Traveling to Paris soon and looking for the best way to get connected in France? Traveltomtom recommends you to get either a local prepaid sim card for France or an e-sim card for France to avoid high roaming charges. Don't get fooled by slow overseas data plans. Buying a sim card for France at Paris Airport is easy, fast and cheaper than you might think. This is a complete guide to find you the best sim card for Paris, where to buy a sim card in Paris and at Charles de Gaulle airport, up to date prices as per March 2023 and info about international and e-sim cards for France.
After many years of traveling the world as a nomadic travel blogger I have always been looking for the best and cheapest ways to get connected when arriving in a new country. Buying a prepaid sim card or getting an e-sim card is the first thing I do when I land in a new country. On my way to visit every country in the world I have already written more than 200 prepaid sim card guides from Vietnam to South Africa, from Kenya to Brazil and from USA to Israel. But also countries like Colombia, El Salvador, Egypt, Turkey, Bali, Bangkok, Marrakech, Sydney, etc.
So whenever you are planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card advice. Bookmark this website!
Why buying a sim card at Paris Airport
It is very simple, if you want to order an Uber to get to the city center you will need a working internet connection on your phone. Roaming around Paris without data on your phone can be challenging. Overcoming language barriers, getting directions from Google Maps, finding nearby rooftop bars, etc. Traveling is much easier when your phone is connected to the internet. Therefore Traveltomtom recommends to always stay connected when traveling abroad. The cheapest way for Paris? Buying an e-sim card for Paris already starts from $4.5 USD.
Also be aware that public WiFi connections are UNSECURED networks. There is also no guarantee! The signal in your hotel room can be weak or the wifi in the restaurant too slow to even upload a photo. With a prepaid travel sim card you don't rely on others.
Buying a sim card at Paris Airport is the easiest and fastest way to get online. However, prices at Charles de Gaulle Airport for France sim cards are a little more expensive than in the city center.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a B at the Tourist Information at Terminal 1 in Charles de Gaulle Airport. A sim card for France with 50 GB costs €50. There are cheaper options available as well.
But it is no secret that buying a sim card at an international airport is mostly more expensive than elsewhere in the city. The same counts for Paris. There are much better prepaid sim card plans for tourists in Paris city center. Check out my article about the best sim cards for France in 2023. You can already get 210 GB for just €20.
Another great option is ordering an international sim card for traveling in France. Traveltomtom compared and reviewed all international sim cards for traveling in 2023 and found some good deals for traveling to Europe.
Especially one option stands out for traveling to Paris and that is Bouygues Telecom tourist sim card for France with 30 GB data in France and Europe for $39.90 USD. Click on the link to order it directly and get it send to your home address or click here to buy this Bouygues Telecom tourist sim card deal as an e-sim card.
E-sim card for France
The latest, newest and most convenient way to get data on your phone when traveling overseas in 2023 is an e-sim card! Ever hear of an e-sim card? No more going to a store! You do everything online. Order a an e-sim card for France, receive a code, change some settings and voila! Check out the following France e-sim card deals:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 14 days = $7.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $23 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $36 USD
Click here to order a France e-sim card directly online or find more info.
The above e-sim cards are data-only and only valid in France, but check out the following amazing international e-sim cards that also allowing calling and texting and that are valid in more than 70 countries including France:
- 15 GB data + unlimited calling/texting for 15 days = $19.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calling/texting for 30 days = $39.90 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for France directly online.
Keep in mind that all the above e-sim cards for France operate only on 4G network, 5G is NOT supported! With an e-sim card you keep your own phone number.
Some phones are not compatible with e-sim cards and in that case you need a normal physical sim card and Traveltomtom recommends buying a sim card for France online. For $49.90 USD you get 20 GB data including unlimited texting and calling all over Europe. Click here to order this France sim card directly online or find more info in the link.
France sim cards and free EU roaming
Is a France sim card good for traveling in Europe? Yes! France has some amazing prepaid sim card deals... however always check with your provider if free EU data roaming in included when buying a sim card. Most prepaid sim cards in France allow free EU data roaming which means that with the prepaid sim card you buy in Paris you can use the internet in every other country in Europe at no extra costs. There is always a data cap for using your France sim card outside of France.
So continuing your trip after to Paris to Rome or Athens then there is no need to buy another local sim card again. Traveltomtom also wrote a guide for the best prepaid sim card for traveling in Europe in 2023.
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Where to buy a sim card at Paris airport
First off, I have to say that finding the best prepaid sim card in Paris Airport took me a couple hours. Charles de Gaulle has three different terminals, but it actually feels like 3 different airports. All terminals are connected by an electric train, but they are pretty far from each other. Paris Airport Charles de Gaulle is definitely not one of my favorites.
Basically, if you are looking to buy a sim card at Paris Airport you have two options. Buy a prepaid sim card for France at a book store or buy it from the Tourism Information desk. However, not every terminal has a Tourism Information desk.
Buy a prepaid sim card at Relay
The book stores at Paris Airport are called Relay and have big red signs with white letters. There are several around the airport. Terminal 1 and 3 have both one shop Terminal 2 has multiple ones. Buying a prepaid sim card from Relay is not convenient, because no one can really explain you what packages are available. The employees are already too busy selling water, sandwiches, magazines, etc. The staff is not so happy when you ask too many questions.
The Relay shop that sells a prepaid sim card for France in Terminal 1 is not located in the Arrivals Hall but at Departures floor 2 of CDGVAL Airport Shuttle. Next to the Starbucks in Hall 5. In Terminal 2 and 4 the Relay shops are in the Arrivals Hall.
The prepaid sim cards are stored behind the desk so when I got in line and it was finally my turn to ask information about the France prepaid sim cards for tourists I saw their eyes rolling. Don’t expect any service from a Relay book store at Paris airport selling prepaid sim cards for France.
