Roaming abroad: how travellers from Switzerland save with an eSIM

By Simon Abplanalp · 27 Oct 2026

Switzerland is not part of the EU roaming area. Here is how to avoid a huge phone bill on holiday – with a travel eSIM.

Why roaming is still expensive for Swiss residents

Since 2017, EU citizens have been able to use their mobile plan at domestic rates across the EU (“Roam like at home”). Switzerland is not included. If you use mobile data in Italy, Spain or Thailand with a Swiss plan, roaming charges can be high depending on your operator – unless your plan already includes data abroad.

What is a travel eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. You buy a data plan for a country or region online, install it via QR code and use it alongside your Swiss SIM. Your Swiss number stays active for calls, SMS and WhatsApp.

How to do it

Check compatibility: most recent iPhones, Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones support eSIM. The phone must be carrier-unlocked.
Choose a plan: 3–5 GB is often enough for a one-week city break, around 10 GB for a two-week trip.
Install at home: set it up over Wi-Fi, but only activate it at your destination.
Turn off data roaming on your Swiss SIM: so your phone doesn’t accidentally use your Swiss plan.

Regional or country plan?

If you visit several countries – a tour of Europe or Southeast Asia – a regional plan is usually cheaper. For a beach holiday in one country, a country plan is often the best choice.

Conclusion

For travellers from Switzerland, a travel eSIM is one of the easiest ways to save money on holiday. Compare data volume, validity and price for your destination – right below at Saily and Yesim.