Connectivity in Europe is legitimately good — but only if you set it up correctly before you land. The airport kiosk SIM is almost always a bad deal, your home carrier’s international plan is usually worse, and the “just use Wi-Fi” approach falls apart the moment you’re navigating a train station or trying to pull up a map in a village with no café in sight. Here’s what actually works.
The Three Real Options
For most travelers, the decision comes down to three approaches: an eSIM loaded before departure, a physical SIM purchased in-country from a national carrier, or an international data SIM like Airalo or Holafly. Each has tradeoffs.
- eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad): Installed before you leave, activated on arrival, no physical card needed. Works on any eSIM-compatible unlocked phone. Best option for multi-country Europe trips.
- Physical SIM from a national carrier: Cheaper per GB for long stays in one country. Requires an unlocked phone and sometimes ID at purchase. Best for stays of 2+ weeks in a single country.
- Your home carrier’s international plan: Convenient but expensive. Fine for a 3-day business trip; not worth it for a two-week vacation.
EU roaming rules: Since 2017, EU carriers are required to let you use your data plan across all EU member states at no extra charge. A SIM bought in Germany works in France, Italy, Spain, and 24 other countries at the same rate. This is the single most important thing to understand about European SIMs — you do not need a separate SIM per country.
eSIM Providers Worth Using
eSIMs have become the most practical option for short-to-medium trips because you can set everything up before departure and activate on arrival. Coverage and pricing vary, but these are the providers that consistently work:
- Airalo: Widest coverage, per-GB pricing, country-specific or Europe-wide plans. The Europe plan covers 39 countries. Reliable customer support.
- Holafly: Unlimited data plans (with fair-use throttling after a threshold), slightly more expensive, good for heavy users. Covers most of Europe.
- Nomad: Competitive pricing, no throttling on most plans, good for longer trips. Europe regional plan covers major countries.
The Airport Kiosk Problem
Airport SIM kiosks exist in most major European airports. They are convenient and consistently overpriced — often 3–5× the cost of the same data from a national carrier or eSIM provider. The only scenario where they make sense: your eSIM failed to activate, your phone isn’t eSIM compatible, and you need connectivity immediately. In that case, buy the minimum plan available and replace it in the city.
Physical SIMs by Country
If you’re spending significant time in one country and want the best value, local SIMs are hard to beat on price:
- Netherlands: KPN or Lebara from any Albert Heijn supermarket — €15–20 for 20GB, EU roaming included
- Germany: Congstar or Aldi Talk — widely available at supermarkets, €10–15 for a basic plan
- France: Free Mobile or Bouygues — sold at tabacs and phone shops, excellent coverage, EU-wide roaming
- Italy: TIM or Iliad — good coverage in cities; rural coverage in southern Italy can be spotty on any carrier
- Spain: Yoigo or Movistar — solid coverage including the Canary and Balearic Islands
What We Actually Use
- Short trips (under 10 days): Airalo Europe plan — 10GB for €18, set up before departure, zero hassle on arrival
- Long trips (2+ weeks, one country): Local physical SIM from a supermarket — significantly cheaper per GB
- Multi-country Europe trips: Airalo or Nomad Europe regional plan — no need to swap SIMs at every border
- Phone requirement: Your phone must be unlocked. Check with your carrier before departure — most unlock on request after 12 months of service
- eSIM compatibility: iPhone XS and newer, most recent Android flagships. Check Settings → General → About for eSIM information on iPhone
The Film Pack — Lightroom Presets
The analog warmth and tonal shift we get from shooting the Canon Rebel 2000, packaged as a one-click Lightroom preset. 12 presets, desktop and mobile compatible.
Shop Presets — €39 →