Best SIM card for Europe in 2025: Top 6 options

Planning a trip around Europe? As you prepare for your journey, it’s important to think about how you’ll stay connected and manage your travel logistics.

A Europe travel SIM can help you avoid roaming charges and stay connected as you move between countries. In this guide, we’ll present several options and compare their key features to help you find the best SIM card for Europe.

Also, if you need a cost-effective way to handle your finances across borders, check out the Wise card. It can help you get ready for your trip around Europe and save money while travelling abroad. You can pay and withdraw cash like a local for low fees* and at the mid-market exchange rate.

Best SIM Cards for Europe: Top 6 options

Let’s look through some options for travel SIM cards and help you find the best and cheapest SIM card for Europe.

Lebara

Lebara has some of the most affordable SIM plans, starting at only £5. They’re all 30-day plans with international minutes included and you can use them in the EU like you would at home.¹

The £5 plan comes with 5 GB of data and 100 international minutes. For £15, you can get 40 GB of data and 500 minutes, while 50 GB and unlimited minutes costs £20.¹

There are also two unlimited data plans, at £25 and £30. The cheaper package has 100 international minutes, while the £30 deal has unlimited calls to the EU.¹

Holafly

Holafly can be a great option, as all their eSIM plans offer unlimited data. The per-day price decreases with longer plan durations.

The Holafly Europe eSIM costs £6 per day, but the 7-day plan is £24. If you get the 15-day plan, that will cost you £41, while the monthly deal works out to £2 per day.²

Holafly has data-only eSIM plans, so you’ll be able to keep your UK number while travelling. Plus, you can share up to 1 GB of daily data from your plan via hotspot, so your travel group can stay connected.²

Three UK

Three has various pay-as-you-go options which you can use in the UK and 70 other countries. You can choose between their auto-renew plans, monthly data packs or the three month plan.³

All plans have unlimited minutes and texts. The 20 GB monthly plan costs £10, but it allows you to use 6 GB abroad. The 75 GB pack includes 12 GB of international data and costs £15, while the 150 GB plan has 18 GB of international data for £20. They also have an unlimited data plan, but it includes 30 GB of international data, while the rest can only be used in the UK.³

The 70 destinations where you can use the international data or their Go Roam service include EU countries and destinations such as Switzerland, Norway and Aland Islands.⁴

Bouygues Telecom

The French provider Bouygues Telecom offers four vacation SIM plans called My European SIM. All plans have data that you can use in France and throughout Europe with connection sharing included. Also, all plans except the smallest one have unlimited calls in France and Europe.⁵

The My European SIM Basic plan is valid for 15 days, has 15 GB of data and costs €14.90. If you need more data with the same validity period, the Basic + plan comes with 20 GB of data and unlimited calls for €19.90.⁵

For longer trips, Bouygues Telecom also offers two 30-day plans called the Premium and Premium + plans. The smaller one has 30 GB of data for €29.90, while the Premium + has 60 GB and comes at €39.90.⁵

Airalo

In addition to offering country-specific eSIM plans, Airalo also provides regional packages, such as the one for Europe. You can choose from nine different plans, depending on the data amount and validity duration.⁶

The smallest plan has 1 GB of data for £4.50 and you can use it for a week. For £8, you can get a 15-day plan with 2 GB of data, while the 10-day unlimited data deal costs £28.50.⁶

There are four monthly plans, ranging from £10.50 to £39.50. The 90-day eSIM has 50 GB of data for £80.50, while the 180-day plan costs £149 and includes 100 GB of internet.⁶

Orange

Orange’s six eSIM packages can keep you covered throughout your Europe journey. They last from 7 to 30 days, with up to 100 GB of data.⁷

For example, their Holiday Europe 70 GB deal costs £29.99 for 28 days of coverage. It also includes unlimited calls in Europe and 120 minutes to the rest of the world. The 5GB plan is one of the cheaper ones at £10.99, but it includes only data. If you only need a weekly plan, you can get 1 GB of data for £4.99.⁷

If you’d like to get a physical SIM instead of an eSIM, only three out of six Orange Holiday Europe plans are available. You can choose between the 12 GB, 30 GB or 70 GB deal. The 12 GB plan costs £18.99 for 14 days of coverage and it includes unlimited calls in Europe and 30 minutes of worldwide calls.⁷

Where to Buy a SIM Card in Europe

You can buy a Europe SIM card from official provider stores, retail stores, at the airport or online. The best option might be visiting a store, as this allows you to speak with the staff and explain exactly what you need. However, purchasing a SIM online or at the airport ensures immediate connectivity, though airport prices may be higher.

You can also get a Europe travel SIM either before leaving the UK or after arriving at your destination. Pre-ordering one means you'll have coverage as soon as you land, which is more convenient and ensures you won’t face roaming charges. On the other hand, ordering online in advance might limit your selection compared to buying one locally.

Consider these factors to determine what matters most to you, which will help you find the best SIM card for Europe.

eSIM vs. Physical SIM: Pros & Cons

If you're deciding between a physical SIM or a digital one, we've compared their features and created a pros and cons list. Here's a comparison of eSIM vs SIM card for Europe:

How to choose the best SIM card for Europe

When choosing the best SIM card for Europe, there are a few important factors to consider. Here are the key things to keep in mind:

• Number of countries covered
• Price
• Data allowance & network speed
• Plan duration
• Ease of activation

Save on holiday spending with the Wise card

To find the best SIM card for Europe, start by determining your priorities and budget. There are plenty of options, but some stand out more than others. And while choosing a Europe SIM card for your trip, you might also want to explore options for holiday spending.

The Wise international debit card can be a convenient choice. For a one-time cost of just £7, you can spend and withdraw like a local in 150+ countries. You can also send money to pay for a rental car, accommodation or the like while still in the UK.

With the Wise card, your pounds are automatically converted at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. You’ll just pay a small conversion fee, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 17-Mar-2025