliable eSIM provider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best eSIMs for Scotland.

Airalo Scotland

If you want to buy an eSIM for Scotland, you could purchase one on Airalo.

This website offers many eSIM cards worldwide and special plans for Europe and Scotland.

I’ve been using Airalo for several months, and it works fine. Learn more by reading our Airalo review.

Here are the options available:

• Nessietel: 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $4.50
• Nessietel: 2 GB, valid for 15 days for $6.50
• Nessietel: 3 GB, valid for 30 days for $8.50
• Nessietel: 5 GB, valid for 30 days for $11.50
• Nessietel: 10 GB, valid for 30 days for $18
• Nessietel: 20 GB, valid for 30 days for $26

Go to Airalo

Final Thoughts On SIM Cards In Scotland

As you can see, getting a prepaid SIM card in Scotland or even an eSIM for your travels in Scotland is pretty straightforward.

You’ll even be able to stay connected wherever you go in Europe without changing your SIM card, especially if you purchase a Europe or global plan.

I believe the eSIM card is the most convenient way to get data in Scotland if you wish to have data upon your arrival.

This way, you won’t need to go to a store to buy a SIM card.

Obviously, you need to make sure your mobile phone supports eSIM first.

Traveling to Europe soon? Read one of the following blog posts:

• United Kingdom SIM cards
• Ireland SIM cards
• Netherlands SIM cards