eSIM or Roaming: What to Choose for San Marino?
Special Case: San Marino Outside the EU
San Marino is NOT in the EU, so free EU roaming does NOT apply. If you have a European plan, you will be charged international roaming rates (often $0.20-$0.50 per MB). An eSIM is highly recommended to avoid expensive charges.
When an eSIM is Recommended
The San Marino eSIM is recommended for:
- All visitors: San Marino being outside the EU, roaming is expensive
- 1+ day stay: avoid international roaming charges
- Heavy usage: streaming, video calls, hotspot
- Tourism: reliable connectivity for exploring the historic sites
Network Coverage in San Marino
San Marino has excellent 4G/5G coverage (98%) throughout the entire republic thanks to two major carriers:
| Carrier |
Coverage |
5G |
Market Share |
Used by |
| Telecom Italia San Marino |
98% |
Yes |
60% (leader) |
Airalo, GoMoWorld |
| Vodafone San Marino |
97% |
Yes |
40% |
Holafly, Saily |
Coverage by destination
- San Marino City: perfect 4G/5G throughout the capital
- Borgo Maggiore: excellent coverage
- Serravalle: excellent coverage
- Entire republic: excellent coverage everywhere due to small size
How to Install Your San Marino eSIM
- Purchase your plan (QR code received by email in 2 min)
- Install 24-48h before departure from your WiFi
- Activate upon arrival in San Marino (timer starts)
- Keep your home SIM for calls and texts
Compatibility: iPhone XS+, Samsung S20+, Pixel 3+, Xiaomi 12+, OnePlus 8+
Best San Marino eSIM 2026
<BlogSummaryTable
title="Top 5 San Marino eSIM 2026"
countryCode="SM"
countrySlug="san-marino"
plans={[
{
rank: 1,
providerId: "airalo",
data: "5 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$7.65",
highlight: "Global leader + Telecom Italia network",
promoCode: "ESIMP15",
},
{
rank: 2,
providerId: "holafly",
data: "Unlimited",
duration: "15 days",
price: "$47",
highlight: "Unlimited data + hotspot",
},
{
rank: 3,
providerId: "gomoworld",
data: "10 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$6.30",
highlight: "Best value for money",
promoCode: "ESIMP",
},
{
rank: 4,
providerId: "saily",
data: "3 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$5.69",
highlight: "NordVPN included",
promoCode: "ESIMP",
},
{
rank: 5,
providerId: "ubigi",
data: "3 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$8.99",
highlight: "Reliable network",
},
]}
/>
Why these providers?
- Airalo: global leader (8M+ users), Telecom Italia San Marino network (leader 60%), code ESIMP15 (-15%)
- Holafly: unlimited + hotspot, ideal for heavy users and extended stays
- GoMoWorld: Telecom Italia San Marino network, code ESIMP (-10%), best value for money
- Saily: built-in NordVPN to secure public WiFi connections
- Ubigi: reliable network, good alternative
Conclusion
For all visitors to San Marino, an eSIM is highly recommended as San Marino is outside the EU and international roaming costs are expensive ($0.20 to $0.50 per MB).
Best choice: Airalo 5 GB at $7.65 with code ESIMP15 offers excellent coverage on Telecom Italia San Marino's network throughout the republic.
For heavy users: Holafly unlimited eliminates any stress, even for streaming and hotspot.
Small budget: GoMoWorld 10 GB at $6.30 with code ESIMP offers excellent value for money.
San Marino eSIM FAQ
