travel data europe

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Travel and tourism in Europe - statistics & facts

What are the most popular travel destinations in europe, travel planning and behavior of european tourists, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Europe 2019-2022

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Europe 2019-2022

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 2005-2023, by region

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

European countries with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals 2019-2022

Travel and tourism: share of GDP in the EU-27 and the UK 2019-2022, by country

Related topics

Travel and tourism in europe.

• Inbound tourism in Europe
• Chinese tourism in Europe
• Backpacking in Europe
• Business travel in Europe
• Cruise industry in Europe

City tourism in Europe

• Tourism in London
• Tourism in Paris
• Tourism in Rome
• Tourism in Amsterdam
• Tourism in Barcelona

Recommended statistics

• Basic Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 2005-2023, by region
• Premium Statistic International tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022, by subregion
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Europe 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Europe 2019-2022, by type
• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Europe 2019-2022, by tourist type
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism: share of GDP in the EU-27 and the UK 2019-2022, by country
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Europe 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Leading European countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide from 2005 to 2023, by region (in millions)

International tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022, by subregion

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by subregion (in millions)

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Europe 2019-2022

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Europe in 2019 and 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Europe 2019-2022, by type

Distribution of travel and tourism spending in Europe in 2019 and 2022, by type

Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Europe 2019-2022, by tourist type

Distribution of travel and tourism spending in Europe in 2019 and 2022, by type of tourist

Share of travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in European Union member countries (EU-27) and the United Kingdom (UK) in 2019 and 2022

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Europe 2019-2022

Total contribution of travel and tourism to employment in Europe in 2019 and 2022 (in million jobs)

Leading European countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021

Leading European countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) in 2021

Inbound tourism

• Premium Statistic International tourist arrivals in Europe 2006-2023
• Premium Statistic International tourist arrivals in Europe 2010-2022, by region
• Premium Statistic European countries with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Monthly number of inbound tourist arrivals in Europe 2019-2023
• Basic Statistic Monthly change in tourist arrivals in Europe 2020-2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism visitor growth in Europe 2020-2025, by region
• Premium Statistic International tourist arrival growth in European countries 2019-2023
• Basic Statistic International tourism spending in Europe 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic European countries with the highest inbound tourism receipts 2019-2022

International tourist arrivals in Europe 2006-2023

Number of international tourist arrivals in Europe from 2006 to 2023 (in millions)

International tourist arrivals in Europe 2010-2022, by region

Number of international tourist arrivals in Europe from 2017 to 2022, by region (in millions)

Countries with the highest number of international tourist arrivals in Europe from 2019 to 2022 (in millions)

Monthly number of inbound tourist arrivals in Europe 2019-2023

Number of monthly international tourist arrivals in Europe from 2019 to 2023 (in millions)

Monthly change in tourist arrivals in Europe 2020-2023, by region

Change in monthly international tourist arrivals in Europe from January 2020 to July 2023, by region

Inbound tourism visitor growth in Europe 2020-2025, by region

Inbound tourism visitor growth in Europe from 2020 to 2022, with a forecast until 2025, by region

International tourist arrival growth in European countries 2019-2023

Percentage change in international tourist arrivals in Europe from 2019 to 2023, by country

International tourism spending in Europe 2019-2022

International tourism expenditure in Europe in 2019 and 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

European countries with the highest inbound tourism receipts 2019-2022

Countries with the highest international tourism receipts in Europe from 2019 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Domestic tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of domestic tourist trips in EU-27 countries and the UK 2018-2021
• Basic Statistic Number of domestic arrivals in tourist accommodation in the EU 2011-2022
• Basic Statistic Domestic tourism spending in Europe 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Domestic tourism spending in EU-27 countries and the UK 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Share of Europeans planning to take a domestic summer trip 2023, by country

Number of domestic tourist trips in EU-27 countries and the UK 2018-2021

Number of domestic tourist trips in European Union member countries (EU-27) and the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Number of domestic arrivals in tourist accommodation in the EU 2011-2022

Number of domestic arrivals in tourist accommodation establishments in the European Union (EU-27) from 2011 to 2022 (in millions)

Domestic tourism spending in Europe 2019-2022

Domestic tourism expenditure in Europe in 2019 and 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Domestic tourism spending in EU-27 countries and the UK 2019-2022

Domestic tourism expenditure in European Union member countries (EU-27) and the United Kingdom in 2019 and 2022, by country (in billion U.S. dollars)

Share of Europeans planning to take a domestic summer trip 2023, by country

Share of adults who planned to take a domestic summer holiday trip in selected countries in Europe as of April 2023

Outbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region
• Premium Statistic Outbound visitor growth in Europe 2020-2025, by region
• Premium Statistic Number of outbound trips from EU-27 countries and the UK 2018-2021
• Premium Statistic European countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure 2019-2022

Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region

Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide from 2020 to 2022, with a forecast until 2025, by region

Outbound visitor growth in Europe 2020-2025, by region

Outbound visitor growth in Europe from 2020 to 2022, with a forecast until 2025, by region

Number of outbound trips from EU-27 countries and the UK 2018-2021

Number of outbound trips from European Union member countries (EU-27) and the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

European countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure 2019-2022

Countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure in Europe from 2019 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

European travelers

• Premium Statistic Travel intentions of Europeans in the next six months 2023, by destination
• Premium Statistic Share of Europeans planning to travel domestically or in Europe 2023
• Premium Statistic Europeans planning domestic or European trips in the next six months 2023, by age
• Premium Statistic Europeans planning leisure domestic or European trips 2023, by trip type
• Premium Statistic European travelers' favorite destinations for their next European trip 2023

Travel intentions of Europeans in the next six months 2023, by destination

Share of European travelers planning a trip in the next six months as of September 2023, by destination

Share of Europeans planning to travel domestically or in Europe 2023

Share of European travelers planning to take an overnight trip domestically or in Europe in the next six months as of March, May, and September 2023

Europeans planning domestic or European trips in the next six months 2023, by age

Share of European travelers planning to take an overnight trip domestically or in Europe in the next six months as of September 2023, by age group

Europeans planning leisure domestic or European trips 2023, by trip type

Share of Europeans planning to take a leisure overnight trip domestically or in Europe in the next six months as of September 2023, by type of trip

European travelers' favorite destinations for their next European trip 2023

Preferred European countries for the next trip among European travelers as of September 2023

Accommodation

• Basic Statistic Number of tourist accommodation establishments in the EU 2012-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation establishments in the EU 2011-2022
• Premium Statistic Hotel market revenue in Europe 2017-2028
• Premium Statistic Hotel market revenue in Europe 2017-2028, by region
• Premium Statistic Share of hotel market sales in Europe 2017-2028, by channel

Number of tourist accommodation establishments in the EU 2012-2022

Number of tourist accommodation establishments in the European Union (EU-27) from 2012 to 2022

Number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation establishments in the EU 2011-2022

Number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation establishments in the European Union (EU-27) from 2011 to 2022 (in millions)

Hotel market revenue in Europe 2017-2028

Revenue of the hotel market in Europe from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Hotel market revenue in Europe 2017-2028, by region

Revenue of the hotel market in Europe from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2028, by region (in billion U.S. dollars)

Share of hotel market sales in Europe 2017-2028, by channel

Sales distribution of the hotel market in Europe from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2028, by channel

Travel companies

• Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Leading online travel companies worldwide 2022-2023, by EV/EBITDA
• Premium Statistic Market capitalization of leading travel and leisure companies in Europe 2024
• Premium Statistic Leading airlines in Europe based on passenger numbers 2022

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide as of September 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Leading online travel companies worldwide 2022-2023, by EV/EBITDA

Enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of selected leading online travel companies worldwide in 2022, with a forecast for 2023

Market capitalization of leading travel and leisure companies in Europe 2024

Market capitalization of leading travel and leisure companies in Europe as of March 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leading airlines in Europe based on passenger numbers 2022

Leading airlines in Europe in 2022, based on passenger traffic (in millions)

• Premium Statistic Travel and tourism revenue in Europe 2018-2028, by segment
• Premium Statistic Number of users of package holidays in Europe 2019-2028
• Premium Statistic Number of users of hotels in Europe 2019-2028
• Premium Statistic Number of users of vacation rentals in Europe 2019-2028
• Premium Statistic Revenue of travel and tourism market in selected countries worldwide 2023

Travel and tourism revenue in Europe 2018-2028, by segment

Revenue of the travel and tourism market in Europe from 2018 to 2028, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of users of package holidays in Europe 2019-2028

Number of users of package holidays in Europe from 2019 to 2028 (in millions)

Number of users of hotels in Europe 2019-2028

Number of users of hotels in Europe from 2019 to 2028 (in millions)

Number of users of vacation rentals in Europe 2019-2028

Number of users of vacation rentals in Europe from 2019 to 2028 (in millions)

Revenue of travel and tourism market in selected countries worldwide 2023

Travel and tourism market revenue in selected countries worldwide in 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

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Using A Cell Phone In Europe Made Easy and Affordable

What you need to know about how to save money using a cell phone in Europe, SIM cards, and data roaming.

Here are our best travel tips for getting fast, reliable data in Europe as you travel.

Using A Cell Phone In Europe: How to Save Time, Money and Hassle

Having fast, reliable cellular data on your mobile phone is a must when traveling Europe.

Are you wondering “ Can I buy a phone in the US and use it in Europe ?” The short answer is yes, you can use your own phone and phone plan, but it might be incredibly expensive.

Can I use my American or Canadian cell phone in Europe?

Almost all modern mobile devices are compatible with European cellular networks, so you should be able to use your phone in European countries without interruption. So yes, you can buy a phone in the US and use it in Europe.

In a hurry? Try one of these quick solutions to start saving money.

• Solo traveler? Get an affordable Keepgo eSIM for pay-as-you-go wireless internet
• In a group? Pick up a Skyroam Solis WiFi Hotspot ! Use with up to 10 devices!

However, you may get dinged pretty hard with unwelcome, and expensive, roaming fees from your home cell phone plan.*

If you just want to use your American smartphone and buy a local SIM card, you’ll also need to make sure your phone is unlocked however more on that later.

* Some budget cell phone plans don’t allow European roaming, like our cell plan in Canada with Public Mobile (though they do offer USA-based roaming add-ons).

Can I use my Verizon cell phone in Europe?

Smartphones on the Verizon network in the USA should work perfectly well in Europe, using Verizon’s international roaming plans.

The problem is that Verizon’s roaming tends to be pretty darn expensive. You can get the Verizon TravelPass plan, which works in over 185 counties. The TravelPass plan currently costs $10 per line per day, which is great for really short trips, but adds up pretty quickly if you’re gone for a week or longer. On this international plan, you’ll get unlimited calls, unlimited texts, and whatever data allowance you had on your domestic plan.

There’s also an International Monthly Plan for longer trips that lets you add a bundle of minutes, texts and data. The International Monthly Plan costs $100 /line per month, which is definitely cheaper than the TravelPass for longer trips. You’ll get 250 minutes, 1000 sent SMS, unlimited received SMS, and 5 GB data total. Sure, 5 GB of data sounds like a lot for day to day things however Netflix says you’ll use 1 GB of data (per device) for every hour you stream a Standard Definition show.

Will my cell phone work in Europe on AT&T?

Your AT&T phone should work perfectly well in Europe, using an AT&T roaming plan. However, AT&T doesn’t offer a lot of roaming options, and the AT&T International Day Pass is a little expensive for my taste. You’ll pay $10/day for the AT&T International Day Pass, which gives you unlimited data, talk and text in over 210 destinations.

How to unlock a smartphone

If you want to avoid expensive roaming fees, you can remove your American or Canadian phone’s SIM card and replace it with a European carrier’s SIM card. For most travelers, this may be the best way to use your phone in Europe.

Back to basics: What’s a SIM card?

A SIM card is basically a thumbnail sized card or chip in a slot in your phone. Your SIM card is what stores your phone number and cellular data plan. If you remove your phone’s SIM card, you’ll no longer be able to make phone calls, or use your cellular data plan, but you can still use your phone on Wi-Fi (you just won’t have a cell number or data). You can remove your SIM, and replace it with a European SIM, which will give you a European cell number and data plan (assuming data is included).

International travel eSIM for Europe

Before we get into the basics of SIM cards, let’s talk about one of the best ways to save money with a local SIM in Europe: eSIMs.

An eSIM is exactly what it sounds like: an electronic SIM card. However, an eSIM is embedded in your phone (meaning it’s not removable), and it can be reprogrammed easily.

An eSIM lets you change your wireless carrier, data, or service plan through software, without removing a physical chip, and inserting a new one. Most times, all you need to do is scan a simple QR code to switch your eSIM from one carrier to another. An eSIM can also let you use two different cell lines on the same device (like a home and work line), or let you switch between different plans depending on where you are in the world.

Several companies offer eSIMs for travelers, such as Holafly.

However, not all phones are compatible with an eSIM unfortunately, though it is arguably the best way to use cell phone in Europe. All three major US carriers support eSIM on recent iPhone and Google Pixel models, but not on Samsung models sold in the USA or Canada. So, when choosing an International eSIM for travel, first make sure that your phone is compatible.

Here’s what’s cool though: iPads and some laptops support eSIMs. Apples iPads have an easy eSIM interface, where you can simply choose your plan and provider from a menu on the iPad. Some laptops from Dell, Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Samsung and Microsoft laptops support eSIM, but Apple laptops don’t support eSIM at this time.

Important: your phone must also be carrier-unlocked to use an eSIM.

Using an eSIM in Europe is pretty simple for most users. First, make sure your device is eSIM compatible, then buy the eSIM online, and finally scan a QR code and turn on data roaming from your settings. When signing up for a eSIM service, you’ll also need an email address to get your QR code.

After that, you can call and message all your existing contacts on a bunch of free chat providers like WhatsApp or Skype, as if you’re in the same country. You can even keep your original SIM for phone calls if you wanted to continue using your existing provider.

Buying a Physical SIM card for Europe

If your phone does not support eSIM technology, you still can buy a physical SIM card for your travels. You may need to swap out your existing SIM card, but if you’re lucky, your phone will have two SIM card slots.

If you get a foreign SIM , make sure:

• your phone has a SIM card slot, and that the European SIM you buy fits your phone.
• your phone is unlocked. If your phone is locked, you will have to choose from European cell phones rather than use your own.

So, how do you choose the best SIM card for Europe with data?

There’s a little more to choosing a good European SIM card than simply picking the cheapest option.

First, determine which size of SIM card your phone takes.

There are regular, micro, or nano sized SIM cards. Most European SIM card companies carry all three sizes, so that shouldn’t be a problem. A European SIM card for an iPhone will likely be nano or micro.

Next, buy extra texting, talk or data plans that you need.

It is possible to buy a bare bones SIM card without any data. If this happens, you may have a cell phone with a number, but no added minutes, no texting, and no internet data plan. Be sure you get the data and/or text and talk plan that fits your needs. The good news is that cell service in Europe is generally great, and high speed data plans for travelers are usually affordable.

Finally, insert your SIM card in your phone.

The location of the SIM card slot is different for different phones. However, it’s generally a small and fiddly process that requires good lighting, and a table so you don’t drop the SIM on the floor. SIM cards are tiny, and easily lost and damaged. You’ll likely need a paper clip, pin, or special tool to open the SIM card slot however all phones come with one and if you can’t find yours just grab a paperclip or you can buy them online fairly cheaply.

Looking for other options for how to use your cell phone in Europe?

If you don’t want to pay for roaming fees from your home carrier, and don’t want to fuss with getting a European SIM card, another option is to only use wifi on your phone.

