Best eSIM for Australians Travelling to Europe
Before I left Sydney for my first Europe trip, I called Telstra to ask about international data. The woman on the phone cheerfully explained their "International Day Pass" at $10 per day with 200MB of data.
Two hundred megabytes. That's about 45 minutes of Google Maps. For $10. Per day.
For a 14-day trip, that's $140 for a total of 2.8GB of data. I used more than that scrolling Instagram on the flight over.
I hung up, opened my laptop, and started researching alternatives. Here's what I found, and what I've been using for the last 8 months.
What Australian Carriers Actually Charge
Let's lay out the real numbers so you can feel appropriately outraged:
Telstra
- International Day Pass: $10/day, 200MB data, unlimited calls/texts to Aus
- 14-day trip cost: $140 for 2.8GB total
- Monthly equivalent: $300 for 6GB. Six. Gigabytes.
Optus
- Travel Pack: $5/day for 500MB, or $10/day for 1GB
- 14-day trip cost: $70 (7GB) or $140 (14GB)
- Monthly equivalent: $150-300
Vodafone AU
- Roaming included on some plans (limited to 5GB)
- Excess data: $3/MB. Yes, per megabyte.
- One accidental video call: potentially $50+
These prices are genuinely embarrassing compared to what's available through eSIM providers. I don't understand how carriers still get away with it, except that most people don't know the alternatives exist. (I did a full eSIM vs roaming cost breakdown if you want the detailed maths.)
The eSIM Alternative
Here's the same comparison with eSIM providers:
| Provider | Data | Duration | Price | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOAN | 20GB | 30 days | $29* | $1.45 |
| Airalo | 10GB | 30 days | $26 | $2.60 |
| Holafly | "Unlimited" | 15 days | $44 | N/A (throttled) |
| Telstra Day Pass | 2.8GB | 14 days | $140 | $50.00 |
| Optus Travel Pack | 7GB | 14 days | $70 | $10.00 |
*GOAN group price for 2+ eSIMs. Solo is $39.
Read that per-GB column again. Telstra charges $50 per gigabyte. GOAN charges $1.45. That's not a small difference. That's a 34x markup.
My Europe Data Story
I spent my first 10 days in Italy thinking I'd "just use Wi-Fi." Here's how that went:
Day 1 (Rome): Landed at Fiumicino at 9pm. No data. Couldn't get an Uber. Took a taxi that charged me 65 euros for a ride that should have cost 30. Couldn't check on my phone because I had no data.
Day 3 (Florence): Got lost walking back to my hostel at night. No data, no maps. Wandered for 40 minutes through streets that all looked the same. Not scary, but not fun either.
Day 5 (Venice): Tried to use a cafe's Wi-Fi to book a train to Cinque Terre. Wi-Fi was so slow the booking timed out. Missed the train I wanted. Had to wait 3 hours for the next one.
Day 6: I caved and bought an Italian SIM card at a Vodafone store. Cost me 25 euros for 10GB. Worked great in Italy. Died the moment I crossed into Switzerland.
Day 8 (Switzerland): No data again. Bought a Swisscom SIM for 20 CHF (about $30 AUD). Used it for one day, then crossed into France.
Day 9 (France): You see where this is going.
After 10 days, two physical SIMs, and about $70 AUD spent on data, I set up a GOAN eSIM. Cost me $29 USD (about $43 AUD). Covered every country I visited for the next month. Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia. One plan. Zero border drama.
I could have saved myself 10 days of stress and $70 if I'd just set it up before leaving Sydney.
Why GOAN Works for Aussies Specifically
A few things that matter if you're coming from Australia:
1. You Keep Your Telstra/Optus Number
This is the biggest one. When you set up an eSIM, your Australian SIM stays in your phone. Both work simultaneously (Dual SIM). Your Aus number stays active for:
- Bank verification SMS (every Australian bank uses these)
- Calls from family back home
- MyGov and Medicare (if you need to access these while abroad)
With a physical European SIM, you'd have to remove your Aus SIM. That means no bank verifications, no calls from mum, no access to anything that sends an SMS to your Australian number.
I nearly got locked out of my CommBank account in Vietnam because the verification code went to my Aus number, which was sitting in a ziplock bag in my backpack. Never again. Check out my full guide on what eSIMs are for more on how Dual SIM works.
2. 105+ Countries on One Plan
Most Aussies who go to Europe don't just stay in one country. You'll cross borders. Maybe France to Spain. Maybe Italy to Croatia. Maybe a cheeky weekend in Morocco.
GOAN covers 105+ countries on a single plan. No new SIM at each border. No panicking when your data stops working in Switzerland (which isn't in the EU, by the way, so many "Europe" SIMs don't cover it).
3. Real Phone Number for Bookings
European restaurants, hotels, and tour operators often want a phone number. Not a WhatsApp number. An actual phone number they can call. GOAN gives you one. This saved me when I was trying to book a last-minute boat tour in Cinque Terre and the operator only communicated via phone calls.
The Setup (From Australia)
Do this from your couch in Sydney before you leave:
- Check your phone supports eSIM (iPhone XR or later, Samsung S20 or later, Pixel 3 or later)
- Buy a GOAN plan that covers your trip
- Scan the QR code: Settings > Mobile Data > Add eSIM > Scan
- Label it "Europe" or "Travel"
- Set it as your default data line (keep your Aus SIM for calls)
When you land at Heathrow, CDG, or wherever, turn off airplane mode. Connected in seconds. No SIM shop, no queue, no jet-lagged fumbling with a tiny tray ejector tool.
GOAN has a visual setup guide if you want screenshots of each step.
Common Questions from Aussie Travellers
"Will my Aus plan work in airplane mode + Wi-Fi only?" Technically yes. But you'll be entirely dependent on Wi-Fi, which means no maps when you're walking, no ride-hailing, no translation apps, and no connection between Wi-Fi hotspots. That's most of the day.
"Can I use my Aus plan's included international data?" Check the fine print. Most Telstra/Optus plans include zero international data unless you pay extra. The ones that include some (Vodafone) cap it at 5GB and charge brutally for excess.
"Should I buy a European SIM at the airport?" You can. It'll be overpriced (airport SIM shops charge 2-3x more than city shops) and it'll only work in one country or EU zone. If you're going to Switzerland, UK, or non-EU countries, you'll need additional plans.
"How much data do I actually need for 2 weeks?" About 10-15GB for moderate use (maps, messaging, social media, occasional video call). 20GB if you're posting content or using data-heavy apps. GOAN's 20GB plan handles a 2-week trip easily with room to spare.
The Maths
For a 14-day Europe trip, here's what you're actually spending:
| Option | Cost (AUD) | Data | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra Day Pass | $140 | 2.8GB | Wherever Telstra roams |
| Optus Travel Pack | $70-140 | 7-14GB | Wherever Optus roams |
| Airport SIM (per country) | $30-40 each | 10GB per country | One at a time |
| GOAN eSIM | ~$43 | 20GB | 105+ countries |
It's not close. Not even remotely close.
Save the $100 difference and spend it on a cooking class in Tuscany or a boat ride in the Greek Islands. I promise that's a better use of your money than paying Telstra to slowly load Google Maps. For a broader comparison of what's available across Europe, see my best eSIM for Europe 2026 guide.
