It seems that it was just yesterday when travellers to Europe had to be huddled around a computer in an internet cafe or buying international phone cards to call back home. These days, one of the first things visitors to the continent wonder is what is the best SIM card for Europe with data to take with them.
While you can certainly debate the various pros and cons that having constant internet access has had on travel, it’s undeniable that having a travel SIM makes the logistic aspects of travel a lot easier.
Whether it’s finding directions to your hotel, hunting for a good place to eat or being able to easily stay connected with family or friends, having a prepaid European SIM card makes all this possible!
This article outlines all the best international SIM cards to add to your packing list and what you need to check before you leave on your European adventure to ensure you can use your phone in Europe without any problems!
Want a quick answer? – My choice for the best SIM card in Europe is the Orange Holiday Europe SIM with 30GB Data (eSIM card available) or the Three Prepaid SIM with 12GB data.
Table of Contents
Prepaid Europe SIM Card Comparison
| SIM Card | Description | Prices |
|---|---|---|
Orange Holiday Europe SIM Card | Data: 30GB Expiry: 14 days Calls:120 min SMS: 1000 Hotspot Allowed?: Yes Countries Covered: 30 Recharagable?: Yes eSIM Available: Yes | Check Prices |
Three SIM Card | Data: 12GB Expiry: 30 days Calls: 3000 min (UK/EU only) SMS: 3000 (UK/EU only) Hotspot Allowed?: No Countries Covered: 71 Recharagable?: Yes eSIM Available: No | Check Prices |
Orange Holiday Zen SIM Card | Data: 12GB Expiry: 14 days Calls:30 min SMS: 200 Hotspot Allowed?: Yes Countries Covered: 30 Recharagable?: Yes eSIM Available: Yes | Check Prices |
SIM2ROAM Data SIM Card | Data: 10GB Expiry: 30 days Calls:None SMS: None Hotspot Allowed?: Yes Countries Covered: 31 Recharagable?: Yes eSIM Available: No | Check Prices |
Vodafone SIM Card | Data: 10GB Expiry: 30 days Calls: 300 minutes SMS: None Hotspot Allowed?: Yes Countries Covered: 34 Recharagable?: Yes eSIM Available: No | Check Prices |
Cellhire SIM Card | Data: 12GB Expiry: 60 days Calls:None SMS: None Hotspot Allowed?: Yes Countries Covered: 33 Recharagable?: No eSIM Available: No | Check Prices |
Will my Phone Work in Europe?
Most carriers around the world allow for international roaming, meaning your phone will work as soon as you arrive in Europe.
The bad news? This service tends to be outrageously expensive and should be avoided at all costs – particularly if you’re planning on using data abroad.
Some carriers might offer an international data option, however, these plans also tend to be expensive, particularly when compared to other SIM cards that you can buy online.
This means that the best option is to buy a prepaid SIM for Europe. Unfortunately, many phone providers obviously don’t want to make it easy for you to use another carrier abroad.
Firstly, some mobile phones in the USA don’t allow you to swap SIM cards so you are locked in to using the international roaming option. This is the case for CDMA phones (e.g. Verizon) that historically didn’t work at all in Europe. These days, they will work but you can’t swap the SIM on your phone.
A possible solution is to buy a cheaper unlocked phone to use for your trip to Europe. You should however do the math and compare the cost of a new phone compared to using an international data pack with your existing provider.
If you’re planning on going to Europe for more than a couple weeks you might be surprised that buying a new phone and a European SIM card actually turns out to be cheaper!
For example, Verizon, charges $10 per day to use your phone in Europe. If travelling for a month, that’s $300 in extra fees — which would add a significant amount to your overall Europe trip cost! A good option for an unlocked phone to take to Europe is the Samsung A11.
Another option if you don’t want to buy a new phone is to invest in a mobile WiFi hotspot which is particularly useful if travelling outside of the European Union.
You can also rely on public WiFi which is commonly available in Europe, however, make sure you subscribe to a quality VPN such as ExpressVPN.
Is My Phone Unlocked?
If you have a mobile phone where you can swap SIM cards, the next thing you need to consider is whether your mobile phone is unlocked or not.
Typically, when you go on a mobile phone plan, they lock your mobile phone so it can’t be used with SIM cards that aren’t provided by your carrier. This is often the case for plans where you get one of the latest iPhones or other top-range models.
