Comments on: Buying a SIM Card or eSIM for Travel in Austria https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-austria/ Tech gear, gadgets, reviews, and advice Tue, 06 May 2025 02:34:09 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 By: Katariina https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-austria/#comment-739627 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=24006#comment-739627 I wouldn’t recommend A1 at all. I went to an A1 shop, asked for a prepaid SIM card, the girl there was quite rude. I struggled the whole evening because the SIM wasn’t working, and in the morning their customer service said that it was data only. Watch out for this! An A1 welcoming package, which I have, claims to have minutes and data, but apparently not. I would still imagine that a lot of “old” people like me want to call and maybe text as well, not just data.

]]> By: Ken https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-austria/#comment-684721 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=24006#comment-684721 Best and easiest SIM card option if you’re a moderate user: Before you go to Austria, download and install the HOT app on your phone. When in Austria, go to any Hofer grocery store (they’re all over the place) and near the checkout stand, pick up a HOT SIM card package, it costs 2 EUR. Stick the SIM card in your phone (it’s a combo mini-micro-nano unit). Start the HOT app and follow the English instructions for registering and topping up. The basic package is a pay-as-you-go deal that will run you around 10 EUR a month for moderate use and includes minutes, text and data. Their support person said it’s good to use in EU, just turn data roaming on. If you’ll be making long distance calls outside Austria, download the separate Amiga app which lets you dial overseas and charges your credit card only for calls made (very cheap to use). I live in Vienna and use the HOT/Amiga combo, no need for anything else.

]]> By: Stewart https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-austria/#comment-681882 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=24006#comment-681882 In reply to Ivana.

Thank you! I just bought this. Great solution for travel around Austira and Europe since the allowance for EU data is higher than my experience with other SIM cards I’ve bought from Spain and Poland. There is also an app where you can easily add more funds for the SIM Card too. There is even an unlimited data option for 19.90 Euros but for Austria only. But still, amazing offer if you stay in Austria.

]]> By: Dave Dean https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-austria/#comment-679705 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=24006#comment-679705 In reply to David Detty.

Yes, at additional cost.

]]> By: David Detty https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-austria/#comment-679704 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=24006#comment-679704 Are you able to send and receive calls between USA and Austria with these sim cards?

]]> By: Ivana https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-austria/#comment-677458 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=24006#comment-677458 There’s another option that you haven’t mentioned.
It’s Hofer Telekom or HoT (Hofer is the Austrian name for the ALDI supermarkets).
You can easily buy the sim card at any Hofer supermarket for 12 euros, of which 2 is for the sim card and the rest is credit you can use on a package or just spend on calls and texts. To activate it follow the instructions on the package and/or the website.
( https://www.hot.at/hot-info-english.html )
I visit Austria at least twice a year and have used a HoT sim since 2017.
The packages are only getting better. The cheapest one offers 8GB (of which 3.7GB can be used in EU roaming) and 1000 minutes and texts (also usable in EU) for 30 days for 9.9 euros.
My sister has been living in Austria since 2013 and was using T-Mobile before, but has since last year switched to HoT.

]]> By: Dave Dean https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-austria/#comment-677054 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=24006#comment-677054 In reply to Richard Beattie.

Yep, any package that includes EU roaming will cover all of the countries in the EU, including France.

I can’t speak from personal experience as to the existence of the Drei (3) shop you mention, I’m afraid, or which prepaid packages are available there. That said, I’d be surprised if any outlet outside the airport didn’t offer all of the available options.

If you’re referring to the physical size of the SIM card when you say “full range of SIM cards”, these days you’ll typically find most companies sell the cards as a 3-in-1 option with cutouts for the different sizes.

]]> By: Richard Beattie https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-austria/#comment-677052 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=24006#comment-677052 A very helpful article. I will be visiting Austria (Salzburg followed by Vienna) from Canada from April 24 to April 30 then traveling to France for 2 weeks. I understand from your article that Drei is the only provider that offers service outside Austria. I assume that would include France. Also, Drei says they have a shop near the railway station in Salzburg. Is this your understanding and if so, would it likely have a full range of SIM cards available? Thank you for your assistance.

]]> By: Dave Dean https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-austria/#comment-676786 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=24006#comment-676786 In reply to Anjali M.

Provider recommendations are in the article, along with details of several of the available packages, and a link to the company website to view other packages. The “Small” package would probably meet your needs as long as you don’t get carried away with your web browsing, but other than that, there’s nothing else I can really add that’s not already covered.

]]> By: Anjali M https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-austria/#comment-676785 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=24006#comment-676785 Hi there, my husband and I will be visiting Vienna in June and will be there for one week. We will require a local sim for a few local calls, but mainly for google maps and internet surfing while sight seeing.

What kind do you you suggest we get and with which provider?

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