Spain eSIM guide: Barcelona, Madrid and the islands

A Spain eSIM is a prepaid data plan that connects to the Movistar, Vodafone or Orange network. You get 4G across the country and 5G in most cities. Coverage is strong in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia and on the Balearic and Canary Islands. Install it at home from the QR code and turn it on when you land. EU residents already roam free, so it mainly suits non-EU visitors.

What a trip costs

Trip	eSIM price
Barcelona city break (4 days)	3 GB · 30 days: €8.99
Madrid + Barcelona (7 days)	5 GB · 30 days: €10.99
Andalusia road trip (10 days)	10 GB · 30 days: €17.99
Canary Islands or a long stay (30 days)	20 GB · 30 days: €29.99

Live prices in euros. Unlimited plans are also available for heavy use; the connection never stops (fair usage policy applies).

Coverage by area

Where	What to expect
Madrid	Fast 4G and 5G in the centre, at Madrid-Barajas airport and at the main train stations.
Barcelona	Fast 4G and 5G across the city, on the beachfront and at El Prat airport.
Andalusia (Seville, Granada, Málaga)	Good in the cities and on the coast; weaker on mountain roads in the Sierra Nevada and the white villages.
Balearic and Canary Islands	Good in towns, resorts and airports; patchy in remote hills and on some hiking trails.
Rural Spain and the Camino	Good in towns along the route; expect gaps between villages and in the Pyrenees.

Do you need an eSIM in Spain if you have an EU SIM?

Usually not: under EU rules, a SIM from any EU or EEA country roams in Spain at home prices until 2032. Your home operator may still apply a fair-use data cap.

An eSIM makes sense if you come from outside the EU, for example from the UK, Turkey, the US or the Gulf. UK operators are not required to offer free EU roaming. Turkish citizens with an ordinary passport also need a Schengen visa for Spain.

eSIM, Spanish SIM or roaming?

Travel eSIM: bought online, QR code by email, fixed prepaid price, and your own SIM stays in the phone.
Spanish prepaid SIM: cheap, but you must register it with your passport in a store, and your home SIM comes out.
Home-carrier roaming: free for EU residents; for non-EU visitors the daily charges add up quickly.

How much data do you need in Spain?

Maps, train apps and messaging: about 1–3 GB for a long weekend.
Daily photos, stories and some video calls: 5 GB for a week.
A road trip with streaming, or a hotspot for a laptop: 10–20 GB or unlimited.

Setup in five minutes

Check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
At home, on Wi-Fi, scan the QR code to add the eSIM.
After landing, choose the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line only.
Keep data roaming off on your home line so it stays reachable for calls and SMS.

Spain eSIM questions

Do I need a travel eSIM in Spain if I live in the EU?

Usually not, because EU and EEA SIM cards roam in Spain at home prices until 2032. An eSIM still helps if your home plan has little data or a tight fair-use cap.

Do I need to show my passport to use an eSIM in Spain?

No, our Spain eSIM needs no ID check. You buy it online and get the QR code by email right after payment. A Spanish prepaid SIM from a store, by contrast, must be registered with your passport.

When does the validity of my Spain eSIM start?

Validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in Spain. You can install it at home days before the trip without losing any days.

Can I use my Spain eSIM as a hotspot?

Yes, hotspot is allowed. You can share data with a laptop, tablet or a travel partner’s phone.

Does the Spain eSIM come with a Spanish phone number?

No, it is a data-only eSIM without a local number. Keep your own SIM in the phone for normal calls and SMS, and use WhatsApp or other apps over data.

Does a Spain eSIM work in the Canary and Balearic Islands?

Yes, the islands are part of Spain and use the same Spanish networks. Coverage is good in towns and resorts and weaker in remote mountain areas.

Can I get a refund if I do not use my Spain eSIM?

Yes, you get a full refund if the eSIM was never installed or activated. Prices are in euros.