Movistar SIM Cards and eSIM: Detailed Guides for Tourists

Staying connected when going abroad is critical in today’s digital world. Movistar, one of Spain’s largest telecommunications companies, provides dependable alternatives for visitors to the nation via eSIMs and classic SIM cards. Whether you’re seeking convenience, financial savings, or flawless connection, this guide will lead you through the process of selecting and configuring the best choice for your trip.

I. Quick facts about Movistar in Europe

Movistar, founded in 2000 and part of the Telefónica Group, provides superior connection options for both residents and visitors. This is an overview:

• Services:  include mobile plans, internet, television, and smart home solutions delivered by fiber optics, ADSL, and satellite.
• Subscribers: Almost 20 million mobile customers in Spain, with millions more in Europe and Latin America.
• Coverage: Extensive 4G/LTE network in both urban and rural regions, with quick 5G growth.
• Customer support: available in several languages, including English, by phone, chat, and online portals.
• Network Strength: Known for its dependable and high-speed network, which is great for smooth browsing, streaming, and phone conversations.

Movistar Spain SIM cards are a fantastic alternative for tourists because to its extensive coverage, affordable price, and dependable customer service.

II. Movistar coverage and speed in Europe

1. Movistar coverage 

While all carriers are extending 5G, Movistar had the second greatest share of time when users connected to 5G, at 16%, after industry leader Orange at 17%. 5G offers faster speeds for things like streaming.
According to Opensignal: 

• Availability: Movistar has a good total network availability of 98.9%, making it a co-winner for the best network accessibility. Users can anticipate a consistent connection for the bulk of the time, ensuring they stay connected when it counts the most.
• 5G Availability: Movistar’s 5G availability is 15.7%, putting it in second position in the nation. While the 5G network is still developing, this demonstrates substantial progress toward higher speeds and improved services.

Movistar and Orange matched for the best national coverage, with customers connecting to a cellular network 99% of the time on average. This assures consistent connection, whether in big cities or isolated locations.

2. Movistar speed

Movistar is regarded for having some of Spain’s fastest and most consistent internet connections, making it an excellent option for travelers who value smooth access for streaming, browsing, and keeping connected. According to Opensignal’s most recent report, Movistar outperforms in both 4G and 5G network experiences.

• 5G Download Speed: Movistar is the winner in the 5G download speed category, with an average speed of 250.8 Mbps, giving it one of Spain’s fastest alternatives for 5G connection.
• 5G Upload Speeds: With an average upload speed of 28.9 Mbps, Movistar is also the winner. It provides enough capacity for sharing high-quality photographs, videos, and live broadcasts, allowing travelers to effortlessly post material to social networks.
• Download Speed Experience: Movistar tops the group with an excellent average download speed of 46.0 Mbps, achieving the winner in terms of download performance. This enables quick access to material and a smooth surfing experience for consumers.
• Upload Speed Experience: Movistar also leads the pack in upload speed experience, with a good performance of 12.3 Mbps. This makes it excellent for activities that need frequent uploads, such as video calls, file sharing, and live streaming.

Movistar also excels in numerous experience areas, being recognized as the winner in Video Experience, Games Experience, and Consistent Quality by Opensignal. Movistar’s powerful network offers constant connection, whether you’re seeing ancient towns or enjoying Spain’s stunning countryside.

III. Movistar Connectivity options for travelers to the EU

Movistar offers a variety of choices to fulfill travelers’ varying connection demands: 

Option	Description	Pros	Cons
Movistar Prepaid SIM	Physical SIM card with data, calls, and SMS preinstalled.	Flexible and simple to start up, with no contract necessary	A SIM change is necessary, as well as a physical card.
Movistar eSIM	Digital SIM for instant activation.	no need for a physical card; dual SIM compatible.	The device must support eSIM.
Roaming	Use your home SIM card when visiting Spain.	Convenient, with no extra setup.	Non-EU users incur high charges.
Mobile WiFi/Hotspot	A portable hotspot capable of connecting several devices	Connects several devices. Generous data allowances.	Additional gadget is needed.

Each choice has distinct advantages. Choose according to your vacation plan, data requirements, and device compatibility.

IV. Best Movistar SIM card for tourists & costs

Movistar provides a variety of prepaid programs aimed to tourists:

Data Plan	Calls & SMS	Price	Validity
10+30GB*	Unlimited national calls and texts.200 mins international calls	€10 ( ~10,48 USD)	28 Days
15+60GB*	Unlimited national calls and texts.400 mins international calls	€15 ( ~15,73 USD)	28 Days
20+105GB*	Unlimited national calls and texts	€20 ( ~20,97 USD)	28 Days

Movistar is a well-established operator with extensive network coverage. There are several plan choices available, each with its own data and calling limitations. However, it costs more than other suppliers and there is no mention of data speeds once the limit is used up.

