eSIM and mobile data by country: staying connected abroad

The US has strong 4G and widespread 5G in cities and along highways, though rural and park areas can have dead zones. A US travel eSIM (or a prepaid SIM from a carrier store) is the cheap way to get data without roaming charges.

Almost all recent US-sold phones support eSIM, and many are eSIM-only. Buy a US or North America plan before you land so you are connected at the airport.

Worth knowing: Coverage is excellent in cities but patchy in remote parks and stretches of highway, whichever network you pick.

Source: US FCC: wireless coverage guide

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The UK has solid 4G and growing 5G coverage in cities and towns, thinning out in rural areas and on some train lines. Most "Europe" travel eSIMs include the UK, so one plan can cover a UK-plus-continent trip.

Since Brexit, EU "roam like at home" no longer automatically applies, and some UK networks have reintroduced roaming fees in the EU, so check your own plan if you are bringing a UK SIM to the continent.

Worth knowing: Post-Brexit, a UK SIM may incur roaming charges in the EU again; a travel eSIM sidesteps that.

Source: Ofcom: mobile coverage checker

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Ireland has good 4G and 5G in Dublin and the main towns, with weaker spots in rural west-coast areas. As an EU country, EU-SIM users roam here at home rates.

For visitors from outside the EU, a Europe travel eSIM covers Ireland and the rest of the bloc on one plan.

Worth knowing: Rural and coastal areas can have weaker coverage; in cities it is reliable.

Source: EU: mobile roaming

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France has extensive 4G and broad 5G coverage in cities, with good service in most tourist regions. EU-SIM holders roam at home rates.

Visitors from outside the EU can use a Europe eSIM that covers France and neighbouring countries, handy for a multi-country trip.

Worth knowing: Coverage is strong almost everywhere; deep rural and some mountain areas are the exception.

Source: EU: mobile roaming

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Spain has excellent 4G and rapidly expanding 5G across the mainland and the islands. EU-SIM users roam at home rates.

A Europe eSIM covers Spain plus the rest of the EU, which suits a trip that mixes Spain with neighbouring countries.

Worth knowing: Even the islands have good coverage; you only lose signal in remote countryside.

Source: EU: mobile roaming

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Portugal has strong 4G and growing 5G in Lisbon, Porto and along the coast. EU-SIM holders roam at home rates.

A Europe eSIM covers Portugal and the wider EU, useful if you are pairing it with Spain.

Worth knowing: Coverage is reliable in the populated areas; interior rural regions can be patchier.

Source: EU: mobile roaming

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Italy has broad 4G coverage and expanding 5G in the cities. EU-SIM users roam at home rates across the country.

A Europe eSIM covers Italy and the rest of the bloc on a single plan. Signal can drop in mountainous and remote southern areas.

Worth knowing: Cities and main routes are well covered; mountains and remote south can be weaker.

Source: EU: mobile roaming

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Germany has good 4G and growing 5G in cities, though it has historically lagged some neighbours on rural coverage and along certain rail lines. EU-SIM users roam at home rates.

A Europe eSIM covers Germany and the wider bloc; expect the odd dead spot on regional trains and in the countryside.

Worth knowing: Coverage on regional train lines and in rural areas can be spotty, a long-standing German quirk.

Source: EU: mobile roaming

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Austria has strong 4G and 5G in Vienna and the main towns, with generally good coverage even in many Alpine valleys. EU-SIM users roam at home rates.

A Europe eSIM covers Austria and neighbours. High mountain areas can still drop signal, worth noting if you hike.

Worth knowing: Coverage is good for a mountainous country, but high-altitude and remote valleys can lose signal.

Source: EU: mobile roaming

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The Netherlands has some of the best mobile coverage in Europe, with near-universal 4G and extensive 5G. EU-SIM users roam at home rates.

A Europe eSIM covers the Netherlands and the wider bloc, and you can expect a strong signal almost everywhere.

Worth knowing: Coverage is excellent nationwide; there is little to watch out for here.

Source: EU: mobile roaming

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Czechia has good 4G and growing 5G in Prague and the larger towns. EU-SIM users roam at home rates.

A Europe eSIM covers Czechia and the rest of the bloc on one plan.

Worth knowing: City coverage is reliable; rural and forested areas can be weaker.

Source: EU: mobile roaming

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Hungary has solid 4G and expanding 5G in Budapest and the main towns. EU-SIM users roam at home rates.

A Europe eSIM covers Hungary and neighbouring countries, convenient for a central-Europe trip.

Worth knowing: Budapest and the towns are well covered; the countryside is patchier.

Source: EU: mobile roaming

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Greece has good 4G in Athens and the main towns and across most popular islands, with 5G growing in the cities. EU-SIM users roam at home rates.

A Europe eSIM covers Greece and the bloc. On smaller or remote islands and at sea between them, signal can come and go.

Worth knowing: Popular islands are well covered, but expect gaps on remote islets and on ferries between islands.

Source: EU: mobile roaming

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Turkey has strong 4G and 4.5G in Istanbul and the tourist regions; commercial 5G only began rolling out in 2026 and is still limited. A Turkey travel eSIM is the easiest way to get data, since Turkey is outside EU roaming.

The trap is Turkey’s IMEI rule: if you put a Turkish SIM into a foreign phone, it works for a limited window (around 120 days) and is then blocked on Turkish networks unless you register and pay a fee. A travel eSIM that roams on Turkish networks usually avoids this, but a local physical SIM in your own phone can trigger it on a long stay.

Worth knowing: A Turkish physical SIM in a foreign phone can be blocked after about 120 days unless you register the device. A roaming eSIM generally avoids this.

Source: Türkiye e-Government: IMEI registration

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The UAE has excellent 4G and widespread 5G in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. As it is outside EU roaming, a UAE travel eSIM or a local SIM (du or e&, formerly Etisalat) is the way to get data.

The quirk is calling apps: the UAE has long restricted some internet voice and video calling (parts of WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype calling). A travel eSIM that connects via another country’s network, or using an approved calling service, can restore them; connectivity is otherwise first-rate.

Worth knowing: Internet calling on apps like WhatsApp and FaceTime can be blocked on local networks; a roaming eSIM that connects via another country often restores it.

Source: UAE TDRA (telecom regulator)

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Japan has outstanding 4G and 5G coverage, including on bullet trains and deep in the metro. Since Japan is outside EU roaming, a Japan travel eSIM is the simplest option.

Note that most tourist SIMs and eSIMs are data-only (no local phone number), which is fine for maps, messaging and calling apps; voice-number options exist but mean choosing a specific provider. Pocket wifi rental is a popular alternative if several of you want to share one connection.

Worth knowing: Tourist eSIMs are usually data-only, with no Japanese phone number; that covers maps and apps but not local voice calls.

Source: Japan National Tourism Organization

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