The 5 best international SIM cards for traveling in Europe in 2023

Planning a European adventure? If your home phone plan doesn’t offer international roaming, you might need to get a new SIM card. Otherwise, you might not be able to use your phone while abroad.

Here, we’ll run through the best international SIM cards for travel to Europe. This also includes how and where to buy one.

We’ll also show you a smart, low-cost way to spend while in Europe, with the Wise card.

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Where to buy an international SIM card for Europe

Before you start looking at providers and packages, it’s useful to know where exactly you can buy international SIM cards for Europe.

The good news is that you have quite a few different options:

1. Buy a travel SIM card online - stores such as Amazon, BestBuy, Walmart and SimOptions are good places to start your search.

2. Buy a European SIM card in a store or at the airport - you should be able to find them at international airports or stores like Walmart, Walgreens and 7-Eleven.

3. Buy an eSIM card online. Firstly, check whether your cell phone is compatible with eSIM cards (which are virtual SIM cards without the need to replace the physical SIM card). If so, you can buy eSIM packages for Europe at sites like Airalo and Holafly.

4. Check with your US carrier to see if they offer roaming plans.

5. Buy your SIM card once you arrive in Europe. You can pick them up at international airports and some stores including Orange, Vodafone, Movistar, SFR or Three stores.

Can I get a European SIM card in the US?

Yes, you can buy international SIM cards for Europe before you travel. There are both pros and cons to consider for this option though.

The most obvious benefit is that you’ll be able to use your phone in Europe right away, without needing to find and buy a SIM card. You’ll be able to compare prices, rather than buying the first thing you see at a European airport.

However, it’s not always the cheapest way to get yourself a travel SIM card. Buying one at an airport is usually the most expensive option, followed by picking a SIM up at a store. Roaming plans offered by your carrier also tend to be quite costly.

Will my phone be compatible with international SIM cards?

The most important thing to do before buying a new SIM card is to check whether your phone is unlocked. You can do that by contacting your US carrier.

You can only put a new SIM card in devices that are unlocked, which means that they aren’t tied to a particular network.

What is the best international sim card for Europe? Your options

Now, let’s run through the 5 best international prepaid SIM cards for Europe, which includes a couple of eSIMs too. This should help you find the best option for your trip, your cell phone and your budget.

1: Orange Holiday Europe SIM¹

This SIM from the French 4G mobile network Orange is available as a standard SIM card and an eSIM.

For a cost of $49.90, here’s what you’ll get:

• 14 days validity
• Coverage - 30 EU countries
• 20GB internet in 4G
• Unlimited calls and SMS in Europe
• 2 hours of global calls and 1,000 global SMS - so you can call and text people back home in the US.

This SIM is ideal for vacations in Europe, thanks to its 14-day validity. It’s available at SimOptions and can be delivered to you in the US before you travel (shipping fees may apply).

2: Bouygues my European SIM/eSIM²

Another French network, Bouygues Telecom offers a choice of a SIM card or eSIM for a cost of €39.90 (around $44).

It could potentially be better value than the Orange Holiday Europe SIM, as it has a longer validity period, wider country coverage and more data.

Here’s what you get:

• 30 days validity
• Coverage - 52 European countries
• 30GB internet in 4G
• Unlimited calls and SMS throughout Europe
• Free €25 EUR credit for international calls and texts
• A free tourist guide, plus stickers and souvenir keyring.

You can take your pick from an eSIM or physical SIM card. Bouygues Telecom offers global delivery, but both SIM types can only be activated in Europe.

3: Three PAYG Data Pack 10GB³

The PAYG Data Pack 10GB from UK network Three is a more affordable option for those who don’t need heaps of data for their trip. For a cost of $24.90 from SimOptions, you’ll get:

• 30 days validity once activated
• Coverage - 49 countries within Europe
• 10GB of 3G/4G/5G data in Europe
• Unlimited calls and SMS within Europe
• Choice of Standard, Micro and Nano SIM formats.

It doesn’t include any calls or SMS outside of Europe, so you won’t be able to call home with this SIM. However, you can receive calls and SMS for free.

4: O2 Go Card⁴

This SIM from O2 Czech Republic offers a similar deal as the previous SIM on our list. For $24.90, you’ll get:

• 30 days of credit validity once activated
• Coverage - all European countries
• 10GB of 3G/4G data in Europe
• Choice of Standard, Micro and Nano SIM formats.
• 50 Czech Koruna (CZK) credit for calls and SMS to local numbers in Europe - this is around $2 USD.

So with just a paltry $2 allowance for calls and SMS, this is very much a data-only SIM. If you just want to get online (and of course, you can then use Whatsapp and similar apps for messaging), this is a decent budget option.

5: Airalo Eurolink eSIMs⁵

If you want to get online in Europe quickly, an eSIM is the way to go - if your phone supports eSIMs, of course.

Airalo’s Eurolink SIMs come in all sorts of validity and data packages - all available on the Airalo website.

For example, you can get 1GB of data for 7 days for $5 USD.

At the top end of the scale, you can get a huge 100GB of data for 180 days for $185. This could be a good option for expats moving to European cities for work or study.

These are data-only eSIMs, offering coverage of 39 European countries.

Low-cost spending in Europe with the Wise card

While you get your SIM card sorted, it’s also worth thinking about how you’ll cover your costs when in Europe.

The Wise card is the ideal choice for low-cost international spending, as it offers the following features:

• Spend and withdraw cash from ATMs in 150+ countries, including Europe
• Have your USD automatically converted to EUR at the mid-market exchange rate, whenever you spend. There’s just a small fee to convert the currency, and no transaction fees.
• Withdraw up to $100 from overseas ATMs for free (although ATM operators may charge their own fees).
• EUR bank details, so you can receive euro payments for free while in the US.

The Wise card is available for a one-time fee of just $9 when you open a Wise Account.

This account also lets you send money to and from Europe with low and transparent fees. And of course, you can use it to pay for your new SIM card.

Wise is a money service business, offering a multi-currency account, international money transfer services and a debit card.

Get a Wise Account today

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing: Only Pay for What You Use for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information._

Bottom line

So, which SIM is best for Europe? It all depends how long you’re going for and how you use your phone. And of course, how much data you need.

The good news is that all of the options on our list have Europe-wide coverage, so they should work wherever you’re heading to.

The same goes for the Wise card, another travel essential which covers your spending in 150+ countries. Don’t jet off to Europe without it.

Learn more about Wise

💡 For more trip planning tips, read our guides to using credit cards in Europe and how to open a European bank account.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get an international SIM in Europe?

Once you land in Europe, you should be able to buy a SIM card from phone stores or at the airport. Just bear in mind that this may not be the cheapest way to get an international SIM.

Do you need a SIM card for each country in Europe?

No, all of the options on our list have Europe-wide coverage, so you can use them in any of the countries listed by the provider.

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Sources used for this article:

1. SimOptions - Orange Holiday Europe SIM
2. Bouygues Telecom - My European eSIM
3. SimOptions - Three PAYG Data Pack 10GB
4. SimOptions - O2 Go Card
5. Airalo - Europe eSIMs

Sources checked on 26-Jul-2023.