Planning a holiday trip to Europe and thinking of affordable ways to stay connected? Avoid paying high roaming costs and slow-speed international data roaming plans and opt for international e-SIM cards for Europe. These SIMs come with attractive call and data packages and are much more cost-effective than roaming packages on your local number.
In this article, you will find all that you need to know about prepaid and eSIM for Europe. Whether you prefer buying a physical prepaid SIM or an eSIM for your Europe trip, this helpful guide will provide insightful details so that you can make an informed purchase.
We will be discussing the best eSIMs for Europe including physical SIM cards for tourists along with details on where to order, updated plans, and pricing. So let’s move forward and have a look at the affordable and best-performing eSIM cards for your Europe holiday.
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11 Top Prepaid and eSIMs for Europe in 2024
Getting online is perhaps the first thing that people do when landing in a new country. As times have changed, people prefer connecting to the internet to communicate with friends and family back home rather than making international calls to their home country.
While public Wi-Fi is pretty common in all European countries, nothing compares to the ease of having your own data plan where you can connect to the internet within minutes.
Depending on the duration of the trip, you can either buy a local prepaid SIM card on your arrival to a foreign country or you can place an order for an e-SIM online. Most people these days are opting for e-SIM cards as it’s easy to use and cost much less than a conventional SIM card.
If you are planning on visiting a country or multiple counties in Europe, then you better get yourself a tourist prepaid SIM card or an e-SIM designed specifically to accommodate tourists and travelers. These SIM cards are often cheap and offer affordable data and call packages to help you stay connected to the world on a budget.
So are you ready to discover some of the best and most affordable prepaid and e-SIM cards for Europe? Scroll down and read on to find some insightful information and make a wise decision before embarking on your trip to Europe.
SIM Card Recommendations for Travelling to Europe
Here is a list of some of the most popular and commonly used SIM cards for Europe that people have been using for years to use the internet and make calls. All the SIM cards mentioned below, whether physical or electronic, are European SIMs with data volume that you can purchase online before your itinerary.
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Orange Holiday Europe e-SIM
Orange Holiday Europe e-SIM is a relatively new SIM added to the extensive list of SIM cards available at Orange. It’s a sort of an upgraded version of the Orange Holiday Europe SIM card. At present, the SIM card is only available as an e-SIM and not as a physical prepaid SIM. It’s a 5G-ready connection with 50 GB of data volume.
Cost: USD 59.90
Specifications:
- 50 GB data volume valid in all European countries including UK and Switzerland
- 5G ready connection
- Unlimited calls and texts all over Europe
- 120 free minutes to any country in the world
- 1000 free SMS messages to any country
- 28 days validity
- Automatic activation upon insertion
- Can be topped up online
- No registration or verification is required
- The SIM card has a phone number registered in France with code +33
To place an order for an Orange Holiday Europe e-SIM card, you may click here.
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Bouygues Telecom My European e-SIM
Bouygues Telecom prepaid SIM cards are considered the best international SIM cards for tourists traveling to Europe. The SIM is only available as an e-SIM and does not have a physical version. To order this SIM card, you must make sure that the device you intend to use with it is unlocked and e-SIM compatible.
Cost: USD 44.90
Specifications
- 30 GB data volume valid in all European countries except Switzerland
- Unlimited calls and texts all over Europe
- 30 days credit validity
- Online top up
- The SIM comes with a phone number registered in France with code +33
- Supports incoming calls and texts
- SIM needs to be activated within 1 year from the date of purchase
- Activates automatically when connected to a supported European network
- No ID verification or registration is required
The SIM card package is named My European e-SIM and costs USD 1.5 per 1GB. Given its low rate, it’s considered one of the best affordable e-SIM cards for Europe.
To place an order for a Bouygues Telecom e-SIM Card for Europe, you may click here.
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Orange Holiday Europe 30 GB
One of the most affordable and reliable physical prepaid SIM cards for Europe is the Orange Holiday Europe SIM card with 30 GB data volume. If you are in search of an international European SIM card with free international calls, then this SIM can be a good choice.
This SIM card is available as a physical card and has an electronic version too.
Cost: USD 49.90
Specifications
- 30 GB data volume valid in all European countries
- Unlimited calls and texts all over Europe
- 120 free minutes to any country
- 1000 free SMS messages to any country
- 14 days validity
- Automatic activation
- Top-up options available
- No registration or ID verification is required
- The SIM card has a phone number registered in France with code +33
An added benefit of this SIM card by Orange is that it comes with free international calling minutes to anywhere in the world. You can make calls back home and make local calls without having to spend extra.
The only downside is the short validity period i.e. 14 days. If you plan on staying in Europe for more than two weeks, then you can choose the Orange Holiday Europe SIM Card 50 GB which has a month-long credit validity.
