Tourist SIM Card for Israel
The modern tourist SIM for Israel is an eSIM - 350GB of 5G data, an Israeli number and local calls, delivered by QR before you fly. No airport kiosk, no plastic card.
Best for: Tourists who want a prepaid SIM for Israel without the airport kiosk
Coverage: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Eilat, the Dead Sea, the Negev, and major highways
Do tourists need a SIM card in Israel?
To use maps, Gett/Yango rides, WhatsApp, and restaurant or hotel bookings on the go, tourists need their own mobile data in Israel - home-carrier roaming is often $10-$15/day ($140+ for 2 weeks). The simplest option used to be a physical prepaid tourist SIM from Ben Gurion Airport kiosks, but those come with 30-60 minute queues, limited hours, and walk-up pricing. Today the better tourist SIM is an eSIM: install it at home before your flight, land with 5G already working, and keep your original number active for WhatsApp.
How to activate
Buy online before your trip, scan the QR code on home WiFi (takes 2 minutes), and your phone is ready. When you land in Israel, switch on the eSIM data line and data roaming - instant connection, no kiosk visit, no paperwork.
Tourist SIM coverage across Israel
SabraConnect runs on the Pelephone 5G network with nationwide coverage for tourists - from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem out to Eilat, the Dead Sea, the Negev, the Galilee, and all major highways.
Plan snapshot
- Data: 350GB for 30 days
- Local calls: Included - Israeli number
- Price: $25 flat, no hidden fees
- Activation: QR by email, instant
- Network: Pelephone 5G nationwide
Physical tourist SIM card vs eSIM for Israel
Travelers searching for a "tourist SIM card for Israel" are usually weighing a physical SIM from an airport kiosk or city shop against an eSIM. Here is how they compare.
Physical tourist SIM card
- Queue at a Ben Gurion Airport kiosk or city shop
- Show your passport and fill in paperwork
- Swap out your home SIM - easy to lose
- Limited hours and variable stock
- Walk-up pricing is usually higher than buying online
SabraConnect eSIM
- Installed before you fly - connected the second you land
- No kiosk, no line, available 24/7
- Keep your home number active in the second SIM slot
- 350GB 5G, 3,000 local minutes, and an Israeli number
- $25 flat, QR delivered instantly by email
For most visitors the eSIM is the easier tourist SIM: you skip the airport queue entirely and land with data already working - as long as your phone supports eSIM.
Common questions
Where can I buy a tourist SIM card for Israel? You can buy a physical prepaid SIM at a Ben Gurion Airport kiosk or city shops, but the easiest option is an eSIM you buy online before you travel. SabraConnect delivers it by QR code instantly - 350GB of 5G, 3,000 local minutes, and an Israeli number for $25 - so you skip the airport queue and land connected.
How much does a tourist SIM card cost in Israel? Airport and city-shop tourist SIMs vary, and walk-up pricing is usually higher. SabraConnect is a flat $25 for 350GB of 5G data, 3,000 local minutes, and an Israeli number for 30 days, with no hidden fees.
Is an eSIM better than a physical tourist SIM for Israel? For most travelers, yes. An eSIM installs before you fly so you have data the moment you land, keeps your home number active in the second SIM slot, and avoids the kiosk queue and paperwork. A physical SIM only makes sense if your phone does not support eSIM.
Related Israel Connectivity Guides & Resources
Get a SabraConnect Israel eSIM — $25 (350GB 5G) · All Israel Travel Connectivity Guides