This post is sponsored by Sim Local and includes affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Sim Local provided a plan for me to try. As always, all opinions are mine!
For most Europe trips, a prepaid eSIM from Sim Local is a simple way to stay connected. Plans start around $4, you can install one at home on Wi-Fi before you leave, and every Sim Local plan includes hotspot sharing, which helps with kids or a group. Roaming is the alternative: a carrier day pass runs roughly $10 to $12 per phone, per day (check your own carrier), so about $210 to $252 for one phone over three weeks. Skip to picking a plan if you want the short version.
I started traveling in Europe a really, really long time ago. Then I only had a paper map and a phone number scribbled on a piece of paper, hoping I’d find the way to a long-lost cousin’s house in Paris I was supposed to stay with or a host family where I studied abroad in Spain.
While those days were exciting, I’m so grateful to be more connected (and safe!) when I now visit one of my favorite continents. Over time, having my phone available for translations, maps, currency conversions, connection to friends and even the ability to call for emergencies right away is priceless.
If you’re considering Europe, especially with young children or a group, an eSIM makes the most sense for data abroad. An eSIM saved me when road tripping in Iceland and getting lost. It also was so handy when I moved to London for the first month and was still researching local phone plans.
Luckily, there are lots of different affordable options to make sure you don’t miss a minute of connectivity when you travel. I’ve explained things simply below so you’ll be ready to jump once you book that dream trip!
Jump to
- What is an eSIM?
- About Sim Local
- What’s the best eSIM for Europe?
- Who Sim Local is best for
- How to buy and install a Sim Local eSIM
- Picture the trip: places in Europe
- Quick FAQ
What is an eSIM? (in plain English)
An eSIM is a digital SIM card. Instead of finding a tiny plastic card and a paperclip, you download a plan straight to your phone, usually by scanning a QR code or tapping a button in an app. For instance, setup with Sim Local can take as little as five minutes, and you can do it at home on your own Wi-Fi before you leave.
Your regular number stays right where it is, so texts and verification codes still come through. The eSIM handles the data you’ll use abroad: maps, messages, photos, translating a menu. Most phones made in the last few years support one, as long as the phone is unlocked. If you’re not sure about yours, check Sim Local’s phone compatibility page before you buy.
About Sim Local
Sim Local is one of the simplest ways to make sure your data works when you’re traveling abroad to Europe and beyond. They’ve been a mainstay in the game for more than 15 years, with millions of customers, and have 24/7 support in case there’s any issue at any time.
I had the chance to grab a plan for my regular visits to the UK: both England and Wales for work and for visiting extended family over a couple of weeks. I chose an EE UK plan with 80GB, valid for 30 days after first use. EE is one of the UK’s major networks, which is why I picked it for a trip that covers both countries well. I have the latest iPhone so I downloaded the Sim Local app, had my phone unlocked, and was connected within a minute or two.
Why an eSIM is worth it when you travel in a pack
The more of you there are, the more phones you have, and the more likely someone is to wander off. A group of friends splits up for an afternoon and everyone still needs a map. A family in a rental car needs navigation, a toddler needs a show, and somebody always needs to look up the restaurant menu. With an eSIM, nobody is hunting for Wi-Fi or hovering at a cafe door to send a text.
It can also save money. Many eSIM plans cost less than a roaming day pass for the whole trip. When my multi-gen family traveled on a house boat through French canals for a week, it was clutch for everyone to have their own low-cost plan.
What’s the Best eSIM for Europe? It Depends on Your Trip
Prices are close from plan to plan, usually within a few dollars, so it helps to start with the trip. These ranges come from Sim Local’s plans for Europe and individual countries, checked on October 30, 2026.
Local plan or regional plan?
A local (single-country) plan covers one country and is usually the most budget-friendly. A regional Europe plan covers many countries on one eSIM, so there’s nothing to swap at the border. Sim Local also sells a few kinds of plans:
- Data plans, from 1GB up to 500GB, which is what most travelers need.
- Plans with calls and texts, which come with a local number. For France, for example, these run on Orange.
- Unlimited plans: Unlimited gives up to 5GB of full-speed data per day, and Unlimited Pro gives up to 10GB per day.
The quick trip
A long weekend in Lisbon, Paris or Barcelona. You need maps, a ride, a few messages and the occasional photo. A small plan of around 1 to 3GB is plenty, and runs about $4 to $10.
A week with the whole crew
Maps, group chats, photo uploads, a few shows on the train. For one country, about 10 to 20GB works well and tends to cost $15 to $25. If you’ll share a hotspot with a tablet or another phone, aim toward the bigger end.
Country hopping
If you’re crossing borders, a Europe plan covers many countries on one eSIM. Sim Local’s Europe plans start around $4.50 for 1GB, and plans of 5 to 20GB for a month run roughly $15 to $40. It’s handy for a road trip like our Portugal and Spain itinerary.
The big data trip
Lots of people, lots of video, long drives. Look at the larger plans, 50 to 100GB for a month, which run about $45 to $60.
Staying a while
If you’re living or traveling somewhere for a month or more, look for plans that include calls and texts with a local number. That’s the kind of plan that would have made my first month in London a little easier too, although having data was good enough at the time.
This is also where Sim Local can work for remote workers and digital nomads. Their Europe plans on the Orange network include calls and texts and run up to 500GB: 100GB for 31 days is about $56.50, 200GB for 31 days is about $90.50, and 500GB for 90 days is about $243. If you’d rather not count gigabytes, Sim Local’s Europe Unlimited plans run up to 90 days, at about $146.50 (up to 5GB a day) or $198 (up to 10GB a day). For the UK, EE has a 200GB plan for 30 days at about $39.50 and an unlimited plan for 90 days at about $125.50.