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Eurolink e-SIM by Airalo
Airalo is a renowned eSIM card provider and sells e-SIM cards for almost every country across the globe. Their e-SIM cards for Europe are a bit expensive when compared to other networks but offer robust coverage and high-speed connectivity.
Airalo eSIMs for Europe have 5G connectivity in some regions which means in some European countries you would be able to use a 5G connection but for others, you will have to depend on 4G/LTE connectivity.
Eurolink e-SIM cards by Airalo have connection plans with 3 months validity and some are valid for even 6 months, which is pretty generous.
Plans and Pricing
Here is a breakdown of the plans currently available on their website
- 1 GB data volume for USD 5= Valid for 7 days
- 3 GB data volume for USD 13= valid for 30 days
- 5 GB data volume for USD 20= valid for 30 days
- 10 GB data volume for USD 37= valid for 30 days
- 50 GB data volume for USD 100= valid for 90 days
- 100 GB data volume for USD 185= valid for 180 days
If you are looking for e-SIM cards for Europe with extended validity, then SIMs by Airalo could be a great choice. To place an order for a Eurolink eSIM for Europe by Airalo, you may click here.
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Bouygues Telecom Travel Basic 15 GB
Travel Basic SIM card by Bouygues Telecom is another great eSIM for traveling to Europe. It’s a cheaper connection as compared to other plans offered by the company. It’s intended for travelers who visit Europe for a shorter duration and require less data.
Cost: USD 21.90
Specifications
- 15 GB data volume valid in all European countries except Switzerland
- Unlimited calls and texts all over Europe
- 15 days validity
- Top-up options available
- Users can receive calls and text messages
- The connection must be activated within 1 year from the date of purchase
- Activates automatically when connected to a supported European network
- Not available as a physical SIM card
To place an order for Bouygues Telecom Travel Basic eSIM card for Europe, you may visit SimOption’s official website.
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Three UK Data Pack 10 GB
Three UK has a physical prepaid SIM card for tourists traveling to the United Kingdom. This SIM is not available as an e-SIM and can only be purchased as a standard SIM card. It can be ordered online to be delivered to your preferred address. It’s a plug-and-play kind of SIM that will start working automatically upon your arrival in Europe.
Cost: USD 24.90
Specifications
- 10 GB data volume valid all over Europe along with coverage in almost 30 countries outside of Europe
- Unlimited calls and texts all over Europe
- 5G ready connection
- Month-long validity which starts from the moment the SIM is inserted into a phone
- No registration or ID verification is required
- This connection cannot be topped up
- SIM card comes with a phone number registered in the UK with the code +44
To place an order for this Three UK SIM Card for Europe, you may click here.
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Nomad e-SIM For Europe
Nomad has some very attractive and reasonably priced e-SIM cards for Europe. You can get affordable data packs without having to spend a lot of money. You can get 1 GB of data for as low as USD 1.3. All Nomad e-SIM cards are powered by Esim Go and feature 5G connectivity in some European countries.
Nomad e-SIM Data Plans
Here is a breakdown of some of the most sought-after data plans available in Nomad eSIMs for Europe
- 1 GB data volume for USD7= valid for 7 days
- 3GB data volume for USD13= valid for 15 days
- 5GB data volume for USD12= valid for 30 days
- 10GB data volume for USD18= valid for 30 days
- 20GB data volume for USD26= valid for 30 days
Nomad e-SIM cards for Europe are data-only SIMs and do not have a phone number. The connection does not support incoming or outgoing calls and texts.
To place an order for Nomad eSIMs for Europe, you may click here.
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O2 Go Card Prepaid SIM Card for Europe with 10 GB Data
The O2 Go SIM card based in the Czech Republic is another great option for travelers visiting Europe for a holiday or work trip. This SIM card is available as a standard prepaid physical SIM and as an e-SIM as well. You can order this SIM online and get it delivered to your address before departing on your trip to Europe.
Cost: USD 24.90
Specifications
- 10 GB data volume to be used anywhere in Europe except for Switzerland
- USD 2 credit for calls in Europe
- USD 2 credit for sending text messages in Europe
- Unlimited incoming calls and texts
- 30 days validity starting from the moment the SIM is installed in the phone
- The connection comes with a phone number registered in Czech Republic with the code +420
- No ID verification or registration is required to purchase the SIM
To purchase an O2 Go Card online, you may click here.
