UK to Europe Roaming Charges by Country, 2026
Brexit ended free EU roaming in January 2022. EE now charges £2/day in all 27 EU countries including France, Spain, Italy, and Greece. Vodafone charges £2/day on Xtra plans. Three charges £2/day via Go Roam. O2 keeps free EU roaming on most plans. Switzerland, Turkey, and Albania cost more. A Europe eSIM covers a full week for £6-12 total.
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EE, Vodafone, Three, and O2: EU roaming rates compared
| Carrier | EU daily | Non-EU daily | Fair-use cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| EENew plans from Jan 2022 | £2/day | £3.44/day | 25GB/month |
| VodafoneXtra plans; legacy may vary | £2/day | £6/day | Varies by plan |
| ThreeGo Roam scheme | £2/day | £5/day | 12GB/month |
| O2Most consumer plans | Free | £6/day (O2 Travel) | 25GB/month |
| GiffgaffO2 network MVNO | Free (most plans) | Pay-as-you-go | 20GB/month |
EE: £2/day EU, £3.44/day non-EU
EE applies a £2/day charge for all EU member state destinations on plans taken out from January 2022. The charge activates automatically on any use — a message, a notification, a map check. A 7-day holiday in Spain costs £14. A 10-day trip to Greece costs £20.
For non-EU European countries — Switzerland, Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia — EE charges £3.44/day. EE applies a 25GB monthly fair-use cap on EU roaming data. Above that cap, data is throttled to 64kbps for the rest of the month.
Vodafone: £2/day on Xtra, up to £6/day elsewhere
Vodafone charges £2/day in the EU on its current Xtra plans. Customers on older legacy tariffs may face different rates — check your specific plan in the My Vodafone app. For non-EU European destinations, Vodafone charges up to £6/day. A ski week in the Swiss Alps on Vodafone costs £42 in roaming charges alone.
Three: £2/day with a 12GB monthly cap
Three charges £2/day for EU destinations under its Go Roam scheme. The 12GB monthly fair-use cap is the lowest of the four major UK carriers. Heavy data users or anyone on a trip longer than two weeks risk hitting the cap and having data throttled to unusable speeds for the rest of the billing month.
O2: still free in the EU on most plans
O2 retains free EU roaming on most consumer plans as of June 2026. This is the best deal among UK carriers for EU travel and is the main commercial differentiator O2 uses against EE and Vodafone. O2 applies a 25GB monthly fair-use data cap. For non-EU European destinations, O2 charges £6/day via its O2 Travel add-on. Always verify your specific tariff in the My O2 app, as plan terms can change at contract renewal.
UK carrier charges at the most popular European destinations
| Destination | EU member? | EE rate | Vodafone Xtra |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Yes | £2/day | £2/day |
| Spain (inc. Canary Islands) | Yes | £2/day | £2/day |
| Italy | Yes | £2/day | £2/day |
| Greece (inc. islands) | Yes | £2/day | £2/day |
| Portugal | Yes | £2/day | £2/day |
| Croatia | Yes | £2/day | £2/day |
| Germany | Yes | £2/day | £2/day |
| Netherlands | Yes | £2/day | £2/day |
| Switzerland | No | £3.44/day | £6/day |
| Turkey | No | £3.44/day | £6/day |
| Norway | No (EEA) | £2/day* | £2/day* |
| Albania | No | £3.44/day | £6/day |
*Norway is EEA but not EU. EE and Vodafone include Norway in their EU zone voluntarily, but this is not guaranteed. Verify before travel.
Switzerland is the most common source of unexpected charges for UK travelers. It sits surrounded by EU countries but is not in the EU. EE charges £3.44/day — a 72% premium over the French or Italian rate. A 7-day Swiss ski holiday costs EE customers £24.08 in roaming versus £14 for the same week in France. A Europe eSIM from Airalo covers Switzerland at the same flat rate as France, with no penalty for crossing the border.
