Where To Get A SIM Card In Łódź

If you’re travelling into Poland from outside the European Union, the cost of using your phone in another country can quickly add up. Here’s what you need to know and how to buy a Polish SIM card.

Galeria Łódzka

Mobile Roaming For EU Citizens

Anybody with a phone contract based in another EU country should be able to use their existing tariff in Poland, exactly as they would at home, with no hidden charges. Double check with your provider before you leave as they may have a fair use policy in place. Otherwise, calls, texts, and data should be available to you as soon as you arrive in the country. Most providers will send a welcome message with confirmation of their usage policy. Make sure that roaming is activated on your phone.

This should also apply to any SIM you bought as a traveller in another EU country. However, the rules are murkier here with a certain amount of variation. A SIM bought in Germany, for example, is likely to be valid in Poland. But a travel SIM bought in Poland may have restricted use in another EU country. Make sure you understand what you’re paying for when you buy a temporary SIM, otherwise you may end up paying for everything twice.

Mobile Roaming For UK Citizens

Since leaving the European Union, most UK contracts no longer allow roaming abroad with an extra fee. The situation is currently in transition and even varies with the same provider. Older contracts may still include EU roaming, while newer contracts do not.

A handful of providers still offer roaming at no additional cost. O2 is currently the only main network, but a number of low cost providers, such as giffgaff, Lebara, and SMARTY, include EU roaming. These will almost certainly have a data cap for fair usage. Some budget providers work with rolling one-month contracts, so buying a temporary SIM, just for your trip, is worth considering. I used a SMARTY SIM in Łódź with no problems, but the coverage may be more limited with some providers.

With all other providers it is generally possible to pay a fee which extends usage to all EU countries. Again, this varies, but you can expect to pay around £2 per day. This may cost a bit more than setting up a new SIM in Poland but it’s less hassle and you get to keep your own number, so the cost may be acceptable to you.

The basic takeaway is to check the specifics for your existing contract before you travel. If their data and fees work for you, the simplest option is to stick with them.

You’ll also need to take into account whether your existing phone is locked or not. If you are under contract, your provider may not allow you to use it with a new SIM until your initial contract is up. If this is the case, you’ll either have to stick with them or buy an unlocked device.

Mobile Roaming For Non-EU Citizens

If you are coming from a country that is not automatically covered by EU roaming, your current provider may still offer a travel package that works for you, especially if your device is still locked or you want to avoid the hassle of setting up a brand new travel SIM with a new number. It’s always worth checking what your existing phone company can offer.

General Advice For Buying A Polish SIM Card

If you decide to buy a SIM for use in Poland, you’ll need an unlocked phone and some form of ID, preferably a passport.

Remember, a new SIM means that you will temporarily have a new phone number, which may have unintended consequences. It’s worth putting a bit of thought into this before you commit.

There are a number Polish phone providers, including some budget SIMs. For ease, simplicity, and service, though, the four main brands are Orange, T-Mobile, Plus, and Play. These all have local stores across Poland, and a presence in most malls, so you can easily drop in and get your SIM set up. And you’ll have the backup of returning to the shop if you get any problems during your stay. In fact, as some form of ID is required, a face-to-face consultation is somewhat necessary anyway.

Of these providers, we currently recommend Orange. They offer specific packages aimed at foreign travellers, currently unlimited calls and messages, with 30 GB of data for 30zł (roughly 7€). They also have the best 4G coverage in the country.

Please note: Although a member of the European Union, Polish providers do not generally adhere to the same fair use policy as other countries. If you buy a SIM in Poland and try to use it in another EU country, you’ll probably only get a faction of the data allowance. A Polish package with 10GB of data, for example, will only give you 1.6GB elsewhere. Basically, if you’re looking for a SIM to travel through Europe, Poland is not the country to buy it.

Łódź Airport

Buying A SIM Card At Łódź Airport

None of the airports at Łódź, Warsaw, or Kraków have dedicated mobile phone or SIM card counters, so we recommend you wait until you reach the centre of one of these cities to get one.

If you need to get online straightaway, all these airports offer free and unlimited WiFi.

If you can’t wait until you get into town, you can buy a SIM from a Relay store, close to Arrivals, in all three airports. The shop is bright red, so you can’t miss it. They’ll have a range of different SIMs, from all the key providers, but I cannot vouch for the set-up and the staff may not be able to answer every question.

