Do you have plans to gallivant around French vineyards, knock back pierogi in Poland, and gorge yourself on pasta in Italy all on the same trip? You're in luck: it turns out taking your phone overseas is quite simple, even if you want to hop from country to country, especially in Europe.
In this guide, we'll look at options for international roaming with your Australian telco as well as top picks for buying a European SIM.
For longer trips, we'd recommend getting a travel eSIM or a local SIM card in Europe. For shorter trips or if you need your Australian number when in Europe, roaming with an Australian provider is a better choice.
Before we start, here are the most popular roaming-compatible plans from each postpaid telco featured in this guide:
And here are the most popular roaming-compatible plans from each prepaid telco featured in this guide with a minimum 28-day expiry:
Buying a European eSIM
If you're travelling in Europe for more than a week, consider picking up a European travel eSIM. If you have a phone with eSIM support, a travel eSIM is a mobile plan you can download to your phone and activate entirely on your device. You don't need to scrounge the airport for a telco kiosk when jetlagged on arrival. If you want, you can even download and activate a travel eSIM before you leave Australia.
For example, if you buy a travel eSIM for Europe through Airalo, you can get a 10GB plan with a 30-day expiry for $44.50 or a 50GB plan with a 90-day expiry for $143.50. Airalo European eSIM plans cover 42 countries. Just be aware that these plans are data-only, so you won't be able to make phone calls. Plans will have 5G connectivity in some destinations.
Airalo also sells travel eSIMs for individual countries, if you want to save money and you're going to just one destination. For example, you'll pay $26 for a 10GB Italian eSIM with a 30-day expiry compared to $44.50 for a 10GB European eSIM.
I've used Airalo multiple times in Europe now, and I've never had any issues. While it isn't always the cheapest provider, it has been reliable, and you get part of your spend back as credit for future purchases. If you're a frequent traveller, that's a good perk.
Jetpac is another travel eSIM provider, backed by Circles.Life. Its European eSIMs tend to be cheaper than Airalo, but it only covers 32 countries on most plans, so double-check if your planned destination is covered. The plans are also data-only and have 5G in some countries.
Jetpac European eSIMs have a unique perk where you can score free airport lounge access if your flight is delayed (and meets the threshold). This is done by registering your flight in the Jetpac app. You can bring one travel companion into the lounge with you.
Saily is another popular eSIM provider, but it is better for longer trips. Unless you only need 1GB of data, you'll need to pay for a 30-day eSIM at a minimum. If you'll be away for that long, that might not be a bad thing, but you can save money with shorter-expiry eSIMs on other providers.
Saily's European eSIMs work in 35 countries.
Here's a look at travel eSIMs for Europe from some of our favourite providers with at least 5GB and a seven-day expiry:
| Provider | Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Airalo | $26.50 for 5GB with a seven-day expiry | View on Airalo |
| Jetpac | $20.50 for 5GB with a seven-day expiry | View on Jetpac |
| Saily | USD$19.49 for 5GB with a 30-day expiry | View on Saily |
For a longer trip, here's a look at plans with at least 10GB and a 14-day expiry minimum:
| Provider | Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Airalo | $40.50 for 10GB with a 15-day expiry | View on Airalo |
| Jetpac | $50.50 for 10GB with a 30-day expiry | View on Jetpac |
| Saily | USD$35.99 for 10GB with a 30-day expiry | View on Saily |
Just be aware that most European travel eSIM options are data-only. This means you won't be able to make calls or send text messages using any of the above Europe travel eSIMs.
Getting SIM card in Europe

If you're travelling in Europe for more than a week, consider picking up a European SIM card. Even Vodafone's $5 roaming starts to add up when you're overseas for more than seven days.
Your phone should be compatible with mobile networks used throughout most of Europe, but you'll need to check your phone is unlocked before you put in a new SIM.
If you get a SIM card in Europe, the majority of plans will let you roam across the entire European Union. You won't need to buy a new SIM in each destination or pay roaming charges. This is great if you're planning on visiting multiple countries.
Just make sure every country you're visiting is in the EU. For example, if you're travelling to the UK, it isn't part of the EU anymore. Most European SIMs will still work in the UK, however. However, if you buy a UK SIM, you may need to pay a roaming charge to use it in other parts of Europe.