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SimOptions Europe eSIM with 50 GB Data
SimOptions Europe e-SIM with 50 GB data can be a good choice for travelers with high data usage demands. Here are all the details:
Cost: USD 99.90
Specifications:
- 50 GB data volume valid all over Europe except for Iceland
- Does not come with a phone number so no incoming or outgoing calls and texts are supported
- A data-only SIM
- 60 days validity which starts from the moment the e-SIM is activated in the phone
- No ID verification or registration is required to purchase the SIM
With a generous data volume and long validity period, this SIM is an ideal option for travelers who wish to stay in Europe for longer. To make a purchase, we recommend you visit the official website of Simoptions.
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Orange Holiday Zen SIM Card for Europe
Cost: USD 29.90
Specifications
- 12 GB data volume valid all over Europe
- Unlimited calls and texts within Europe
- 120 free calling minutes to any country across the globe
- 1000 free SMS messages to any country around the world
- 14 days validity starting from the time the SIM connects to a supported European network
- Online top-up options are available
- No registration is required
- The SIM card comes with a phone number registered in France with code +33
The Holiday Zen SIM card for Europe is a lighter version of the Orange Holiday Europe SIM card. This connection comes with less data volume but also with a cheaper price tag. It can be a reasonable option for travelers staying in Europe for a shorter duration with lesser data usage requirements.
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Three UK SIM Card for Europe with 12GB
If you are a frequent traveler to Europe and do not want to purchase a SIM card every time you visit the continent, then consider getting your hands on the prepaid SIM card by Three UK. This physical SIM card comes with a generous validity of one year along with 12 GB data volume to browse the internet on the go.
Cost: USD 59.90
Specifications
- 12 GB data valid all over Europe and some nearby countries
- Unlimited calls and text messages all over Europe
- One year validity
- Credit top-up is not available
- SIM card comes with a phone number registered in the UK with the code +44
- Unlimited incoming calls and texts within Europe
European SIM cards with Unlimited Data
Generally, it’s not recommended to buy SIM cards for Europe offering unlimited data volume. Many times people exceed the fair usage policy and end up with a slow internet connection resulting in enormous frustration.
It’s better to check beforehand what speed you would get with an unlimited data plan as often the “unlimited volume” isn’t actually unlimited.
Most of the unlimited data bundles on European SIM cards have a fair usage policy. For instance, Holafly has SIM cards with unlimited data deals for Europe, but they have an FUP that says the unlimited data is valid only for a specific period.
After the designated period, the data speed is reduced and people end up with slow-speed internet. The slow connection halts all online activities and sometimes won’t even let you share a photo on WhatsApp.
All carriers have the right to apply FUP and you can do nothing about it. So better check all your options and go for the one most suitable to your budget personal choice.
Why Buy International SIMs for Europe?
Most of the places in Europe including hotels, restaurants, train stations, and airports have free public Wi-Fi. So connecting to a network is not always a problem. But sometimes the connection is poor and the speed is very slow which doesn’t let you carry out activities with ease.
Also, public Wi-Fi is often connected to the internet via an unsecured network. This means your personal safety can be at risk when browsing the internet through such connections. It’s better to use a trusted VPN if you wish to connect to public Wi-Fi to safeguard your identity and personal data.
That’s why it is recommended to get an international SIM card for Europe with the help of which you can connect to high-speed internet and make calls to local and international numbers without draining your budget.
With a speedy internet connection, you can order cabs through an app, get directions from Google Maps, find eateries, read restaurant reviews, and look for train schedules without any hassle. No matter where you go, phone data on your device can help you stay connected to the world.
So if you plan on heading to a European country, it’s advised to get an international prepaid or e-SIM card for Europe to avoid stress and overspending on roaming charges.
Local SIM cards vs. international SIM Cards for Europe
Purchasing a local prepaid SIM card is generally the cheapest way to go online and make calls when traveling to Europe. But sometimes people find it hard to purchase a SIM after landing in a new country and want to avoid the hassle of heading to local stores to get themselves a SIM.
To counteract this problem, you can opt for an eSIM which will help you get connected as soon as your plane lands at the airport. You can do so by ordering e-SIM cards for Europe online before heading on to your trip. Ordering a SIM for Europe is pretty simple and there are some incredible tourist SIM card plans available online that you can purchase to save money.
The international tourist physical SIM cards will be shipped to your preferred address and will be activated automatically when you turn on your phone after landing in any European country. e-SIM cards for Europe on the other hand will be e-mailed to your given address. You can scan the QR code sent in the email to install and activate the connection.
All SIM cards discussed in this article are European SIM Cards with free Roaming in all European countries. So if you intend to visit multiple countries, you can purchase just one connection and use it anywhere in Europe with great coverage.
However, If you are traveling to only one country then you might get a local SIM card on your arrival at the airport as it would be more economical. But at the end of the day, the choice is always yours. You can weigh the pros and cons along with the costs and choose between a local prepaid SIM card and an international SIM card for Europe.
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