eSIM for Paris
A France eSIM is the right plan for Paris, and it also works on every day trip within the country. Most people stay around four days, so a plan of a week gives some margin. Install it at home on Wi-Fi before you leave, then switch it on after landing at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle or Orly.
Plans for France cover the whole country, including Paris.
For a 4-day visit
How much data for 4 days in Paris
- Light (maps and messages): about 1 GB
- Normal (plus social media and browsing): about 2.5 GB
- Heavy (video and video calls): about 6 GB
An estimate from typical use, not a measurement.
Arriving in Paris
Paris has two main airports. Roissy-Charles de Gaulle sits north-east of the city, and the RER B suburban line runs from its terminals to Gare du Nord, Chatelet-Les Halles and the Left Bank. Orly lies to the south, linked to town by the tram T7 and, since the extension opened, by Metro line 14. Paris-Beauvais, used by some low-cost airlines, is a long way out and relies on a coach to Porte Maillot. The big stations are Gare du Nord (Eurostar and trains to the north), Gare de Lyon, Montparnasse, Saint-Lazare, Gare de l'Est and Austerlitz.
Arrival is the moment a working connection pays for itself: you check which RER or coach is running, message whoever is meeting you, and find your hotel without hunting for a cafe with Wi-Fi. The eSIM is installed beforehand by scanning its QR code over a home connection. After you land, open the cellular settings, select the eSIM as your data line and allow data roaming on that line only.
Getting around
Public transport is run under the Ile-de-France Mobilites authority and operated mostly by RATP and SNCF. The network combines the Metro, the RER, trams and buses under one zone-based ticketing system. Ile-de-France Mobilites has its own official app for journey planning and disruption notices, and the Navigo Easy card is the usual rechargeable pass for visitors. Because the rules on paying by phone or bank card at the gates have been changing, check the authority's website shortly before you travel.
Taxis are easy to book through the G7 app, and Uber and Bolt both run in the city. Velib' Metropole is the public bike share, with docking stations across Paris and its inner suburbs, and you can rent a bike from its app. A phone with data also helps with museum bookings, since several large venues, including the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay, sell timed entry slots online.
Where you'll use data
Visitors tend to divide their time between the sights along the Seine (the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame on the Ile de la Cite), Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur, the Marais, the Latin Quarter and the Champs-Elysees. Evenings often go to the Canal Saint-Martin or Saint-Germain-des-Pres. Restaurant reservations and map directions both want a connection, and an offline map of the city is a good backup when you walk between neighbourhoods.
Typical day trips stay in France, so the same plan keeps working: the Palace of Versailles by RER C, Monet's garden at Giverny, the chateau at Fontainebleau, Disneyland Paris, Chartres or Reims. Brussels and London are only a short Eurostar ride away, but both are different countries, and the France plan does not cover them. A Europe plan can cover several countries, but check its country list on our Europe page first, since regional plans can leave some countries out.
For a longer stay
Common questions
- Will the eSIM work when I land at Charles de Gaulle?
- Yes, if you installed it before the flight. After landing, turn the eSIM line on and enable data roaming for it. If nothing happens within a minute or two, switch airplane mode on and off.
- How much data do I need for four days in Paris?
- About 2.5 GB for normal use: maps, transit apps, messaging and some photos. Streaming and video calls raise that to around 6 GB. The plan list on this page shows the estimate for each plan.
- Can I pay for the Metro with my phone?
- Ticketing is moving toward phones and contactless cards, but the rules have been changing, so check the Ile-de-France Mobilites site before you go. A Navigo Easy card is the dependable option. The ticket gate itself does not use your data plan.
- Does the eSIM come with a French phone number?
- No. These plans carry data only. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or a similar app to call and write to people. Keep your home SIM on, with its data off, if your bank or airline sends codes by text message.
- Does it work if I take a day trip to Versailles or Giverny?
- Yes. Both are in France, so the France plan covers them, along with Reims, Chartres and Fontainebleau. A trip to Brussels or London by Eurostar leaves France and is not covered.