Staying connected in Europe: SIM cards and eSIMs

An eSIM purchased before departure is usually the simplest option today — no physical swap needed, and you can activate a European data plan the moment you land. Several providers sell eSIM data plans covering the whole EU/Schengen area for a set number of days or gigabytes.

If your phone doesn't support eSIM, a physical prepaid SIM from a local carrier at the airport is a reliable backup, usually cheaper than roaming through your home carrier. EU regulations also mean a SIM bought in one EU country generally works without extra roaming fees across the rest of the EU.