I have a working GSM phone & would like to get a SIM card for Italy but it's not clear from the forums whether I should buy one ahead of time or wait until I arrive. I'll be flying in to Milan Malpensa on a Saturday afternoon and need to get to Florence by train that same day to meet friends en route to Barga - that means timing will be tight and a cellphone could come in very handy. Is there a phone shop easily accessible in the airport terminal at Malpensa, and will it be open on a Saturday afternoon? Thanks!!

Hi pams and welcome.

South Africa is a wonderful country. I visited there in 2005 and really loved it. I want to return.

I checked the list of shops at Malpensa and it does not look like there is a telephone store available to arriving passengers. Another member was looking for one also and could not find one. Here is a list of the TIM stores - you might be able to see if there is one that would work for you on your way to meet with your friends.

Anyone else have a suggestion?

According to what a lot of people here have reported, it is difficult to be sure that a SIM card you buy ahead of time will actually work in Italy. Because of the anti-terrorist laws, you have to activate the SIM card in person in Italy with your ID. The only cards that are likely to work are those that someone else has already activated and still has time on (although of course this would mean that the card would be registered in someone else's name).

Hi I bought one SIM card in Italy (Florence) AND bought one from EBay before leaving. They both worked fine.

I got the SIM card right near the Florence Santa Maria Novella train station.

These are the best directions I can give, sorry I didn't not the name of the street:
When you exit the station find the side where there is a large set of stairs (not the Via Nazionale side, opposite it). Go down the stairs and cross the intersection there, it's a pretty large intersection with a set of lights. Once you've crossed walk left over to the corner which is only a few steps away,then turn right. A few doors down on the right is a WIND store and that's where I got the SIM. We traveled far south and WIND worked fine.

the folks at the WIND store were wonderful. I don't know what time you will be arriving in Florence and if the store will be open.

Thanks all for the advice -- looks like I should try and get a second-hand card before I go, but also prepared to buy a new one in Italy once I arrive.

I have found one useful site with detailed instructions about the documentation to bring along for a hassle-free purchase:
http://www.saveonroaming.net/index.html
They recommend two copies of a document that includes a scan of your passport, your address while in Italy and a "codice fiscal" number that they handily link to a generator for.

That site looks like it has some good information. Here is another site that has a lot of information on traveling with cell phones - PrePaidGSM. It might also have some suggestions. It also has a forum for questions.