While it can be tricky to get high speed Wi-Fi when traveling , it’s definitely possible. You can use apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Google Chat to get the most out of your mobile phone when traveling , rather than relying on a data connection.

To travel Europe using Wi-Fi only, just use Wi-Fi at hotels, airports, restaurants and even malls or you can bring along a Wi-Fi hotspot, like the Solis or Glocalme . A lot of apps these days from Netflix to YouTube to Spotify to Google Maps also allow offline saving so you while you can’t connect with family and friends while on the go like with an eSIM or regular SIM card, you can at least enjoy your media on the go.

Some European companies even rent cell phones in Europe, however since most modern North American phones will work fine with European carriers, it may just be easier to take your phone overseas and use an eSim.

Looking for some more travel tech tips? Read these articles:

• How not to fry your electronics overseas
• Ways to share your mobile data connection
• The best iPad drawing apps for kids

Great website! Thanks for hosting.

Hi. We are going to Paris and London next month for 10 days each. I can’t bring my phone or change the plan because work pays for my phone. My wife doesn’t work, so she just uses Tracfone, which doesn’t have an international plan. We are thinking of buying a prepaid phone for one month that works in both France and the UK. Would just be using to text home and use Google Maps. Any suggestions?

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UN Tourism Data Dashboard

The UN Tourism Data Dashboard – provides statistics and insights on key indicators for inbound and outbound tourism at the global, regional and national levels. Data covers tourist arrivals, tourism share of exports and contribution to GDP, source markets, seasonality and accommodation (data on number of rooms, guest and nights)

Two special modules present data on the impact of COVID 19 on tourism as well as a Policy Tracker on Measures to Support Tourism

The UN Tourism/IATA Destination Tracker

Un tourism tourism recovery tracker.

UN Tourism Tourism Data Dashboard

• International tourist arrivals and receipts and export revenues
• International tourism expenditure and departures
• Seasonality
• Tourism Flows
• Accommodation
• Tourism GDP and Employment
• Domestic Tourism

International Tourism and COVID-19

• The pandemic generated a loss of 2.6 billion international arrivals in 2020, 2021 and 2022 combined
• Export revenues from international tourism dropped 62% in 2020 and 59% in 2021, versus 2019 (real terms) and then rebounded in 2022, remaining 34% below pre-pandemic levels.
• The total loss in export revenues from tourism amounts to USD 2.6 trillion for that three-year period.
• International tourist arrivals reached 88% of pre-pandemic levels in January-December 2023

COVID-19: Measures to Support Travel and Tourism

International tourism, number of arrivals - European Union

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European Tourism 2021 – Trends & Prospects (Q4/2021)

Publication date: Feb 2022

Language: English

OMICRON DISRUPTION, A TEMPORARY PHENOMENON WITH LITTLE IMPACT?

In 2021, strong vaccination coverage in Europe, the EU Digital Covid-19 Certificate and the easing of travel restrictions which allowed the release of large-pent up demand, set the grounds for tourism revival. However, the emergence of the Omicron variant at the year-end weighed on this recovery and brought back mobility restrictions due to record-breaking infection rates.

Year-to-date data informs estimates of a 62% decrease in tourist arrivals to Europe in 2021 over 2019 levels. The outlook, however, remains positive, with travel demand projected to be just 20% below pre-pandemic levels in 2022, fuelled by domestic and intra-European travel demand. Domestic travel is expected to exceed pre-pandemic peaks in 2022, while international travel will not do so until 2024.

Latest data shows that reporting destinations continue to recover at varying rates, with 65% posting declines in tourist arrivals below the weighted average, which stands at -62%. Croatia (-37%), France (-39%) and Monaco (-40%) saw the softest declines based on data to December, owing to demand from large neighbouring source markets.

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What are you looking for?

68+ europe travel & tourism statistics (latest 2024 data).

It’s no secret that Europe is home to some of the most popular places to visit in the world . With fascinating history, diverse cultures, and gorgeous natural sceneries, there is something to suit every type of tourist.

According to the UN, there are 44 countries in Europe with 27 of them listed as part of the European Union . 

That’s a lot of places to explore and get lost in!

France was the most visited destination in Europe as it saw over 79.4 million global tourist arrivals in 2022. 

Meanwhile, Paris welcomed 16.8 million international tourists in 2018 . It’s second in Europe only to London.

Today, we’re here to present some of the most interesting and crucial statistics about travel and tourism in Europe. From how much revenue this industry generates each year to the impact that recent pandemic had.

Here they are!

Sources : I’ve referenced individual sources after each stat. Please go to the bottom of the post for a full list of all the articles and sources I’ve used here.

Travellerspoint

Most asked questions about Europe travel & tourism

How many tourists visit europe each year.

In 2019, Europe recorded 745 million international tourist arrivals.

The pandemic caused international tourism to plummet in Europe, but the number has recovered to 595 million arrivals in 2022.

Roughly 4 in 10 baby boomers state that Europe is their first choice for international travel.

How much of Europe's economy is tourism?

In 2022, travel and tourism contributed $1,939 billion to the overall GDP in Europe.

This is an increase from the $1,450 billion contribution in 2021, but not yet recovered to its pre-pandemic levels.

Which country in Europe has the most tourism?

With 89.4 million international tourist arrivals in 2019 and 79.4 million in 2022, France is the most popular place to visit in Europe .

Both before and after the pandemic, France remains the most visited country in Europe.

What percentage of Europeans travel?

In 2021, 56% of Europeans participated in tourism in 2021, compared with 65% in 2019.

What's the least visited country in Europe?

According to Eurostat, Luxembourg was the least visited country in Europe by EU residents in 2019.

Europe Travel & Tourism Key Statistics

• Europe at large (both EU and non-EU) remains the most visited region in the world, accounting for 50% of the world’s tourist arrivals
• In 2022, travel and tourism contributed $1,939 billion to the overall GDP in Europe
• 61% of all international arrivals to the EU in 61% were for recreational purposes
• In 2020, the tourism industry generated, directly and indirectly, 34.76 million jobs
• In 2017, there were more female (59%) than male employees in the tourism industry
• In 2019, there were 717 thousand travel accommodation establishments in EU countries, which is a 69% increase from 2006
• In 2019, EU residents made 1.1 billion trips that included overnight stays
• Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, international arrivals in Europe plummeted from over 746 million in 2019 to just about 236 million in 2020

Inbound tourism in Europe

How many tourists visit Europe annually?

1. In 2019, Europe recorded 745 million international tourist arrivals.

[Statista] 

Europe receives the highest number of international arrivals compared to other regions, including Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa.

2. The pandemic caused international tourism to plummet in Europe, but the number has recovered to 595 million arrivals in 2022.

In comparison, the Americas received 150 million international tourist arrivals in 2022, only 25% of Europe.

3. In July 2023, there were 89.8 million monthly international arrivals in Europe, roughly 7% lower than in July 2019.

This has exceeded the monthly levels of July 2020, 2021, and 2022, but yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels.

4. 6 of the top 10 most visited destinations by international tourist arrivals worldwide are located in Europe.

[Wikipedia]

This includes France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Germany, and the United Kingdom in that order.

5. There were 36.4 million outbound trips from the US to Europe in 2019.

In 2019, there were 36.4 million trips from the US to Europe .

6. About 33% of these trips from the US were made to destinations in Western Europe.

11.9 million, or 33%, of these trips were to Western Europe. Central or Eastern Europe received the least number of outbound trips from the US at 4.3 million arrivals in 2019.

7. Europe at large (both EU and non-EU) remains the most visited region in the world, accounting for 50% of the world’s tourist arrivals.

Domestic tourism in europe.

How popular is Europe among domestic tourists?

8. In 2019, there were 682 million domestic arrivals in EU countries.

Domestic tourism continues to be more popular as this number steadily grows from only 491 million in 2008 to 682 million in 2019.

9. There were 187 million overnight trips in Europe made by French residents in 2019 alone.

Out of all EU countries, French residents have been the most active in domestic tourism in Europe. 

10. Germany is close behind as its residents made roughly 161 million domestic trips in 2019.

Domestic trips include both personal and professional purposes.

11. An April 2023 survey showed that French respondents were the most likely to take a domestic summer holiday trip. 

12. As of September 2023, the preferred destination among European travelers for their next European trip is France, with 7% of respondents planning to visit France on their next trip within Europe. 

After France, Italy and Spain followed in the ranking.

13. A survey in September 2023 revealed that 68% of respondents intended to likely or very likely take an overnight trip domestically or in Europe in the following six months. 

This percentage was a slight decrease from a similar study in March 2023, when 72% reported the same.

14. In 2022, the expenditure of domestic tourists in Europe was 1.13 trillion U.S. dollars just 0.5% lower than that in 2019.

15. in terms of domestic tourism expenditure of the eu-27 countries and the uk, germany had the highest figure in 2019 (320.9 billion u.s. dollars) and 2022 (317 billion u.s. dollars)., europe tourism and the economy.

How much revenue does Europe’s tourism generate?

16. In 2021, travel and tourism contributed $1,450 billion to the overall GDP in Europe.

From 2012 to 2019, the travel industry has steadily contributed an increasing amount of GDP in Europe, peaking at $2,191 billion in 2019.

17. Domestic tourism expenditure reached a record high of $1,222 billion in 2019.

Domestic travellers are important in Europe’s tourism industry as they spent $1,222 billion in 2019 alone, which is the highest number in recent recorded history.

18. In 2019, Spain was the second top tourism earner after the US, recording $79.7 billion in international tourism receipts.

Spain is the second country in the world that makes the most money from tourism. It recorded $79.7 billion in international tourism receipts in 2019.

19. France follows closely behind making $63.8 in international tourism receipts.

Why people travel to europe.

What motivates people to visit Europe?

20. 61% of all international arrivals to the EU in are for recreational purposes.

Holiday, recreation, and other leisure-related purposes are the most common reason for visiting Europe.

21. In the meantime, 15% visited EU countries for business reasons and 24% came to visit friends and relatives or other purposes.

Business travel makes up 15% of all visits to the EU .

22 Most international visitors arrive in Europe by air travel (57%), compared to 40% for land transport and only 4% by water.

Over half of all global visitors to Europe come through flights, while 2 out of 5 visitors arrive by land transport. Only 4% travel by water to Europe.

23. 62% of all residents in the EU went on a minimum of one personal trip in 2017.

In terms of domestic tourism in Europe, 3 out of every 5 EU residents took at least one personal trip back in 2017.

24. 11% of domestic trips to Europe in 2015 were for professional purposes, including business trips.

11% of all domestic trips in Europe in 2015 were made for professional reasons, such as business trips.

25. The European hotel market generated a revenue of 98.09 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, a significant improvement from 2020 and 2021.

26. the european region with the highest revenue in the hotel market in 2022 was central & western europe was, generating more than 61 billion u.s. dollars. .

The region with the second-highest revenue in the hotel market in 2022 was Southern Europe.

Tourism employment in Europe

How large is Europe’s tourism workforce?

27. In 2020, the tourism industry generated, directly and indirectly, 34.76 million jobs.

In 2022, there’s still a 8.5% decrease in tourism jobs in Europe compared to 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic .

28. Travel and tourism provided 37.98 million jobs in Europe in 2019.

29. in 2017, there were more female (59%) than male employees in the tourism industry..

The tourism industry has long been a major employer for women , especially considering that only 36% of employees in non-financial business economies in Europe were female.

30. The tourism labour force also tends to attract younger workers aged 15 to 24 (13%) and part-time positions (24%).

These statistics are much higher than those in the non-financial business economies and services sectors as a whole.

Popular tourist destinations in Europe

What are the most popular tourist destinations in Europe?

31. With 89.4 million international tourist arrivals in 2019 and 79.4 million in 2022, France is the most popular place to visit in Europe.

France, Spain (83.5 million), and Italy (64.5 million) recorded the most international tourist arrivals in 2019. The ranking changed slightly in 2020, with Italy receiving more international tourists than Spain.

Moreover, European travellers comprise 39.3% of the total tourist arrivals in Venice .

32. The capital city, Paris, welcomed more than 16.8 million international visitors in 2018, making it the second most visited European city after London.

Paris received over 16.8 million international visitors in 2018 and was the second most visited city in Europe.

It is second only to London, which receives the highest number of tourists that year .

33. In terms of bed nights, Spain is the most popular among international tourists, with 299 million nights spent in tourist accommodations in 2019 alone.

This number accounts to 22% of the total nights spent in tourist accommodations in Europe.

34. After Spain, Italy is the second most popular tourist destination for overnight stays in Europe. There were 221 million nights spent here in 2019.

When it comes to cities in Europe with the most overnight stays in 2019, Italy sits on the second place.

35. This is followed by France (136 million nights) and Greece (120 million nights).

36. all together, spain, italy, france, and greece dominate 57% of the total nights spent by international tourists in european tourist accommodations..

Spain, Italy, France, and Greece are the four most popular tourist destinations in Europe in terms of night spent in a tourist accommodation.

In fact, travellers from Europe make up the majority of overseas tourist arrivals in Rome (2.78 million) .

37. Meanwhile, the least popular EU destinations for tourists in 2019 were Luxembourg, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

38. in terms of region, international arrivals in southern/mediterranean europe has surpassed pre-pandemic levels in july 2023, while central/eastern europe experienced a 30% drop., accommodation in europe’s travel industry.

Where do tourists usually stay when visiting Europe?

39. In 2022, there were 621 thousand travel accommodation establishments in EU countries, a slight increase from the 617 thousand recorded in 2019.

The 621 thousand travel accommodations include RV campgrounds , hotels, short-stay accommodation, and trailer parks.

40. As of 2019, a majority of these (more than 479 thousand) were holiday and other short-stay accommodations, while 209 thousand were hotels and similar accommodation types.

The most common type of tourist accommodation in Europe is holiday/ short-stay vacation rentals .

41. In 2019, it was estimated that residents and international visitors spent a total of 2.87 billion nights in EU travel accommodation.

In 2019 alone, tourists in EU countries spent a total of 3.42 billion nights in accommodation establishments.

For budget travel, Kyiv is the cheapest city destination for backpacking, with daily costs amounting to an average of $37.69 .

42. In 2022, the number still has yet to reach its pre-pandemic figure, at just 2.74 billion nights spent in EU travel accommodations.

43. In 2019, Italy recorded just shy of 1.1 million bedrooms in hotels and similar accommodation. This is the highest in any country in Europe.

At 1.1 million individual hotel and similar rooms , Italy is the country in Europe with the highest number of bedrooms.

44. Germany and Spain are close behind with 993 and 934 million bedrooms respectively.

45. in terms of occupancy rate of bed places in hotels and other similar accommodation in eu countries, cyprus leads the chart with 71.8% of net occupancy rate..

Hotels and similar accommodation types in Cyprus recorded an astounding 71.8% net occupancy rate, the highest in any one country in EU countries.

46. Interestingly, despite having the second most hotel bedrooms in Europe, Germany had a pretty low occupancy rate of 45.7% in 2019.

47. in 2021, europe became the region with the highest glamping market worldwide, with 35.11% of market share..

[Grand Review Research]

Glamping is an up-and-coming industry and Europe seems to be the leading world region in terms of market share (35.11%) .

48. In 2022, most hotel market sales in Europe were made online (77%), which represents a steady growth since 2017 and is expected to continue until 2027.

Online booking has an increasingly large role in hotel market sales in Europe, with 77% of sales in 2022 made online .

49. There are 1.4 million Airbnb Hosts in the EU, the highest number in any region in the world.

Out of the 1.4 million Airbnb Hosts in the EU , more than 1.1 million have just one listing.

