Choose your destination
Practical eSIM tips per country, so you know what to look for before you book.
Argentina
From the cosmopolitan streets of Buenos Aires to the empty plains of Patagonia, Argentina is a country of vast distances. An eSIM with wide coverage helps with long bus journeys and navigation in sparsely populated areas.
Australia
Distances in Australia are vast, and coverage can disappear entirely outside coastal cities. For a road trip along the Great Ocean Road or a trip into the Outback, a reliable eSIM is strongly recommended.
Brazil
Brazil is roughly the size of the US or Canada, with similarly large differences in coverage. Worth knowing: Brazil speaks Portuguese, not Spanish, which also matters for local apps and customer support.
Canada
Canada is enormous, and coverage outside major cities isn't a given. For a road trip through the Rockies or a trip along the east coast, it helps to know in advance which network covers your route best.
China
China has tightly regulated internet access: familiar apps like Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked. Many international eSIM providers route traffic outside the Chinese internet, so these services often work without a VPN, though this varies by provider.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is compact but green: rainforests, volcanoes and national parks set the pace of travel. Coverage is generally better than in neighboring countries, but can still drop out in dense nature areas.
Greece
As an EU citizen you often already travel to Greece with free roaming, but coverage on the smaller islands can still fall short. For non-EU travelers or longer island stays, a local eSIM is a good fallback.
Indonesia (Bali)
Bali is popular with digital nomads and holidaymakers: coworking spaces generally have solid wifi, but travelers use mobile data mainly as a handy backup once they're out and about or when wifi drops. If you island-hop by ferry, an eSIM also beats having to track down a local SIM shop wherever you land.
Italy
Italy generally has strong coverage, from Milan to Sicily. As an EU citizen your own plan often already works for free, but for non-EU travelers or busy tourist periods, a local eSIM is still worth it.
Japan
Japan has excellent 4G and 5G coverage, but free public wifi is less common than most travelers expect. An eSIM for Japan can be activated before you land at Narita or Kansai, so maps, translation apps and the Suica app work from the moment you arrive.
Latin America
From Mexico to Argentina, a trip through several Latin American countries usually means crossing borders regularly, and buying a new local SIM every time gets tedious. A regional eSIM plan often covers dozens of countries in a single profile.
Malaysia
Malaysia is split into two parts with quite different coverage: the busy peninsula with Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and the much wilder Borneo with Sabah and Sarawak. Choose your eSIM plan with that difference in mind.
Mexico
From the resorts of Cancún to bustling Mexico City, coverage in Mexico is generally good in tourist and urban areas, but drops off in rural regions. An eSIM skips the registration step that comes with a local SIM.
Philippines
With more than seven thousand islands, coverage can vary hugely from one island to the next. For island-hopping between, say, Cebu, Palawan and Siargao, an eSIM with wide network coverage is essential.
South America
South America is a continent of extremes: the dense Amazon, the remote plains of Patagonia, and the high-altitude Andes. For long bus journeys or treks through these areas, a reliable eSIM plan with wide coverage is essential.
Spain
If you're an EU citizen traveling to Spain, your own plan often already works for free thanks to EU roaming. For non-EU travelers, longer stays, or digital nomads in cities like Barcelona or Málaga, a local eSIM is often still cheaper and more flexible.
Sri Lanka
From the tea plantations in the hills to the surf spots along the coast, Sri Lanka is compact but varied, and coverage differs by region as a result. Arranging an eSIM before departure saves time on arrival at Colombo Airport.
Thailand
From the buzz of Bangkok to islands like Koh Samui and Phuket, your phone is essential in Thailand for Grab, maps and translations. An eSIM means skipping the physical SIM card queue at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
United States
From the New York skyline to the remote roads through Yellowstone, in the US which network your eSIM runs on often matters more than the provider itself, especially once you leave the major cities behind.
Vietnam
From the bustle of Hanoi to the mountains around Sapa, Vietnam is a country where you'll rely heavily on Grab for transport and food. An eSIM avoids delays on arrival and works right away in most areas.