If you opt for a European SIM card, make sure that your plan doesn't auto-renew and that the service is contract-free. You should be able to pick up a European SIM at airports or convenience stores once you land. Be sure to have an app like Google Translate handy in case the SIM instructions are in a language you don't speak.
Orange and Vodafone are two of the biggest telcos used across Europe. Orange even has European SIM cards specifically designed for tourists. You can pick from these five options:
- €24.99 Orange Travel Europe SIM: 20GB, 30 minutes of international talk and 200 text messages, with a 14-day expiry and 4G access
- €44.99 Orange Travel Europe SIM: 50GB, 120 minutes of international talk and 1,000 text messages, with a 30-day expiry and 4G access
- €68.99 Orange Travel Europe SIM: 100GB, 120 minutes of international talk and 1,000 text messages, with a 30-day expiry and 5G access
- €88.99 Orange Travel Europe SIM: 200GB, 120 minutes of international talk and 1,000 text messages, with a 30-day expiry and 5G access
- €169.99 Orange Travel Europe SIM: 500GB, 360 minutes of international talk and 3,000 text messages, with a 90-day expiry and 5G access
These plans also have unlimited local talk and text, and come with a French phone number.
If you have an eSIM-compatible phone, you can even order an eSIM directly from the Orange website. If you want a physical SIM card, you'll need to wait until you get to Europe. These SIMs can be used in more than 40 countries.
“If you use any apps that regularly require two-factor authentication (2FA) via SMS, this is something to consider when deciding how to stay connected overseas. If you opt for a travel eSIM or local SIM, you won't be able to receive text messages to your Australian number. The only way to keep getting text messages, for 2FA or otherwise, is roaming with your Australian number. Alternatively, you can see if those apps allow 2FA through other means, like Google Authenticator or 1Password."
Fergus Halliday, Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut
Roaming in Europe with your telco
For shorter trips, roaming with your telco can be a good option. It is also the only way to keep using your Australian number while in Europe, which can be important if you're overseas for business rather than leisure.
Below we've taken a look at the price per day and price per gigabyte for providers you can roam in Europe with at a decent rate. We haven't looked at providers that are too expensive or only have pay-as-you-go options. Click on any provider's name to get more information about their roaming offer.
| Provider | Price per day | Price per gigabyte | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| felix mobile | $0.05 | $5 | Over 40 |
| Vodafone | $5 | N/A | Over 100 |
| Optus | $5 | $1 | Over 150 |
| Telstra | $10 | $5 | Over 80 |
| Belong | $2 | $10 | Over 45 |
| Aussie Broadband | $5 | $1 | Over 150 |
| Tangerine | Between $3.93 and $5 | Between $5.50 and $10 | Over 60 |
| More | Between $3.93 and $5 | Between $5.50 and $10 | Over 60 |
| Kogan | Between $6.43 and $10 | Between $9 and $12.50 | 30 |
| amaysim | Between $0.06 and $0.19 | Between $7.78 and $12.50 | Over 120 |
Roaming in Europe with felix
- Price per day: $0.05
- Price per gigabyte: $5
felix mobile is one of the few smaller providers with a genuinely great roaming offer: a $20 roaming pack. This gets you 4GB of data, 100 texts, and 100 minutes of calls on a 365-day expiry. If you're mooching off as much public WiFi as you can find while travelling, 4GB could even last your entire trip!
Here are felix mobile's plans:
felix's roaming isn't as broadly available as options from The Big Three: it only works in around 40 destinations. Most popular countries are included, however, including plenty of Europe and the UK.
Roaming in Europe with Vodafone
- Price per day: $5
- Price per gigabyte: N/A
Vodafone postpaid plans are one of the best choices for heading overseas, thanks to $5 roaming. For $5 per day, you're able to use your local inclusions overseas in over 100 countries. This means you don't have to worry about a separate overseas data allowance - your usage will work the same way it does in Australia.
The $5 per day charge will only be added to your bill on days when you make a call, send a text, or use data overseas. Just note, that you can only use $5 roaming for a maximum of 90 days of the calendar year.
