A1 eSIM and SIM Cards: Detailed Guides for Tourists

Going on vacation in Croatia and want to buy a local SIM card or eSIM? A1 represents one of the best mobile networks in Croatia and an excellent eSIM/SIM card option for travelers. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about using A1 SIM Card & A1 eSIM while visiting Croatia:

1. Quick Facts About A1 Croatia

To provide some key information about A1 Croatia at a glance, here are some quick facts about the telecommunications company:

• A1 is by far the biggest mobile network operator in Croatia with over 2.4 million subscribers.
• It covers 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G in Croatia.
• One of the market leaders in Central and Eastern Europe is A1 Telekom Austria Group.
• Apart from providing mobile services, A1 provides fixed broadband, IPTV, and IT solutions.
• The famous prepaid plans are tourist SIM, ready SIM, and my A1 SIM.

2. Croatia A1 Coverage and Speed

Network coverage and speed is one of the key factors that one can consider when selecting the best mobile service provider. Here is an overview of Croatia A1’s coverage and speed capabilities:

2.1. A1 Coverage in Croatia

Firstly, 1. A1 Croatia’s coverage is slightly higher compared to the other two leading operators, T-Mobile and Telemach, with coverage of 97% of the country. Nevertheless, A1 Croatia has a comparable 4G coverage to the other two operators covering 96% of the country.

The Opensignal report released in October 2023 has shown that A1 Croatia had a good speed for downloading and uploading. On the other hand, A1 Croatia fared the worst in coverage experience.
A1 Croatia’s network was reported to be the less consistent among the three major operators according to the Opensignal report. Such a statement suggests that A1 Croatia customers will probably encounter some instability or ups and downs in their network performance.
Here is a table comparing A1 Croatia’s coverage to the other two major operators:

In general, A1 Croatia is a reliable choice of mobile tariff in Croatia that gives the best value for money. However, users need to know that A1 Croatia does not have as strong of a network as the two bigger operators have.

2.2. A1 Speed in Croatia

According to Opensignal’s October 2023 report, A1 Croatia provides an average download speed of 31.3 Mbps and average upload speed of 11.9 Mbps. This is a little bit lower than the other two large operators, T-Mobile and Telecom. Nevertheless, it is adequate for most common mobile data tasks of browsing the internet, watching videos, and using the social media.

Here is a table comparing A1 Croatia’s speed to the other two major operators:

These speeds reflect Opensignal data, and thus might differ from the values obtained in your region.

If speed is what you are concerned with, only your usage behavior will tell if you need A1 speed or you may survive with A1 Croatia’s speed.

For instance, if you are a heavy mobile user, such as watching high-definition videos and online games, then you should look for a different operator who has better speeds. While in case you are a light user of mobile data, A1 Croatia’s speed should do well for you.

3. A1 Connectivity Options for Travelers to Croatia

A1 provides both A1 SIM cards and eSIM services for visitors traveling to Croatia.

Here are the main options available:

eSIM allows you to activate A1 service on your phone without using a physical SIM. It is convenient if your phone supports eSIM.

Below we compare the costs, validity, data bundles, and other features of these A1 SIM Card options.

4. Best A1 SIM Cards for Tourists & Costs

For a one or two week travel to Croatia, an A1 Tourist SIM is a great choice. This was designed for foreign tourists who visit Croatia.

The A1 Tourist SIM Card is a prepaid A1 SIM card. Therefore, you will need to recharge your credit consistently in order to continue enjoying the service.

A1 SIM card works for any mobile phone from any other European state, which works with the A1 Cratica network.

Once it is inserted in a compatible phone, activating A1 SIM card becomes very simple as the instructions are displayed on the screen.

5. Does A1 Croatia Support eSIM?

Yes, A1 Croatia supports eSIM for both prepaid and postpaid plans but A1 eSIM is not supported for tourists. To activate an eSIM, you will need a compatible phone and an eSIM voucher from A1 Croatia.

6. Where Can You Buy an A1 SIM Card and eSIM?

To connect to the A1 networks, one needs to acquire an A1 SIM. In this section, we provide the locations where travelers and customers can purchase A1 SIM cards and create eSIM profiles.