7-day Europe trip: carrier roaming vs travel eSIM
| Option | Daily | 7-day total | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE (EU country, e.g. Spain) | £2/day | £14 | 25GB/month fair-use |
| Vodafone Xtra (EU country) | £2/day | £14 | Varies by plan |
| Three Go Roam (EU country) | £2/day | £14 | 12GB/month fair-use |
| EE (non-EU, e.g. Switzerland) | £3.44/day | £24.08 | 25GB/month fair-use |
| O2 (EU — free) | £0 | £0 | 25GB/month fair-use |
| Europe eSIM (Airalo, 5GB)Recommended for EE/Vodafone/Three customers | £1.00-1.43 | £7-10 | 5GB, no throttle |
EE and Vodafone customers save £4-7 on a standard 7-day EU trip by switching to an eSIM. Against EE's non-EU rate in Switzerland, the saving rises to £14-17 per week. O2 customers save nothing in EU countries but save £34-38 per week in Switzerland compared to O2 Travel rates.
Buy a Europe regional eSIM from Airalo. Plans covering 39+ European countries — EU plus Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland — start from around £6 for 3GB and £10-12 for 5-10GB.
How to switch from UK carrier EU roaming to a travel eSIM
- 1
Confirm your handset supports eSIM
iPhone XS and all later models support eSIM. Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer support eSIM. Google Pixel 3 and later support eSIM. Most mid-range Android phones from 2021 onwards are eSIM-compatible. Go to Settings > Mobile Data on iPhone or Settings > Connections > SIM Manager on Android and look for an 'Add eSIM' option. Phones purchased locked to EE, Vodafone, or Three may need to be unlocked before adding a third-party eSIM — contact your carrier.
- 2
Buy a Europe regional eSIM before you travel
Purchase a regional Europe eSIM from Airalo before your trip. A 7-day Europe eSIM covering all 27 EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland starts at £6-8 for 3GB and £10-12 for 5-10GB. For longer trips, a 30-day plan with 10-20GB costs £15-25. Buying before departure lets you install at home on your own WiFi without needing roaming or hotel WiFi in Europe.
- 3
Install the eSIM at home on your domestic WiFi
On iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data > Add eSIM > Use QR Code. Scan the QR code from your eSIM provider's email or app. On Android: Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add Mobile Plan. The eSIM installs in about 90 seconds. Label it 'Europe eSIM' in your phone's SIM settings. Do not activate it as your data line yet. Installation does not start your data allowance — the plan activates when you first use data abroad.
- 4
Disable data roaming on your UK carrier SIM before boarding
At the airport or before takeoff, turn off data roaming on your EE, Vodafone, Three, or O2 SIM. iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data > [Your UK SIM] > Data Roaming > Off. Android: Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Data Roaming > Off. This blocks your UK carrier from billing its daily EU roaming charge. Your UK SIM remains active for calls and texts via WiFi Calling.
- 5
Switch your active data line to the Europe eSIM after landing
As soon as you land, open cellular settings and switch your default data line to the Europe eSIM. iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data > Default Line > select the eSIM. Android: SIM Manager > set eSIM as preferred data SIM. Your phone connects to a local EU carrier within 30-60 seconds. In France it will be Orange FR or SFR. In Spain, Movistar or Orange ES. In Germany, Telekom DE or Vodafone DE.
- 6
Use WiFi Calling for UK calls throughout your trip
Enable WiFi Calling on your UK carrier SIM so incoming UK calls reach you without triggering roaming charges. iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data > [Your UK SIM] > WiFi Calling > On. Android: Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi Calling > On. Activate this at home before travel — some carriers require a one-time verification from a UK location. When you return home, switch your data line back to your UK SIM and remove the Europe eSIM from your settings.
For device-specific guides, see how to turn off data roaming on iPhone and how to turn off data roaming on Android. For keeping your UK number active, see WiFi Calling abroad.
