When does an eSIM beat my plan’s EU roaming?
When your network charges a daily fee in Portugal or limits roaming data. For a villa with good Wi-Fi, a small plan for maps and messages on the go may be enough.
Prices in pounds · for UK travellers
eSIM for Portugal from the UK
Flying into Faro, Lisbon or Funchal? Compare a Portugal travel eSIM in pounds with what your UK network charges for roaming there.
Photo: Sergio Guardiola Herrador on Unsplash
- QR code by emailinstall before you fly
- Keep your UK numberdata-only eSIM
- 24/7 live chatin the Graba SIM app
- Pay your way
Before you buy: straight answers
Does it work on Madeira and the Azores?
Yes. Both are part of Portugal, so a Portugal plan covers them.
What if I drive into Spain?
A Portugal-only plan stops at the border. For a day trip to Seville, check the coverage list or use your UK plan’s EU roaming.
What your trip to Portugal costs
Set your trip length and how you use your phone. eSIM bars are data-only plans that cover the whole trip; UK network bars use your UK allowance and include calls and texts. EE and O2 don’t publish a price for Portugal that we can check, so they aren’t charted.
Sources: Vodafone roaming (checked 6 November 2026) · Three roaming (checked 6 November 2026) · Airalo fixed-data plans (checked 9 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Portugal eSIM
How long is your trip?
Pick the trip that sounds most like yours. Every plan is data only, paid once, with no contract.
Prices in GBP
Not sure? Answer 3 quick questionsWe’ll show the maths behind our suggestion.
Swipe to compare plans
On every plan here
- Uses Vodafone and NOS, with 5G where available
- Starts when you first connect, so you can install it before you fly
- QR code by emailInstall it in minutes
- Keep your numberData only, your SIM stays in
- 24/7 live chatIn the Graba SIM app
- Pay onceNo contract, guest checkout
More options
Other sizes for different kinds of trip.
Only need a day?
A day pass gives you full-speed data for one day, then slower data for the rest of the day.
500MB to 10GB a day
From £1.99
See day passesHow we choose these plans
For each trip we pick the current plan that costs the least while lasting the whole trip and gives about 0.3 to 0.7 GB a day, enough for maps, messages and social media. A plan may last longer than the trip. Everyone uses data differently, so check your phone’s recent data use. “Best value” only appears when that plan also costs the least per GB of all the plans that fit.
Arriving in Portugal
- FAO Faro
- LIS Lisbon
- OPO Porto
- FNC Funchal, Madeira
- PDL Ponta Delgada, Azores
Signal where people go
- The Algarve
- Albufeira, Vilamoura and Lagos are well covered; quiet coves and cliff walks can be patchy.
- Lisbon
- Strong signal across the city, on the trams and on the metro.
- Porto and the Douro Valley
- Good in Porto; signal dips in the steep valley on river cruises and the train.
- Madeira
- Covered in Funchal; the levada walks pass through tunnels and valleys with no signal.
- The Azores
- Part of Portugal and the EU, served by Portuguese networks. Crater lakes and coastal paths can have gaps.
Networks our Portugal plans use: VodafoneNOS
Your UK network in Portugal
Portugal is in the EU, so check your plan first: it may already include roaming there. What each network publishes for Portugal, and a week of it:
| Network | What it charges | 7 days | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
 EE | Varies by plan EE doesn’t publish one price for every country: it prices roaming by destination, plan and start date. Check EE’s roaming tool for Portugal. | No published price | EE roaming |
| O2 | O2 Europe Zone O2 treats its Europe Zone separately from O2 Travel, and what you pay in Portugal depends on your plan. Check your plan in My O2 before you go. | No published price | O2 roaming |
| Vodafone | Zone B £16 for an 8-day pass or £21 for 15 days in Zone B. Uses your UK calls, texts and data, up to 25 GB a month. | £16.008-day pass | Vodafone in Portugal vs eSIM |
 Three | Go Roam in Europe £2.75 a day in Go Roam in Europe (£2 on plans from 2021 to 2025), or £12 for a 7-day pass. Unlocks your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data. | £12.007-day pass | Three in Portugal vs eSIM |
Sources: EE (checked 29 October 2026) · O2 (checked 29 October 2026) · Vodafone (checked 6 November 2026) · Three (checked 6 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Graba SIM vs Airalo: the same plans, side by side
Plans with exactly the same data allowance and validity for Portugal, both data-only and priced in pounds. Coverage and networks can differ, so check the plan details before you buy.
Highlighted: the lower price for each plan. Holafly sells unlimited data only, priced in US dollars, so it isn’t in this like-for-like table.
Sources: Airalo fixed-data plans (checked 9 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Compare prices for Portugal
Know before you go
- Portugal is in the EU, so your UK plan may already include roaming there, free or for a daily fee. Check it before you buy an eSIM.
- Driving from the Algarve into Spain, your phone switches to a Spanish network. A Portugal-only plan doesn’t cover Spain.
- Many Algarve villas and golf resorts have Wi-Fi, so a smaller plan for maps and messaging on the go may be all you need.
Crossing a border from Portugal?
A Portugal plan covers Portugal only. This is what your UK network charges next door:
| Going on to | O2 | Three | Vodafone | eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spainday trips from the Algarve to Seville and Huelva | Europe Zone: check your plan | £2.75 a day (Go Roam in Europe) | £16 for 8 days | Spain plans |
Set it up before you fly
- Check your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM on our compatibility page.
- Install the plan at home on Wi-Fi with our iPhone or Android guide.
- When you land at Faro, switch mobile data to the eSIM and turn on data roaming for it only.
Questions about Portugal
Does a Portugal eSIM work in Madeira and the Azores?
Yes. Both are part of Portugal and are covered by the same Portuguese networks the plan uses, with gaps on mountain walks and remote coastal paths.
Will my Portugal eSIM work if I drive into Spain?
A Portugal-only plan covers Portugal. For a day trip to Seville, check the plan’s coverage list, add a Spain plan, or choose a Europe plan.
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming in Portugal?
For a week with about 0.7 GB a day, the Graba SIM 5GB, 30 days plan costs £3.99, less than each published UK network option for Portugal (the lowest is Three at £12.00). UK network prices include calls and texts; the eSIM is data only.
What do UK networks charge in Portugal?
EE: EE doesn’t publish one price for every country: it prices roaming by destination, plan and start date. Check EE’s roaming tool for Portugal. O2: O2 treats its Europe Zone separately from O2 Travel, and what you pay in Portugal depends on your plan. Check your plan in My O2 before you go. Vodafone: £16 for an 8-day pass or £21 for 15 days in Zone B. Uses your UK calls, texts and data, up to 25 GB a month. Three: £2.75 a day in Go Roam in Europe (£2 on plans from 2021 to 2025), or £12 for a 7-day pass. Unlocks your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data.
What if something goes wrong?
Live chat in the Graba SIM app is open 24/7. Email and contact-form requests are answered Monday to Friday.
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