Buy a prepaid sim card at the Tourism Information desk
This option is only available in Terminal 1! Strangely at terminal 2 and 3 they do not sell prepaid sim cards for tourists in France. In Terminal 2 and 3 the Tourism Information desk redirected me to the Relay shops.
At Terminal 1 though the people from Tourist Information were very helpful and could exactly tell me all the info I needed about the prepaid sim cards for tourists in Paris and they were still smiling.
When you are looking to buy a sim card in Paris Airport: Tourist Information desk Terminal 1, Arrivals, level 5 is the best to go.
Prices sim cards at Paris Airport in 2023
Since there are only two places where to buy a sim card it was easy for me to list the prices here and find you the best sim card for Paris.
Relay Bookshop
Prepaid Orange Sim Card France for tourists
- €40
- 10 GB data - 4G network all over Europe
- 120 minutes calling from anywhere in Europe to the world
- 1000 text messages from anywhere in Europe to the world
- Valid for 14 days
Actually an ok prepaid sim card deal for an airport, but only valid for only 14 days. Compared to the France sim cards they offer in Paris this is EXPENSIVE!
The same prepaid sim card for France you can also order online, but then you get double the data: $49.90 for 20 GB data. Click here to order it as a prepaid sim card or click here or order it as an e-sim card.
SFR sim card
- €35
- 5GB - 4G network only in France
- 60 minutes calling from France to the world
- 1000 text messages from France to the world
- 14 days valid
As you can see a prepaid SFR sim card for France is only working in France, so if you are traveling in Europe this deal is not a good idea. And heads up, in Paris city center you can buy an SFR prepaid sim card with 150 GB data for €40. Buying a sim card at Paris Airport will also get you tourist prices.
Bouygues Telecom sim card
- 30 GB data for all of Europe + €25 credit for international calls valid for 30 days = €39.90
This is the same Bouygues Telecom tourist sim card mentioned in the beginning of the article. An amazing deal and personally one of the best prepaid sim cards for traveling in France.
You can order this Bouygues Telecom tourist sim card directly online and get it shipped to your home address before your trip or get it as an Bouygues Telecom e-sim card.
Tourist Information - (only Terminal 1)
They only sell an SFR prepaid data sim card for tourists:
- €49
- 50GB data all over Europe
- Unlimited calling time in France
- Unlimited texting in France
- 14 days valid (every extra day cost €2,50)
Actually not a bad package, but why only 14 days SFR? Most probably enough for most tourists.
Best sim card at Paris Airport in 2023
Buying a sim card at any airport around the world never gets you the best deals. At Paris Airport there are some good offers, which is basically also my best rated sim card for France in 2023. However, buying a sim card at Charles de Gaulle Paris is Airport is rather complicated since there is no official mobile phone store and not every terminal sells the same prepaid sim cards.
- You don't want to change terminals just to buy a sim card.
- Best sim card at Charles de Gaulle Airport is sold in a book shop: Relay
- Relay shops are busy, there is zero service.
The best prepaid sim card at Paris Airport can be bought from any Relay store and is a Bouygues Telecom prepaid tourist sim card for France. This sim card gives you 30 GB data in France and all of Europe for €39.90.
You can order this Bouygues Telecom tourist sim card directly online and get it shipped to your home address before your trip or get it as an Bouygues Telecom e-sim card.
In my article about buying a sim card for France in 2023 I also rated this sim card as the best sim card for tourists for France.
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Order a sim card for Paris online
If you don't want to waste your precious holiday time waiting in line for a sim card for Paris then buy one online! Get an international sim card shipped to your home address before your trip and get online instantly when you land. This travel sim card will automatically be activated from its first use. Check the below sim card deals for France:
1. Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90
- 8 GB data in all of Europe
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 30 minutes worldwide
- 200 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
2. O2 Go Card - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe
- $2 calling credit in Europe
- Valid for 30 days
3. Three Data Pack 12 GB - $29.90
- 12 GB data in all of Eurooe
- Unlimited calls/sms within Europe
- Valid 30 days
4. Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 20 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
5. Bouygues Telecom Vacation Prepaid Plan - $39.90
- 30 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms within Europe
- Valid 30 days
Click here to directly order one of the above sim cards for France or find more info in the link.
Personally as you know by now the Bougues Telecom tourist prepaid sim card is my personal favorite. However, this sim card can only be used if it is first activated in France. For people traveling to France of course no problem, because as soon as you land it will automatically activate.
As I travel often to Europe but not always arrive in Paris first, I also use the Orange Holiday Europe sim card a lot as it can be activated anywhere in Europe.
Also kep in mind that you can still order an e-sim card for traveling in France as well. There is Airalo and SimOptions that both provide e-sim cards for France. You arrange everything online within just a couple minutes and you keep your own phone number.
How to get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris city center
There is a direct train from Paris Airport to the city called RER B and cost €10,30, this is the easiest and fastest way to get to the center. The train station is within the airport, just follow the signs. An Uber will costs you approximately $35.
In the city center you will find numerous mobile phone stores that sell you prepaid sim cards for €20 with 150 GB data package for example. Want to know more? Read my best sim card in France in 2023 article and I tell you exactly where to buy the best sim card in Paris.
I hope this article about buying a sim card at Paris Airport was helpful for you! Leave me a comment if you have any specific questions, also about traveling to Paris. I am happy to help.
If you are interested what it looks like traveling to every country in the world then check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom for some serious wanderlust. As of March 2023 I have visited more than 150 countries around the world.
Enjoy your trip to Paris!
Some links in this article about the best ways to stay connected when traveling to Paris are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link in this article I earn a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you!
