SIM Cards & Staying Connected in Tenerife

As part of Spain, Tenerife is covered by EU roaming rules for EU visitors, and local prepaid SIMs are cheap and easy to buy for everyone else.

If you're travelling from another EU/EEA country, your normal mobile plan's "roam like at home" rules apply in the Canary Islands exactly as they would in mainland Spain — no need for a local SIM unless you want extra data.

If you're travelling from the UK, US or elsewhere outside the EU, a local prepaid SIM is usually the cheapest way to get data, and widely available.

Getting a Local SIM

Practical details

✓The main Spanish providers (Movistar, Vodafone, Orange) and budget brands (Lebara, Digi) all have prepaid tourist SIMs available at airport kiosks, phone shops and some supermarkets.
✓Bring your passport — Spanish law requires ID registration to activate a local SIM.
✓Most hotels and a growing number of restaurants and cafes offer free WiFi, which covers a lot of casual browsing needs even without a local SIM.
✓Coverage is generally good across the resorts and main towns; it can drop out in remote hiking areas like parts of Anaga and the Teide massif.