Internet in France for travellers: which eSIM to choose
France is one of our cheapest destinations. Two ways to take data with you: by the GB, with no daily cap, or unlimited GB with 3 GB a day.
Which plan suits you, by number of days
| Trip | By the GB | Unlimited GB |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | 1 GB · €3.95 | €8.95 |
| 7 days | 10 GB · €10.95 | €17.95 |
| 15 days | 20 GB · €17.95 | €32.95 |
| 30 days | 50 GB · €34.95 | €54.95 |
Prices include VAT and are the same as on the France page. Validity: the 1 GB plan, 7 days; 3 to 50 GB, 30 days.
For a weekend in Paris with wifi at the hotel, the small plan is usually enough. Check your own case in two minutes.
When unlimited is worth it, and when it isn’t
A week of unlimited GB costs €17.95, the same as 20 GB by the GB. With 20 GB you have almost 3 GB a day, and you can spread them however you like.
- With normal use, a plan by the GB goes further, because there’s no allowance that resets and no speed that drops.
- Unlimited wins if you’ll watch a lot of video, work from your phone or share data and don’t want to keep checking how much you’ve used.
- A month: 50 GB for €34.95 against €54.95 for unlimited.
What unlimited includes, exactly
3 GB a day at full speed and, once you’ve used them, 1 Mbps until the next day.
That figure is on the plan card before you pay, not in a footnote. Why we make such a point of it: the truth about “unlimited” data.
Where your traffic goes out
In France, your traffic goes out through Europe.
It isn’t guaranteed to go out locally: some websites may see you in another European country, which sometimes changes the language they greet you in or a search engine’s local results. For everyday phone use, nothing changes. This is also on the destination page, before you buy.
The network is 5G, with whatever coverage each area has.
How to activate it
- Install it at home, on wifi. Installing doesn’t use data or start the days.
- When you arrive, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line.
- The days start with your first connection to a French network.
Steps for each phone model are in the installation guide; check compatibility with the compatibility checker.
Frequently asked questions about internet in France
Do I keep my number and WhatsApp?
Yes: the eSIM is data-only and your usual SIM stays in the phone with your number.
I’m travelling by train through several countries. Will this plan work?
No: this one is for France only. For several countries, there’s the Europe eSIM, with its list of countries on its page.
Do the days start when I buy?
No, they start with your first connection to a network at your destination. You can buy it in advance.
What happens when I use up the daily allowance?
You drop to 1 Mbps until the next day, when you get 3 GB at full speed again.
Can I top up if I run out of data?
Not at the moment: you would need to buy another plan.
Our pick for a week in France
The 10 GB plan for €10.95, valid for 30 days. For video or sharing data, the 7-day unlimited plan for €17.95.