SIM cards for sale in Barajas airport?

Orafo

Member
Feb 4, 2013
54
4
North Carolina, USA
Time of past OR future Camino
Past: Camino Francés, SJPP to Santiago and Finisterre (Sept.-Oct. 2013); Planned: Camino del Salvador-Camino Primitivo-Camino Francés-Camino Finisterre (Sept.-Oct. 2014)
I would like to get a SIM card to insert in my iPhone when I land in Madrid, before boarding a bus. Does anyone know whether there are kiosks or other places to buy them in the terminals, and what companies sell them there? Thanks.
 
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc

Bajaracer

Camino Frances 2013 Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre
Aug 21, 2012
1,108
992
San Diego, CA
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances (2013) Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre
I would like to get a SIM card to insert in my iPhone when I land in Madrid, before boarding a bus. Does anyone know whether there are kiosks or other places to buy them in the terminals, and what companies sell them there? Thanks.

Yes there is, Crystal Media inside the terminal in Madrid sells Orange SIM cards with 1GB of data for €15, you have to add more euros for voice credit.
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.crystalmedia.com/&prev=/search?q=crystal+media&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=680
 

Orafo

Member
Feb 4, 2013
54
4
North Carolina, USA
Time of past OR future Camino
Past: Camino Francés, SJPP to Santiago and Finisterre (Sept.-Oct. 2013); Planned: Camino del Salvador-Camino Primitivo-Camino Francés-Camino Finisterre (Sept.-Oct. 2014)
Yes there is, Crystal Media inside the terminal in Madrid sells Orange SIM cards with 1GB of data for €15, you have to add more euros for voice credit.
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.crystalmedia.com/&prev=/search?q=crystal+media&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=680

Thanks, Bajaracer -- that's very helpful. From the Spanish-language version of Crystal Media's website, it appears they have shops in Terminals 1, 2 and 4, and that they sell both Orange and Vodaphone prepaid SIM cards. Does anyone have a preference for one over the other? Last year I had a Vodaphone card in my old phone, and it seemed to do o.k., but I did not do any comparison shopping. And I don't really know how to evaluate how much data or voice time I may need.
 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!

Bajaracer

Camino Frances 2013 Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre
Aug 21, 2012
1,108
992
San Diego, CA
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances (2013) Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre
Thanks, Bajaracer -- that's very helpful. From the Spanish-language version of Crystal Media's website, it appears they have shops in Terminals 1, 2 and 4, and that they sell both Orange and Vodaphone prepaid SIM cards. Does anyone have a preference for one over the other? Last year I had a Vodaphone card in my old phone, and it seemed to do o.k., but I did not do any comparison shopping. And I don't really know how to evaluate how much data or voice time I may need.

1GB of data, used in combination with wifi, you should be able to get by with that, providing you are not streaming movies and audio.
 

Orafo

Member
Feb 4, 2013
54
4
North Carolina, USA
Time of past OR future Camino
Past: Camino Francés, SJPP to Santiago and Finisterre (Sept.-Oct. 2013); Planned: Camino del Salvador-Camino Primitivo-Camino Francés-Camino Finisterre (Sept.-Oct. 2014)
1GB of data, used in combination with wifi, you should be able to get by with that, providing you are not streaming movies and audio.

Great. No streaming for me while on the Camino. I will need some talk time, though, for the occasional call to an albergue, hostal, etc. Any substantial difference in coverage between Orange and Vodaphone? I will be on the Camino del Salvador and Camino Primitivo, thus mostly in Asturias and Galicia, in case that makes any difference. Thanks for taking all these questions.
 

Bajaracer

Camino Frances 2013 Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre
Aug 21, 2012
1,108
992
San Diego, CA
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances (2013) Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre
Great. No streaming for me while on the Camino. I will need some talk time, though, for the occasional call to an albergue, hostal, etc. Any substantial difference in coverage between Orange and Vodaphone? I will be on the Camino del Salvador and Camino Primitivo, thus mostly in Asturias and Galicia, in case that makes any difference. Thanks for taking all these questions.