V. Does Movistar support eSIM?

Yes, eSIM Movistar, Movistar’s virtual SIM, is currently available. With a Movistar eSIM, there is no need for a physical SIM card since the phone number is activated digitally from the menu of your compatible smartphone.

While eSIM Movistar allows for digital SIM activation without the need for a physical card, there is one significant disadvantage: plans must be canceled in advance before leaving the country, while unused credit on prepaid SIMs just expires with no action required. Tourists might easily forget to cancel.

VI. Where can you buy a Movistar SIM card & eSIM?

1. Where to buy Movistar SIM card for travel

Here are the locations where you may get Movistar SIM card:

Online through official website

Visit the Movistar website and choose the prepaid plan that best suits your needs. They have three options: Prepago Plus, Prepago Premium, and Prepago Total, each with a different data and minute allotment.

Physical stores 

Alternatively, you may buy Movistar sim card at the following locations:

• Movistar Stores: Visit Movistar kiosks at major Spain airports will provide you with the most convenient service. Shop locations and instructions may be found on the Movistar website.
• Retail Stores: At large electronics and telecom retailers like FNAC, El Corte Inglés, and MediaMarkt, you can get Movistar prepaid SIM cards.
• Tobacco Shops/Newspaper Stands:  You may get Movistar SIM cards and other prepaid mobile top-ups at many Spanish tobacconists and newspaper stalls.
• Larger supermarket stores: Prepaid Movistar SIM cards are also sold at larger supermarkets like Alcampo, Mercadona, and Carrefour.

2. Where to buy Movistar eSIM

Buying a Movistar Spain eSIM in Spain is quick and convenient, with a variety of trustworthy choices to fit your needs:

• Movistar Official Website or Retail Stores: Visit Movistar’s official website or one of their retail locations in Spain to explore and buy eSIM plans. This ensures genuine items and access to specialized customer service.
• Authorized eSIM Providers: Movistar works with certain providers to provide authentic eSIM services, giving you more alternatives for buying with trust. such as Europe-eSIM, offers eSIM data plans for Spain beginning at $3. Plans ranging from 1 day to 30 days may be bought straight from website and activated online before your travel. 

Experience Spain without connectivity worries with Movistar network eSIM! Starting at just $3.00, enjoy reliable 4G/LTE/5G coverage across Spain’s stunning landscapes. Choose from flexible plans ranging from daily data packages (500MB to 3GB), fixed data bundles (1GB to 70GB), or unlimited data with 1GB daily high-speed allowance.

Whether you’re exploring Barcelona’s architecture or Madrid’s vibrant streets, stay connected for 3 to 30 days with instant digital activation. ¡Vamos!

VII. How to use Movistar SIM card and eSIM

1. How to install and activate a Movistar SIM card

• Install and activate the Movistar SIM card.
• Insert the SIM card into the device.
• Restarting your phone will automatically configure the network.
• If necessary, contact customer care for manual activation.

2. How to install and activate esim Movistar

• Navigate to your phone’s settings and choose Add Cellular Plan or something similar.
• Scan the QR code supplied by Movistar.
• To finish the activation process, follow the steps in screen in that time.

IX. Movistar Call & SMS rates in EU

Call:

• Domestic calls to fixed and mobile phones in Spain cost 6 cents per minute. Connection fee: 30 cents.
• International calls: Made at the same plan prices as domestic calls in Spain.

SMS:

• Local SMS to any network or international costs $0.06 VAT included
• Local and international SMS for postpaid subscribers on the Family & Favorites plan costs $0.05VAT included

X. How to top-up your Movistar SIM card

• Online: Use a debit or credit card to recharge your Movistar account using the app or website.
• Vouchers: Purchase top-up cards from retail stores.
• ATMs: You may recharge straight from compatible ATMs across Spain.

XI. How to check your SIM card Movistar account usage and balance

Via Phone Call:

• Call 2266 immediately from your Movistar line.
• Follow the automated instructions and press 2 on your keypad when asked to choose the balance check option.
• You will quickly get information about your current balance.

Each balance query using this method costs 18.15 cents, including VAT.

Automatic Balance Notification Service:

• Subscribe to Movistar’s Automatic Balance Notification service to get balance changes automatically.
• After each paid call, a text message will be delivered to your phone with your current amount and validity period.

The membership only 0.75 cents every four weeks and ensures that you are always updated with no extra effort.

Through the Movistar app:

• Download and install the Movistar app from the App Store or Google Play.
• Log in to your account using your Movistar credentials.
• Go to the “Account Balance” area to see your current balance and other account information.

Checking your balance via the app is free, as long as you have an active internet connection.

XII. FAQs

XIII. Final words

Movistar provides flexible, dependable, and cheap connection options for visitors. Whether you choose a Movistar SIM card Spain or an eSIM, the supplier offers consistent connectivity during your vacation. Choose the perfect package for your requirements and enjoy worry-free trips!