Key facts
- COVERAGE
- Spain
- NETWORKS
- Fixed data: Movistar, Orange · Unlimited: Movistar, Orange, Yoigo
- PLAN TYPE
- Data only
- IP ADDRESS LOCATION
- Fixed data: United Kingdom · Unlimited: Poland
- DELIVERY
- QR code by email
How it works
- 1Choose a plan and pay.
- 2Scan the QR code we email you. You can install it before you fly.
- 3When you land in Spain, turn on data roaming for the Spidot line.
Visiting more than one country?
Europe
Spain and 35 more countries on one eSIM
from$5.90
See the Europe planQuestions about the Spain eSIM
Which networks does it use?
Do I get a local phone number?
Can I use it outside Spain?
How do I install it?
Will my phone work with an eSIM?
Does a Spain plan cover the Balearic and Canary Islands?
Will my eSIM work in Gibraltar or Andorra?
Is there signal along the Camino de Santiago?
Can I use the eSIM on the ferry to Mallorca or Ibiza?
Do I need data for Spanish train tickets?
Can I buy a plan after I arrive in Spain?
Using an eSIM in Spain: a practical guide for travellers
Spain is really several trips in one country. There are the big cities, Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia and Bilbao; the beach coasts from the Costa Brava to the Costa del Sol; the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean; the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa; and a huge, quiet interior of plains, mountains and small towns. Moving between them by high-speed train, budget flight, ferry or hire car is easy, and mobile data makes each step simpler.
This guide explains how a travel eSIM for Spain compares with roaming and a Spanish SIM, how much data you might need, and what coverage is like across the mainland and the islands. Plans start from $2.90, and you can install and test the eSIM before you leave.
eSIM, roaming or a Spanish SIM card
Each option has trade-offs. The right one depends on where your SIM is from, how long you are staying and whether you need a Spanish number.
Roaming
Visitors with an EU or EEA SIM can usually use their home allowance in Spain, including the Balearic and Canary Islands, under the EU "Roam like at Home" rules and their provider's fair-use policy. Many SIMs from outside the EU, including a lot of UK, US, Latin American and Australian plans, are charged separately for roaming. Check the terms with your provider before you go.
A Spanish prepaid SIM
Prepaid SIMs are available in operator shops, some airport outlets and phone shops in town. Spain requires identification, usually your passport, to register a prepaid SIM. It gives you a Spanish number, which can help if you are renting long-term or dealing with local services, but it takes time out of your first day.
A travel eSIM
A Spidot eSIM is installed before you travel, so you have data as soon as you land. Your own SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts. Most plans are data-only; if you need a number for calls there is a Data + calls plan. WhatsApp is used very widely in Spain, including by restaurants, tour guides and holiday rental hosts, and it works normally over data.
Picking a plan size
How you use your phone matters more than how many days you stay. Very roughly: navigation uses a modest amount per hour; messaging and browsing are light; video calls can use hundreds of megabytes per hour; and HD streaming can use more than a gigabyte per hour. Treat these as approximate.
- A city break in Madrid, Barcelona or Seville: maps, transport and restaurant searches usually fit a small fixed data plan.
- A beach week on the Costa del Sol, Mallorca or Tenerife: if you rely on hotel Wi-Fi in the evenings, a modest plan is often enough; if you stream by the pool or post lots of video, size up.
- A road trip through Andalusia or northern Spain: daily navigation and booking as you go suit a mid-sized or larger plan.
- Remote work or long stays: an unlimited plan charged by the day suits tethering a laptop, bearing in mind speed can slow after heavy use.
- Regular trips: a no-expiry plan keeps unused data for next time.
Topping up
You can add more data to the same eSIM if you run low. All current plans are on the prices page.
Setting up the eSIM at home
Installing needs an internet connection, so do it on Wi-Fi before you fly. First check your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked; dialling *#06# shows an EID if it does.
Your QR code arrives by email after payment. Follow the install guide for iPhone, Samsung or Pixel. Name the line "Spain" or "Travel", keep your own SIM as default for calls and texts, and use the Spidot line for mobile data.
- Install the Renfe app and any other rail or ferry apps you need, and save tickets offline once bought.
- Download offline maps for rural areas, mountain routes and the islands you are visiting.
- Save your accommodation address in Spanish, which helps with taxis.
- Add a Spanish offline pack to your translation app. In Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia and Valencia you will also see signs in Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian.
Arriving in Spain: airports and first steps
Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat are the busiest international airports. Málaga, Alicante, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao and Palma de Mallorca also handle large numbers of international flights, as do Ibiza and Menorca in the Balearics and Tenerife South, Tenerife North, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura in the Canaries.
On landing, turn off airplane mode, check mobile data is set to the Spidot line and turn on data roaming for it. The data roaming guide shows where to find the setting. If no network appears after a minute or two, switch airplane mode on and off once.