If your phone is currently locked to your provider and you are not under contract with them, then call them up and ask them to unlock your phone.
If on the other hand, you are under contract with your mobile phone provider, then they will likely request a huge fee (or deny you all together) to unlock your phone.
In this situation, one option is to find a third party to unlock your phone for you. These are often significantly cheaper however it might void your warranty with the mobile phone provider.
You can also either opt for an expensive international data pack or buy an unlocked phone online and pick one of the best European SIM cards outlined below.
Make sure to also check the speed that is offered on international data packs. A number of carriers only offer slow mobile data speeds which will make accessing the internet on the go a slow and painful process, particularly if relying on data when driving around Europe!
Best SIM Card for Europe with Data
These are some of the best SIM cards if you want to ensure you have easy access to data and staying in contact with family and friends!
Orange Holiday Europe with 30GB Data
The Orange Holiday Europe SIM is one of the best roaming SIMs for Europe as the plan allows you to use your minutes allowance to call anywhere worldwide. It is available as both a physical SIM card or eSIM if your phone is compatible.
It comes with 2 hours and 1000 texts that can be used to call any number in the world as well as 30GB of data that works across the UK and many European countries. This SIM also gives you unlimited calls and texts within Europe.
The prepaid credit is active for 14 days so is ideal for heavy data users who want to call back home and are going on a short European holiday. You can easily top up your credit online with an international credit card and there are several options to choose from.
The Orange Holiday Europe SIM also allows you to use it as a mobile hotspot making it ideal for travellers who want to have internet access on their laptops or tablets which makes it undoubtedly one of the best SIM cards to use in Europe and the UK.
Three Prepaid SIM with 12GB Data
This Three SIM Card is undoubtedly one of the best SIM options for travelling in Europe.
It comes with 12GB of data, 3000 minutes of calls and 3000 texts that can be used over a 30 day period. This SIM card will work across 71 countries worldwide including all countries within the European Union.
If you’re from one of these 71 countries that include places like the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand & Singapore you can activate your SIM card at home to ensure that it works before travelling to Europe.
This fantastic international SIM card is run by Three UK meaning you can easily recharge online or via the phone while on the road without any language barriers if you speak English.
A couple of things to keep in mind with this SIM card are that you can’t use it as a personal hotspot when abroad and to make sure to switch off data if visiting a country that isn’t included in their 71 countries list as the data roaming costs can be very expensive.
You can also use the minutes included in the pack to only call other UK or European numbers so this SIM card isn’t ideal if you plan to call other international numbers. However, there is obviously plenty of data to use for WhatsApp or Skype instead!
If you are going on a long trip to Europe, it’s also possible to purchase a Three SIM Card with 12GB data and 1-year validity here. However, there are no calls or SMS credits available with these SIM cards.
This Three SIM Card is undoubtedly one of the best European SIM cards if you’re looking for a large data limit and the ability to call other European numbers when abroad.
Orange Holiday Zen with 12GB Data
If you’re not a heavy data user and don’t need 30GB of data then the Orange Holiday Zen provides similar benefits to the previous SIM card at a lower price point with just 12GB of data. It is also available as an eSIM or physical SIM.
The data works across the UK & Europe and you can also make unlimited calls and texts within Europe, however, you only receive 30 minutes of calls and 200 texts that can be used worldwide.
The credit is valid for 14 days after recharge and there are a number of recharge options should you need additional data or calls after your initial credit expires.
The Orange Holiday Zen can also be used as a hotspot making it ideal for the traveller who wants to have a SIM card for emergencies and light data usage.
SIM2ROAM Prepaid SIM with 10GB Data
If you don’t need the ability to make phone calls to other numbers and are simply looking for the best data SIM for Europe then this SIM2ROAM SIM is a fantastic option.
These SIM cards come with 10GB of data and 30 days expiry similar to the Three SIM. However, the Three SIM has a larger data limit which makes this SIM card a better option for lighter data users.
It does not come with any calls or texts so it’s better for people that are happy to use services like Whatsapp to call family or friends back home. It is also possible to recharge your credit after the initial 30 days.
There is no need to activate this SIM card before arriving in Europe, simply put it in your phone when you land and it should work within a few minutes.