50. The average EU Host on Airbnb earned just below €4,000 in 2022, which is equivalent to over two months additional pay for the median EU household.

Outbound tourism by europeans.

How many European tourists go on a trip each year?

51. Almost two out of every three Europeans went on a tourism trip in 2019, but the percentage decreased to 56% in 2021.

52. in 2021 compared with 2019, 14 % or 35 million fewer europeans made tourism trips., 53. around 70% of these trips were made within their own country..

In 2021, nearly 7 out of 10 European tourists made only domestic trips.

54. In terms of night spent, Spain and Italy were the most popular destinations for European tourists.

The most popular destinations for tourists from Europe are Spain and Italy, where they spent the highest number of nights in 2019.

55. For non-EU destinations, the United Kingdom, Turkey and the USA had been the top choices.

56. eu residents spent an average of €421 per trip in 2019..

The average EU resident would spend €421 per trip.

57. In 2019, EU residents made 1.1 billion trips that included overnight stays.

EU residents went on a total of 1.1 billion trips which included overnight stays to both domestic and international locations in 2019 alone.

58. The contribution of travel and tourism to Europe’s GDP fell significantly in 2020, from $2,191 billion, to roughly 50% of the number in 2019.

The average European solo traveler spends €285 for their flight and hotel .

59. The EU country that travels the most is Switzerland, with 82.2% of the population travelling in 2021.

Sweden is on fifth place, with 78% of its population participating in tourism in 2021.

Meanwhile, Ireland takes 8th place with 72.3% of the population travelling in 2021 .

60. On the other end of the spectrum, the country that participated the least in tourism in 2021 is Bulgaria (22.7% of population).

61. residents aged 65 or over represented 25% of the eu population aged 15 years or older, they accounted for only 17% of eu tourists..

Still, this 17% equals to a significant number of 36 million tourists.

Covid-19 and Europe’s tourism

How has the pandemic affected travel & tourism in Europe?

62. The contribution of travel and tourism to Europe’s GDP fell significantly in 2020, from $2,191 billion, to roughly 50% of the number in 2019.

Due to the recent pandemic, the total contribution from the travel and tourism industry to GDP in Europe decreased dramatically in 2020 from 2019.

63. Domestic tourism also fell from $1,167 billion in 2019 to $668 billion in 2020.

Domestic tourism expenditure in Europe decreased by roughly 43 percent in 2020 over the previous year, due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

64. International arrivals in Europe plummeted from over 746 million in 2019 to just about 236 million in 2020.

65. the number of international tourist arrivals dropped by 97% in april 2020 compared to april 2019. .

Travel to and from countries was restricted as the virus spread, resulting in a sharp drop in arrivals across the region.

66. In May 2021, international tourist arrivals have more than quadrupled since the same month in 2020.

However, this figure of 12.1 million arrivals is still much below the 64.2 million from May 2019.

Travel companies in Europe statistics

67. the 'package holidays' segment of the travel and tourism market in europe is expected to achieve a +1.66% growth in number of users between 2023 and 2027, reaching a record-high of 134.52 million users., 68. as of june 2023, oriental land co. ltd is the travel and leisure company with the largest market cap in europe, valued at 54.83 billion u.s. dollars..

Flutter Entertainment PLC and Evolution AB followed, each with a market capitalisation of roughly 27.76 billion U.S. dollars.

69. In Europe, Lufthansa became the airline which carried the highest number of travelers in 2022, with 101.8 million passengers in total.

Turkish Airlines was in second place, with a total of 71.8 million passengers in 2022.

As home to some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, it will not be a surprise if tourism in this region only grows from now on.

While the recent Coronavirus pandemic has caused some major setbacks in terms of GDP and tourist arrivals in these countries, it does seem that things are looking brighter.

Once the world has recovered even more from this trying time, we believe that people looking for a getaway will look to visit various European destinations. As such, the number of domestic and international visitors will surely rise again soon.

We hope this post is thorough enough for you to learn more about tourism in Europe.

Can you think of other questions or aspects of Europe’s travel and tourism that we haven’t covered? Feel free to comment below!

Don't miss out these other statistic guides!

• Norway Travel & Tourism Statistics
• Canada Travel & Tourism Statistics
• Peru Travel & Tourism Statistics
• Grand Review Research

Leave a comment

Let us know what you think.

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11 Best Prepaid and E-Sim Cards for Europe in 2024

Planning your trip to Europe and wondering what is the best way to stay connected? Don't get stuck with high roaming costs or slow overseas data roaming packages! Get yourself a sim card for traveling in Europe. This is a guide for finding the best European sim card for your trip.

Whether you need a physical prepaid sim card or an e-sim cards for Europe in this guide you will find everything you need to know. Find out where to order one, up to date prices as per March 2024 and everything else you need to know before ordering a sim card for traveling in Europe.

For my research finding the best sim card for Europe I traveled to every European country and documented all my travel tips. That is why on Traveltomtom you can find complete guides for finding the best prepaid and e-sim card for Spain ,  Italy , Switzerland , Greece ,  Ireland , Portugal , Germany ,  Poland , France ,  Sweden , UK , Hungary , Croatia , Austria , Finland , Norway , Netherlands , Belgium , Bulgaria  and all others.

On top of that Traveltomtom also wrote sim card guides for all major airports in Europe: Barcelona ,  Berlin , Budapest , Geneva , Zurich ,  London Heathrow , London Gatwick , Copenhagen , Amsterdam , Paris , Frankfurt , Dublin , Madrid , Manchester , Lisbon , Rome , Milan , Venice , Vienna , Oslo , Athens  and many more.

Getting connected is the first thing I do when I get to a new country. Depending on the length of my trip that means either buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival or ordering an e-sim card online. Must say that in 2023 on all my trips to Europe I bought an e-sim card since it is just much easier, faster and even cheaper.

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Because Traveltomtom would also like to visit every country in the world  you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all around the world: USA , Canada , Mexico , Colombia , South Africa , Asia , Turkey ,  Saudi Arabia ,  Hong Kong , Thailand , Singapore , Brazil , Philippines , Egypt , China , Australia , New Zealand  and many more!

So next time you plan your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and e-sim card advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me!

My Europe sim card recommendation for 2024

Buying a local prepaid sim card is the cheapest way to stay connected when traveling to Europe in 2024. In the links above you will find specific guides for buying a local prepaid sim card per country or airport, which means on arrival in Europe.

But wouldn't it be easy to be online and have data on your phone as soon as the plane lands?

Arrive prepared for your trip to Europe and by ordering a sim card online before your trip. Ordering a sim card for Europe on the internet is super easy and there are amazing tourist sim card deals available.

Here are Traveltomtom's top picks for 2024:

1. Holiday Europe - 50 GB - $59.90 USD

• valid for 28 days
• unlimited calling & texting
• valid in 39 countries - all of Europe

Click here for more info or to directly order a Orange e-sim card for traveling to Europe via SimOptions .

Traveltomtom rates the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM as the best Europe sim card in 2024. For $59.90 USD you get 50 GB data which is just $1.2 USD per Gigabyte and best thing is that this e-sim card is 5G ready, where most of the physical prepaid and e-sim cards for Europe only support 4G/LTE.

2. Bouygues Telecom - 30 GB - $44.90 USD

• valid for 30 days

Click here for more info or to directly order a Bouygues Telecom e-sim card for traveling to Europe via SimOptions .

Traveltomtom ranks the Bouygues Telecom e-sim cards as the second best sim card for traveling to Europe in 2024. You get 30 GB data for 30 days for $44.90 USD including unlimited calling and texting. This comes down to $1.5 USD per Gigabyte.

If your phone is not e-sim compatible then Traveltomtom recommends the following. The  Orange Holiday Europe  is the best physical prepaid sim card for Europe in 2024. You get 30 GB data for 15 days including unlimited calling and texting plus 120 minutes to anywhere in the world for $49.90 USD. That is $1.67 USD per Gigabyte.

Don't waste your precious holiday time in Europe standing in line at the airport or waste an hour waiting for your turn in a local sim card store. No more language barriers. Order a sim card for Europe online before your trip! How?

This is your ultimate guide, read everything you need to know below and get connected instantly.

The best e-sim cards for Europe are offered by Airalo ,  SimOptions  and Nomad .

Click on the link to directly buy them online or see the below comparison of the best sim cards for Europe first.

All the sim cards listed in this article are European sim cards with data that you can order online before your trip. The international physical prepaid sim cards will be delivered to your home address before your trip and are activated automatically from its first use. E-sim cards for Europe obviously are delivered via email.

Be aware that some e-sim cards are valid from the moment they are activated, but more about that later.

Traveltomtom also recommends world sim cards with global coverage. Check out my article with a comparison of the  best international sim cards for travelling in 2024  if you for example continue your trip to Europe to Asia or the Middle East.

Sim cards for Europe with unlimited data

Traveltomtom does not recommend sim cards for Europe with unlimited data. With most of these sim cards you will end up frustrated! Always double check at what speed you get unlimited data, because in reality 'unlimited' is mostly not 'unlimited'.

There is pretty much always a FUP (Fair Use Policy) on these Europe sim cards with unlimited data.

For example Holafly sells e-sim cards with unlimited data for Europe, but in the small letters you will find this: the eSIM includes unlimited data for the contracted time. However, please note that the carrier may reserve the right to apply a Fair Usage Policy.

This literally means that if the operator thinks you are using too much data on a day, they reduce your data speed. Holafly does not specify what the FUP is. From my own experience I can tell you that this already applies sometimes after using 2 GB data per day. When this happens your data speed is reduced to something like 512 Kbps which means you can barely send a photo through WhatsApp and your social media apps won't work for a full 24 hours.

To avoid all this hassle, Traveltomtom does not recommend sim cards for Europe with unlimited data, unless the Fair Use Policy is clearly mentioned and it is above 100 GB data per month or something similar.

Why buying a sim card for Europe

A very simple question? Do you want to rely on others when traveling to Europe? Yes, your hotel, bar, restaurant, train and even park have free public WiFi these days. So getting WiFi when traveling is fairly easy. Yet, Traveltomtom still recommend you getting a sim card for Europe.

First of all public WiFi can not be trusted in speed, signal and security. What if the signal in your hotel room is weak and you can't change rooms? Or it is too slow to even upload an Instagram story. Getting connected with your phone makes traveling so much easier, just like real life!

Also another reminder that surfing the internet on public WiFi is through an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN is recommended in these cases to protect your privacy.

Think about ordering a cab on the streets through a taxi app, or getting directions from Google Maps and finding a nearby restaurants with good reviews or finding out the train schedule to get back to your hotel. So many reasons Traveltomtom recommends getting a sim card for your trip to Europe.

Local sim card vs. European sim card

All sim cards mentioned in this article are sim cards with FREE EU roaming intended for those that visit a couple countries on a short trip. However, if you only travel to 1 or 2 countries in Europe you might be better off buying a local sim card on arrival. Local sim cards are mostly valid in 1 country only. Especially for a trip to Eastern Europe I would recommend buying a local sim card, rather than a European sim card.

For a complete overview of all sim card prices per country have a look at my guide for buying a local sim card in Europe in 2024 .

I love traveling in Europe off the beaten path , have a look at my 12 secret places to visit. I bet some of them you have never even heard of.

To make it all easy for travelers coming to Europe, just buy your sim card online before your trip! Here are the 12 best European prepaid sim cards and e-sim cards for Europe. The best ones are ranked first...

1. Orange Holiday Europe e-sim for 28 days - 50 GB

This is the latest addition to the family of the Orange sim cards for traveling in Europe. It is the bigger brother of the Orange Holiday Europe sim card. At the moment this sim card is only available as an e-sim card and not as physical prepaid sim card.

This Orange Holiday Europe 50 GB eSIM is the only proper 5G ready sim card for Europe.

Price: $59.90 USD

• 50 GB data in all of the EU including Switzerland, UK, Iceland and Norway
• Unlimited calling & texting in Europe
• 120 minutes to any country in the world
• 1000 sms to any country in the world
• Valid 28 days
• Automatically activated from the first time it connects to a supported network in Europe
• Top up available
• ID verification/registration is NOT required
• Sim card comes with a phone number from France starting with +33

Click here to order the Orange Holiday Europe e-sim card for 28 days .

2. Bouygues Telecom My European eSIM - 30 GB

The Bouygues Telecom prepaid sim card for tourists is rated as one the best sim card for traveling to Europe in 2024 by Traveltomtom. Unfortunately the Bouygues Telecom tourist sim card is ONLY available as an e-sim card and not as a physical prepaid sim card, so make sure your phone is e-sim compatible.

Price: $44.90 USD

• 30 GB data in all of the EU countries including UK, Norway, Iceland
• Switzerland is NOT included
• Valid for 30 days
• Top up is possible
• E-sim card comes with a phone number from France starting with +33
• Can receive sms and calls
• You have to activate the e-sim card within 1 year after purchase
• Automatically activates from the first time it connects to a supported network in Europe

Click here to directly order a Bouygues Telecom e-sim card for Europe .

This Bouygues Telecom e-sim card package is called My European eSIM and with $1.5 USD per 1 Gigabyte data is among the best value sim cards for Europe. On top of that this e-sim card is valid for 30 days and therefore it is mentioned second in my list of the best sim cards for Europe in 2024.

3.  Orange Holiday Europe - 30 GB

One of the best physical prepaid sim cards for traveling in Europe is the Orange Holiday Europe sim card for tourists, especially if you are looking for a Europe sim card including international minutes. It is available as physical prepaid sim card as well as e-sim card and you can order it directly online.

Price: $49.90 USD

• 30 GB data in all of the EU including Switzerland, UK, Iceland and Norway
• Valid 14 days

Click here to order this Orange Holiday Europe sim card for Europe as a physical prepaid sim card and click here to order the Orange Holiday Europe as an e-sim card .

Great advantage of this Orange tourist sim card for Europe is that it has international calling minutes included. The downside about the Orange Holiday Europe prepaid sim card is that it is valid for only 14 days. If your trip to Europe is longer than 14 days I recommend you getting a different prepaid or e-sim card for Europe so you don't have to worry about topping up during your holiday.

4. Eurolink eSIM from Airalo

Airalo is a trusted e-sim card provider and offers e-sim cards for pretty much every country in the world. Their Europe e-sim card plans are more expensive than other e-sim cards for Europe.

The Airalo e-sim cards for Europe are partially 5G ready, meaning in some countries you are able to use 5G in some countries you will have to it with 4G/LTE. It is a 50/50 I would say.

5G is available in: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK. All other countries there is only 4G/LTE network available.

Eurolink e-sim cards also have plans for 3 months and even for 6 months, which could be very interesting for some travelers.

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $37 USD
• 50 GB data for 90 days = $100 USD
• 100 GB data for 180 days = $185 USD

Click here for more info or to order an Eurolink e-sim card for Europe directly via Airalo .

Eurolink e-sim cards are valid in all of Europe including Iceland, Norway, UK, Switzerland, Ukraine and even in Turkey!

Traveltomtom sometimes uses an Airalo e-sim card for Europe when I continue my Europe trip to Istanbul. Airalo is the best e-sim card for traveling to Europe and Turkey on one trip.

Especially for people looking for e-sim cards for Europe that are valid for 2, 3 or 6 months Airalo is one of the best e-sim cards for Europe.

5. Bouygues Telecom Travel Basic - 15 GB

This is another e-sim card only plan from Bouygues Telecom, basically a cheaper plan. This European sim card is for those travelers who stay less than 15 days and only need about 1 GB per day.