UK-Europe roaming questions, answered
Do UK phones get charged for roaming in France, Spain, and Italy?
Yes, on most current UK plans. EE charges £2/day in all 27 EU member states including France, Spain, and Italy. Vodafone charges £2/day on Xtra plans. Three charges £2/day under Go Roam. O2 retains free EU roaming on most consumer plans. The daily charge activates automatically the first time you use data, make a call, or send a text in any EU country. A 10-day Spain holiday on EE or Vodafone costs £20.
Is Switzerland covered by UK EU roaming passes?
No. Switzerland is not an EU member state and sits outside every major UK carrier's EU roaming zone. EE charges £3.44/day in Switzerland. Vodafone charges up to £6/day. Three and O2 also apply higher non-EU rates. Switzerland is surrounded by France, Germany, Austria, and Italy — all EU countries at £2/day on EE — but the moment you cross into Switzerland, the rate jumps. A Europe eSIM from Airalo covers Switzerland at the same flat rate as France or Germany.
Which UK carrier is cheapest for Europe travel?
O2 is cheapest for EU travel because it retains free EU roaming on most consumer plans. No daily charge applies in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, or any of the other 27 EU member states. For non-EU European countries such as Switzerland, Turkey, and Albania, O2 charges £6/day via O2 Travel. EE and Three are joint second at £2/day EU. Vodafone matches that rate on Xtra plans but charges more on legacy tariffs.
Does my UK plan cover Greece and Croatia?
Yes. Greece and Croatia are EU member states and are covered by EU roaming passes from all four major UK carriers. EE: £2/day. Vodafone Xtra: £2/day. Three Go Roam: £2/day. O2: free on most plans. These charges apply regardless of which island or city you visit within Greece or Croatia. Note that Turkey, which borders Greece, is not in the EU and attracts higher rates.
What about European travelers using their EU SIM in the UK?
EU travelers visiting the UK are not protected by EU Roam Like at Home rules when using their EU SIM in the UK, because the UK is no longer an EU member. EU carriers set their own UK roaming rates. Many charge €1-3 per day for UK roaming. Orange France charges €6/day. Vodafone Germany charges €2/day. EU visitors to the UK who want cheap data should buy a UK eSIM — a 7-day 10GB UK eSIM from Airalo costs around €8-12.
Can I still find a UK SIM with free EU roaming?
Yes, through O2. O2 retains free EU roaming on its standard consumer plans as of June 2026. Existing EE, Vodafone, or Three customers who signed contracts before January 2022 may still have free EU roaming on that original contract, but it ends when the contract is renewed. MVNO carriers that use O2's network — including Sky Mobile — sometimes also retain free EU roaming. Giffgaff (O2 network) includes EU roaming at no extra cost on most plans.
How do I check if my UK plan has free EU roaming?
Log into your carrier's app: MyEE, My Vodafone, My Three, or My O2. Navigate to the roaming or plan details section. Your current EU roaming rate should be listed there. If you cannot find it, call customer service or check your contract summary document, which every carrier must provide. EE and Vodafone customers on contracts signed after January 2022 will see the £2/day EU roaming charge in their plan details.
Is a Europe eSIM cheaper than paying UK carrier roaming daily charges?
For EE, Vodafone, and Three customers: yes. A 7-day Europe eSIM from Airalo covering all 27 EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland costs £6-12 for 3-10GB of data. Seven days on EE costs £14. The eSIM saves £2-8 on a standard week and more on longer trips or non-EU European countries where UK carrier rates jump to £3.44-6/day. O2 customers with free EU roaming get no saving on data but may benefit when visiting non-EU European countries.
Former consumer pricing analyst at J.D. Power covering wireless carrier satisfaction surveys
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Stop paying £2/day to EE, Vodafone, or Three in Europe.
A Europe eSIM covers your entire trip — EU and non-EU countries at one flat rate — for less than a week of carrier charges.
Carrier rates verified June 2026. See our editorial policy.