# What you need to travel to Italy: a checklist

> Before you set off for Italy, make sure you have everything. Here is the essential checklist.

Before you set off for Italy, make sure you have everything. Here is the essential checklist.

## Checklist

- Valid passport/ID (Schengen for most of the EU)
- An eSIM-compatible phone + MerrSIM eSIM
- A bank card (little cash needed)
- Flight/hotel bookings on your phone
- Travel insurance (optional but advised)

## Get online at the airport

Install a MerrSIM eSIM for Italy (from €1.99, 10 GB €8.99) before departure and you’re online the moment you land at Rome Fiumicino Airport — no WiFi hunt, no roaming.

[MerrSIM — eSIM Italy](https://merrsim.com/destinations/esim-plans-for-italy)

## Does your phone support eSIM?

Before you buy, check two things. First, the phone must be eSIM-compatible: iPhone XR/XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and many recent Motorola, Huawei and Oppo models. Second, it must be carrier-unlocked. You can verify by dialling *#06# — if an EID number appears, your phone supports eSIM. This saves you any surprises when you arrive in Italy.

## Tips to save data

A few small habits make your gigabytes last in Italy. Download Google Maps offline before you head out, set video quality to “Auto” or 480p, and turn off background app refresh. Use hotel WiFi for big updates and high-resolution photo uploads. With these steps, even a modest plan covers the whole trip, and your hotspot stays free for the moments you really need it.

## Coverage and 5G speed in Italy

The eSIM connects to the main local operators, so you get the same coverage as a local, including 4G/LTE and 5G where available. In the cities and tourist areas of Italy the signal is strong and stable; in very remote villages or mountains it can weaken, as with any operator. Hotspot is included, so you can share the connection with your laptop or a travel companion at no extra cost.

## No registration, no shop queue

Many EU countries require identity verification for local SIM cards, which means a queue, a shop and sometimes even a local address. A travel eSIM skips all of that: it is sold as an international data service, with no passport and no contract. You have it ready before you set off for Italy, so you land and are online immediately — no time wasted at the airport and no risk of surprise roaming bills.

## How much data you really need

For normal use — maps, messaging, social media and the odd video — budget about 300–700 MB a day. A light traveller is fine with 3–5 GB for a week, while anyone doing video calls, streaming or laptop hotspot will want 10–20 GB. In Italy, download offline maps and use hotel WiFi for big downloads; that way a 10 GB plan comfortably lasts two weeks. If you run out, you buy a new plan in the app with no waiting.

## FAQ

### How do I get online as soon as I arrive in Italy?
Activate a MerrSIM eSIM for Italy (from €1.99, 10 GB €8.99) by QR before departure; you connect automatically at the airport.


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Author: Etnik Beqiri  
Published: 2026-05-28  
Source: https://merrsim.com/en/blog/cfare-te-duhet-italy-en