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France eSIM
8 data plans · from £3.30 · instant QR code by email
Choose your plan
Travelling as a group? Buy everyone an eSIM in one checkout and the discount is applied automatically — no code needed. See group pricing
8 data plans · from £3.30 · instant QR code by email
Travelling as a group? Buy everyone an eSIM in one checkout and the discount is applied automatically — no code needed. See group pricing
Connects automatically to the strongest signal across Orange.
Setup
It takes about a minute. Tap the install link we email you, leave the line switched off, then switch it on when you land — and you're online.
On iPhone (iOS)
On Android
France: 11 plans, from 3 to 50 GB. Validity runs from 1 day to 180 days. 11 of them run on 5G where the local network has it.
7 plans can be topped up without installing a second eSIM. Plans run on Orange.
Counted from our live catalogue, not a marketing figure — the plan list above this section is the same data.
No regional bundle includes France cover — a single-country plan is the only option here, and it is usually the cheaper one anyway.
A France travel eSIM is a digital SIM that downloads straight to your phone — no plastic card, no queuing at an airport counter. You buy online, tap the install link we email you (the QR code is in there too), and your phone adds a second line alongside your normal SIM. It stays dormant until your trip begins, then connects automatically to Orange on 5G where available, LTE everywhere else. Your normal number carries on working for calls and texts while the eSIM handles the data.
Maps, messaging and taxi apps use very little data — roughly 300–500 MB a day. If you add photos, social media and the occasional video, expect to use closer to 1 GB a day. For a one-week trip, a 5 GB plan is usually plenty; for two weeks, tethering, or heavy use, opt for 10 GB or more, or choose a top-up plan you can reload as you go. France plans start at £3.30 across 8 sizes, with the per-GB price clearly shown so you can easily spot the best value.
Yes. A France travel eSIM is a local data plan rather than international roaming — you pay the price you saw online, and there are no per-megabyte charges from your home network provider. Set the eSIM as your mobile data line, switch data roaming off on your normal SIM, and nothing unexpected turns up on your next bill. Full refund at any time before installation, so buying ahead costs you nothing.
Baguette
A long, crisp loaf of French bread, a daily staple often enjoyed fresh from the local boulangerie.
Any local artisanal bakery (boulangerie artisanale) across the country.
Croissant
A buttery, flaky, viennoiserie pastry of Austrian origin, heavily popularized in France.
Bakeries nationwide for breakfast.
Macarons
Sweet meringue-based confections filled with ganache, buttercream, or jam.
Ladurée or Pierre Hermé in Paris.
France connectivity guide
France is straightforward to stay connected in above ground and unusually inconsistent below it. Coverage across the country is strong, the TGV keeps you online for most of a journey, and then the Paris Métro — the system you use most — has patchy service that surprises visitors who expected the Tokyo or London experience. This guide covers which networks you get, where they genuinely fail, what arrival at Charles de Gaulle and Orly looks like, and what a French trip actually consumes.
Read the full France guide →Crêpes
Very thin pancakes, either sweet (with sugar, Nutella) or savory (galettes from Brittany).
Crêperies in Brittany or street stalls in Paris.
Boeuf Bourguignon
A rich beef stew braised in red Burgundy wine, slowly cooked with carrots, onions, garlic, and mushrooms.
Traditional bistros in Burgundy or Paris.
Coq au Vin
Chicken braised with wine, lardons, mushrooms, and occasionally garlic.
Classic brasseries and rural restaurants.
Escargots de Bourgogne
Snails cooked in a shell with garlic and parsley butter.
Burgundy region and traditional Parisian brasseries.
Ratatouille
A vibrant stewed vegetable dish consisting of eggplant, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, and herbs.
Restaurants in Nice and the Provence region.
Bouillabaisse
A traditional Provençal fish stew featuring various local fish, shellfish, and saffron.
Marseille's Old Port seafood restaurants.
Quiche Lorraine
A savory tart with a pastry crust filled with a mixture of eggs, cream, cheese, and bacon.
Bakeries and cafés throughout the Lorraine region and countrywide.
Eiffel TowerParis
The iconic iron lattice tower offering breathtaking panoramic views of the capital.
2-3 hours · book ahead
Louvre MuseumParis
The world's largest art museum, home to the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
4-5 hours · book ahead
Palace of VersaillesVersailles
The opulent former royal residence known for the Hall of Mirrors and vast manicured gardens.
Half day · book ahead
Mont Saint-MichelNormandy
A spectacular gravity-defying abbey perched on a rocky tidal island.
Half day
Château de ChambordLoire Valley
A masterpiece of French Renaissance architecture and the largest château in the Loire Valley.
3 hours · book ahead
Promenade des AnglaisNice
A famous seaside walkway along the sparkling azure waters of the Mediterranean.
1-2 hours
Basilique Notre-Dame de FourvièreLyon
A magnificent basilica dominating the Lyon skyline, offering great city views.
1-2 hours
Calanques National ParkMarseille
Stunning limestone cliffs dropping into deep blue coves, perfect for hiking and swimming.
Half day
Cité de CarcassonneCarcassonne
A remarkably preserved medieval fortress city that feels like a fairytale.
3-4 hours
Strasbourg CathedralStrasbourg
A towering masterpiece of Gothic architecture with an astronomical clock.
1-2 hours
TGV (High-Speed Train)
Connects major cities across France at speeds up to 320 km/h. Requires advance seat reservation.
€30 - €120+
TER (Regional Train)
Slower regional trains serving smaller towns and villages.
€10 - €40
Metro
Extensive underground transit systems in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, and Toulouse.
€1.70 - €2.15 per ride
Tram / Bus
Above-ground public transit ideal for areas without metro coverage or smaller cities like Bordeaux and Nice.
€1.50 - €2.00 per ride
Rental Car
Available at airports and train stations. Requires an IDP (International Driving Permit) for some non-EU licenses.
€40 - €80 per day
Ride-hailing
Uber, Bolt, G7, FreeNow
Uber and Bolt are widely used. G7 is the official Parisian taxi app and often can use priority lanes.
Paying for things
Basics
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Many businesses closed, reduced public transit. |
| Labour Day | May 1 | Almost everything is closed, including major museums; public transport is heavily restricted or completely halted in some cities. |
| Victory in Europe Day | May 8 | Some shop closures, national memorials take place. |
| Bastille Day | July 14 | Major celebrations, military parades in Paris, fireworks, crowded streets. |
| Assumption of Mary | August 15 | Many smaller shops closed as it coincides with the traditional French summer holiday period. |
| All Saints' Day | November 1 | Public holiday, many businesses closed. |
| Armistice Day | November 11 | Memorial services, banks and some shops closed. |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Most businesses, attractions, and restaurants closed. |
Recurring dates — the day these fall on moves year to year.