Lisbon
SIM providers, plans, and activation tips.
You'll find that getting a Portuguese SIM card is essential for accessing local services, such as MB Way, Portugal's most popular mobile payment system. Most newcomers opt for NOS or MEO, with plans like NOS Iris offering 30GB for 14.99/month, although coverage can be patchy in rural areas. Watch out for limited coverage outside Lisbon, particularly with NOS, which may drop signal repeatedly near Setbal. For a hassle-free start, you can buy a NOS SIM at Lisbon Airport arrivals, open daily from early morning until late evening. To get started today, head to the NOS store at Rua do Ouro 36 in Baixa, open from 9am-8pm, Monday to Saturday, to purchase your SIM card and choose a plan that suits your needs.
Ranked by contributor trust level and quality score.
Setúbal · Experience date Mar 18, 2026
Switched to MEO after NOS dropped signal repeatedly near Setúbal. MEO 20GB for €12.99/month. If you travel around Portugal a lot, MEO network is more reliable outside main cities.
Baixa · Experience date Feb 23, 2026
On NOS Iris 30GB for €14.99/month. Coverage is excellent in Lisbon and Porto but patchy in rural Alentejo. Manage via the NOS app. NIF required for monthly contracts.
Baixa · Experience date Apr 2, 2026
City centre NOS store: Rua do Ouro 36, Baixa — open Mon–Sat 9am–8pm. MEO flagship: Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo 40, near Picoas metro. Vodafone PT: Rua Garrett 12, Chiado. El Corte Inglés on Av. António Augusto de Aguiar has all three carriers on the ground floor. All stores have English-speaking staff. Avoid phone shops in tourist areas like Alfama and the Intendente market — they sometimes sell grey-market or unregistered SIMs.
Chiado · Experience date Feb 5, 2026
Lisbon Airport has one terminal (Terminal 1). After clearing customs, you'll find NOS and MEO counters before the main exit — look for the bright carrier branding on the left side of the arrivals hall. Vodafone PT has a smaller kiosk nearby. All three are open until midnight on most days. Buy here rather than in the city — the airport counters have English-speaking staff specifically for tourist SIM setup and won't upsell unnecessary extras.
Mouraria · Experience date Nov 27, 2025
Portugal is an EU member — all Portuguese SIM plans include EU roaming at no extra cost under the EU 'Roam Like at Home' regulation. Your NOS, MEO, or Vodafone PT prepaid SIM works in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and all other EU/EEA countries at the same rates as at home. If you travel frequently within Europe while based in Lisbon, your Portuguese SIM handles it all. Fair Use Policy applies — roaming is capped at roughly equal to your home data allowance.
Mouraria · Experience date Mar 3, 2026
Top up Portuguese SIMs at: any CTT (post office) branch with cash, Continente and Pingo Doce supermarkets at self-checkout (vouchers), via each carrier's app with a foreign Visa/Mastercard, or at carrier stores. NOS and Vodafone PT apps both work with international cards — no Portuguese bank account needed. Continente supermarkets are the most convenient option in residential neighbourhoods away from carrier stores.
Belém · Experience date Apr 10, 2026
A Portuguese +351 number is required to register for key local services: MB Way (Portugal's most popular mobile payment app), Uber Eats Portugal, local bank accounts, and some government portals. A tourist SIM gives you a +351 number immediately. MB Way in particular is essential for splitting bills, paying at markets, and many local transactions — you'll want it within the first week.
Parque das Nações · Experience date Apr 14, 2026
NOS, MEO, and Vodafone PT prepaid SIMs all allow full-speed hotspot tethering. Working remotely from a Lisbon café using your phone hotspot: expect 40–80 Mbps download via NOS or Vodafone PT in central areas. No hidden throttling on tourist or prepaid plans. This makes Portuguese SIMs excellent for digital nomads — the combination of reliable hotspot and free VoIP makes Lisbon extremely workable.