Country comparison
France vs Spain
The two biggest European inbound markets. The choice is rarely either/or — usually it's both, plus Italy.
Last updated 2026-04-14
Key takeaway
"For trips that include the Camino de Santiago, the Spain plan is mandatory because the Camino route crosses Galician mountain dead zones that only dual-carrier failover handles. France-only plans cannot route Camino walkers."
France received 102 million visitors in 2024, Spain received 93.8 million. Together they account for over a third of all European international tourism. Both are EU member states, which means EU residents pay nothing extra to roam in either — the eSIM question is mostly relevant for non-EU visitors and for travellers who want a single multi-country plan.
For non-EU visitors (US, UK, Canada, Australia), the cost difference between France and Spain is minimal, but the carrier infrastructure differs. Spain has the more robust dual-carrier setup needed for the Camino de Santiago. France has the better TGV coverage and stronger rural 5G post-Olympics.
Side by side.
| France | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Top carrier | Orange France | Movistar |
| Rural strength | Excellent (post-Olympics 5G upgrade) | Strong (Movistar) + Vodafone failover |
| Pilgrimage pack | Lourdes | Camino de Santiago |
| eSIM Garden 5 GB / 15 days | $10.99 | $10.99 |
| Annual visitors (2024) | 102M | 93.8M |
| Top 5G speeds | Paris, Lyon, Marseille | Madrid, Barcelona, Seville |
Pick France if
Eurostar arrivals + classical Europe tourists.
France's post-Olympics 5G rollout makes it the strongest rural cellular country in continental Europe. TGV routes have full 5G end-to-end.
See France plansPick Spain if
Camino pilgrims + Andalusia road trippers.
Spain's dual-carrier (Movistar + Vodafone) routing is the only way to cover the Galician mountain Camino sections without dropping signal.
See Spain plansOr just buy both
Europe regional plan
Covers both countries plus 43 others including the UK, Switzerland, and Turkey. The right choice for most multi-country European trips.
Questions.
Do EU residents need either plan?
No. EU roaming rules mean your home EU SIM works in both at no extra cost. These plans are for non-EU visitors only.
Will my Spain plan work in Andorra?
No. Andorra uses a separate national operator and is not on either plan.
Camino starts in France — which plan?
Buy the Spain plan. It includes the Pyrenees crossing through roaming agreements at no extra charge for the first day in France.
Keep exploring
Plans and guides for both countries.
Country
France eSIM plans
Country-specific plans with real carrier data for France.
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Country
Spain eSIM plans
Country-specific plans with real carrier data for Spain.
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eSIM vs roaming
The honest cost comparison between travel eSIMs and home-carrier roaming.
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Global eSIM
140+ countries on one profile for round-the-world trips.
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