Another advantage of the SIM2ROAM SIM is that you are able to use it as a mobile hotspot though this can obviously quickly use up your data!
Vodafone Prepaid SIM with 10GB Data
If you are planning spending a lot of time in Spain and want to get as much data as possible for your European trip, then this Vodafone SIM is a fantastic option.
The lowest data plan for this SIM card comes with 10GB of data that can be used across the UK and Europe which includes Turkey and Switzerland. You also get a bonus 50GB to use in Spain.
There also are no restrictions on using the data as a hotspot, making it ideal for situations where you don’t have WiFI access.
This SIM is also available in other data limits including a 37GB data package with 150GB data in Spain for heavy data users!
This Vodafone SIM also includes 300 minutes of calls but no texts are included.The credit lasts 30 days, but you need to make sure to activate it prior to going to Europe.
Cellhire Prepaid SIM with 12GB Data
This Cellhire SIM Card comes with 12GB of data that is valid for 60 days and can be used across 33 countries in Europe. It doesn’t come with any phone call allowance and cannot be recharged after its initial use.
This SIM card is a good option for travellers who might not be regular visitors to Europe and just want to buy a single SIM card that they can use once.
You are also able to use it as a hotspot to connect other smartphones so can be a good option if travelling with a friend or as a couple and you want to share data access.
The Cellhire SIM Card comes in variable data limits so you can choose a card that is suited to your expected data usage!
What About Buying a Local European SIM Card?
There are a couple of reasons why I think buying a global SIM card is a better option than purchasing a local SIM card when you first arrive in Europe.
One of the main advantages of buying a global SIM card is that you can ship it your home address and be able to use it as soon as you arrive in Europe.
If you choose to buy a local SIM card, then you won’t have data access when you first arrive (which can be very handy when trying to get to your hotel or hostel jetlagged!) and you need to spend precious time going into a store in Europe to buy a SIM card.
There might also be language barriers in buying and activating a local SIM card. In some countries, you are required to have a passport or local address to buy a local SIM and it can be harder to understand exactly what data or calls are included. This might result is unexpected charges which can easily be avoided when buying a global SIM card!
When travelling to Europe, having access to data on your phone can make your trip infinitely easier. Buying one of these SIM cards for Europe with data will make it straight forward to have internet access as soon as you land!
Are you trying to find a SIM card for your trip to Europe? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments below!
I’ll be traveling to UK, Belgium and Germany for 2 weeks next October.
I’ll need a SIM Card for Maps, text messages and Whatsapp.
Which one do you recommend?
Thanks for your answer.
Hi, I have an iPhone 13Pro through Spectrum. Will it work with a SIM card?
What would be the best one to use in Croatia for 3 weeks? I will need it for navigating.
Thanks!
I have an Android and Spectrum has changed the programming so that you cannot use the SIM Manager to select which SIM handles which service. So you can’t select your Spectrum SIM to handle calls/texts and your European SIM to handle data.
It could be that this isn’t the case with iPhones. But I would love to find out. It might even cause me to jump ship and make the move from Android!
Hi Michael
I am in Canada going to Paris & Italy for 27 days
Was looking at Orange but confused regarding 14 days ( 30 days )
I would like to hotspot but it’s not a deal breaker
Wonder if UK 3 will work
Also can either be checked before we leave. Thank You
Hi Christine, You can either recharge the Orange SIM or buy 2 before leaving. You won’t be able to test it outside of Europe but you can use it as a hotspot. The Three SIM can potentially be tested before you leave if you’re in one of the countries that it supports but you’re not allowed to use it as a hotspot.
Hi we are going to Milan Italy this coming April 16, 2022 then we are going to Switzerland on April 18 to 20 then back to Italy. After this 7 days trip we are going to Germany this coming June 29, 2022 to July 7, 2022. Most of the time I’m using my Apple cell phone for google map, train and internet. What will be the best SIM card to buy base on our situation. Thank you and God bless.
Hi Michael,
I will be in Greece and Italy for a month. I will use my iPhone a lot for maps and dictionary and texts. Not a lot of phone calls required. Ideally I’d like to have 4G speed over there. What would you recommend?
Thanks,
Ashley
Hi Ashley, The Three SIM should suit your needs.
