Kornelijus
Affordable and reliable. Traveled to the US for a trip and used blikst. It was much more affordable than other companies and was very
Portugal
Trust score 4.5
Features
- Coverage: Portugal
- Network Provider: NOS
- Speed: 4G / 5G
- Tethering / Hotspot: Yes
Plan Details
Device Compatibility: Most modern smartphones are fully compatible with Blikst eSIMs. However, a few exceptions exist. Check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device works flawlessly with our service..
Activation Policy: Enjoy automatic activation by simply scanning the QR code provided after purchase. Your eSIM will instantly activate upon your arrival at Portugal, ensuring immediate connectivity.
Delivery Time: Receive a confirmation email with your eSIM details right after completing your purchase. Quick and seamless delivery ensures you’re ready to go in minutes.
Description
Portugal's tourist infrastructure is excellent but mobile data pricing for visitors depends heavily on your home carrier. A Blikst Portugal eSIM runs on NOS's 4G/5G network, which covers Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve coast, Madeira and the Azores main islands. NOS has one of Portugal's strongest 5G footprints, particularly in central Lisbon (Baixa, Chiado, Alfama), Porto's Ribeira, and the Vodafone/NOS jointly-used 5G corridors along the A1 and A2 motorways.
Where NOS works best
Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra, Porto, Braga, and Coimbra all have dense 5G. The Algarve — Lagos, Albufeira, Faro, Tavira — is blanket 4G with 5G in the main towns. Madeira's Funchal and the airport corridor are well covered; inland levadas and the north coast drop to 4G with some 3G pockets. The Azores (São Miguel, Terceira, Pico) have 4G around the main towns and ports; interior volcanic areas and less-developed islands like Corvo are thinner. Long-distance CP Alfa Pendular trains (Lisbon-Porto) keep signal throughout.
Cost vs. EU roaming or a local SIM
If you're travelling from another EU country with "roam like home," you already have Portugal included — check your plan first before buying. For US, UK, Canadian and non-EU visitors, home carrier roaming typically runs $10–$12 per day, which makes even a week-long trip far more expensive than a Blikst plan. Portuguese tourist SIMs from NOS, Vodafone or MEO are available at the airport (roughly €15 for 10 GB) but require paperwork at a counter — the eSIM skips the queue.
Arrival at Lisbon, Porto, or Faro
Install the profile at home before you fly. Land at Humberto Delgado (LIS), Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO), Faro (FAO), Madeira (FNC) or Ponta Delgada (PDL), switch airplane mode off, and NOS picks up automatically. Lisbon's Aeroporto Metro station has signal and takes you straight into the city for €1.50. Porto's metro runs from the terminal to São Bento in about 30 minutes. Faro has a direct bus to Albufeira and the Algarve beaches.
Apps that matter
- Bolt and Uber — both work well across mainland Portugal. Bolt is often cheaper in Lisbon and Porto.
- CP (Comboios de Portugal) — rail app for Alfa Pendular and regional tickets. Buying in-app is easier than station queues.
- Metro Lisboa / Metro do Porto — metro apps plus the Via Verde / Navegante rechargeable cards.
- MB Way — Portugal's dominant mobile payment app. Many small shops and restaurants accept it via QR.
- Google Maps — transit data is reliable for buses and trams in Lisbon and Porto; the Porto tram 1 along the Douro is a classic.
- Visit Portugal and GetYourGuide — ticketed attractions (Pena Palace, Belém Tower, Livraria Lello) fill up; pre-book.
Madeira and Azores specifics
Both archipelagos are covered on this plan. Madeira's north-coast levada walks (Caldeirão Verde, Levada do Rei) have patchy signal — useful for emergency SMS, not for Instagram stories. The Azores' interior crater lakes (Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo) and the Pico mountain trail are similar. Download offline Google Maps before day hikes.
Plan sizing
A 3-day Lisbon weekend — 2–3 GB. A one-week Lisbon + Sintra + Porto trip — 5 GB. Two-week Portugal grand tour including the Algarve and Douro Valley — 10 GB. Madeira or Azores add-on for a two-week combined trip — 10–15 GB. Digital nomads in Lisbon or Madeira for a month — 20 GB minimum, or 50 GB if tethering to a laptop.