Price: $21.90 USD

• 15 GB data in all of the EU countries including UK, Norway, Iceland
• Valid for 15 days

This Bouygues Telecom sim card is not available as a physical prepaid sim card, only as an e-sim card.

6.  Three (3) Data Pack - 10 GB

This Three UK sim card is only available as a physical prepaid sim card and NOT as an e-sim. It will be delivered to your home address and it is plug and play on arrival in Europe.

Price: $24.90 USD

• 10 GB data in all of Europe including Switzerland, UK, Norway, Iceland and up to 30 countries outside of Europe
• Unlimited calls/sms in all of Europe
• Valid 30 days from inserting in phone
• No top up possible
• Sim card comes with a phone number from UK starting with +44

Click here to directly order a Three Data Pack physical sim card for traveling to Europe .

Big plus is that this Europe sim card is 5G ready and includes unlimited calls/sms in Europe and up to 30 other countries around the world like USA, Brazil, Australia, Indonesia, Israel, Singapore, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Colombia and many more.

7. Nomad eSIM for Europe

Nomad has some of the cheapest e-sim cards for traveling in Europe with some amazing value plans. They go as low as $1.3 USD per GB data. The Nomad e-sim cards are from eSIM Go and they support 5G in some countries, not yet everywhere.

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $7 USD
• 3 GB data for 15 days = $13 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD

Click here to order a Nomad e-sim card for traveling in Europe .

The Nomad e-sim cards are data-only sim cards for Europe and do not come with a phone number. Incoming and outgoing calls are not supported.

8.  O2 Go Card Prepaid sim card - 10 GB

This O2 sim card plan from Czech Republic is available as a physical prepaid sim card as well as an e-sim card. When you order this physical sim card it will be delivered to your home address before your trip to Europe.

• 10 GB data in all of Europe (Switzerland NOT included)
• $2 credit for calls in Europe (top up online available only for EU citizens. For non-EU citizens only within Czech Republic)
• $2 credit for sms in Europe
• Receiving unlimited calls in all of the covered countries in Europe
• Valid for 30 days from its installation, even if not in Europe yet
• It comes with a Czech number starting with +420

Click here to order an O2 Go Card as a physical prepaid sim card and here as an e-sim card .

9. SimOptions Europe e-sim for 60 days - 50 GB

Price $99.90 USD

• 50 GB data in all of the EU (NOT in Iceland)
• Data-only sim card
• Valid for 60 days as soon as the e-sim has been downloaded and activated

Unfortunately this e-sim card for Europe does not support local calls. That said, in Europe everyone uses WhatsApp calls anyway. This e-sim card is a great way to stay connected when traveling to Europe for more than 1 month.

10. Orange Holiday Zen sim card for Europe - 12 GB

Price: $29.90 USD

• 12 GB data in all of Europe including Switzerland, UK, Iceland and Norway
• Valid for 14 days from the first time it connects to a supported network in Europe

The smaller brother of the Orange Holiday Europe sim card is called the Orange Holiday Zen. Unlimited calls/texting in Europe and 12 GB, so much smaller data plan, but also cheaper.

Click here to order this Orange Holiday Zen sim card for Europe as a physical prepaid sim card and click here to order the Orange Holiday Zen as an e-sim card .

11. Three (3) sim card for Europe - 12 GB  - 1 year

If you travel to Europe often and don't want to order a sim card all the time then check out this physical prepaid sim card that is valid for 1 year

• 12 GB data in all of Europe including Switzerland, UK, Norway, Iceland and even some overseas territories of EU countries
• Valid for 1 year from inserting in phone
• Unlimited receiving calls and text within Europe

Free data roaming on European sim cards

The European Union came in 2017 finally with the genius idea to let go of roaming charges within the EU countries. Therefore in 2017 people can use their sim card from Spain in Italy and their Germany sim card in Sweden without any extra charges. For people looking for a sim card for Europe travel this was the best news ever of course.

Therefore upon arrival in Europe you can potentially buy a local prepaid sim card for tourists and be connected to the internet in all other countries you visit in Europe. However, there are a lot of exceptions, so keep reading…

The biggest exceptions are: UK, Switzerland and Norway. As you might know these are countries in Europe, but they are NOT part of the European Union, which means roaming costs can apply for these countries.

Brexit threw the UK out of the European Union and one of the major problems is the free EU roaming on UK prepaid sim cards. Most of the prepaid and e-sim cards you buy in the UK do not include free EU roaming anymore. For more info see my guide for buying a sim card in the UK in 2024 .

Buying a local sim card on arrival in Europe

Sometimes the best European sim card deals you get on arrival in Europe. In France for example you get 150 GB data for €20 EUR and data bundles in Italy are also very affordable. Most countries in Eastern Europe offer amazing local prepaid sim card deals but they do NOT offer free EU data roaming.

Therefore I recommend you to check my complete guide for buying a local sim card in Europe in 2024 , with a specific list of every country in Europe and what prices to expect on arrival before buying a sim card for Europe.

I hope all the above tips for finding the best sim card for your trip to Europe in 2024 were helpful. If you still have questions please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment below.

Looking for off the beaten path destinations in Europe then click on the link and I bet most of those places you have never even heard of. Let me fuel you with some more wanderlust.

If interested check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom to see more of my journey to visit every country in the world . As of March 2024 I have traveled to more than 155 countries, but no rush to reach 197.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Adventure Travel & Blogger (@traveltomtom)

Enjoy your trip to Europe!

Some links in this article about the best travel sim cards for Europe are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate links I earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!

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Travel Europe on a Budget

The Savvy Backpacker

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Best esim for europe travel | everything you need to know about european prepaid esim data plans.

A guide to everything you need to know about using eSIM data plans while traveling through Europe.

phones and technology

When most people want high-speed mobile data for their phone while traveling to Europe they’ve traditionally bought a physical SIM card. However, many newer phones have an embedded electronic SIM (i.e. eSIM) that allows you to connect to European mobile carriers without needing to install a physical SIM card. These new eSIM data plans offer travelers a ton of convenience but there are a few quirks as well. That’s why in this article I’m going to cover everything you need to know about eSIM data plans in Europe—including tips for finding the best eSIM for Europe travel.

What You’ll See In This eSIM Guide

• Do I Even Need Mobile Data In Europe?
• Can I Just Use My Mobile Plan’s Internation Data Plan?
• What Is an eSIM?

The Benefits of eSIM Mobile Data Plans

What iphones use esim cards, what android phones use esim cards, the best esim data plans for europe, how to activate an esim data plan, how much mobile data do you need when traveling europe, buying an esim in europe, more tips for using an esim data plan in europe, do you need mobile data in europe.

Honestly, yes, you need mobile data on your phone when traveling to Europe. Sure, you can sometimes find free wifi hotspots but that’s way more difficult than you’d think (I know from experience).

And so much of modern European life requires high-speed mobile data—train tickets are digital, Google Maps needs reliable data, sporting event tickets are digital, restaurant menus are accessed via QR codes, Uber/rideshare apps require data, some restaurants now want you to pay via your phone, accessing real-time public transportation info relies on mobile data, and the list goes on.

Can You Use Your Mobile Provider’s International Data Plan?

US/Canadian/Australian domestic mobile providers often offer an international data plan (either free or for an extra charge) but they all come with a few major drawbacks:

• They’re expensive: Expect to pay $10-$20/day
• Slow speeds : You’re often downgraded to 2G/3G speeds so even opening basic webpages could take forever to load (if it even loads). Many apps won’t function. Google Maps won’t work. Forget about social media.
• Data caps: These plans might start you off with standard 4G/LTE speeds but once you hit 1-2GB of data you’ll be downgraded to nearly-unusable 3G/2G speeds.
• Auto Enrollment: Some plans automatically enroll you in their international data plan the moment your phone tries to access data—which is just about every phone since smartphone apps are constantly running in the background.

For example, the  AT&T International Day Pass  costs $10/day. They also have their AT&T Passport plan, a monthly plan that’s either $70/month for 2 GB of data or $140/month for 6 GB. Then they charge an insane overage of $30 per GB.  Verizon  also has a $10/day pass but they knock you down to 3G speeds after 2GB each day.

And many  T-Mobile  customers get free “unlimited” international data but you’re only guaranteed 2g data speeds after you hit a total usage of 5GB of data… which will struggle to load Google Maps or even email. T-Mobile gives you the option to pay more to get 5GB at better speeds but then you’ll be charged a premium.

These “international data plans” are 5X as expensive as buying a prepaid eSIM data plan from a third-party provider—for example, eSIM data plans from  Orange  or  Holafly  will cost you around $2-$4/day.

So do yourself a favor and buy a European mobile data plan.

What Is An eSIM?

In short, an eSIM is an embedded/digital version of the traditional physical SIM card. So instead of installing a physical SIM card to change your mobile provider, you simply connect to a new mobile data service provider using an app.

This is great for international travel because you no longer have to hunt down a new SIM card when you change countries. You simply activate the eSIM service and you’re online in seconds.

Many new phones are dual SIM so you can still use your physical domestic SIM card while also using the eSIM so you can switch back and forth between your mobile data providers.

Some phones are also moving to eSIM only—the USA versions of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 (and future generations) no longer feature a SIM card slot but do support dual eSIM.

Below are some of the many benefits of using an eSIM data plan while traveling.

No Searching For SIM Cards

The biggest benefit of an eSIM is not having to track down a physical SIM card. All you have to do is install the mobile provider’s app to activate the eSIM data service. This means you can order your eSIM, and download the app before you leave. and then activate the service when you arrive at your destination.

Instant Delivery (No Shipping Fees)

Since eSIM cards are all digital you don’t have to pay shipping fees if you want to pre-purchase a European data plan before arriving in Europe.

For example, you can buy a plan from SimOptions or Holafly and they’ll email you a QR code or link to activate the service.

Dual eSIMs Allow You To Use Two Data Plans At Once

Another big benefit to using an eSIM is that you can seamlessly switch between your domestic plan (via the physical SIM) and the travel plan (via your eSIM). In fact, some phones let you have up to 5 eSIM data plans on a single phone—which is overkill for most people but it’s still an option.

Another huge benefit to having dual SIM cards is that many services will send you texts for things like two-factor identification or your bank might text you with fraud alerts and these won’t come through if you don’t have your home plan’s physical SIM card installed.

No Need to Remove Your Current SIM Card

Removing the physical SIM card is a hassle. First, you need the little tool to pop the SIM out of the phone (which is easy to lose). Then you also have to remove your phone case. You also have to keep track of your original SIM card so you don’t lose or damage it (you’ll need to reinstall it to get your service back).

Easier To Add Credit To Your Account

All eSIM data plans require you to download the service provider’s app to activate the service and most allow you to easily add credit to your account via the app.

Not all iPhones have built-in eSIM compatibility but essentially all iPhones made since 2019 should be eSIM compatible—i.e. they’re Dual SIM so they have both a physical SIM and an eSIM.

UPDATE: All iPhone 14 (and newer) sold in the UNITED STATES are eSIM-only so there isn’t a physical SIM Card slot anymore. However, all iPhones sold outside the US have dual SIM with physical SIM and eSIM.

eSIM Compatible Phones:

• (The base iPhone X and anything older is not eSIM compatible)
• iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 12 Mini & iPhone SE 2020
• iPhone 13, 13 Pro, 13 Mini
• iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone SE, etc.
• iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus

Again, just about every Android sold since 2020 is eSIM compatible.

• Samsung Galaxy Fold & Galaxy Fold 2 / Galaxy Z Flip & Z Flip 5G
• Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra / Galaxy Note 20
• Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G
• Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4XL, Pixel 4a (4G), Pixel 5 (5G), Pixel 6, Pixel 7
• Huawei P40 and P40 Pro & Mate 40 Pro

A great thing about traveling to Europe is that the EU outlawed mobile data roaming fees so any EU data plan will work anywhere within the UE—i.e. you can buy a French eSIM and use it in Italy, Germany, Poland, etc.

That said, I recommend sticking with the major European carriers since they’ll have the most comprehensive networks and the fastest mobile data speeds.

NOTE: The UK and Switzerland aren’t in the EU so not all plans will work there (but many still do)—check each plan to see if they cover these countries.

Orange Holiday Europe eSIM 50GB: $59.90

• Price:  $59.90 (Check  SimOptions  for details)
• Data:  50GB
• Service Speed:  4G/LTE
• Calls:  Unlimited within Europe and 120 min outside of Europe.
• Texts/SMS:  Unlimited within Europe and 1000 outside of Europe.
• Credit validity:  28 day
• Data Tethering:  Allowed
• Usable on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
• This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can still be used anywhere in Europe
• Service works everywhere in the EU

Need tons of data? Consider the newly released  Orange Holiday Europe 50GB eSIM data plan which is a beefed-up version of the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM. It has 50GB of data and it’s valid for 28 days (compared to 14 days with the Orange Holiday Europe plan). This eSIM also comes with many features you don’t find with other plans—including international voice calling and texts (it gives you an actual French phone number that works anywhere in Europe).

The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan also allows you to use your phone as a mobile hotspot so you can put that extra data allowance to good use. Orange is also one of the largest mobile companies in Europe so you’ll always get great coverage and high data speeds.

Holafly Europe eSIM with Unlimited Data: Starting at $19.00

Holafly is a new Europe-based eSIM provider that I used in Italy—the service was great and I got very fast data speeds (read my Holafly eSIM Review to learn more). They sell both country-specific and Europe-wide data plans.

Unlike other mobile data companies, Holafly gives you unlimited data and a local phone number with 60 minutes of credit for making/receiving calls from European numbers (with a few exceptions). I also like how Holafly’s plans come in durations from 5 to 90 days—so you don’t have to over/underbuy for your particular trip.

• 5 Days: $19
• 10 Days: $34
• 15 Days: $47
• 20 Days: $54
• 30 Days: $64
• 60 Days: $84
• 90 Days: $99
• Service Speed: 5G/4G/LTE
• Call Coverage:  60 minutes of credit to make calls from all of Europe—except Iceland, Norway, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Turkey. Comes with an Austrian phone number.
• Texts/SMS: None
• Tethering: No

Bouygues My European eSIM: $44.90

Bouygues is a major French telecommunications company and they’ve recently released their own prepaid eSIM data plan to compete with the popular Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan. I used a prepaid Bouygues SIM card on a previous trip to Europe so I’m glad they’re finally offering an eSIM.

There’s a lot to like about the Bouygues My European eSIM plan —especially since it comes standard with 30GB of data and unlimited calls within Europe. I also like how this Bouygues eSIM plan is valid for 30 days so it’s a great option for longer trips.

• Price: $44.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
• Data Tethering: Allowed
• Service Speed: 4G/LTE
• Calls: Unlimited within Europe
• Credit validity: 30 day
• Phone Number: This eSIM card comes with a French phone number
• Coverage : Anywhere within the European Union (except Switzerland)

Check out my Bouygues European eSIM review for more information about this plan.

Orange Holiday Europe eSIM 30GB: $49.90

• Price: $49.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
• Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 120 min outside of Europe.
• Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 1000 outside of Europe.
• Credit validity: 14 day
• Data tethering allowed
• This eSIM card comes with a French phone number

The  Orange Holiday Europe eSIM data plan is another excellent eSIM plan because it comes with 30GB of data and many features you don’t find with other plans—including international voice calling and texts (it gives you an actual French phone number that will work anywhere in Europe). The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan also allows you to use your phone as a mobile hotspot.

Orange is also one of the largest mobile companies in Europe so you’ll always get great coverage and high data speeds.