I am going to be travelling to France, Switzerland and then spend a month in the UK. I will need the sim card so that I can use google maps, texting and make calls. Do these come with a UK phone number?
Hi Donna, The Three, LycaMobile and Giffgaff SIMs currently listed come with a UK number.
My daughter will be backpacking through Europe (Paris, Amsterdam, Germany, Switzerland, Italy) for 2 weeks prior to studying abroad in Spain for 4 months. She will use her iPhone a lot for maps and directions and texts. Not a lot of phone calls required. Ideally she would like to have and be able to activate prior to arrival. She also will be taking small trips around Europe during her stay. What would you recommend?
Hi Diane, I would suggest getting the Orange SIM for the initial 2 week trip and then buying up a local SIM in Spain for the next 4 months.
Hi Michael,
I will be traveling late this September and thru most of October. I will be gone approximately a month but it might end up being slightly more. I am from the US and own a Iphone 10 that I bought directly from Apple so it is unlocked. I use AT&T as a carrier. I will be visiting Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Andorra, Italy, San Marino, Malta, and Greece.
I plan to use the phone to keep in contact with friends and family in the US, as a GPS while driving my rental car (Waze), as a hotspot for my Ipad and to do internet searches as needed. Based on these needs, which SIM card would you recommend and would you buy it and install it before I leave the US or when I first arrive in europe? Thanks Carl
Hi Carl, As it sounds you’ll be using a bit of data I’d go for the Orange 20GB SIM to use throughout the European countries you are visiting. You can buy it before leaving and recharge while abroad. I would then suggest buying a local SIM when in Morocco.
Hi Michael,
It appears that your link for the Orange Prepaid SIM Card with 20GB Data is broken. Whenever I click on the link, I keep receiving the message: “This site can’t provide a secure connection” and sometimes also a warning about possible phishing activites.
Just thought I should let you know.
Jackie
Hi Jackie, Thanks for letting me know – I think this was a temporary issue with their website as all the links seem to be working fine for me now!
Unfortunately, it’s still not working for me. 🙁
Hi Jackie, It’s possibly an issue with the security settings on your computer – maybe try on another machine or browser?
Hi Michael,
Hope your well!
I have traveled this month from UK to the Guadeloupe, a French overseas region, I will be here for 2+ years, I would like to keep my UK number.
I am with BT, who are telling me they allow “Roam Like Home” for up to 4 month, any suggestions on what SIM card/plan I should switch whilst i am here? I would mainly want ~(5-10)GB data but also need to make few phone calls ~(120-240)min per month UK mainly.
Any Suggestion is welcomed, as i have looked around and can’t seem to find a longer term solution.
Regards,
M
Hi Mehari, I would suggest buying a local SIM card and using that for your day-to-day communication. You can then move your current UK plan to the lowest possible monthly fee and keep the number while you’re away.
Hi Michael I am traveling this month from South Africa to the Netherlands to do a 1 year masters degree. I am planning to travel to the UK and within Europe (Pandemic permitting) when I have holidays. Any suggestions on what SIM card/ plan I should use whilst there? I would mainly want data but might need to make a few calls when traveling.
Thanks
Hi Ashleigh – I would suggest buying the Three or Orange prepaid SIM listed in this article before you arrive so you have instant data access once you land. You can then purchase a local plan in the Netherlands to use during your year there – you’ll also be able to use it in the rest of the EU and possibly the UK depending on the situation with brexit.
Hello from California,
I will be traveling in September to UK, Prague, Switzerland and France, for 3 weeks. I’m not sure if I should get inexpensive phone and plan or a sim for my iPhone. I will only use it for Maps. No calls or texts. Would it be best to get something here or wait and get it there.
Any suggestions.
Thanks
For a short trip, I would buy a SIM before you leave as long as your iPhone is unlocked. This will save you time at your destination and you’ll be able to use it as soon as you land. Hope you have a good trip!
Awesome. Thanks for your advice Michael.
Hi Michael
Thanks for your blog. It’s super Interesting!
We are visiting Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania in a couple of months. As far as I can make out – the SIM cards you suggested above don’t include these countries? I know you have spent a heap of time in the Balkans so do you have any recommendations for SIM card in these countries?
Thanks heaps for any advice you might have.
