The first time I visited France—the first few times I visited France, in fact—I was disconnected. And delightfully so, armed only with curiosity and the confidence of someone too young to know how dumb he was.
As time passed, however, there became less of a technical excuse (smartphones became mainstream) and eventually even less of a financial excuse (I wasn’t broke anymore) for me to travel in such an analog way. These days, if only because of mobile payment wallets, it would be impractical, if not impossible.
I bring this up because if you don’t plan to arrive in the country already connected to a cell network, you really owe it to yourself to shop around for the best eSIM for France.
Why It’s So Important to Stay Connected When Exploring France
As would’ve been the case with physical SIM cards in France a decade ago, having an eSIM now is practically indispensable. The first reason, obviously, is navigation. Whether finding your way around in a city like Paris or Lyon, or navigating a road trip itinerary in Brittany or Bordeaux, there’s a limit to what in-car GPS devices and cached digital maps can do—you need to be connected.
Likewise, digital payments are so common these days in France that you sometimes literally have to use them. While it’s true that you can usually tap a digital card rather than using Apple Pay (or its Samsung equivalent), the reality is that mobile payments are both more secure and more convenient. Furthermore, there’s also the reality that as social media evolves, the vast majority of people want to post their trip highlights as they’re occurring.
Ways to Stay Connected in France
Download an eSIM before you travel
One of the best pieces of “homework” you can do before your trip? Download a France eSIM before you even head to the airport—install it, too. That way, once you land at Charles de Gaulle airport, it will connect to a French mobile network, and you can be online literally the moment your trip begins.
(Or after you fly)
Of course, you can also download your eSIM for France after you arrive. Specifically, I suggest connecting to WiFi as soon as you’ve gotten off the aircraft, but ideally before you make your way to the immigration line. At this point, you may be asked to put your phone away (or simply be too busy to pay attention to it), so you should install and activate the eSIM ASAP.
Use your home country’s plan abroad
Increasingly (and, I’d argue, largely in response to the proliferation of eSIM technology), cell providers in the US and elsewhere will offer an “international data pack” for a fixed per-day cost. This often ends up being the most seamless option, so it doesn’t hurt to ask your carrier how much theirs costs.
Buy a physical SIM card
A France eSIM is the best option for many people—and, increasingly, is the only option for modern cell phones. However, if you use an older model, you may still be able (or required to) purchase a physical SIM card if you wish to connect to French mobile networks during your trip.
Try to get by using WiFi
Don’t have an unlocked phone, or simply don’t want or need to be connected 24/7? I admire you—I only did this when it was necessary, for the reasons I stated earlier in this post—but you’ll have to be crafty. Namely, it will be absolutely essential that the WiFi works where you stay each night; you should also not be shy about asking for passwords in restaurants and cafés.
Does Google Fi Work in France?
I am a Google Fi user, and am mostly an enthusiastic one. It’s changed my life as an international traveler, quite frankly, and works the vast majority of the time. However, I had one especially annoying incident on my very first full day in France on my latest trip, where my service crapped out for an entire hour (during the middle of a road trip through Normandy, of all places).
At that time, if I’m honest, I considered downloading a France SIM card (an eSIM, in other words), though I ultimately ended up not doing so. To be transparent, I’ve had this issue occur in other countries and regions, where I’ve ended up needing to download an eSIM. All of which is to say that even if you have a data plan that is supposed to work in France, it may not actually be as foolproof as you think.
Other FAQ About eSIMs for France
Which eSIM is best for travel in France?
Ultimately, the best eSIM for your trip to France is likely to be the one that aligns best with your usage needs and budget. Some travelers will choose truly big players like Holafly and Saily, while others will select more niche options like Ubigi. Still others will roam on their home country’s data plan, or use a global SIM card such as Google Fi.
Is it worth getting an eSIM for France?
It is absolutely worth getting an eSIM for France, even if it only serves as a backup in case your primary SIM card stops working. For example, you could be road tripping somewhere relatively remote, in which case it would be nice to have a backup option to switch on.
How do I get an eSIM for France?
Getting an eSIM for France is simple. Just buy and download it before you travel and then, after landing in France, turn your phone on and activate the eSIM. In most cases, this is all that’s required to ensure a fast, reliable data (and, depending upon the SIM you choose, voice) connection to last throughout your trip to France.
The Bottom Line
If you don’t adequately prepare, the best eSIM for France is the one you happen to book while you’re still connected to the WiFi at CDG airport. This is why you should take the time to research all your options. For some travelers, the number of days is paramount, irrespective of data—you aren’t going to be surfing endlessly, but simply need a lifeline in case something goes wrong. In other cases, unlimited usage during your trip is key; you’re using your internet connection to map out the best French destinations in real-time. The real ninja move, of course, is to seek professional help from the moment you begin to plan your trip. I’m speaking, of course, about hiring me to put your France itinerary together.