The potential downside to the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM is that it’s only valid for 14 days once activated so it’s not great for longer visits (but you can always buy a second plan).

Orange Holiday Zen eSIM: $29.90

• Price: $29.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
• Data: 15GB (recently upgraded from 8GB)
• Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 30 min outside of Europe.
• Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 200 outside of Europe.

The Orange Holiday Zen plan is a top pick for travelers for a few different reasons.

First, Orange is one of the largest mobile networks in Europe so they have great coverage basically everywhere in Europe and you won’t have to worry about slow speeds.

Second, Orange Holiday eSIM data plan gives you unlimited calls and texts within Europe and limited (yet still ample) credit for calls/texts outside the EU. A majority of eSIM plans from other providers don’t give you any (or very limited) credit for calls or texts.

This plan comes with 15GB of mobile data which should suffice for most travelers who aren’t heavy data users.

Smart Comfort X eSIM: $17.90

• Price: $17.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
• Calls: None

The Smart Comfort X eSIM is a budget data-only eSIM plan option that gives you 5GB of data but no calls or texts (you can still send iMessage if you’re sending messages between iPhones and make calls/texts via WhatsApp, etc.).

Smart Comfort X eSIM is also what’s considered an “international eSIM” so it’s not backed by a specific data provider (i.e. Orange, O2, etc.). That means it will connect to a specific partner provider in each country—for example, France (Bouygues), Germany (O2), Italy (WIND), Spain (Telefonica), etc.

Because of its limited data limits, the Smart Comfort X eSIM plan is best for light data users.

Do European eSIM Plans Come With A European Phone Number?

Some European prepaid eSIM plans come with a European phone number but many prepaid eSIM plans are data only. You probably don’t need a European phone number but it can come in handy for calling restaurants, hotels, or Airbnb hosts (many use WhatsApp—which only requires a data connection).

Recommended Prepaid eSim Plans with A European Phone Number:

• Bouygues My European eSIM : This eSIM plan comes with unlimited calling in Europe.
• Holafly Europe eSIM : Holafly eSIM plans include 60 minutes of calling in Europe.
• Orange Holiday Europe eSIM and Orange Holiday Zen eSIM : Orange comes with international and Europe calling.

Studies show that the average American uses about 5-7GB of mobile data every week but your rate will vary.

You can easily hit 15GB/week if you’re a heavy user but it’s fairly easy to keep your mobile data usage under 2-3GB/week if you stick to basic web browsing, limit your social media use, and keep app usage to a minimum (or save your heavy usage for when you’re on wifi).

Activating an eSIM is relatively simple.

UPDATE: Apple’s iOS 17.4 update (released late March 2024) now includes an automatic eSIM installation and activation feature—making setting up and managing your eSIM much easier. This is great news!

Step One: Purchase Your Data Plan

I highly recommend purchasing your eSIM before you leave because you’ll need data/wifi to complete the setup.

Step Two: Check Your Email For The QR Code

You’ll get an email from the seller as soon as you make your purchase.

This email will include a QR code that you can scan so you’ll want to be in front of your computer so you can scan the QR code from your screen.

Step Three: Install The Carrier’s eSIM App

The QR code will lead you to download the carrier’s eSIM app. Just follow the directions they send you.

IMPORTANT: Don’t fully activate your eSIM data plan until you’re in Europe. Most data plans only have a validity period of 14-30 days and that countdown begins the second you activate the service. So, for example, if you activate the service a week before your trip then you’ll have lost a full week from your service length (even if you haven’t used any data).

Step Four: Fully Activate Service Once in Europe

Finish the activation process. Your phone should automatically connect to the local data network (it might take a few minutes to get fully activated).

The beauty of eSIM plans is that they’re completely digital so you can buy them online anytime, anywhere (see all the above eSIM options).

Every European country has its own domestic mobile carriers and each is starting to offer its own prepaid eSIM data plans. However, carrier-specific eSIM mobile packages aren’t quite widespread in Europe yet so not every mobile carrier will have options—therefore, not every retailer will have them (or they’ll have a very limited selection).

Furthermore, many European carriers only offer “postpaid” eSIM plans so they’re generally not conducive to short-term visitors and tourists. That’s why I recommend buying one of the eSIM plans I mentioned earlier in this article.

What Countries in Europe Support eSIM?

While not every mobile carrier in Europe has an eSIM mobile plan, there are carriers in every European country that accept eSIM technology—therefore, your phone will automatically connect to a provider (no matter what eSIM plan you’re using).

Simply put: Your eSIM data plan will work anywhere in Europe.

Coverage Note About Switzerland (and Possibly the UK): Switzerland is an outlier because they’re not technically part of the EU so some providers don’t work there. For example, the Orange Holiday plans work in Switzerland but the Smart Comfort X plan won’t work there. There are also rumors that the UK also has (or will have soon) the same issues because of Brexit. Learn more on our Guide on How To Use Data Plans and Smartphone Phones Abroad

Here are a few more tips for getting the most out of using your high-speed eSIM mobile data plan while traveling around Europe. If you want to learn more, check out The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide to How To Use Data Plans and Smartphone Phones Abroad

You Need An Unlocked Phone

You need to make sure your phone is unlocked before you can install both a SIM card or eSIM—many American mobile carriers use software to “lock” their smartphones to their network so the phone won’t work if you install a SIM card from another company.

However, you can unlock your phone by calling your mobile carrier and asking them to unlock it because you’re going to travel abroad (you might need to visit a store to get it unlocked).

BUY A PORTABLE BATTERY CHARGER

Using apps like Google Maps and taking photos kills your phone battery so a portable battery is a must-have. I use  Anker PowerCore 10000  because it’s tiny and affordable but there are multiple options.

Save Heavy Data Usage For When You’re On Wifi

It’s extremely easy to unknowingly burn through a lot of data—especially when you’re using data-hungry apps like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Therefore it’s highly recommended to save your heavy data usage for when you’re connected to wifi.

USE AIRPLANE MODE AND BLOCK DATA TO SPECIFIC APPS

I’ll put my phone in Airplane Mode because that disables all data (but GPS still works in Airplane Mode). You can also go into the settings and disable data access to each individual app.

DOWNLOAD OFFLINE MAPS

Google Maps lets you download entire city maps so they can be used offline. As an added bonus, GPS doesn’t use data so offline Google Maps works fairly well (but not all functionality works). Here is a good  YouTube video  that explains everything.

Download WhatsApp

WhatsApp is an excellent app for free calling and text messages—I’ve found that many Europeans exclusively use WhatsApp to communicate (including many Airbnb hosts).

Get More Europe Travel Tips From The Savvy Backpacker

Are you heading to Europe soon? Here are some more helpful articles I’ve written to help you plan your European travels.

• Backpacking Europe Packing List
• Europe Packing List for Women
• The Best Travel Shoes
• The Best Travel Backpacks  and  The Best Travel Backpacks for Women
• Guide To Buying SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans in  France
• Guide to Buying SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans in Germany
• Guide To Buying SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans in  Italy
• Guide To Buying SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans in  Spain
• Recent Posts

• Best eSIM For Europe Travel | Everything You Need To Know About European Prepaid eSIM Data Plans - March 24, 2024
• Holafly eSIM Review | Testing The New eSIM Data Plan from Holafly - March 3, 2024
• Fashion Advice: How to Avoid Looking Like An American Tourist In Europe - February 20, 2024

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Thanks For Reading! — James

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Check out our guide on how to find out if my device is eSIM compatible or contact us on our online chat

If there have been changes in your plans and you no longer need your Holafly eSIM, we will provide you with a full refund .

If you purchased the eSIM and it turned out to be incompatible with your device, we will provide you with a full refund .

If your eSIM doesn't work due to an issue with Holafly or the network infrastructure of the destination country has problems and is unstable, we can offer you a full or partial refund .

eSIM with Unlimited Data in Europe

€ 29,00 € 19,00 EUR

Based on 35,772 reviews on

Description

Technical Specs

• Enjoy unlimited data plans for your trip Europe
• Stable and fast connection
• Stay in touch with friends and family over WhatsApp.
• No registration is required. Easy to set up
• Connect to the best network in Europe
• Forget about roaming and searching for public WiFi networks
• 24/7 customer service in English and other languages.

You'll receive an email with your eSIM in seconds, no matter where you are.

An eSIM for Europe allows you to connect to the Internet at this destination in minutes. Enjoy unlimited data at 4G/LTE/5G speed in over 32 European countries. Forget about roaming or searching for SIM cards at airports; you receive the eSIM immediately after purchase. Use your favorite apps to call all your friends and family , such as WhatsApp or iMessage, without restrictions.

It’s easy to start using our services. After your purchase, you will receive a QR code in your email, scan it with your smartphone camera, install and enjoy a fast and stable Internet connection in Italy.  

• Speed: 4G/LTE/5G
• Tethering / Hotspot: enjoy 500mb per day to share with others.
• Data packages: Unlimited
• Days of use: 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60, 90.
• Phone number: No.
• Plan type: Prepaid
• Activation: Automatic, activated when connected to a cellular network.
• Compatibility: all smartphones with eSIM technology enabled. Operation on smartwatches and tablets is not guaranteed.
• Data coverage: you will enjoy Internet connection in more than 30 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.
• Delivery time: immediate, after purchase.
• Installation: follow the instructions we send to your e-mail. Install with a QR code or manually and activate your eSIM; select it as preferred to make calls and data.
• ID required: No
• Technology: eSIM
• Designed for: tourism, backpackers, vacations, digital nomads, and business.
• Speed reduction: the eSIM includes unlimited data for the contracted time. However, please note that the carrier may reserve the right to apply a Fair Usage Policy.

How many days are you traveling for?

- % discount applied to all plans

Secure payment guaranteed

Advantages of using Holafly eSIM

Change of plans? No problem at all!

Purchase your Holafly eSIM with added peace of mind. You have up to 6 months to request a refund.

Conoce por qué nuestra eSIM de viajes internacionales es tu mejor elección de datos móviles para tener internet en el extranjero y mantenerte conectado en tu próxima aventura.

Very easy to use

Set up your data plan by scanning a simple QR code. Activate the eSIM when you land and you’ll be connected instantly. All products come with thorough instructions.

Unlimited data plans

No more top-ups or worrying about running out of data. With a prepaid unlimited data in Europe, you can relax knowing we’ve got you covered.

Keep your WhatsApp number

You can call and message all your contacts on WhatsApp, like you’re at home. Don’t lose touch with family and friends.

24/7 customer support

The eSIM is easy to use, but if you have questions or experience technical issues you can reach us by email or our 24 hour chat support. We’re here to help.

Immediate delivery

If you’re in a rush or you’re already traveling, don’t worry about waiting for delivery. We send the Europe eSIM immediately to your email, so you can connect in seconds.

Share your data with family and friends

Share up to 500MB of data daily with family, friends, or fellow travelers. Use your smartphone to create a WiFi network and connect multiple devices.

How does the Holafly eSIM work?

Check your phone is compatible with esim.

Check if your smartphone is compatible now

Buy your prepaid eSIM

Chose the plan that suits you best and buy your eSIM card from our online store.

Scan the QR code

It’s easy. Just scan the QR code we send you and turn on data roaming from your settings. Now you can enjoy browsing the web.

Fast and reliable connection

• Clear video calls with no delays
• Share stories in just a few seconds
• Enjoy creating video content and super fast uploading
• Find your way wherever you go!

The best performace in all your apps

Discover the freedom of reliable connectivity with high speed 4G and 5G . Holafly keeps you connected, no matter the adventure!

What you should know about eSIMs

No local phone number.

This virtual SIM only includes data. It does not allow you to make cell phone calls or send SMS messages. You can still use WhatsApp or Skype to call your contacts.

Your phone must support eSIM

Make sure your phone is both unlocked and compatible with eSIM technology.

No data sharing

This eSIM does not allow you to share data or activate a hotspot to connect other devices.

We will send you the eSIM to your e-mail

As soon as you complete your purchase, you’ll receive the instructions to install and activate your international travel eSIM and get unlimited internet on your adventure!

Installation instructions with QR code

Manual installation instructions

Holafly eSIM User Reviews

DON’T stress about your phone service when you travel abroad! I used Holafly to travel home to California this year. The instructions were super easy to follow and I had no problems with the service for the whole 20 days that I used it. It was nice not to worry about how much my phone company was going to charge me for service abroad.

I have used your Sim for my trip to the USA! I recommend it 100%. Thank you very much for your service.

I swear that Holafly has a customer service that is to cry with pleasure ;___; In no time will I buy another unlimited data SIM for Japan because the first time it worked wonderfully

A complicated request was solved urgently within 24 hours of traveling. They are wonderful and I recommend it to everyone. Thank you HolaFly team!

Frequently Asked Questions about the Europe eSIM

When does my data plan start?

Your plan starts the moment you activate your eSIM by scanning the QR code on your smartphone.

Can I make phone calls and send messages with my Holafly eSIM?

The Europe eSIM only comes with cellular data. It does not include a local phone number for phone calls or text messages. You can still make calls using apps like WhatsApp.

Which devices work with the eSIM card?

You can check if your smartphone is eSIM compatible here.

When will I receive my Holafly eSIM?

Once you purchase an eSIM, you will receive it immediately to your email address. You then just need to scan the QR code to activate the SIM. Note that no refunds can be made once you purchase your digital SIM. See our refund policy for more information.

Can I keep my WhatsApp number?

You don’t need to do anything to keep your WhatsApp number. You’ll automatically keep your number, contacts and conversations.

How quick is the Holafly eSIM data connection?

The Holafly eSIM offers maximum speed coverage (4G/LTE/5G). But bear in mind that in some areas of limited coverage there may be a lower speed connection.

Do I have to activate data roaming and voice calls on my device?

Yes, to ensure optimal coverage with your Holafly eSIM, activate data roaming in your device settings. You won’t face additional charges from your operator if your Holafly eSIM is set up correctly.

What do I do if I delete or lose my eSIM’s QR code?

If you cannot find the code, please contact our 24/7 customer support team at [email protected] or our online chat function. We will resend the code to your email.

What happens if I use up my data or my days of validity?

If you use all your data or run out of days, your eSIM card will no longer work and you will lose internet connection.

What eSIM data plan should I choose for the Europe?

We have different Europe eSIM plans, you can choose 5 days unlimited data, 7 days unlimited data, 10 days unlimited data, 15 days unlimited data, 20 days unlimited data, 30 days unlimited data, 60 days unlimited data and 90 days unlimited data. You can contact us at any time if you’re not sure which plan is best for you.

Could the internet speed with my Holafly eSIM be reduced?

In a rare scenario, yes. Operators enforce an international measure called Fair Usage Policy to ensure fair internet usage and allow all users to enjoy optimal connection. This measure might be applied for a period of no more than one (1) day. It’s beyond Holafly’s control, but don’t worry! If this measure affects you, the restriction will be lifted the next day, and you’ll have your original plan speed back with stable internet connection.

Can I renew or extend the data on my eSIM?

Yes, you can do so by logging into your customer panel on the Holafly Center. You will find the data plans you can purchase there. Once you’ve made your purchase, it will be activated immediately on the eSIM you have linked.

Can I share cellular data with other devices?

Certainly! With the Europe eSIM, you have the capability to share up to 500MB of data per day across devices by creating a WiFi connection using your smartphone. Refer to your device instructions for guidance on setting up a WiFi connection via a mobile hotspot.

How do I set up the eSIM on my device?