Troy
Hi Troy! In the Balkans, I think the best and cheapest option is to buy local SIMs in each country as I haven’t any prepaid SIMs that work in the Balkans (aside from countries in the EU). There are some SIM cards in the Balkans that offer roaming in other Balkan countries but it’s relatively pricey and the one time we tried to use it, it didn’t work!
That “want a quick answer” is the classiest thing I’ve seen on the internet this year, bravo and thank you
What SIM card would you recommend using for a Portable Language Translator Device? I’m a U.S. student planning to study abroad in Europe (France) for 5 months and plan to visit Spain/Germany/Italy. Should I start with an International SIM card (for immediate connectivity when I arrive in France), and then buy a local SIM card for longer use in France? Then use the International SIM card again when I travel to Spain/Germany/Italy (reloading the card again each time due to the calendar expiry)? Any idea how much data I would need for supporting a Portable Language Translator Device (assuming daily use throughout the day)?
Hi William,
As you’ve suggested, I would buy one of these SIM cards so you can be connected as soon as you land and then get a local SIM in France for the duration of your stay. The local SIM from France should work in those other EU countries so no need for additional SIMs when you take trips within the European Union. I’m not sure about the data requirements for your device so opting for a large data limit is probably best.
Hi Michael,
That one only have 14 days validity, do you know if there’s one at least for 30 days and can call USA? Will be there for about 20 days.
Thanks,
Lei
Never mind, it works for more than 14 days. I saw it now.
Thanks,
Lei
Hi Michael,
Is there a card that can be used to call US numbers while in Europe?
Thanks,
Lei
Hi Chunlei – the Orange SIM listed in this article includes 2 hours of calls to your home country.
Hi Michael,
Great article.
We are planing to travel from the Caribbean to Europe for 15 days, the countries includes France, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria and Italy. We need to make minimal calls in these countries ( hotel, taxi & restaurant) , more data for maps and WhatsApp calls, messages and video.
Please let us know our best option for sim purchase.
Thanks
MY ITHER
Hi Charmaine – I suggest the Orange SIM listed in this article.
Hi, I will be traveling from India to Europe for 23 days covering Germany, Paris, Switzerland and Italy. And most of the places I will be driving so I will need good connectivity to internet for live Google maps and also few calls to make to the hotels where I am staying for the updates. Can you please suggest me a good data plan for this trip? And also how and where can I get it in India before starting my trip? Thank you!
Hi Supriya! I suggest the Orange SIM Card for you which is listed above, though it’ll need to be recharged after 14 days during your trip. It is possible to ship it to India.
Hello there, I tried researching more about the THREE PREPAID Sim Card, and it seems that video streaming is not allowed. Would this mean that I will not be able to access any forms of videos on social media, netflix etc? Thanks!
Hi Isabelle, I haven’t had any issues streaming videos on social media or YouTube. I’m not sure if Netflix will work but you probably won’t have enough data for it anyway. I suggest getting the Orange SIM if video streaming is important to you.
My spouse and I are from Canada . Our cell phone provider is Bell Canada. We are heading to UK and then Europe for several weeks. Are we able buy a sim card either through on-line purchase or pick one up after we arrive UK and use it on our travel (if yes, what woul upu recommend- need to stay in touch with family and friends back home using text messaging or via Whatsapp) or should we just get the add tavel features from Bell?
The SIM cards listed in this article will be significantly cheaper than travel plans with your home phone carrier. I recommend the Three SIM or Orange SIM listed in this article.
I went to Italy last May and bought Orange SIM card before I left Canada. I had problems activating it while waiting for my connecting flight in Amsterdam. I ended up buying Wind sim in Florence. Will be on a Baltic cruise soon and looks like orange is the sim I need for hotspot but afraid it would not work again. Any tips on how to activate it if I get another one for my upcoming trip? Thanks
Hi Grace! If you plan to buy the SIM card through SimOptions then I suggest contacting the customer service and getting them to help with any issues. It should work upon inserting the card into an unlocked phone when you arrive in Europe.
Hello Michael
I want to use SIM card with data in Europe and other countries. Could you please tell me which SIM card is suitable and economic?
I recommend the Three or Orange SIM card. The Three Card works in some countries outside of Europe as well.
Me and my family (we’re 4) are planning to spend 11 days in Europe (2 in Milan, 3 in Budapest, 3 in Vienna and 3 in Prague) and we would like to buy a SIM card that works in all counties we’re going to visit? what would you recommend for us?
Hello Michael,
Also I would like to ask where can I buy the SIM cards from in Milan
Thanks.
Hi Lubna, all the SIM cards listed should work in all the destinations you are visiting – I recommend the Three or Orange SIM Card. The SIM cards listed in this article you will need to purchase online.
Hi Michael,
Our plan is to spend 60 days in Europe including France (first stop), Ireland, Portugal and UK.
Need phone to EU & SMS. Data use would be moderate & mainly for map, hotel & news search etc & also able to use as hotspot.
Regards,
Laurence
Hi Laurence, I suggest the Orange SIM Card however you will need to recharge it during your time in Europe.
Hi Michael
We are travelling in August to England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Paris and need a prepaid travel sim with data .
We will be away for 5 weeks ,what would you recommend for us
Kind regards Chrissie
Hi Chrissie, The Three Prepaid & Orange SIM are the best cards in my opinion. Which was is better for you will depend on your data usage and whether you intend to use it as a hotspot.
Hi
We are spending 90 days in uk/ Europe mostly Europe will need data and a smal about of calls texts what do you recommend
Cheers
Dave
Depending on your data usage, the EE SIM is a good option as the credit lasts for 90 days. However, it won’t work in the UK so you could also get a Three or Orange SIM for use during your time in the UK.
Hi Michael,
We are planning to spend 21 days within UK, central and eastern Europe. My concern is the speed during road trip, as I’ll use the hotspot device. Can u suggest best service among all these carriers.
Hi Nadir! The Orange 20GB SIM Card gives 4G/LTE service in all the countries that it works in. This might be your best option as the Three SIM card doesn’t allow you to use it as a hotspot. Have a great trip!
Hi Michael,
We are planning to spend 9 months to a year in Europe (Spain and the UK). What Sim card would you recommend and where should we purchase it?
Also, can we transfer the contacts and apps from our current phones to the new phones that we purchase?
Thanks.
Hi Mark, I suggest purchasing the Three Prepaid or Orange SIM listed above so you have access to data as soon as you land. As you’re staying for 9 months, your best bet is to then buy a local SIM card once you arrive in Europe to use over the longer term.
You should be able to transfer your contacts and apps – the process will depend on which phone you are buying.
Hi,
I’m going to study abroad for 2 months. short of getting two different 30 day cards, any other suggestions other than sucking it up to pay the international fees on my current US plan? thanks!
The EE Sim Card listed in this article can be used for 90 days!
Hi, regarding the EE pay as you go 6GB SIM card, on amazon seen a comment advising card doesn’t work in Europe, is Uk only.
Is this the case?
The version of the EE SIM card sold in the UK doesn’t appear to let you use it Europe however the versions available in the USA & Canada include Europe coverage.
Hi there,
I’m from Canada and next year I plan to trek the “Walker’s Haute Route” which starts in Chamonix and finishes in Zermatt. I would like a card that allows me to call (And text) and use data in countries such as France, Germany and Switzerland in addition to the UK. Mainly I want to be able to use google maps (or another app) to download and use GPS trail coordinates during the trek (14-15 days) but also be able to phone and/or text in advance to book accommodations as I go. I would prefer 30 days if possible and the one with best coverage ( I worry I won’t find a place to top up after 14 days along the way?). I would like to have it working in Canada just before I leave
Wondered which card you recommend for these needs…Orange or UK three.
Thank you
Hi Pam, the three SIM has 30 days validity while the Orange SIM has 14 days however it can be topped up before you leave to make it 30 days. Both will work in the countries you’ve listed however neither SIM Card will work in Canada.
Hi, are you sure about the Three SIM card and activation outside the UK?
This appears to be a SIM card for UK domestic customers offering great roaming service.
However, they do insist on fair roaming use (which is o.k. with the mentioned limits).
AND: There could be a risk , that you first have to activate it inside the UK using the Three network – any comment on this?
Thanks,
Daniel
Hi Daniel, There are a number of reviews on Amazon of people activating the card abroad and using it when they land in Europe so I don’t think you should have an issue.