I would choose Vodaphone over Orange, I used Orange and had a few dead spots on the Meseta in Hornillos and out by Olveiroa on the way to Finsiterre.
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-

Orafo

Member
Feb 4, 2013
54
4
North Carolina, USA
Time of past OR future Camino
Past: Camino Francés, SJPP to Santiago and Finisterre (Sept.-Oct. 2013); Planned: Camino del Salvador-Camino Primitivo-Camino Francés-Camino Finisterre (Sept.-Oct. 2014)
I would choose Vodaphone over Orange, I used Orange and had a few dead spots on the Meseta in Hornillos and out by Olveiroa on the way to Finsiterre.

Thanks for that input. I intend to go again from Santiago to Finisterre/Muxía, so that could be important.
 

Kanga

Veteran Member
Jun 2, 2005
10,382
29,270
Sydney, Australia
www.jillhill.com.au
Time of past OR future Camino
Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo
I would choose Vodaphone over Orange, I used Orange and had a few dead spots on the Meseta in Hornillos and out by Olveiroa on the way to Finsiterre.
Moviestar is the largest carrier. Easy to buy, set-up and recharge. And cheap compared to our networks. It's operated by Telephonica' SA.
 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!

Bajaracer

Camino Frances 2013 Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre
Aug 21, 2012
1,108
992
San Diego, CA
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances (2013) Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre
Moviestar is the largest carrier. Easy to buy, set-up and recharge. And cheap compared to our networks. It's operated by Telephonica' SA.

Vodaphone and Orange are the two carriers at Crystal Media inside Barajas Airport, not much to choose from until you get outside of the airport.
Tuenti Movil is the pre paid SIM of Telefonica Movistar, very cheap compared to what I pay in the US.
http://www.movistar.es/particulares/movil/tarifas-moviles/tarjeta/Tarifas-Tuenti/
 
  • Like
Reactions: lisaflora

kmccue

Active Member
Feb 4, 2015
161
124
Time of past OR future Camino
2015
Thanks, Bajaracer -- that's very helpful. From the Spanish-language version of Crystal Media's website, it appears they have shops in Terminals 1, 2 and 4, and that they sell both Orange and Vodaphone prepaid SIM cards. Does anyone have a preference for one over the other? Last year I had a Vodaphone card in my old phone, and it seemed to do o.k., but I did not do any comparison shopping. And I don't really know how to evaluate how much data or voice time I may need.[/QUO
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.

barryg

Active Member
May 3, 2018
186
175
Time of past OR future Camino
June: Camino Frances from Pamplona
Thanks, Bajaracer -- that's very helpful. From the Spanish-language version of Crystal Media's website, it appears they have shops in Terminals 1, 2 and 4, and that they sell both Orange and Vodaphone prepaid SIM cards. Does anyone have a preference for one over the other? Last year I had a Vodaphone card in my old phone, and it seemed to do o.k., but I did not do any comparison shopping. And I don't really know how to evaluate how much data or voice time I may need.

HI! I did a search on http://www.aena.es/en/madrid-barajas-airport/music-electronics-photography.html but did find Crystal Media store. I found Tech & Fly and others. Can you get a SIM card for iPhone that will work in spain at Tech & Fly? Has anyone had experience with Tech & Fly? Does anyone know if the Crystal Media store is still in operation and exactly where it is?
 

Most read last week in this forum

I typically wash my clothes by hand with a bar of Lagarto soap. It’s non-chemical and is the soap I was introduced to back in Spain in the 70s. When you wash clothes by hand, you typically rub...
We often read that Merino clothing does not smell as much with use, compared to other fabrics. Since my first Camino 9 years ago, I have always worn very lightweight (120 gsm) Merino shirts (by...
So, whatcha all buying? The sale and coupons are burning a hole in my pocket but I can’t decide what I want/need.
I’ll begin my Camino in July (Portuguese route), so it’s time to get shoes and break them in. I have seen posts about walking shoes and which ones people prefer, and I’ve read various articles...
Hi all ... I have known for years that Goretex doesn't breathe when it is high humidity (or raining) .. noted because of how damp I would always become inside, as my sweat vapour turned back to...
I have an iPhone 14 and got an eSIM one month contract with Orange when I arrived in Spain a month ago. Right away there were problems. It did most basic things, but I couldn’t use most WiFi...

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Similar threads

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides