When traveling to Europe from a non-EU country, it’s crucial to know that your usual roaming plan may not work and could cost you a small fortune. Since Brexit, UK carriers differentially restored roaming fees for non-EU travel, and EU roaming laws (like “Roam Like at Home” within the EU) do not apply outside the union — particularly in countries like the UK, Turkey, and non-member Balkans thesun.co.uk+1saily.com+1. Even within Europe, Turkey, Bulgaria, Albania, and others may be excluded from EU-roaming plans, leaving tourists unexpectedly disconnected or charged extra .
Public Wi‑Fi can be helpful in urban centers, cafés, and hotels, but it’s often insecure, slow, or unavailable in transit.
That’s where eSIMs truly shine for Europe travel. They allow you to buy reliable data access in advance and install it instantly upon arrival, no need to hunt down local SIM cards or worry about hidden roaming fees. With eSIMs, you get clear pricing, better network value, and full coverage exactly where you need it.
Here’s the context:
EU travelers enjoy roam-like-home within EU member states, but those rules don’t cover non-EU destination. Also, Turkey and other popular destinations are frequently excluded from Europe-wide plans, so you need to confirm coverage in your eSIM .
Mobile internet from your home carrier: can be expensive, limited, or completely unavailable, particularly on short-term or PAYG plans.
Why an eSIM makes sense for Europe?
- Instant data as soon as you land—no need to stop at a kiosk or suffer while searching for Wi‑Fi.
- Transparent pricing and upfront data limits, avoiding surprise roaming charges.
- Coverage for multiple countries, including often-excluded ones, via regional eSIMs
- Freedom and flexibility: install before travel, switch profiles easily, and top up whenever needed.
In this guide, we’ll help you navigate the best eSIM options for European travel, with clear comparisons of coverage (including tricky spots like Turkey), data allowances, and affiliate pricing. You’ll learn which plans suit tourists, digital nomads, business travelers, and families, so you can stay connected, securely, affordably, and stress-free, on your next European adventure.
Let’s dive into the top providers and what’s a smart pick for you!
Our top 5 eSIMs
Travelers heading to Europe can now stay connected easily with eSIMs, but not all Europe eSIM plans cover every country. For instance, standard EU roaming often excludes countries like Turkey, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, or Switzerland. Below we highlight the top regional eSIM providers that offer coverage across multiple European countries, including those “off-network” destinations. Each provider review includes key features like coverage area, pricing, activation, network quality, data speeds, hotspot/tethering support, and which type of traveler will benefit most.
1. Simsolo:
Simsolo is our #1 recommendation for Europe travel eSIMs. It stands out for its broad coverage and unlimited data options. Simsolo’s regional plans ensure you’re connected even beyond the EU. The main Europe eSIM covers 30 countries (all EU members plus places like Switzerland and the UK. For destinations not in that plan, Simsolo offers separate region packs, for example, a “Western Balkans” eSIM covers Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and there’s a Turkey-specific eSIM. This means with Simsolo you can easily get coverage in Turkey or the Balkans where typical EU plans won’t work. Simsolo also emphasizes high-quality service: they partner with the strongest local networks in each country for reliable 4G/5G speeds..
Key Features:
Coverage: 30 European countries on the main plan (EU nations plus UK, CH). Additional regional eSIMs cover out-of-EU areas (e.g. Balkans: Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, etc.)
Pricing: Very flexible options and rates are competitive (around $5 USD for a 1-day unlimited pass, with longer durations costing more). Fixed plans are cost-effective for heavy users. All plans are prepaid with no roaming fees.
Activation: Purchase online or through the APP and receive an instant QR code via email. Install the eSIM in seconds. Activation is automatic upon first connection at your destination
Network quality and speed: Simsolo uses top-tier partner networks in each country (they “only contract with the strongest mobile networks” for best coverage) You’ll get 4G/LTE and even 5G where available. Remember, unlimited plans are subject to a fair use policy: about 1–3 GB per day at full 4G/5G speeds, after which speed may be reduced if you hit the daily cape.
Hotspot/Tethering: Yes! all Simsolo eSIMs allow hotspot, just beware that heavy tethering will consume data quickly.
Best for: All types of travelers. The flexibility makes Simsolo ideal for tourists and backpackers (who might opt for a 7 or 14-day unlimited pass for hassle-free social media, maps, and browsing) and digital nomads or business travelers (who can pick a large GB package for full-speed work connectivity).
2. Holafly
If you want unlimited data Holafly is a top choice. Holafly’s Europe eSIM covers an extensive 40 countries in Europe, notably including Turkey, Switzerland, the UK, and other non-EU nations. One thing to note: unlimited use is subject to fair usage policies of partner networks, always ensure what is the daily cap of internet usage. Holafly explicitly allows tethering (hotspot) as well, though with a guideline of 1 GB/day for hotspot use.
Key Features:
Coverage: Wide-ranging, includes 40 EU and non-EU countries. Connects to main local providers and offers 4G/5G speeds depending on the region.
Pricing: Holafly’s eSIM is sold by duration with unlimited data. Plans are customizable from 1 up to 90 days. For example, 5 days unlimited costs about $20.90 USD and 15 days around $50.90; a 30-day unlimited plan is roughly $74.90 USD. Note: IT IS NOT THE CHEAPEST OPTION.)
Activation: Easy and immediate. Buy online and you’ll receive a QR code via email within seconds.
Network Quality and Speed: Holafly partners with the best local carriers (e.g. it will put you on networks like Orange, Vodafone, Telekom, etc. depending on country), ensuring strong coverage and high speeds.
Hotspot/Tethering: Yes, you can use your phone as a hotspot with Holafly. Officially, they note that 1 GB per dayis intended for sharing (tethering) Best For: mid to long term travelers, that wish unlimited data and aren’t on a budget.
