Best eSIM for Europe: one plan for every country on your trip

How to pick the best eSIM for a Europe trip: regional or country plan, which countries to check, how much data you need and how to set it up before you fly.

The best eSIM for Europe is a regional plan that lists every country on your route. You install it once at home, and it keeps working when you cross a border by train, car or plane. For most trips, about 1 GB per day of travel is enough. If you are visiting only one country, a plan for that country is often cheaper.

Regional plan or one plan per country?

A Europe eSIM covers many countries with one plan. That is the simple choice for a rail trip, a road trip or a city-hopping holiday: one install, one balance, no new purchase at each border. A country plan, such as one for Italy or France, usually costs less per gigabyte, so it suits trips that stay in one place.

Which countries should you check?

Plans differ, and each one lists the countries it covers. Check every country on your route, especially these:

United Kingdom. It left the EU, and some European plans do not include it.

Switzerland and Norway. They are not in the EU, so they are not always in EU plans.

Turkey and the Balkans. Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia are often left out of cheaper plans.

Small states. Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City sometimes connect through a neighbour's network.

What about EU roaming at home prices?

EU rules let people with an EU SIM use their home allowance in other EU countries. If your SIM is from the United States, the UK, the Gulf, Asia or anywhere else outside the EU, those rules do not cover you, and your carrier's roaming prices apply. A travel eSIM is a simple way to avoid them. Our guide to roaming versus a travel eSIM compares the costs.

How much data do you need?

Light use (about 0.5 GB a day): maps, messaging, ride apps and some browsing.

Normal use (about 1 GB a day): the above plus social media, photo uploads and a few video calls.

Heavy use (2 GB or more a day): streaming, many video calls, or sharing your connection with a laptop.

A two-week trip with normal use needs about 10 to 15 GB. See how much data you need for two weeks in Europe for a day-by-day breakdown. If you would rather not count, an unlimited plan for your trip length removes the worry; check the plan for any fair-use speed limit.

Does a Europe eSIM include a phone number?

Most travel eSIMs are data only. WhatsApp, FaceTime, Google Meet and other apps work over data. Your home SIM can stay on for texts such as bank codes, as long as its data roaming is off. Some plans include call minutes; the plan page says so.

How to set up your Europe eSIM

Buy your plan on ViraSIM and open the email or the My eSIMs page.

At home, on Wi-Fi, scan the QR code or tap the install button. It takes about two minutes.

Name the new line "Europe" and leave it off until you travel, if the plan's days start on first connection.

When you arrive, turn on the Europe line, choose it for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.

Keep your home line on for calls and texts, with its data roaming off.

Tips for using data in Europe

Download offline maps before long train rides. Signal drops in tunnels, especially in the Alps.

Train and bus tickets in Europe are often in apps. Save them to your phone before you board.

Ferries between countries may switch to a maritime network at sea, which is charged separately. Turn off data roaming on your home SIM on board.

See our Europe rail trip guide for more.

Bottom line

Choose a regional plan that lists every country you will visit, at about 1 GB per day of travel, and install it before you fly. See all Europe eSIM plans, with prices updated live.

eSIM plans for Europe