With data ready you can check the Metro or Cercanías train from Madrid-Barajas, the Aerobús or train from Barcelona, or book a transfer to your resort before you reach the exit.
Coverage on the mainland and the islands
Your eSIM uses local Spanish networks; Movistar and Orange are the partners currently used for this plan. In cities and along the main coastal resorts, coverage is generally good, and the main motorways and high-speed rail corridors are usually well covered.
The interior and mountains
Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, and much of the interior is thinly populated. You may find weaker signal or gaps in parts of Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragón, Extremadura and Teruel, and in mountain areas such as the Pyrenees, the Picos de Europa, the Sierra Nevada, the Sierra de Gredos and the Alpujarras. Download offline maps for drives and hikes, and carry a power bank.
The Camino de Santiago
Pilgrims on the Camino Francés and other routes pass through many small villages where signal is usually available, with quieter stretches across the Meseta and in the hills of Galicia. A small daily data allowance covers maps, albergue bookings and messages home for most walkers.
The Balearic Islands
Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera are generally well covered in towns and resorts. Mallorca's Serra de Tramuntana and some secluded coves on all the islands can have weaker spots.
The Canary Islands
Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro are part of Spain and served by Spanish networks, but check the plan details before you buy if your trip is only to the islands. Towns and resorts are usually well covered. Volcanic terrain, deep ravines (barrancos) and high areas such as Mount Teide and the Caldera de Taburiente can be patchy.
Data on trains, ferries and road trips
Spain has an extensive high-speed rail network, a busy ferry system and good motorways.
High-speed and local trains
Renfe's AVE and the newer operators Ouigo and Iryo connect Madrid with Barcelona, Seville, Málaga, Valencia, Alicante, Zaragoza and other cities. Mobile signal on board is usually reasonable, with gaps in tunnels and some remote stretches across the interior. Cercanías and Rodalies commuter trains serve the big city regions. Save tickets offline in the operator's app before you board.
Ferries to the islands
Ferries link Barcelona, Valencia and Dénia with the Balearic Islands, and there are frequent inter-island services between Ibiza and Formentera and between Mallorca and Menorca. In the Canaries, ferries connect the islands, and there are long-distance routes from the mainland. Ferries also cross from Algeciras and Tarifa to Morocco. On longer crossings you will lose land signal for part of the journey, and onboard connections may be separate maritime services, so turn data roaming off if an unfamiliar network appears at sea.
Driving
Most motorways (autovías) are free, while some autopistas charge tolls. Phone navigation works well on main roads; download offline maps for mountain routes and rural Andalusia, Extremadura and the north. Several Spanish cities have low-emission zones that restrict some vehicles, so check before driving into a centre. Do not handle your phone while driving.
Hotspot and public Wi-Fi
Personal hotspot usually works with the eSIM, which is useful in holiday rentals where the Wi-Fi is weak or on a beach where you want to connect a tablet. Pause laptop updates and cloud syncing before you tether.
Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés, shopping centres and some stations and beaches, but open networks are not always secure. Avoid banking and entering passwords on networks you do not trust, check that websites use HTTPS, and use your own mobile data when you need a private connection.
Practical tips for Spain
Spanish daily rhythms and habits are a little different from elsewhere in Europe.
- Late hours: lunch is often from around two o'clock and dinner from nine or later. Many smaller shops close in the afternoon, especially in the south and in smaller towns.
- Payments: cards and phone payments are widely accepted, including in most bars and on city transport. Some small bars and markets prefer cash.
- City transport: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, Seville and Málaga have metro or tram systems. Many accept contactless payment or have their own apps and travel cards, and Google Maps and Moovit are widely used for routes.
- Taxis and ride-hailing: licensed taxis are common and inexpensive in many cities. Uber, Cabify and Bolt operate in Madrid, Barcelona and several other cities.
- Booking sights: the Alhambra in Granada, the Sagrada Família and Park Güell in Barcelona, and the Real Alcázar in Seville often sell out, so book online in advance and keep the tickets on your phone.
- Summer heat: in July and August, inland cities like Seville, Córdoba and Madrid get very hot. Planning outdoor visits for early morning with your weather app helps.
Travelling between Spain and other countries
Many trips to Spain combine it with Portugal, France or Morocco: Seville to the Algarve, Galicia to Porto, Barcelona to the south of France, or San Sebastián to Biarritz.
A Spain plan works in Spain only. If you are crossing borders within Europe, the Europe plan covers 36 countries on one eSIM. There are also single-country pages for Portugal, France and Italy. Morocco is not in Europe and is not covered by these plans.
Near some borders your phone may connect to a network in the next country. Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory with its own networks, Andorra is outside the EU, and around Tarifa and Algeciras phones sometimes pick up Moroccan networks across the strait. Look at the network name on your phone in those areas, and turn data roaming off if you see a network your plan does not include.
Managing your data during the trip
When you get home, switch mobile data back to your own SIM. You can leave the eSIM installed until the plan ends and remove it later.