Who Sim Local is best for
- Families and friend groups who want one simple setup and hotspot sharing on every plan.
- Travelers who want to install before they leave and connect the moment they land.
- Anyone who wants a local number with calls and texts for a longer stay.
- Short-trip travelers who only need a few GB.
- Remote workers who want a big data allowance or an unlimited plan for a month or more.
How to read a plan card
Each card on a Sim Local country page shows the same handful of things. The big number is the data: a 20GB plan and a 100GB plan are the same kind of product, just different amounts. Duration is how many days the plan lasts. The “Plan” line tells you whether you get data only, or data plus calls and texts with a local number. Speed tells you the network type, 4G or 5G. The logo shows whose network the plan runs on. A tag like “Top Seller” or “Best Value” is just a nudge.
The simplest way to choose: pick the number of days that matches your trip, then the data amount that matches how many people will be using it. If you want to make a call or get a local number, pick a plan that says Calls/SMS.
How to buy and install a Sim Local eSIM
- Pick your destination on Sim Local and choose a plan for your trip length and data needs.
- Check your phone is compatible and unlocked.
- Purchase the plan. Your confirmation email arrives with a QR code you can scan right from the email, plus short install videos for iPhone and Android. The Sim Local app can also walk you through it.
- Install it at home on Wi-Fi, ideally the day before you travel. Name the line something obvious, like “Europe.”
- When you land, turn the eSIM line on, set Cellular Data to it and make sure Data Roaming is on for that line.
One thing I noticed on my order: my EE plan’s validity is 30 days after first use, so the clock starts when you first connect, not when you buy. Check the validity line in your own confirmation email.
If you’d like peace of mind and your data ready for your next trip, use code PUREWANDER for about 5% off at Sim Local. You can also see all Europe plans or check your phone’s compatibility first.
Easy tips for setup and group trips
Keep your home SIM on for texts and verification codes, but turn off data roaming on the home line so there are no surprises on your bill. To maximize your data for the fun stuff, download offline maps for each city before you go. They use almost no data once saved. Download shows for the kids while you’re on hotel Wi-Fi. Screenshot your QR code and keep the setup email handy. If you plan to share your connection with a tablet or another phone, Sim Local plans include hotspot sharing.
Picture the trip: places in Europe
London and the UK
Again, having data as soon as I landed in my new home country was a game changer. I’ve used eSIMs on my trips back to visit too with my spouse and children. Having maps and your messages ready makes the whole day easier. Sim Local has a UK plan too, with options on EE, Three UK and Lycamobile.
A day with little ones can mean a stroll through Borough Market, a bus ride for stroller-friendly skyline views, the Science Museum’s basement play space and a stop to see dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum. More ideas are in my London with littles guide.
Iceland
Think wind, black sand and long empty roads. On a South Iceland road trip you’ll want maps the whole way: past Seljalandsfoss, down to the black sand beach at Vik, and wherever a friendly Icelandic horse makes you pull over. In winter it’s dark until about 11 a.m. and again by 4:30, so you’ll be glad to find your next turn without hunting for a signal. Iceland is included in Sim Local’s Europe plans.
Italy
Venice, Florence and Rome in a week is a lot of ground, from the colorful houses of Burano to Michelangelo’s David and the Roman Forum, all in our contributor’s classic Italy itinerary. Three cities means trains and tight timing, so a map and your tickets on your phone are a gift. The one-week, 10 to 20GB range fits well.
I’m planning a trip to Italy early next year, and I’ll be using Sim Local there too. Their Italy plans run from a 1GB, 3-day plan at about $4 to a 20GB, 30-day plan at about $24. For a week, a 3GB plan is about $6.25, or an Unlimited plan (up to 5GB a day) is about $17.50 (prices checked October 30, 2026). See Italy plans.
Greece
Sunset dinner in Oia, the new elevator at the Acropolis and a black sand beach at Perissa all make the list in our multi-generational Greece guide. With three generations traveling together, it helps when everyone’s phone works, since someone is always heading to a different beach or a ferry.
Sim Local’s Greece plans run from about $4.25 for 1GB (3 days) to about $34 for 20GB (30 days). For a week, a 3GB plan is about $6.25, or an Unlimited plan (up to 5GB a day) is about $20.75 (prices checked October 30, 2026). Island hopping is a good time for a regional plan. See Greece plans.
Quick FAQ
Will my phone work with an eSIM?
Most recent phones do, as long as they’re unlocked. Check before you buy.
Can I keep my WhatsApp number?
Yes. Your number and chats stay the same.
Do I get a phone number?
Some plans include calls and texts with a local number. Look for “Data/Calls/SMS” on the plan card. Others are data only, and you can call over WhatsApp or FaceTime.
When should I install it?
Before you leave, at home on Wi-Fi.
Can the whole family share one plan?
Yes, all Sim Local plans include hotspot sharing, so one phone can share data with a tablet or another phone. Each person who wants their own data and line would need their own plan.
How long do I have to activate my eSIM?
Sim Local eSIMs can be activated within 6 months of purchase (Three eSIMs have 24 months).
What does “+Roaming” mean?
Some Sim Local UK plans use Three UK and include roaming in about 70 destinations.
Ready to pick a plan?
If you’d like peace of mind and your data ready for your next trip, use code PUREWANDER for about 5% off at Sim Local. You can also see all Europe plans or check your phone’s compatibility first.
This post is sponsored by Sim Local and includes affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Sim Local provided a plan for me to try. All opinions are mine. Use code PUREWANDER for about 5% off!
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