3. Airalo: affordable plans
Airalo is one of the pioneers in the eSIM space and offers a popular Europe eSIM called “Eurolink.” It’s known for being very affordable and flexible. The Eurolink eSIM covers 42 countries across Europe, that includes all the EU countries and many non-EU countries in the region. This broad coverage means Airalo will likely work in every European country you visit except perhaps a few microstates. Airalo’s strength is in its tiered data packages and low starting price. You can choose data amounts from as little as 1 GB up to 100 GB, with various validity periods (days) to match your trip.
Key Features:
Coverage: Airalo’s Eurolink Europe eSIM covers 42 countries across Europe. This includes essentially all of Western, Central, and Eastern Europe. Notably, Airalo works in places like Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, Turkey, and Ukraine, which are outside the EU roaming.
Pricing: One of the most budget-friendly eSIM options. Prices start at $5 USD for 1 GB (7-day validity). Popular plans include 3 GB (~$13) for 30 days, 5 GB for $20 (30 days), 10 GB for around $35 (30 days), etc. They even offer large long-duration packs (e.g. 20 GB, 50 GB, 100 GB valid for up to 180 days) for extended trips or heavy use.com.
Activation: Very convenient. You can purchase and manage the eSIM via the Airalo app (iOS/Android) or their website. After purchase, a QR code is provided for installation.
Network Quality and speed: Airalo partners with reliable local carriers in each country (for instance, it might use Orange, Vodafone, Telekom, etc., depending on where you are). You’ll typically get 4G/LTE speeds and even 5G in locations where 5G is available.
Hotspot/Tethering: Yes, you can use hotspot on Airalo eSIMs up to 3GB per day.
Best For: Budget-conscious travelers and those wanting flexibility. Airalo is perfect for backpackers, students, or anyone on a budget, you can start with a small cheap plan and top-up if needed, rather than paying a lot upfront. It’s also great for longer-term travelers or digital nomads in Europe, because you can get large data packs that last many days.
4. Nomad – App-Based eSIM with Flexible Plans (Great for Digital Nomads)
As the name suggests, Nomad is designed with the modern traveler (and remote worker) in mind. Nomad offers a Europe regional eSIM that spans 36 countries, including popular destinations and typically excluded ones; for example, Nomad’s Europe plan includes Turkey, the UK, and others alongside the EU countries (Nomad actually has two Europe options: one for 35 countries and one for 36; the 36-country version includes Turkey)
Key Features:
Coverage: Nomad’s Europe eSIM covers 36 countries, which includes essentially all of Europe that a traveler might visit. This plan covers the entire EU and EEA, plus countries like Turkey, UK, Switzerland, Balkan states, etc.
Pricing: Affordable and transparent. Nomad’s prices are often identical to Airalo’s, and sometimes they have promos. Examples: 5 GB for 30 days ~ $15, 10 GB ~$26 on the Europe plan (prices vary a bit by currency and promotions).
Activation: Entirely app-based and user-friendly. Download the Nomad app, pick the Europe region and your desired data pack, pay with credit card or other methods, and the eSIM is delivered instantly in the app.
Network Quality and speed: Nomad partners with reputable carriers in each country (just like other major eSIM providers). Users report good experiences with connectivity.
Hotspot/Tethering: Yes, fully supported. Nomad eSIMs allow you to use your phone as a hotspot to share.
Best For: short to mid-term travelers, tourists, digital nomads, business workers. They offer only fixed data plans.
5. Ubigi
Ubigi is a slightly different player in the eSIM market, it’s actually a service by telecom company Transatel and is known for excellent pricing and a robust network. Ubigi offers regional plans for Europe and even an “Europe Extended” plan that covers some extra countries. The standard Europe eSIM covers all the usual countries (EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland, etc.) and notably also includes Ukraine in its coverage. For travelers needing Turkey or other non-EU countries, Ubigi’s Europe Extended plans include Turkey (using Turkcell and Turk Telekom networks) and others like Albania, Andorra, Moldova, Ukraine, etc.
Key Features:
Coverage: Ubigi’s Europe plan covers 30+ countries (EU countries, UK, EEA, CH, UKR, etc.), and the Europe Extended plan adds Turkey and other non-EU states. If you need Turkey or Balkan coverage, make sure to choose a plan labeled “Extended”.
Pricing: One of the most budget-friendly options per gigabyte. Ubigi’s prepaid data bundles are inexpensive. For example, 10 GB valid 30 days for Europe is about $16 USD. They often have promotions (e.g. first-time user bonuses or promo codes). Smaller plans like 3 GB or 5 GB are well under $10. They even offer recurring monthly plans for long-term travelers (e.g. an annual plan with 2 GB per month).
Activation: You can get the Ubigi eSIM by downloading their app or scanning a QR from their website. It’s a free installation
Network Quality and speed: eSIM will latch onto major networks in each country (often the same ones you’d roam on with a big carrier). For instance, in France it might use Orange; in Italy, TIM; in Turkey, Turkcell/Turk Telekom. Speeds are typically 4G/LTE and in many cases 5G (Ubigi has been rolling out 5G support in various countries).
Hotspot/Tethering: Allowed without restriction. Ubigi explicitly states that “Data sharing [hotspot] allowed”on their plans.
Best For: Ubigi is great for budget travelers, long-term Europe visitors, and frequent travelers who may go from one region to another
What’s the final word?
With any of these eSIMs, you can land in Europe and connect your phone in minutes, no hunting for SIM cards or relying on hotel Wi-Fi. Just remember to check your device’s eSIM compatibility beforehand and enjoy your travels with seamless connectivity. By using a regional eSIM, you’ll stay connected from the cafes of Paris to the beaches of Turkey, and everywhere in between, all on one plan, without breaking the bank.