After your purchase, we will send a QR code to your email. Either print the QR code or open it on your computer. On your cellphone, go to Settings > Mobile Data > Add Data Plan and scan the QR code. You can rename the data plan on your phone. Then, you’ll be able to switch between your Holafly data plan and the original plan from your provider. The Holafly data plan will only be operational once you arrive at your destination. Once you land, turn on data roaming on your cellphone’s settings and activate the Holafly data plan. Check your phone’s user manual for more details on adding a data plan. All eSIM products come with comprehensive set-up instructions.

When should I set up my eSIM?

Set up your eSIM before your departure. Once you reach your destination, just activate the data plan and turn on data roaming. We recommend you print the QR code and take it with you on your vacation just in case. Remember that you need internet access to activate the eSIM. Set up is quick and you will be able to enjoy your data plan right away.

How can I check my data balance?

You can manage your eSIMs and access all purchased data plans by logging into your Holafly Center through the Holafly website.

How many times can I use my eSIM card?

If needed or when changing phones during your trip, you can transfer your eSIM. However, note that you can only transfer the eSIM to two devices—the original one and a new one. Once you’ve installed it on a different device than the original, you won’t be able to reinstall it on the original device and you must deliver the eSIM from the original device to install it in the second device.

Can I delete the Holafly eSIM once I’ve used my data?

Yes! But keep in mind that you don’t need to do so. As soon as your plan expires your eSIM will no longer work.

Can I use my physical SIM card and Holafly eSIM at the same time?

If you are using a dual SIM phone or an Apple device, you can use your physical SIM card and your eSIM in the same device. Choose the SIM card for phone calls and SMS, and Holafly eSIM for data from your device. Please remember that if you leave your SIM card activated, your mobile data network provider may apply data roaming charges to receive or make phone calls as well as SMS.

How do I get a refund?

At Holafly we are aware that our users may have unforeseen events after making the purchase. Therefore, you can request a refund in the following circumstances: – You bought the eSIM without checking the compatibility with your cellphone. – You canceled your trip or you no longer need the eSIM. – Our eSIMs generally work fine, but if you experience connection issues, we can provide you with a full or partial refund. Once the refund is approved, you will receive the money on to the same account with which you made the payment. This process can take between 5 to 10 business days. For more details, terms and conditions, we invite you to read our Refund Policy .

To which mobile network will I connect at my destination?

Your eSIM will connect to all the local phone networks that Holafly partners up with. You can review them in the Technical Specs tab.

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Best international phone plans in 2024 — what travelers need to know

Heading overseas? Find out what your cellphone provider charges if you use your phone

• T-Mobile phone plans
• Verizon phone plans
• AT&T phone plans
• Google Fi plans
• Device compatibility and eSims
• 5G coverage when traveling

If this is the year you plan to do lots of traveling, make sure you've got one of the best international phone plans to keep you connected around the globe. The good news for U.S. cellular customers is that all the major wireless carriers offer some kind of travel benefit with the best cell phone plans . And there are supplementary packages for travelers that augment the data plan you may already have in place.

1. T-Mobile : Best choice for travelers 2. Verizon : TravelPass options 3. AT&T : Best for travel in Latin and Central America 4. Google Fi : An underrated traveling companion

The best international phone plans will let you make calls and browse the web when you're in another country (though there might be a fee on top of your normal monthly rate, depending on which carrier you use). Different plans might cover different countries, and how long you plan on traveling could also impact your choice of plans. Your method of travel — be it by plane or cruise ship — also affects which plan is best for you.

All of these are things for globetrotters to consider when shopping for wireless coverage. You're going to want one of the best unlimited data plans since they tend to offer the most travel-related perks. If you haven't travelled internationally in a while, it's smart to double-check what options are out there since the best phone carriers have overhauled their plans and packages available to travelers.

Here’s a look at the travel policies and perks for the three top U.S carriers along with information on Google Fi, which offers a plan that definitely appeals to frequent travelers.

T-Mobile international phone plans

T-Mobile offers an expanded array of plans, though most of its unlimited data plan options have some benefits for overseas travel. Subscribe to Magenta, Magenta Max, Go5G, Go5G Plus or Go5G Next, and you enjoy unlimited data and texting in more than 215 countries around the world. If you want to place or receive calls, you’ll be subject to the local rate depending on where you want to go. You don’t need to notify T-Mobile of your travel for your overseas benefits to kick in.

T-Mobile Go5G Plus Plan | Unlimited Data | <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=92X1584493&xcust=hawk-custom-tracking&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fcell-phone-plans&sref" data-link-merchant="SkimLinks - t-mobile.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> $90/month T-Mobile's Go5G Plus plan has the edge over Magenta Max for world travelers, even if the latter plan is $5 cheaper for a single line. That's because Go5G Plus customers get more data when traveling in Mexico and Canada (15GB vs. 10GB for Magenta Max) and 10GB more hotspot data. Otherwise, the two plans are identical: You can use your data in 215-plus countries at no extra cost. The first 5GB of data you use use will be high-speed data (with 5G speeds supported where available). The cheaper Go5G and Magenta plans ($75/month and $70/month, respectively) also feature travel benefits, including high-speed data in 11 European countries. Otherwise, data speeds are capped at 256 kbps.

Travel perks in current plans: As part of T-Mobile's Beyond Connected program, data speeds now reach 256 kbps when you're overseas. If you subscribe to either the standard Magenta or Go5G plans and you're in one of 11 European countries, you can enjoy 5GB of high-speed data every month, thanks to a partnership with T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telecom.

The perk gets better when you upgrade to either Magenta Max or Go5G Plus, both of which cost $15 more a month than their respective base plans. In that case, you can benefit from 5GB of high-speed data in 215 countries.

Go5G Next, T-Mobile's most expensive plan, has the same travel benefits as Go5G Plus, but adds the ability to upgrade your phone every year. If that's not important to you, stick with Go5G Plus and save some money on your monthly bill.

T-Mobile customers can take advantage of free Wi-Fi on American, Delta, Alaska Airlines and United flights. Magenta Max and Go5G Plus subscribers get full texting and Wi-Fi with streaming during flights, where wireless is available. If you go with the standard Magenta or Go5G option, you're covered on four flights per year with full streaming, plus unlimited texting; after those four flights, you can stream one hour of video. Delta SkyMiles members also get free Wi-Fi on domestic U.S. flights courtesy of T-Mobile — even if they get their wireless service from another carrier.

In Mexico and Canada, T-Mobile allows you to use up to 5GB of data whether you've got Magenta or Magenta Max; speeds are slowed to 2G after that. Go5G customers get 10GB of data in those two countries, while Go5G Plus members enjoy 15GB.

T-Mobile includes travel benefits in its senior plans, whether you get the Go5G option for people 55 years and older or the Magenta 55 Plus option. Pricing starts at $70 total for two subscribers on Magenta 55 Plus, while Go5G Plus 55 tops out at $100 for two lines. It's part of the reason why T-Mobile heads the list of the best cell phone plans for seniors .

If you opt for T-Mobile's lower cost Essentials unlimited plan, you'll get 2G roaming in Canada and Mexico, but have to pay for data elsewhere.

Trip-specific passes: T-Mobile offers International Pass options for travelers who want high-speed data during lengthier stays overseas. A 5GB International Pass gives you that much high-speed data along with unlimited calling for 10 days. It costs $35. T-Mobile's $50 International Pass increases high-speed data to 15GB and extends the length of the pass to 30 days. The carrier also offers a $5 daily pass that gives you 512MB of high-speed data, and unlimited calling between the 215 or so Simple Global destinations. 

Cruise rates: Pricing on cruises will vary according to which cruise you’re taking. You can check T-Mobile’s site to see what your pricing will be.

Verizon international phone plans

Verizon phones generally work all over the world, especially if you've got a phone built in the last few years. But where you travel significantly influences how much you’ll have to pay. As for which is the best Verizon phone plan for travelers, that all depends on how frequently you go overseas. There's a clear choice for regular globetrotters, but Verizon's less expensive offerings allow you to tack on travel benefits, too.

Verizon Unlimited Ultimate | Unlimited Data | <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8900245-15733793?sid=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https://www.verizon.com/plans/unlimited/" data-link-merchant="verizon.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> $90/month Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan offers the most benefits for world travelers. Verizon promises "full international connectivity," meaning you'll be able to use talk and text for free when overseas; you also get 10GB of high-speed data every month that you can use in other countries. Unlimited Ultimate is Verizon's most expensive plan, so unless you take frequent trips, you may be better served by Unlimited Plus ($80/month for one line) or Unlimited Welcome ($65/month). Those two plans can add on a $10/month Travel Pass options that provides three days of talk, text and data when you're overseas. You can drop the Travel Pass add-on from your plan in months were you don't need it. Verizon lets family plans mix and match lines so one person can get Unlimited Ultimate, while the others subscribe to the cheaper options.

Travel perks in current plans: Of Verizon's three unlimited plans, the best for frequent travelers is the Unlimited Ultimate option, which lets you use talk and text in other countries just like you would in the U.S. You also get 10GB of high-speed data to use overseas every month.

Unfortunately, Unlimited Ultimate is Verizon's most expensive plan, costing $90 a month for one line. (And that's after a discount for enrolling autopay.) There are cheaper options — Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus — that include travel perks. Both plans let you text internationally to 200-plus countries. You can also use LTE data when traveling in Mexico and Canada. You're limited to 0.5GB of data consumption per day in those two countries before your speeds are slowed to 2G, and you can't use more than half of your talk, text and data in those countries over a 60-day period.

In addition to the base Welcome Unlimited and Unlimited Plus packages, you can opt for $10 monthly add-ons for your Verizon plan — some covering streaming services, another providing hotspot data and so on. The relevant package is Verizon's $10/month 3 TravelPass Days add-on, which saves you $20 a month on travel benefits as you pick up three passes during monthly billing cycles. You can accrue up to 36 passes for using talk, text and data when traveling overseas.

Unlimited Welcome starts at $65/month for one line, while Unlimited Plus is $80. If you have a family plan, you can mix and match so that different lines of data subscribe to different plans — helpful if there's one person in the family who travels a lot and would benefit from the Unlimited Ultimate perks.

Trip-specific passes: Let's talk a little bit more about the TravelPass . It's Verizon's daily option for international coverage, and it’ll cost you $5 per day per device for each day you’re out of the country if you travel to Mexico or Canada and don't have an unlimited plan. In 185 other countries — including China, France and Germany — Verizon charges $10 per device per day. TravelPass gets you 2GB of 5G data, and unlimited data at 3G speeds after that; the passes also come with unlimited talk and text.

If you know you’ll be traveling for a bit more time, consider Verizon’s monthly option, which the carrier recommends for trips lasting at least 10 days. International Monthly Plans at Verizon cost $100/month, but in exchange, you get 250 minutes of talk, unlimited texts and 20GB of high-speed data. (Use that, and you get unlimited data at 3G speeds.)

Verizon also offers pay-as-you-go pricing for international travel. You’ll pay 99 cents per minute in Canada and Mexico, Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands. Rates go up to $1.79 in 130-plus countries and $2.99 in 80 other places. Each text message you send will cost you 50 cents, and each received text will set you back 5 cents. Your data will be charged at a rate of $2.05 per megabyte no matter where you are.

Cruise rates: Verizon charges $2.99 per minute for voice and 50 cents for every sent text message. You’ll pay 5 cents per message received. Data costs $20 for a monthly plan, and you only get a meager 50MB. Verizon says that pricing also applies to plans on select airplanes.

AT&T international phone plans

AT&T also comes with varied international pricing depending on where you want to go. Canada and Mexico travel is covered in many top AT&T plans, and if you pay up for the Unlimited Premium option, you can use your plan in many Central and South American countries. Traveling elsewhere? Then you had best look into AT&T's travel passes.

AT&T Unlimited Premium| Unlimited Data | <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8900245-15735111?sid=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https://www.att.com/plans/wireless/" data-link-merchant="att.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> $85/month It's AT&T's most expensive unlimited plan, but Unlimited Premium has the best perk for travelers — you can use your talk, text and data at no extra cost in 20 Latin American countries.  As with other AT&T unlimited options, you also enjoy talk, text and data coverage when traveling in Canada and Mexico.

Travel perks in current plans: If you’re heading to Mexico or Canada, AT&T already covers all of your voice, data and text with its four different unlimited plans — Starter, Extra, Premium and the entry-level Value Plus option. AT&T offers a lone tiered data plan with 4GB of data that you can use in Canada and Mexico (though roaming may be at 2G speeds). Both unlimited and tiered data plans feature unlimited texting to 120-plus countries.

The Unlimited Premium plan is the best option for travelers headed to the Americas, as you'll be able to enjoy unlimited text, talk and data at no additional cost in 20 Central and South American countries. AT&T recently added the Dominican Republic to its coverage for Unlimited Premium.

If you do a lot of international calling from home, AT&T offers unlimited calling to 85-plus countries from the U.S. for $15 per month for each line. Calls to another 140-plus countries get discounted rates under this plan.

Trip-specific passes: For anyone off to Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America or the Asia Pacific region on a short jaunt, AT&T recommends its $10-a-day International Day Pass, which comes with unlimited talk and text and data governed by your plan. (Note that each device you take overseas will need its own Day Pass.) That service is available in 210-plus countries, and you can add extra phones for just $5 a day.

You'll never have to pay for more than 10 days of day passes on any one bill, even if your trip lasts longer. International Day Passes also kick in automatically when you use your phone abroad — you get a text message letting you know you're covered.

Cruise rates: On cruises , AT&T offers a $60/month Cruise Basic plan that covers 100 minutes of talk and unlimited texting while also offering 100MB of data. Need more of everything? Then try the Cruise Plus plan ($100/month), which includes 1GB of data on top of unlimited talk and text. 

Google Fi international phone plans

If you do a lot of international traveling, don't ignore Google Fi Wireless , the wireless service set up by Google that uses cellular towers of T-Mobile and US Cellular to provide coverage. International travel is built into two of Google Fi's plans — the Unlimited Plus and Flexible options.

Google Unlimited Plus| Unlimited Data | <a href="https://fi.google.com/about/plans/" data-link-merchant="fi.google.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> $65/month The Unlimited Plus plan is the way to go with Google Fi, as you can use your data at no extra cost when traveling overseas. Google Fi customers who pay by the gigabyte of data used are also eligible for this perk.

Travel perks in current plans: You've got two options with Google Fi — tiered data through the company's Flexible plan or a pair of unlimited data options. Flexible coverage costs $20 a month for talk and text plus $10 for each GB of data you use. (Data usage is rounded off to the nearest megabyte so you only pay for the data you consume.) Google stops charging you after you use 6GB a month, meaning you'll never pay more than $80. 

If you find unlimited data plans more appealing, Google has you covered there, too — it also offers a $65 Unlimited Plus option that rolls in unlimited talk, text and data. Unlimited Plus subscribers now get a year of YouTube Premium as a perk. 

The real benefit to either Unlimited Plus or Flexible is that those plans cover you when you're traveling in 200-plus countries. When you're overseas, Google Fi charges the same rate for data usage, whether you're on an unlimited data plan or paying by the gigabyte. Voice calls cost 20 cents (though calls placed over Wi-Fi are free) and you get unlimited SMS messaging. 

Alas, Google's $50/month Simply Unlimited plan is not eligible for the free data perk when traveling. That said, all three of Google Fi's plans let you use talk, text and data in Mexico and Canada.

Google Fi is even more appealing now that Google has opened up service to all phones, including iPhones. Note that phones optimized for Google Fi — Google's Pixel phones (currently the Pixel 8 , Pixel 8 Pro , Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a )  along with a selection of Samsung phones and Motorola budget devices — can switch seamlessly between cellular networks and Google's Wi-Fi hotspots, while other phones cannot.

