Which Option to Choose
| Your situation | Simplest solution |
|---|---|
| You live in the EU or EEA with a European mobile plan | Your usual plan (roaming included) |
| Short stay, outside the EU (1 to 7 days) | Travel eSIM bought before departure |
| Stay of two weeks to several months, outside the EU | German prepaid SIM card |
| Phone without eSIM, no need for constant internet | Free Wi-Fi and offline maps |
Your Usual Plan: Roaming in the EU
Within the European Union, the roaming regulation lets you use your plan abroad on the terms of your home country (calls, texts and data), subject to "fair use": operators may limit the amount of data usable abroad. If your plan is French, Belgian, Italian or Spanish, it therefore works in Berlin at no extra cost. Check your customer account for the "in Europe" data allowance and that roaming is switched on. The rules do not apply everywhere: the United Kingdom and Switzerland are not in the EU, and their operators set their own conditions, so check before you go.
The Travel eSIM
An eSIM is a digital SIM card installed on the phone via a QR code. Several services sell data plans for Germany or for Europe (Airalo, Saily, Holafly, Nomad and others). Advantages: you buy and install it before leaving, no German address or ID is required, and the internet works the moment you land. Drawbacks: most offers are data only (no German phone number), and not all older phones are compatible. Check that your device supports eSIM and is not locked to your carrier.
As a rough guide, travel plans cost around €4 to €6 for 1 GB over a week, €8 to €12 for 3 GB over 15 days and €12 to €18 for 5 GB over 30 days. For a visit to Berlin, 1 to 3 GB is enough for most travellers (maps, messaging, digital tickets) unless you stream video constantly.
The German Prepaid SIM Card
Supermarket brands such as Aldi Talk and Lidl Connect, as well as prepaid offers from Vodafone, Telekom, O2 or Congstar, sell monthly plans with no contract, generally from about €8 to €10 for several dozen gigabytes. They are sold in supermarkets or operator shops. In Germany, activating a prepaid card requires identity verification (passport or ID card), often by video call or at the till depending on the seller: allow 15 to 60 minutes the first time and keep your passport at hand. These cards give you a German number, useful for a restaurant booking or a delivery, and EU roaming is included under the terms of the offer.
Do not waste time at the airport kiosks: offers there are generally dearer and less clear than those in shops or from online services. For your arrival, see our guide to Berlin BER airport.
Free Wi-Fi in Berlin
- U-Bahn: the BVG offers free Wi-Fi in underground stations; it does not cover the tunnels, so your connection may drop between stations.
- Freifunk: community networks with open access exist in many districts. Their quality is uneven.
- Cafés, hotels, museums: most give you a code. Never enter banking passwords on public Wi-Fi.
- Airport and stations: the free Wi-Fi in terminals and stations is often limited in time or speed; do not rely on it for a last-minute ticket. See our guide to the main railway station.
Useful Apps
- The BVG app (tickets and routes): see our guide to getting around Berlin.
- A map downloaded for offline use before departure: our Berlin tourist map guide helps you choose the areas.
- A translation app with German available offline for menus and signs.
- A mobile payment method: see paying in Berlin.
Power Sockets and Phone
Germany uses type F sockets (two round pins) at 230 V: the same standard as continental Europe, so no adapter is needed for travellers from there. Visitors from the United Kingdom, the United States or other countries need an adapter. To call the emergency services from any phone, dial 112; this number works even without a SIM card.
Going Further
If you are travelling with your laptop, our guide to coworking and remote work in Berlin covers spaces and cafés. To organise journeys between sights, see our tips for a first trip to Berlin.