6.1. Where to Buy an A1 SIM Card in Croatia

You can purchase an A1 SIM card almost anywhere in Croatia, including at newsstands, petrol stations, supermarkets, Hrvatska Pošta post offices, and A1 stores.

• You can buy the SIM card online through the A1 Croatia website by adding it to your card. After placing the SIM in the “cart”, the next step is to fill in data concerning the delivery address. Your SIM will be sent to you in about three of four days.
• You can also buy physical SIM cards in-store. Just ask for an A1 10-day unlimited surfing SIM card from the cashier. The cashier will be in a position to activate your SIM card for you and give you tips on how to operate it.

After activating the A1 SIM card, there are ten days of free unlimited mobile data.

As you know, the A1 tourist SIM card happens to be a prepaid SIM card. Therefore, you will have to keep on topping your credit to continue enjoying the services. You can recharge your credit over the Internet or visit any of the above places.

6.2. Where to Buy A1 Croatia eSIM

To get A1’s eSIM for your trip to Croatia, you have two options:

1. Online – Order eSIM on croatiaesim.com for instant.
2. A1 Store/kiosk – You can visit an A1 Croatia store. Ask a sales representative for an eSIM. Provide the sales representative with your personal information and payment information. When the sales representative deactivates the eSIM for you, they will also advise on using the same.

Once you have landed in Croatia, you can immediately activate the A1 service using the A1 store/kiosk without having to visit a store.

Stay connected easily in Croatia with an eSIM from croatiaesim.com. Choose from a variety of competitively priced data plans starting from just $3.50. Installation is simple – receive your eSIM instantly by email and activate with a quick QR code scan. Say goodbye to roaming fees and complicated global plans. Book now and discover Croatia without worrying about connectivity.

7. How to Activate A1 Croatia SIM/eSIM

Activating your A1 SIM or eSIM is quick and easy.

7.1. How to Activate A1 Croatia SIM Card

To activate your A1 10 days unlimited surfing SIM card, follow these two simple steps:

1. Slide the SIM card into your mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or WiFI modem.
2. Log onto the internet or make your initial telephone call. Automatically, your A1 number, as well as the 10-day package, will cost Є10.00 (Є75.35 kn).

7.2. How to Activate A1 Croatia eSIM

To activate A1 eSIM:

1. Select the A1 eSIM plan and make payment online to get the eSIM code.
2. Scan the QR code on eSIM using a phone camera to download the profile.
3. eSIM will be detected and you can start using the A1 service.

That’s it! You can now start using data, making calls, and sending texts with your A1 Croatia SIM or eSIM.

8. Croatia A1 Call & SMS Rates

Here are the call and SMS rates on A1 Tourist Croatia SIM Card:

In simpler terms:

• All calls, except to EU/EEA countries, have a setup fee of €0.04.
• Domestic calls are cheap, so you can easily stay in touch with people in Croatia.
• International calls are more expensive, so use VoIP apps like WhatsApp to call abroad.

9. Useful USSD Codes for A1 Croatia SIM Card

Here are some useful USSD codes to manage your A1 prepaid account:

Enter these codes on your phone dial pad to easily access account details and balances.

10. How to Top Up A1 Croatia SIM Card

You can recharge your A1 SIM card using:

• Vouchers – Sold at kiosks, petrol stations. Scratch to reveal code.
• Online – Use credit/debit card on A1 website or app.
• ATM – Recharge at A1-enabled ATMs across Croatia.
• Call Center – 124 assistance number for payments.

So you have multiple convenient options to top-up your account on the go.

11. FAQs About Using A1 in Croatia

12. Final Words

We hope this detailed guide gives you all the information you need to use A1 seamlessly during your Croatia visit. SIM cards and eSIMs of A1 are very reliable on the part of connectivity.

Therefore, A1 Croatia became one of the most sought after telco companies with its wide coverage, speed up to 4G/5G and low pay as you go options for easy mobile phone services when traveling abroad.