Trip-specific passes: Unlike the other carriers here, Google Fi doesn't offer travel passes for extended trips. Your only option is to get coverage through the Flexible and Unlimited Plus plans.

Cruise rates: Google Fi is not available when you're at sea — only when you're on land in one of the 200-plus countries covered by the carrier.

Best international phone plan: Device compatibility and eSims

Traveling overseas used to mean checking to see if your phone would be compatible once you set foot in another country. But those days are drawing to a close now that 3G networks are shutting down, eliminating much of the distinction between phones that work on either GSM and CDMA. If you've got a recent smartphone that connects to LTE, chances are strong it's going to work just fine in other countries. (You still might want to confirm that your phone works on the LTE bands available in the country you're heading to prior to your trip, just to avoid any unpleasant surprises.)

Many phones now support electronic SIM cards or eSIM technology, where you no longer need to swap in a local SIM card to make your smartphone work with an overseas network. (Since the iPhone 14 , Apple devices sold in the U.S. only feature eSIM support — that includes the newer iPhone 15 models.) One of our editors took an international trip using an eSIM for her phone and found it easy to setup and use with a local network — in fact, she plans to use the eSIM approach on all future travel. 

That said, not every country supports eSIM. And depending on your phone carrier in the U.S., you might already have options that cover your phone use in other countries.

International phone plans: What about 5G?

As noted above, many of the plans that offer international travel either have you connect at whatever speed is available locally or at a reduced speed in cases where you're drawing from your own data plan. But what if you've got a 5G phone that can connect to faster networks overseas?

For the most part, we'd expect your phone to operate as before, either at whatever speed the local network offers or a capped speed if that's part of your carrier's travel plans. However, in a few instances, U.S. phone carriers have started making deals with overseas wireless providers that allow their customers to access 5G speeds when roaming. You should check with your carrier for information about the country you're going to travel in.

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Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

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Tourism statistics - intra-EU tourism flows

Data extracted in December 2023

Planned article update: December 2024

Trips made by EU residents to other EU countries - Average duration by destination country, 2022 (Nights)

• Source: Eurostat (online data codes: tour_dem_ttw, tour_dem_tnw)

This article is part of the Eurostat online publication Tourism trips of Europeans , providing recent statistics on tourism demand in the European Union (EU) and EFTA countries.

Three types of tourism flows can be distinguished: domestic tourism (persons making tourism trips within their country of residence), outbound tourism and inbound tourism. Until recently, the main source for European statistics on inbound tourism was statistics on arrivals and nights spent by non-residents at tourist accommodation establishments .

This article tries to fill the data gap on inbound tourism by, at least for trips within the EU, re-using the outbound flows reported by countries to a range of destination countries as an estimate of the inbound flows from the point of view of those destination countries. The methodological approach is based on the simple fact that an outbound flow for one country represents an inbound flow for the country visited. When all outbound trips made by Europeans to a given country (as their main destination) are combined, an estimate of the intra-EU inbound tourism flows into this country can be obtained. The aim of this last article in the online publication Tourism trips of Europeans is mainly to briefly outline the potential offered by using partner countries' data to produce otherwise unavailable information, rather than to draw a comprehensive picture of inbound tourism. Note that for the segment of trips spent at rented accommodation, statistics on nights spent and arrivals by non-residents do exist (see the article on Tourism statistics - annual results for the accommodation sector ).

Full article

Europeans stay more than one week on average when visiting other eu countries.

In 2022, tourism trips made by EU residents to another EU Member State had an average duration longer than one week (7.3 nights), ranging from 3.9 nights for trips to Belgium and Luxembourg to 9.9 nights for trips to Romania (see Figure 1).

Differences in the duration of trips across Europe are often associated with accessibility in terms of transport and the proximity of the main generating markets. For instance, the relative price (and distance) to reach Romania will motivate tourists to stay longer, while the proximity and accessibility of Belgium to its main generating market (the Netherlands, followed by France) will make short breaks of a few days the more likely way of visiting this country. This also applied to Luxembourg, whose main generating market was the nearby Germany, followed by the Netherlands.

Average expenditure on trips to another EU country is €805

Inbound visitors coming from other EU Member States spent on average €805 (see Figure 2), ranging from €285 in Slovakia (a country seeing many tourists from neighbouring countries on a short trip – see also Figure 1) to €1 175 in Greece, followed by Cyprus (€1 145), Portugal (€1 089), Bulgaria (€1 049) and Spain (€1 033). These five destinations have relatively long stays of at least 8 nights on average and a prevalence (69 % of trips or more) of air travel to reach the country (see Table 1).

Per night, visitors from the EU to other EU countries spent on average €111 (see Figure 3), ranging from €63 for trips to Romania and Slovakia to €157 per night for trips to Lithuania.

For intra-EU trips, car is the dominant means of transport

Residents of the EU made 202 million tourism trips of at least one overnight stay to destinations in another EU Member State in 2022. For 47 % of those trips, rented or private motor vehicles were the main means of transport (see Table 1), followed by airplane (39 %). Train (6 %), bus (5 %) and transport using waterways (3 %) were far less significant.

When looking at the countries visited, air transport accounted for at least three out of four intra-EU inbound flows in Malta (98 %), Cyprus (97 %), Greece (88 %), Ireland (83 %) and Spain (76 %). Note that all these destinations are islands, or have an important part of their destinations situated on islands (Greek Islands, Canary or Balearic Islands etc).

In five countries, the share of inbound trips made by motor vehicle was 70 % or more: Slovenia (80 %), Slovakia (78 %), Austria (75 %), Luxembourg (74 %) and Croatia (72 %).

Only in Estonia was waterway the dominant means of transport for inbound visitors (65 % of all intra-EU trips) most likely because of the popular ferry connection between Tallinn and Helsinki. The share of waterway was particularly high also for intra-EU trips to Finland (30 %) and Sweden (25 %).

Railway was relatively significant for visitors to Belgium (18 % of intra-EU inbound trips) and Czechia (16 %), Denmark (13 %) and Germany (11 %), while buses were relatively significant (at least 10 %) for intra-EU trips to Czechia, Latvia and Slovenia.

Over 2 out of 3 intra-EU tourism nights are spent in rented tourist accommodation

In 2022, EU residents spent 1.5 billion tourism nights during their trips to other EU countries. Over 2 out of 3 (72.0 %) of those nights were spent in rented tourist accommodation establishments (see Figure 4). Hotels or similar accommodation providing services such as daily cleaning and bed-making came on top with 41 %, while 20 % of all intra-EU tourism nights were spent at a house, villa or apartment and 7 % in campsites (including caravan or trailer parks). The remaining 4 % were spent in other types of rented accommodation (e.g. youth hostel, mountain hut).

Looking at non-rented accommodation, own holiday homes accounted for 8 % of all intra-EU tourism nights and accommodation provided for free by friends or relatives for 15 %.

Across the EU, the significance of rented and non-rented accommodation for inbound visitors was quite contrasting, with the share of rented accommodation ranging from 93 % of all EU residents' tourism nights in Malta to 21 % of those spent in Romania (see Figure 5).

More than 1 in 4 intra-EU trips are made in July and August

Looking at the breakdown by month of departure of trips, August (14.7 %) and July (13.0 %) accounted for more than one out of four trips, while January represented only 2.9 % of intra-EU trips in 2022 (see Table 2).

Seasonality of inbound trips by visitors coming from other EU countries was particularly high in Croatia, where more than half of all inbound trips (50.5 %) took place during the two core summer months, July and August. In Bulgaria the share of these two months was 44.9 %, followed by Greece (40.3 %) (see Figure 6). In Cyprus, the number of trips made by EU visitors in the peak month was 75 times higher than the lowest month, while this ratio was 63 to one for Croatia and 46 to one for Greece. The lowest seasonality was recorded in Czechia followed by Germany and Hungary; in these countries the number of intra-EU inbound trips during the peak month was less than 4 times higher compared with the lowest month (see Figure 7).

Cruise ships popular for trips to Estonia and Sweden

Looking at the segment of trips for holidays, leisure and recreation and at the features of the destination that attracted tourists, seaside was reported as one of the attractions for 39 % of intra-EU holiday trips of Europeans in 2022. City tourism was a relevant feature for 37 % of the trips, while countryside and mountains were reported as one of the attractions for 19 % of the trips (see Table 3) (see chapter "Data sources").

Looking at national data, city tourism was the most frequently reported feature for most countries, followed closely by seaside. Cities were reported as an attraction for at least two out of three holiday trips to Estonia (85 %), Lithuania (80 %), Romania (76 %), Czechia (73 %) and Hungary (72 %).

Seaside attracted European tourists for at least two out of three of their holiday trips to Croatia (86 %), Bulgaria and Cyprus (both at 75 %) and Greece (74 %).

In nine countries, the countryside was an attraction for at least one out of four inbound holiday trips: Luxembourg (51 %), Romania (39 %), Poland (30 %), Ireland, Slovenia and Sweden (each at 29 %), Austria (28 %), France and Slovakia (both at 25 %). Europeans reported the mountains as one of the attractions for 67 % of their holiday trips to Austria.

Cruise ships in the Baltic sea were one of the most frequently reported attractions for European tourists to Estonia (23 %) and Sweden (18 %). These were also among the countries with the highest shares of inbound trips with waterway as main mode of transport.

Source data for tables and graphs

Data sources

Collection of annual data on trips of EU residents

The collection consists of harmonised data collected by the Member States in the frame of the Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning European statistics on tourism .

The scope of observation for data on tourism trips are all tourism trips with at least one overnight stay, made by the resident population aged 15 and over. It includes trips made for private or professional purpose, outside the usual environment.

Data on type of destination is sent to Eurostat every three years. This article includes data for the reference year 2022. Next transmission will take place in 2026 for the reference year 2025. For this variable, multiple answer possibilities are allowed. In case of a trip involving several destinations, it should refer to the entire trip and not only to the main destination of the trip.

The EU is a major tourist destination, with four Member States among the world’s top ten destinations for holidaymakers, according to UNWTO [1] data. Tourism is an important activity in the EU which has the potential to contribute towards employment and economic growth, as well as to development in rural, peripheral or less-developed areas. These characteristics drive the demand for reliable and harmonised statistics within this field, as well as within the wider context of regional policy and sustainable development policy areas.

Direct access to

• Tourism trips of Europeans (online publication)
• All articles on tourism statistics
• Recent Eurostat publications on tourism
• Tourism (t_tour) , see:
• Tourism (tour) , see "Trips of EU residents - annual data":
• Tourism statistics
• Regional Statistics Illustrated - Tourism
• Trips of EU residents - annual data (ESMS metadata file — tour_dem_esms)
• With 2012 as reference year:
• Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 of 6 July 2011 concerning European statistics on tourism and repealing Council Directive 95/57/EC. ( Summary )
• Regulation (EU) No 1051/2011 of 20 October 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 concerning European statistics on tourism, as regards the structure of the quality reports and the transmission of the data.
• Previous legal acts (concerning reference periods before 2012):
• Directive 95/57/EC of 23 November 1995 on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism.
• Commission Decision 1999/35/CE of 9 December 1998 on the procedures for implementing Council Directive 95/57/EC on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism.
• Commission Decision 2004/883/CE of 10 December 2004 adjusting the Annex to Council Directive 95/57/EC on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism as regards country lists.
• Directive 2006/110/EC of 20 November 2006 adapting Directives 95/57/EC and 2001/109/EC in the field of statistics, by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania.
• Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism (Communication from the European Commission, October 2007)
• European Commission - Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs - Tourism
• ↑ UNWTO data
• Industry, trade, and services
• Residents' trips and destinations
• Statistical article
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• This page was last edited on 13 December 2023, at 15:49.
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Global travel: which countries are least polluted, per new study.

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San Juan in Puerto Rico is one of the best cities globally for low air pollution, as per the 2023 ... [+] survey on air quality

It's not often that we think of how polluted somewhere is when we plan our travels—but data in the 2023 World Air Quality report by IQAir reveals that the air quality of some common holiday destinations might make us rethink.

There isn't much research that investigates the impact on travelers' health in visiting places that are heavily polluted. A 2021 study found that there were adverse health impacts of air pollution exposure on international travellers, and although these were thought to be reversible upon returning home, there were calls for more research on vulnerable populations. Another study in 2019 found that travel-related exposure to air pollution in healthy adults had led to statistically significant changes in respiratory health.

The map shows that while much of the U.S. and Europe has better air quality than other parts of the world, many of the cities across these land masses exceed WHO air quality levels by one or two times. Indeed, this is true for 124 of the 134 countries and regions with available data.

The PM2.5 concentration was measured—meaning fine particulate aerosol particles measuring up to 2.5 microns in diameter—as the primary air quality indicator for this study. These could be dust mite allergens or bacterium that emanate from sulfates, black carbon, nitrates, and ammonium. These can come from man-made sources like coal and wood burning, agricultural activities, and construction, as well as from natural sources such as dust storms, wildfires, and sandstorms. As a comparison, pollen and dust would be much bigger than these particles (10 microns).

These concentrations are measured in micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) and are one of many environmental indicators measured by environmental agencies to monitor pollution, and the WHO says that PM2.5 concentrations should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic metre.

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In Europe, some of the cleanest air, reports The Telegraph can be found in Iceland, which was beaten only by the quality of the air in Mauritius and French Polynesia. Estonia, Finland and Sweden also had higher air quality than other countries. The U.K. came in tenth place.

In Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina has the worst air quality, on a par with Uganda and Senegal. Crucially too, many European holiday hotspots came quite high on the list of countries with poor air quality, places like Turkey, Albania ( a favorite 2024 destination ) and Greece.

In the U.K., there were only four places that meet the WHO guidelines of 5 micrograms or less per cubic metre—Newton Abbot in South Devon, Redcar in North Yorkshire, Stape in North Yorkshire and Chirk in Wales. Scotland fares better, with Edinburgh (4.9), Motherwell (4.1) and Inverness (4.5) among those making the cut.

Further afield, New Zealand and Australia fare well (sixth and seventh spot for cleanest air respectively) but Asia houses 97 of the 100 most polluted cities on Earth with 83 located in India. As an idea, the most polluted city (for air pollution) is Begusarai, on the Ganges river in northeast India with an average annual PM2.5 reading of 118.9 µg/m3.

There were seven global cities with the best air quality—that within the WHO zone —with San Juan in Puerto Rico (2.7) coming in first place, followed by Wellington in New Zealand, Canberra in Australia, and Reykjavik in Iceland (3.4). Hamilton in Bermuda, Tallinn in Estonia and Helsinki in Finland round out the list. Only 6.7% of European cities, though, meet the WHO guidelines.

After two years of war, Ukraine reported decreasing air quality due to military vehicle and aircraft emissions and the need to use solid fuel sources to heat homes.

In the U.S., 14% of U.S. cities meet the WHO requirements but the Canadian wildfires that burnt an area roughly half the size of Germany from May to October 2023 radically reduced the air quality. As a result, the report states that in some cities, "including Minneapolis and Detroit, annual averages rose by 30 to 50% compared to the previous year." The most polluted major city in the U.S. was Columbus, Ohio, for the second year in a row.

It's good news for travelers to Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico as these states experienced the lowest PM2.5 levels in the continental United States, with Tucson, Arizona (3.5 µg/m3 ) and Albuquerque, New Mexico (4 µg/m3 ) both reporting annual averages that meet the WHO guideline levels.

There are many things travelers can do to lower their own personal air pollution footprint, notably bike, walk, or use public transport where possible, as well as reducing their energy consumption.

