Roaming in Spain: is it free or how much does it cost?

Internet in Spain: all options

If you are going on a trip to Spain, one of the first questions you will surely ask yourself is how to have internet while you enjoy your holidays, to connect with your family, send photos of your trip or find the route to the hotel.

Several alternatives are available to have internet connection while you travel:

• eSIM
• SIM card
• Roaming
• Wifi

Here we show you the different plans and prices so that you can decide which option best suits your needs. Don't be left without internet while you enjoy your holidays and don't worry about the high roaming costs that can occur.

Before analysing each of the options, we leave you with a table so that you can compare the prices of the different plans in a general way:

Different options for internet in Spain
Service	Price by day	Data
Spain eSIM	From £19/5 days	Unlimited
SIM Card Spain	From £29/14 days	8GB
Wifi Spain: Portable Public	From £4/day Free	From 1GB Unlimited
Roaming in Spain	From £2/day	From 1GB

Spain SIM card: having internet while traveling

Using a SIM card is one of the most common options to have internet while travelling. In this case, we have to replace our usual SIM card with a new one. To use this option, you can buy the card before you arrive at your destination or once you are there.

If you choose to buy this card once you are at your destination, you can find it at the airport or in the shops of the companies operating in the country. The main companies operating in the country are Movistar, Vodafone and Orange.

On the other hand, if you prefer to have internet as soon as you arrive in Spain and not have to look for a card, you can buy the SIM card online. There are many websites where you can buy it and have it delivered to your home before you go on holiday.

eSIM Spain: another option

One of the best options to have internet while traveling in Spain is the eSIM card. These virtual cards work thanks to a virtual chip in the mobile phone that allows you to have internet connection while you are abroad. Holalfy eSIM is one of the options you can find to use this modern technology.

If you choose this option, you should know that Holalfy offers different plans and prices to suit the needs of the trip you are planning. Here are some of them:

Holafly Spain data plans
Plan	Price	Data
5 days	£19	Unlimited Data
7 days	£24	Unlimited Data
10 days	£29	Unlimited Data
15 days	£44	Unlimited Data
20 days	£49	Unlimited Data
30 days	£59	Unlimited Data
60 days	£77	Unlimited Data
90 days	£87	Unlimited Data

As you can see Holafly eSIM offers different plans and prices to suit the needs of the trip you are planning. Data is always unlimited, you just have to choose how many days you want to have internet while you travel and sign up for the plan. Holafly uses the coverage of Movistar, one of the largest operators in the country, so you will have coverage in almost all national points.

If the eSIM has convinced you, but you want to consult other companies that offer these services, here are some options that you can consult to contract a card that adapts to what you are looking for:

Truphone

RedteaGO

Mobimatter

Ubigi

Roaming in Spain: ¿can I roam while I travel?

Of course you can roam in Spain, most UK carriers have roaming partners in Spain, so you can still use your data services, send text messages or make phone calls through the entire country, whether you are in Barcelona, Valencia or any other Spanish city. You should know that you are subject to a reasonable use policy ⁽¹⁾ .

What is more, you do not even have to do anything special, your phone will automatically connect to the Spanish network. However, you need to make sure that your phone has data roaming on before you leave the UK or you will not be able to roam in Spain.

You can also roam in other countries outside of Europe, so you can use your SIM to get data roaming in Mexico or, depending on your carrier, to get free roaming in the United States or even data roaming in Japan.

Is data roaming free in Spain?

Data roaming used to be free in Spain, this means that in the past you could use your phone without paying any additional charges, though some fair use policy charges could apply. However, since 2021, UK operators are allowed to reintroduce roaming fees across EU destinations, so depending on your provider, roaming in Spain could not be free of charge.

The Roam Like Home initiative was proposed by the European Commission and it only applied to European phone carriers, since United Kingdom left the EU, UK operators no longer have to offer free of charge roaming outside of the United Kingdom, that is why roaming in Spain, or any other EU country for that matter, could not be free for you.

Roaming charges in Spain: how much does it cost?

Roaming charges in Spain may vary from provider to provider. However, most phone companies will charge you £2 per day to use the data and minutes included in your UK contract. Also, this charges will only apply if you use your data or voice allowance, if you do not make a phone call or connect to the 4G or 5G network in Spain, you will not have to pay anything.

On the other hand, if you haven't upgraded your contract or signed up to a new phone provider during 2022, in most cases you will not have to pay this additional fee to roam in Spain. So, for instance, if you've been an EE customer since 2017 and you haven't upgraded your contract, you will still have free roaming in Spain.

How can I avoid roaming charges in Spain?

There is an easy way to avoid roaming charges in Spain, how about buying an Holafly eSIM card? This company offers different data plans, from 3GB to 10GB, that allow you to freely use your phone during your trip to Spain without extra charges or unreasonable roaming policies.

But how is this different from buying a SIM in Spain? First, it is way more convenient, as Holafly will deliver the SIM right to your email after the purchase, this means you do not have to wait for it to be delivered through mail. Secondly, you already have your SIM with you when you arrive at the airport, so you can fully enjoy your trip.

Also, with this SIM you will be able to roam in other European countries, so this means it is also the best roaming data plan for Europe.

Wifi in Spain: portable and public

One of the first options we think of, when we want to have internet while traveling, is public wifi. This option is not the most advisable, since these public networks have no protection against possible cyber-attacks and what can be a saving ends up being a problem.

If you want to connect several devices at the same time we recommend the pocket wifi. This device works thanks to a small portable router with a data speed that works similarly to the router we have at home.

This option is much safer than public wifi, and because of its small size, you can travel around Spain with the device in your pocket and always have a connection.

However, if we compare pocket wifi with eSIM, we can say that the former is usually more expensive than the latter. Among other things, the pocket wifi is hired on a rental basis, so it is usually more expensive and, if you lose it, you will have to pay compensation to the company.

Recomendations for travel to Spain

In Spain you can do many different activities, from going to the beach or to the mountains, to visiting a winery or one of its great museums. Don't miss anything and enjoy the internet while traveling in Spain.

One of the things you should be aware of is that the plugs are different. If you don't want to run out of battery power for your devices, we recommend that you buy an adapter before you travel or at airports.

If you're a digital nomad lucky enough to be able to stay in the country for an extended period of time, you can get around by car or public transport, as the country is very well connected. You can rent a car at the various airports or move between the various public transport stations.

For a great experience, we recommend that you purchase an eSIM so that you can have Internet access while you travel. If you are lucky enough to be able to travel to various destinations or want information about other countries, here are some that may be of interest to you.