These Vodafone postpaid plans all include $5 roaming:
Roaming in Europe with Optus
- Price per day: $5
- Price per gigabyte: $1
If you're an Optus postpaid customer on a Choice Plus plan, you'll use Optus' $5 roaming. $5 per day will give you 5GB of data per day, in addition to unlimited standard talk and text. All unused data expires at the end of each day, but if you go over your allowance, another $5 pack will automatically be purchased.
These Optus postpaid plans all support $5 Roaming:
You can only use the $5 Roaming option in what Optus calls "Zone 1" countries. This covers over 150 destinations, including most of Europe and the UK. If you're travelling to a smaller country in Europe, you may want to double-check if it's part of Optus' "Zone 1". Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, and Germany are all covered, however.
If you have an Optus Flex Plus prepaid mobile plan, you have four roaming options to pick from:
| Pack | Expiry | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| $5 | 1-day | Up to 25 mins, 50 texts, 1GB |
| $25 | 14-day | Up to 50 mins, 50 texts, 5GB |
| $45 | 28-day | Up to 100 mins, 100 texts, 10GB |
| $75 | 186-day | Up to 100 mins, 100 texts, 15GB |
Roaming in Europe with Telstra
- Price per day: $10
- Price per gigabyte: $5
To use a Telstra Upfront plan overseas, you will need to purchase an International Day Pass. While overseas, you'll get unlimited calls, unlimited text and a 2GB data allowance for $10 per day in over 80 countries.
These include Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the UK.
If you exceed your daily data allowance, you'll be charged an extra $10 for 2GB. This data has a 31-day expiry, and can be used on any day you exceed your daily 2GB. Note that Telstra's roaming inclusions tick over at midnight Australia time (AEST) rather than based on your destination's time zone.
If you want to send an MMS, you'll be billed $0.75 per message.
Here is Telstra's range of Upfront plans:
If you're on a Telstra Upfront plan and you travel outside of an eligible destination, you simply won't be able to use your service.
Telstra prepaid customers can buy an international roaming pack. These are as follows:
| Pack | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Three-day expiry | $10 | 15 mins, 15 texts, 400MB data |
| Seven-day expiry | $15 | 25 mins, 25 texts, 2GB |
| 14-day expiry | $25 | 50 mins, 50 texts, 4GB |
Roaming in Europe with Belong
- Price per day: $2
- Price per gigabyte: $10
Telstra's budget brand Belong has just one roaming option. For $30, you get 3GB of data, 150 minutes of calls and unlimited standard SMS for use over 15 days. If you run out of data early, you can purchase another add-on.
You can use this add-on in over 45 destinations, including many parts of Europe. Just note that if you have plans to travel to Bulgaria, Estonia, Luxembourg, or Romania, Belong is still trialling international roaming in these countries. Your service may work there, but it isn't guaranteed.
All Belong customers get free access to its basic roaming service, which means you can receive SMS while still overseas and use WiFi calling when on a suitable network. This can be useful if you need to receive SMS verification codes for online banking, for example.
Here are the Belong plans eligible for roaming:
Roaming in Europe with Aussie Broadband
- Price per day: $5
- Price per gigabyte: $1
Aussie Broadband's roaming offer is identical to what Optus postpaid customers get: $5 per day with 5GB in any Zone 1 destination. This covers over 150 countries, including a lot of European countries.
Here are Aussie Broadband's mobile plans you can roam in Europe with:
Roaming in Europe with Tangerine
- Price per day: Between $3.93 and $5
- Price per gigabyte: Between $5.50 and $10
Telstra MVNO Tangerine has two international roaming packs to pick from. Customers can choose a seven-day roaming pack or a slightly longer 14-day pack. Roaming packs work up until 11:59PM (AEST) on your last included day.
These international roaming packs cover plenty of popular destinations across Europe, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Portugal, the UK and more.