Many countries could not be included in the report although these also tend to be places that have lower levels of tourism, such as Chad, Sudan and Iran, where there is a lack of publicly available monitoring data.

Data is gathered in 134 regions and countries using 30,000 ground-level air monitoring stations, as well as low-cost air quality sensors operated by institutions, governmental bodies, universities, non-profits, private companies, and citizen scientists.

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The world’s most polluted holiday resorts revealed, from Italy to Greece

I taly, Turkey and Greece are among the European holiday hotspots with the highest levels of air pollution, while the Costa del Sol and Iceland have among the best air quality, according to a new study.

The global air quality survey, conducted by IQAir, reveals that 124 of the 134 countries and regions with available data exceeded the World Health Organisation (WHO) annual average PM2.5 guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) in 2023.

PM2.5 is fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less (a micrometre is a millionth of a metre). For comparison, human hair has a diameter of 50-70 micrometres and a fine piece of beach sand has a diameter of 90 micrometres.

IQAir said: “Causing an estimated one in every nine deaths worldwide, air pollution is the greatest environmental threat to human health.” It causes asthma and lung disease, among other diseases.

The most (and least) polluted countries in Europe

The Balkans region suffers from the poorest air pollution levels in Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina has the worst, with an average PM2.5 reading (27.5 µg/m3) on a par with Senegal and Uganda. However, this is a marked improvement on 2020 when that figure was 40.6. Second for poorest air quality in Europe is North Macedonia, followed by Montenegro and Serbia.

Northern European countries can breathe easier. Iceland (4 µg/m3) has some of the cleanest air on the planet – trumped only by Mauritius and French Polynesia globally. Estonia, Finland and Sweden are the other European countries with low concentration of fine particulate matter.

How do our favourite holiday destinations rank?

Looking at the ten most popular holiday destinations globally (according to 2023 Tripadvisor research), the destinations with the cleanest air are Benidorm in Spain and Albufeira in Portugal (judging by the air quality readings from the nearest urban settlements of Alicante and Faro). The other top beach destination, Antalya, suffers far worse air quality – in the bottom 13 percentile of all cities globally.

Of the UK’s favourite city break destinations, Amsterdam has the best air quality, followed by Paris, Barcelona, New York City and Rome. One of the worst cities globally is Dubai, which has a PM2.5 average concentration of 43.6 µg/m3. The annual average reading in Kensington, by comparison, is 7.9. 

The best (and worst) spots in the UK

There are only four parts of England which meet the WHO guidelines of 5 micrograms or less per cubic metre. These are Newton Abbot in South Devon (5 µg/m3), Redcar in North Yorkshire (4.9), Stape in North Yorkshire (4.5) and Chirk in Wales (4.2). There are many cleaner air zones in Scotland, including Edinburgh (4.9), Motherwell (4.1) and Inverness (4.5). Nowhere in Northern Ireland meets the WHO guidelines.

The best and worst in the world

The most polluted country in the world for fine particulate matter in 2023 was Bangladesh (79.9 µg/m3) which is more than 15 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline. This is followed by Pakistan (73.7), India (54.4), Tajikistan (49) and Burkina Faso (46.6). 

The region of Central and South Asia was home to 97 of the 100 most polluted cities on Earth. The vast majority of these cities, 83 in total, are in India. The three that don’t fall within Central or South Asia are Benoni in South Africa, Tay Ho in Vietnam, and South Tangerang in Indonesia. The most polluted city in the world is Begusarai, in the northeastern corner of India on the north bank of the Ganges, which has an average annual PM2.5 reading of 118.9 µg/m3. 

Only seven countries in the study meet the WHO annual PM2.5 guidelines of an annual average of 5 µg/m3 or less. These are Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and New Zealand, plus the overseas territories of Bermuda and French Polynesia. The least polluted urban settlement in the study is Kuusamo, Finland, in the Northern Ostrobothnia region close to the Russian border.

What about right now?

IQAir also collates live air quality readings in major cities around the world . At the time of writing on Wednesday March 20, 2024, Kathmandu (169 µg/m3), Delhi (168), Dhaka (162) and Lahore (158) are among the most polluted cities on Earth. Anything from 151-200 in the live rankings is classified as “unhealthy”. The clearest airs are found in Detroit (4 µg/m3), Auckland (6 µg/m3) and Tokyo (8 µg/m3). London’s average currently sits at 33 µg/m3, which falls in the category of “Good”.

How the data is collated

The IQ Air study includes all cities that provided annual PM2.5 data from ground level air quality monitoring stations, with hourly data for a minimum of 60 per cent of the year (equivalent to at least 5,256 hours of an available 8,760). 

For the 2023 survey, IQAir drew data from more than 30,000 air quality monitoring stations across 7,812 locations in 134 countries. However, there were many countries and regions with insufficient data to be included in the study. More than a third of the population of the African continent do not live in an area where air quality data is tracked.

IQAir says: “While the number of countries and regions with air quality monitoring has steadily increased over the past six years, there remain significant gaps in government-operated regulatory instrumentation in many parts of the world.”

The countries of Chad, Sudan and Iran are among the dozens of countries entirely absent from the study due to a lack of publicly available monitoring data.

“Low-cost air quality monitors, sponsored and hosted by citizen scientists, researchers, community advocates, and local organisations, have proven to be valuable tools to reduce gaps in air monitoring networks across the world,” IQair added.

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Obama, Bill Clinton to join Biden to raise $25 million at event with Queen Latifah and Lizzo

President Joe Biden will get a boost from Democratic predecessors Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on Thursday at a fundraiser in New York slated to raise more than $25 million and add some oomph to Biden's 2024 reelection campaign.

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U.K. Accuses China of Cyberattacks Targeting Voter Data and Lawmakers

The British government believes China has overseen two separate hacking campaigns, including one that yielded information from 40 million voters.

By Mark Landler and Stephen Castle

Reporting from London

The British government on Monday accused China of cyberattacks that compromised the voting records of tens of millions of people, a sharp rebuke that underlined the hardening of Britain’s stance toward China since its leaders heralded a “ golden era ” in British-Chinese relations nearly a decade ago.

The deputy prime minister, Oliver Dowden announced sanctions against two individuals and one company linked to a state-affiliated group implicated in the attacks, which he said targeted both an elections watchdog and lawmakers. The Foreign Office summoned China’s ambassador to Britain for a formal diplomatic dressing down.

“This is the latest in a clear pattern of hostile activity originating in China,” Mr. Dowden said in Parliament. “Part of our defense is calling out this behavior.”

The government disclosed the attack on the Electoral Commission , which oversees elections in the United Kingdom, last year but did not identify those behind it. It is believed to have begun in 2021 and lasted several months, with the personal details of 40 million voters being hacked.

The Electoral Commission said that the names and addresses of anyone registered to vote in Britain and Northern Ireland between 2014 and 2022 had been accessed, as well as those of overseas voters.

The commission previously said that the data contained in the electoral registers was limited and noted that much of it was already in the public domain. However, it added that it was possible the data could be combined with other publicly available information, “such as that which individuals choose to share themselves, to infer patterns of behavior or to identify and profile individuals.”

In addition to the infiltration of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Dowden confirmed that the Chinese attempted unsuccessfully to hack email accounts belonging to several members of Parliament.

Although he did not name the individuals, they are thought to include Iain Duncan Smith, a former leader of the Conservative Party; Tim Loughton, a former Conservative education minister; and Stewart McDonald, a member of the Scottish National Party — all of whom have a record of making hawkish statements about China.

Mr. Dowden said that British officials had determined that it was “almost certain” that a state affiliated group, APT31, conducted reconnaissance against the lawmakers in 2021. “The majority of those targeted were prominent in calling out the malign activity of China. No parliamentary accounts were successfully compromised,” he added.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Mr. Duncan Smith said that China should “immediately be labeled as a threat,” something that would go significantly beyond the language used in a British foreign policy review which last year said that Beijing “poses an epoch-defining and systemic challenge.”

Mr. Duncan Smith said a number of lawmakers had suffered hacking attempts and described how he was impersonated by someone who, using a fake email address, contacted politicians around the world claiming to recant his views and to admit that he was a liar. Speaking after Mr. Dowden’s statement, Mr. Duncan Smith welcomed the sanctions but compared the deputy prime minister’s announcement to “an elephant giving birth to a mouse.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “We’ve been very clear that the situation now is that China is behaving in an increasingly assertive way abroad, authoritarian at home and it represents an epoch-defining challenge, and also the greatest state-based threat to our economic security.”

John Pullinger, chair of the Electoral Commission, said that the hacking incident would not impact how people registered, voted, or participated in democratic processes. But he added in a statement that the announcement “demonstrates the international threats facing the U.K.’s democratic process and its institutions,” and that the commission remained “vigilant to the risks.”

Tensions between Britain and China have risen in recent years over concerns about human rights and Chinese threats to British security. Under pressure from the United States, Britain in 2020 announced plans to curtail the role of Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, in its 5G network.

Then Britain condemned a new national security law in Hong Kong, a former British colony, saying it violated the terms of London’s handover agreement with Beijing. The government offered visas to roughly 350,000 Hong Kong residents who held British overseas passports, and about 160,000 had moved by 2023.

In September, the police arrested a 28-year-old British researcher in Parliament on suspicion of working for the Chinese government. The man, who denied being a spy, worked with prominent lawmakers, including Tom Tugendhat, who is now security minister in the government, on China policy, raising fears of possible security breaches.

The arrest of the researcher, which was believed to be unrelated to the cyberattacks, widened a rift within the governing Conservative Party over how London should engage with an increasingly assertive Beijing.

The current foreign secretary, David Cameron, was prime minister during the period when Britain cultivated closer commercial ties with China. In a news conference with President Xi Jinping in 2015, he hailed the dawn of a “golden era in relations between Britain and China.”

Mr. Cameron, who has since stiffened his language about China, was expected to brief Conservative members of Parliament about the allegations later on Monday. There is pressure from a cohort within his own party to go further, however. “It is abundantly clear that China is a hostile state and poses an unprecedented threat to our national security,” said Suella Braverman, a former home secretary, in Parliament.

On Monday, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, dismissed the reports of Chinese hacking as “fake news.”

“When investigating and determining the character of cyber-incidents, there must be adequate objective evidence,” Mr. Lin said, “not smearing other countries without a factual basis, not to mention politicizing cybersecurity issues.”

Christopher Buckley contributed reporting.

Mark Landler is the London bureau chief of The Times, covering the United Kingdom, as well as American foreign policy in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has been a journalist for more than three decades. More about Mark Landler

Stephen Castle is a London correspondent of The Times, writing widely about Britain, its politics and the country’s relationship with Europe. More about Stephen Castle

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These Are the Most Popular Summer Travel Destinations, According to Google

Google shares a little peek into where people are looking to travel this summer.

Circle Creative Studio/Getty Images

Travelers are just chuffed with London this summer, and are planning to head there in droves.

That’s according to Google, which named the city in the United Kingdom the most popular destination for summer 2024 . The list reflects searches in the United States on Google Flights for travel from June 1 to Aug. 31, the company shared with Travel + Leisure . 

London was followed by its neighbor to the south, Paris, which is always a good idea, of course. The European cities were then followed by Tokyo, which jumped up to the No. 3 spot on the list this year after placing just eighth in 2023. 

Trips to Rome and New York rounded out the top five spots on the list of popular summer destinations.

Cancun , typically a perennial favorite, dropped to No. 6 on the list this year after placing second in 2023.

Travelers are also searching for trips to the dreamy beaches of Bali, which came in as the top spot for solo travel, followed by searches for solo trips to Japan, Maine’s Acadia National Park, Turks and Caicos, and (T+L’s 2024 Destination of the Year ) Costa Rica.

In fact, solo travel has been so popular this year that searches reached an all-time high in January.

Travelers are also searching Google for specific activities, like the top things to do in Las Vegas for couples or the best things to do with kids in Orlando. But Google said Turks and Caicos is the most popular destination when it comes to both family travel and a couples trip.

Beyond making it easy to find flight options, Google Flights also helps travelers save money on dream getaways by telling customers when prices have specifically been lowest so they can better predict when they should purchase a flight. The search engine also offers flight tracking and alerts .

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Easter travel delays forecast for UK due to poor weather and rail disruption

Line closures and strikes coinciding with school holidays and turbulent weather are expected to hit travel plans

A long Good Friday looms for many drivers and rail passengers who are heading off for a UK getaway, as the Easter weekend collides with the start of school holidays, engineering works and turbulent weather.

With more than 14 million leisure trips planned by drivers over the coming days, motorists have been warned to expect delays on many routes. Additional cars could be forced on to the roads because of major railway line closures, with strikes hampering possible return train journeys next week.

According to the RAC, some car journeys could take twice as long as normal as many schools are breaking up at the start of the bank holiday weekend this year, leading to an increase in getaway traffic.

Meanwhile, all trains in and out of London Euston on the west coast mainline to cities including Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow will be cancelled from Friday to Monday, with passengers wishing to travel diverted via rail replacement buses to Milton Keynes.

Getaway hell was expected to kick off on Thursday afternoon, with the biggest potential for gridlock coming from the south-east after 2pm with many schools closing at lunchtime.

With normal commuter journeys contributing to the traffic, the RAC and transport analysts Inrix forecast peak jams between 4pm and 5pm on the western flank of the M25 motorway between the M1 north and the M23 for Gatwick, including the turnoffs for the west and south-west. A usual one-hour drive on that stretch of the London orbital motorway is expected to take 2 hours 10 minutes or more, they predict.

Most long car journeys are expected to be made on Good Friday, with the lengthiest delays likely between 11am and 3pm. Two popular routes for holidaymakers – the M5 southbound between Bristol and Taunton and M3 between the M25 and the south coast – could take twice as long as usual.

One curveball is the British bank holiday weather , with changeable sun and rain either luring or deterring more in the coming days. The worst was forecast by the Met Office for Thursday afternoon, including strong winds and heavy rain at times, with a yellow warning for wind across the south of England .

The RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “If you do need to travel between the busiest hours of 2pm and 7pm, keep speeds appropriate to the conditions and leave plenty of extra stopping distance.”

She said anyone who could delay leaving until later on Thursday or set off as early as possible on Good Friday was likely to have a better journey, but lengthy queues could be expected.

Network Rail meanwhile has advised train passengers to check their journey details with £90m worth of engineering works scheduled to land awkwardly on the getaway plans of anyone fleeing London for the north in the coming days.

As well as the west coast mainline closure south of Milton Keynes, there will be disruption and closures around Glasgow and Huddersfield.

Network Rail’s network strategy director, Lawrence Bowman, said: “There’s never a good time to do the work we need to do but the four days of the bank holiday, when fewer people are travelling, give us the opportunity to do major work we couldn’t do in normal weekend.”

Rolling 24-hour rail strikes next week from 5 to 8 April by drivers in the Aslef union will halt most long-distance trains in Britain next Friday or Saturday, further hampering potential train holidays. The strikes affect different companies on different days but firms affected include Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway and CrossCountry on 5 April and GWR, LNER, Northern and TransPennine on 6 April.

Tourist board VisitEngland said around 11 million people in the UK are nonetheless planning an overnight Easter trip, generating an estimated £3.2bn boost to the economy.

Two million of us are, however, not taking that chance, according to travel association Abta, heading overseas instead. The somewhat balmier Canary Islands, mainland Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Turkey are the most popular destinations for foreign travel.

The Port of Dover has warned holidaymakers they may face delays due to tighter French border security after the Moscow concert attack, including controls in Dover before passengers board cross-Channel ferries. About 20,000 cars are expected to travel through the port this weekend.

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