Manufaktura shopping mall

Buying A SIM Card In Manufaktura or Galeria Łódzka

The big four phone providers have branches all over Łódź, but the easiest places to compare different deals are in the Manufaktura or Galeria Łódzka shopping malls, both close to the landmark Piotrkowska Street. You’ll find Plus, Play, Orange, and T-Mobile stores in both – see the map below. Manufaktura is open from 10am until 10pm Monday to Saturday and Galeria Łódzka is open 9.30am until 9pm on the same days.

Simply go into one of the stores and ask to buy a SIM card. In my experience, these outlets will have at least one member of staff that speaks good English and they will help you find the most suitable deal. Get the rep to set up the SIM and make sure it’s registered before you leave the store. You’ll need an unlocked phone and your passport.

If you have specific needs, such as international calling, shop around and see what each provider can offer. You can also ask about tethering and mobile broadband hubs if you need to get online with a tablet or laptop. However, once you’ve decided, it should take less than 10 minutes to get everything sorted out.

Buying An Orange SIM Card

Though it is worth spending a bit of time comparing deals, we currently recommend Orange, as they have specific packages aimed at foreign travellers. They also have the best 4G coverage in the country.

At time of writing, they are advertising unlimited calls and messages, with 30 GB of data for 30zł (roughly 7€). You should explain any specific needs upfront, as what you see is not always what you get and there will be restrictions on overseas calls, for example. Most of all, the mobile market is always fluid, with ever-changing products and contracts. So, make sure you know what you’re signing up to!

Regardless, the set-up is a simple process:

1. Buy an initial starter SIM and swap it for any existing card in the phone. You can get these from many shops and kiosks, but it makes sense to buy from the Orange store in one of the malls listed above. You have a choice of either buying the cheapest possible, then upgrading to the unlimited package, or just buying a starter that covers your likely needs. But remember, you’ll likely be drawing on a lot more data than you would at home, so it’s best to be generous.
2. You’ll have to register your starter SIM, which is another reason why we suggest using an official Orange store. You’ll need your passport for this. Get the staff member to check the SIM is set-up and working properly.
3. You may be happy that your starter SIM will cover your trip. You can also ask about options for topping up.
4. Otherwise, you can set up the GetUnlimited package there and then. You could also activate online, via the My Orange app (which you’ll need to download first), by texting START CYKL to 630, or calling *101*2*31#. There’s also an English-speaking helpline on +48 510 100 100.
5. However, all of this is best done instore, as the offer may have changed or there may be a more appropriate tariff for your trip. If a member of staff talks you through the process, you’ll know exactly what you’re paying for.
6. Once your trip is over, you can simply switch the SIMs back over and your phone should work as before.

Other Options

Provided your phone has the functionality, it is possible to buy an eSIM for Poland, so you’re ready for action the minute you step off the plane.

But, you’ll need a compatible phone and, as you cannot test these in advance, you may end up wasting your money. These usually end up costing more than a local SIM anyway.

Similarly, I would avoid any Polish SIMs listed for sale on Amazon.

Finally, international SIM cards are really tailored to business travellers who frequently hop from country to country and they don’t really meet the needs of tourists and other kinds of travellers.

Łódź SIM Card Map

You can find the Manufaktura and Galeria Łódzka shopping malls and the mobile providers listed above in the Łódź map below.

Łódź Map

Plan your Łódź visit with our Łódź map of the attractions, restaurants, sightseeing and hotels in Łódź.

Each type of landmark has a different colour marker on the map:

• YELLOW / ORANGE: Łódź Sightseeing
• GREEN: Łódź Transportation
• BLUE: Hotels in Łódź
• PURPLE: Shopping In Łódź
• DARK RED: Restaurants in Łódź
• LIGHT RED: Nightlife in Łódź

Click on a marker and it will give you the name of the landmark, with a brief description and links for more information and directions. You can pan, scroll, and zoom around the map, or use the + or – buttons in the bottom left of the map to zoom in and out.

Click on the icon in the top left corner for an index of every location, sorted by category. Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want. Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.

Each category is on a different layer, which can be switched on and off. So you can just see the Hotel or Restaurant pins, for example.

If you are using the map on your phone, open the Visit Łódź map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.