Best Europe SIM and eSIM cards – Where to buy

Staying connected while traveling in Europe is essential. This guide will show you the best Europe SIM and eSIM options for your trip across many European countries, helping you choose the best solution for your needs, and budget, and show you where to buy them.

I. Should I buy a SIM card/eSIM for European traveling?

Yes, a SIM Card/eSIM is a great choice for Europe travelers. It’s often cheaper than international roaming, has good coverage and data speeds, plus more controls over costs. 

And unlike traveling everywhere else in the world, you don’t need to switch SIM cards when traveling between European countries due to the “roam like at home” services. This means a SIM purchased from one EU country works across the bloc without extra roaming charges.

II. Europe SIM vs eSIM – which one is better

Price-wise, traditional SIM cards and eSIMs are generally comparable, with costs varying more by provider and plan than by technology. However, both SIM and eSIM have their pros and cons. 

Feature	SIM Card	eSIM
Compatibility	Works with most devices	Limited connectivity, but eSIM is getting more and more popular with the latest phone models.
Activation	Physical insertion required	Remote activation possible
Multiple profiles	One at a time	Can store multiple profiles
Switching providers	Requires physical swap	Can switch digitally
Physical storage	Needs safe storage when not in use	No physical storage needed
Loss/damage risk	Can be lost or damaged	Cannot be physically lost

In general, using a Europe SIM card is the most cost-effective way to keep connected in Europe and is suitable for those who want to have a phone number to make calls, and send texts locally for a long period.

If you want to use a SIM Card but still hesitate about its advantages, then Europe eSIM is a better option for you.

III. Best Europe SIM Card plans for tourists & cost

1. Best Europe SIM card plans for tourists

When traveling in Europe, you can find European SIM Cards from many reliable providers such as Orange, Three UK, Vodafone, TIM, and Lycamobile. They have different plans and prices that might suit your needs. Consider the example plans below:

Plan Details	Orange Holiday Europe	Orange Holiday Zen	Three UK Pay-As-You-Go	Three UK Go Roam 30GB	Vodafone Europe 19GB	TIM Tourist SIM Enhanced	TIM Unlimited Max	Lycamobile EU Mega Plan	Lycamobile EU Max Plan
Data Allowance	20GB	15GB	12GB	30GB	19GB	100GB	Unlimited	25GB	50GB
Validity (days)	14	14	30	30	30	30	30	30	30
Price ($)	42.79	32.09	37.50	43.75	37.50	21.40	42.79	37.45	53.50

Note: Please check the provider’s website for more accurate and updated information.

2. Best Europe eSIM plans for tourists

For eSIM, you can buy it from many reliable eSIM providers such as Gigago, esimspain, Orange Holiday Europe, Holafly, etc. To help you choose the best plan for your trip, this table below compares plans from trusted providers: 

Provider	Plan	Data	Validity	Price (USD)	Speed
Gigago	1 GB/day	1 GB/day	3 days	$6	High Speed
	5 GB	5 GB	10 days	$9	High Speed
	Unlimited	Unlimited	15 days	$51.50	High Speed
esimspain.net	1 GB/day	1 GB/day	5 days	$9.50	High Speed
	Unlimited (5 Mbps)	Unlimited	20 days	$68	5 Mbps
Holafly	7-day Unlimited	Unlimited	7 days	$29	High Speed (FUP)*
	30-day Unlimited	Unlimited	30 days	$75	High Speed (FUP)*
Orange Holiday Europe	50 GB	50 GB	28 days	$59.90	4G/5G
Manet	50 GB	50 GB	30 days	$33.40	High Speed

Note: Please double-check the information on the provider’s website for the latest prices.

Among the eSIM providers:

• Gigago is a popular eSIM provider offering convenient mobile data solutions for travelers to Europe. When buying eSIM from Gigago, you can choose from a variety of data plans depending on the amount of data and the duration of stay.
• The Airalo Eurolink eSIM works across 39 European countries, including major destinations like France, Germany, Spain, and Italy so that visitors can easily buy and use it.
• Holafly is a famous provider that offers unlimited data across more than 30 European countries, with fast 4G/5G speeds. However, hotspot usage is limited to 1GB per day, and the eSIM does not include a phone number for traditional calls or SMS. 
• esimspain.net is another reliable provider that has plans covering almost all European countries. When you buy Europe eSIM from them, you can choose from daily or fixed data plans depending on your needs.

IV. Where to buy SIM/eSIM for Europe?

1. Where to buy SIM for Europe

• Local mobile carrier stores in European countries
• Airport kiosks and vending machines upon arrival
• Convenience stores and supermarkets in Europe
• Online marketplaces before your trip (e.g., Amazon)

1. Where to buy eSIM for Europe

You can buy eSIM for Europe online on many providers’ websites (Gigago, esimspain.net, Airalo, Holafly, etc) and get a code/QR to activate it via email.

V. Tips for saving data on Europe SIM/eSIM?

To save money, here are some helpful tips to help you save data on Europe SIM/eSIM. 

• Download offline maps before traveling
• Turn off automatic app updates
• Disable background app refresh
• Enable data saver mode
• Set email to manual fetch instead of push notifications
• Download important attachments over Wi-Fi before trips

VI. Conclusion

In conclusion, using Europe SIM and eSIM are amazing ways to stay connected during your trip as they offer reliable internet connection and are more affordable compared to international roaming. Whether you choose SIM or eSIM, make sure to consider your needs and budget to make the best choice from our recommended options.