Here are the full details of Tangerine's roaming packs:
| Pack | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Seven-day expiry | $35 | 30 mins, 30 texts, 5GB |
| 14-day expiry | $55 | 60 mins, 60 texts, 10GB |
Below are Tangerine's plans that work with roaming packs:
Roaming in Europe with More
- Price per day: Between $3.93 and $5
- Price per gigabyte: Between $5.50 and $10
More offers identical international roaming packs to its sibling brand Tangerine. More's roaming packs work in over 65 countries, including many popular European destinations.
| Pack | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Seven-day expiry | $35 | 30 mins, 30 texts, 5GB |
| 14-day expiry | $55 | 60 mins, 60 texts, 10GB |
Here are More's mobile plans that you can roam with:
Roaming in Europe with Boost Mobile
- Price per day: Between $2.85 and $6.67
- Price per gigabyte: Between $5.71 and $10
Boost Mobile, a Telstra Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), is another telco offering customers International Roaming Packs. Boost Mobile customers can choose from three roaming options:
| Pack | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Three-day expiry | $20 | 15 mins, 15 texts, 2GB |
| Seven-day expiry | $30 | 30 mins, 30 texts, 5GB |
| 14-day expiry | $40 | 60 mins, 60 texts, 7GB |
Each option covers 42 countries with a number of these being European, including Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the UK.
You need an active Boost Mobile prepaid plan to use its roaming pack. These are as follows:
Roaming in Europe with Kogan Mobile
- Price per day: Between $6.43 and $10
- Price per gigabyte: Between $9 and $12.50
Kogan Mobile offers three international roaming packs for use in about 30 countries. European destinations include Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. As such, whether Kogan is useful when heading overseas really depends on where you're going. You won't be able to roam in The Netherlands or Poland, for example.
Here are Kogan's roaming packs:
| Expiry | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| One-day expiry | $10 | Up to 50 mins, 50 texts, 1GB |
| Three-day expiry | $25 | Up to 100 mins, 100 texts, 2GB |
| Seven-day expiry | $45 | Up to 150 mins, 150 texts, 5GB |
Call minutes and SMS (text only) include standard calls to and from the selected countries and standard numbers in Australia.
If Kogan's offer works for you, you can purchase the international roaming pack via the Kogan Mobile app, use your online account or call customer support, or text "ROAM" to 12612 from your mobile.
Roaming in Europe with amaysim
- Price per day: Between $0.06 and $0.19
- Price per gigabyte: Between $7.78 and $12.50
amaysim has four international roaming packs to choose from. These all have a 365-day expiry, and work in over 90 countries, including France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and many other European destinations. Here are the options amaysim customers can pick from:
| Pack | Price | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Small Talk | $20 | 100 mins, 100 texts, no data |
| The Works | $25 | 50 mins, 30 texts, 2GB |
| Just Gigs | $50 | No mins, no texts, 6GB |
| The Epic | $70 | 100 mins, 60 texts, 9GB |
And here are amaysim's 28-day plans. You need to have an active recharge to use amaysim's roaming packs.
FAQs
Do you need a different SIM card for every country in Europe?
If you're travelling within the European Union, the same SIM card should work in most destinations. Just make sure you read the fine print. You may find your inclusions change as you cross the border, or the SIM may not work at all, depending on the roaming agreements between the telcos in these countries.
Can you buy a European SIM card in Australia?
If you're looking to buy a European SIM in Australia, there are websites like SIMCorner and Simify that will ship you a SIM to your Australian address, so you don't have to spend time looking for one when you arrive. Just be sure to double-check what these SIMs include, as they're often different to the SIMs you can get on arrival.
Can I use my Australian phone in Europe?
There shouldn't be any issues with using the vast majority of Australian phones in Europe. If you want to use a European SIM, you'll just need to make sure it's unlocked.
Is it cheaper to get a SIM card in Europe?
For longer trips, European SIMs are more affordable as pay-per-day add-on roaming options tend to add up as days turn into weeks. Many also include more European countries, so if you plan to travel to a wide variety of locations, this helps too.
Is there a SIM card that works in all of Europe?
The Orange Travel SIM card for Europe is a solid option, covering more than 40 countries across Europe. If your phone has eSIM, Airalo's Europe plans cover 42 destinations. However, each SIM card and roaming option differs in terms of included destinations. As such, we always recommend checking the countries you're travelling to are supported before buying a European SIM.
These are the most popular NBN 50 plans with WhistleOut users this week:
Alex Choros