Install before you fly, land at any major Portuguese airport, and skip straight to the first bica and pastel de nata without detouring through a SIM shop.
Important Information
- This eSIM plan is only compatible with iPhone, Samsung and Google devices.
- To activate this plan, you will need to provide your IMEI, EID/ICCID and preferred eSim Activation Date.
- On the specified date your eSim will be activated automatically in the USA no QR code needed.
- The plan must be purchased at least 2 days before the activation date to allow time for processing.
Our plans
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How to get your Bliskt eSIM data?
Check Device Compatibility
Confirm that your smartphone or device supports our Blikst eSIM functionality.
Learn More
Follow Installation Instructions
Use the provided step-by-step guide to set up and activate your eSIM in few minutes. Then enjoy your trip.
Learn MoreBlikst eSIM Reviews
Marius
Smooth, simple, just works. Use it again.
Elinga
Quick activation and stable connection. Super handy 🌟 Used it during my trip in Madeira.
James
Lovely support, got an esim for UK. Had no issues.
Capone
I used to have 3 mobile but the internet connection was not the best, that’s why I started to use Blikst and I find it very useful
eSIM FAQ
The Blikst Portugal eSIM runs on NOS's 4G and 5G network, one of the country's major operators. NOS has one of Portugal's strongest 5G footprints, with dense coverage in central Lisbon, Porto's Ribeira and along the A1 and A2 motorways via the jointly-used 5G corridors. You will get full LTE elsewhere, so you stay connected whether you are in the city or out on the coast.
Coverage spans mainland Portugal plus Madeira and the Azores. Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra, Porto, Braga and Coimbra all have dense 5G, and the Algarve towns of Lagos, Albufeira, Faro and Tavira are blanket 4G with 5G in the main centres. Be honest with yourself about the wild bits: Madeira's north-coast levadas and inland trails drop to 4G with some 3G pockets, and the Azores' interior crater lakes and remote islands like Corvo are thinner.
Right after you buy, you will receive a confirmation email with your eSIM details, so install the profile at home before you fly by scanning the QR code provided. Activation is automatic: your eSIM activates instantly when you arrive in Portugal. Just land at Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira or Ponta Delgada, switch airplane mode off, and NOS picks up the signal automatically. No counter, no queue.
Most modern smartphones are fully compatible with Blikst eSIMs, though a few exceptions exist, so check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device. To check yourself, look on iPhone under Settings, General, About for an EID number, or in your Android network settings. Your phone also needs to be carrier-unlocked. Because an eSIM is a separate digital line, your physical home SIM can stay in the phone alongside it.
It depends on your trip. A three-day Lisbon weekend is comfortable on 2 to 3 GB, while a one-week Lisbon, Sintra and Porto trip suits around 5 GB. A two-week grand tour including the Algarve and Douro Valley fits about 10 GB. Adding Madeira or the Azores pushes a two-week combined trip to 10 to 15 GB. Digital nomads staying a month want 20 GB minimum, or 50 GB if tethering to a laptop.
Yes, tethering and hotspot use are supported on this plan, so you can share your connection with a laptop, tablet or a travel companion's phone. If you are a digital nomad working from Lisbon or Madeira and tethering a laptop for a month, plan generously, around 50 GB, since laptop traffic eats data far faster than phone browsing. Remember signal can dip on remote hikes, so it is best for towns and cities.
This is a data-only plan, so it does not come with a local phone number for traditional calls or texts. In practice that is rarely a problem: you can call and message over the internet using apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime, which work fine on the data connection. Because the eSIM is a separate digital line, your physical home SIM stays in the phone, so you keep your usual number for any calls or bank verification texts.
For US, UK, Canadian and non-EU visitors, home carrier roaming typically runs around 10 to 12 dollars per day, which makes even a week-long trip far more expensive than a Blikst plan. Portuguese tourist SIMs from NOS, Vodafone or MEO cost roughly 15 euros for 10 GB at the airport but require paperwork at a counter. If you are travelling from another EU country with roam-like-home, Portugal may already be included, so check your plan first.