Best eSIM for Spain

Spain's climate varies significantly across its 505 992 km² of territory, but Madrid's averages offer a useful baseline. The warmest months are July and August, reaching 26.9°C and 27°C respectively, with barely any rainfall at just 0.1 mm. Winter dips to 6°C in January, while November sees the heaviest precipitation at 2.2 mm. For the most comfortable travel conditions, consider visiting in May (16.7°C) or September (21.8°C), when pleasant weather meets thinner crowds.

Peak tourist season runs from June through August, when visitors flood Barcelona, the Balearic Islands and the Costa del Sol. This surge can cause noticeable mobile network congestion in popular areas, slowing data speeds precisely when you need maps or real-time translations across Spain's four official languages. The shoulder months of April, May and October offer mild temperatures between 13.2°C and 16.7°C, with far less strain on local networks.

To stay connected from the moment you land in Madrid or Málaga, install an eSIM for Europe before departure. Activating your profile a day ahead lets you skip airport queues and immediately access data for navigating Spain's sprawling cities and coastal resorts. This preparation proves especially valuable during high season, when network demand peaks across the country's busiest tourist zones.

Spain uses the calling code +34, and mainland cities like Madrid and Barcelona sit 1 hour ahead of the United Kingdom year-round. The Canary Islands, however, share the same time as London, making calls home from Tenerife or Gran Canaria perfectly convenient. Activate dual SIM mode on your device to keep your UK number active for banking verification texts while your eSIM handles Spanish data. This setup avoids roaming charges without sacrificing access to two-factor authentication codes.

While Spanish is spoken nationwide, you will encounter Catalan in Barcelona, Basque in Bilbao and Galician in Santiago de Compostela. Download Google Translate with offline Spanish and Catalan language packs before departure to navigate regional signage and menus confidently. Spain drives on the right, so an offline GPS app like Maps.me proves invaluable for road trips through Andalusia or along the northern coast.

If your route crosses into the principality of Andorra via the Pyrenees, consider picking up an eSIM for Andorra separately, as Spanish data plans typically do not cover that territory. Many hotels in cities like Seville and Valencia offer free Wi-Fi, but speeds drop noticeably in rural areas, making a dedicated data eSIM the more reliable option for daily navigation.

Picking up a physical SIM card on arrival is straightforward at major airports such as Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat and Málaga-Costa del Sol. Shops from Vodafone, Orange and Movistar operate in terminal buildings, though queues can stretch past 30 minutes during peak summer arrivals. Spanish regulations require you to present a valid passport or national ID before activating any prepaid SIM, and staff in smaller regional airports may only speak Spanish, Catalan or Basque, which can complicate the process.

Free Wi-Fi is available in most Spanish hotel chains, shopping centres and café franchises, yet public municipal networks in cities like Seville or Valencia tend to be slow and often disconnect after 30 minutes. Pocket Wi-Fi rental exists but remains a niche service in Spain, with limited collection points mainly in Madrid and Barcelona. UK travellers should also check roaming allowances carefully — since Brexit, most plans from EE, Three and Vodafone UK now impose daily surcharges or fair-use caps of around 25 GB when roaming in Spain.

An eSIM sidesteps all of these hurdles: no passport checks at airport counters, no language barriers and instant activation before your flight even lands. If your trip extends beyond Spain into neighbouring countries, consider pairing it with an eSIM for France to stay connected as you cross the border.