How to use an eSIM in France
Wherever you’re travelling from, you can stay connected across Paris, France and Europe this summer with a BetterRoaming eSIM. If you’re planning on visiting the Olympic and Paralympic games, this is the easiest way to use your phone abroad and get online. An eSIM is a SIM profile that can be downloaded to your phone, tablet or laptop and used to access mobile data, make calls and send texts at local rates - use it for contacting others, navigating around Paris and sharing your action shots of the games.
Crucially, there’s no need to switch out SIM cards. Our prepaid eSIMs for France work alongside your current SIM, so you can avoid international roaming charges while still accessing any apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, Instagram or YouTube as you normally would. A BetterRoaming eSIM can help make your trip to France simpler and more affordable - so you can focus on an unforgettable Olympic experience instead.
This summer, the world is descending on Paris for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Starting with an immense boat parade down the Seine on July 26 and concluding with the Paralympic closing ceremony on August 11, the Games are projected to draw 10,500 athletes and millions of spectators from around the world.
When are the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games?
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games begin with the official opening ceremony on July 26th. The games then take place across France, culminating in a closing ceremony in Paris on the 11th of August.
Prior to the games, the Olympic Torch will complete a ceremonial tour of France between May 8th and July 26th, before lighting the Olympic flame in Paris’s Place du Trocadéro as the climactic act of the opening ceremony. The tour will encompass many historical and cultural sites of interest across the entire country. Find a full timetable and map of the torch relay route here.
After the Olympic Games have finished, the 2024 Paralympic Games will then begin on the 28th of August. The Paralympics will run until September 8th, ending with a closing ceremony in the Stade de France to mark the official handover to Los Angeles for the 2028 Games.
Where are the 2024 Olympic Games taking place?
Most events at the 2024 Olympics will take place within the host city of Paris and the surrounding Île-de-France region. Many venues have been purpose-built for the games themselves - most notably the Eiffel Tower beach volleyball stadium, where athletes will compete under the shadow of the tower itself. Other historic landmarks-turned-venues include the Art Nouveau Grand Palais and the sprawling pinnacle of French Baroque architecture Les Invalides. Paris has pledged to ramp up the volume and accessibility of its public metro, bus and train services for the duration of the games, with 80% of all events reachable by local public transport.
Selected events will take place in a range of other venues across the country, from handball and basketball in the northern city of Lille to sailing and football in France’s second-biggest city, the Mediterranean port of Marseille. Luckily, a BetterRoaming plan for France works across the whole country, regardless of which city you’re in.
One significant outlier is the surfing competition, which takes place in the French Polynesian village of Teahupo’o, Tahiti - 10,000 miles away from Paris. The Pacific country is an overseas territory of France and therefore qualified to host Olympic events in 2024. Just don’t expect to travel there with your Paris metro ticket.
A Paris mobile data eSIM connects your phone to the best available local network, providing uninterrupted coverage across France and beyond.
Where can I watch the Summer Olympics and Paralympics?
No ticket? No problem. For non-athletes, the opening ceremony's pageantry is often the games' highlight. And for the first time ever, this year’s event will be free to attend in person. The 2024 Olympic opening ceremony will eschew the traditional procession of athletes around a running track in favour of a parade of barges down the Seine. 160 boats, one for each delegation, will carry the athletes through the heart of the city, passing by many of the venues before disembarking at the Place du Trocadéro. This will be the first Olympic opening ceremony to allow free public access. While there is a ticketed grandstand for the climax of the ceremony, there will also be standing room for hundreds of thousands of onlookers and giant LCD screens stationed along the banks of the river. Tourists and locals are expected to line the course of the route for kilometres.
Throughout the Olympic and Paralympic games, free public viewing areas across Paris and the wider Île-de-France region will provide day-to-day coverage of the events.
Of course, the games will also be on constant rotation in nearly every Parisian bar, café or restaurant with a television. If you can’t make it to a venue or public viewing, you can always immerse yourself in Paris’s famed café culture and enjoy the games over a croissant and a glass of wine instead.
Get an eSIM data plan for your visit to Paris
A BetterRoaming eSIM is quick and free to set up – just follow our easy-installation guide. This can be done at any time, even before you travel. Then, the minute you arrive in France, you can get connected to our high-speed international network at a cheap local rate.
No more queuing up for a local SIM – just one simple plan that can be downloaded in minutes, and ready to get online across France whenever you are.
Why use a BetterRoaming eSIM in Paris?
BetterRoaming prepaid eSIMs are tailor-made for both frequent travellers and one-off holidays. This included specialized data packages for France and the wider European area. An eSIM plan gives you all the advantages of a local prepaid SIM card (no international roaming charges, a stable connection to the local network) while still allowing you access to your original phone number, WhatsApp messages and more.
A key benefit is simplicity. The eSIM is completely free and takes just minutes to install – all you need to do is scan the QR code, follow the instructions, and book the right data plan for you. No more waiting at the airport to buy a local SIM card, and no switching out cards.
A BetterRoaming eSIM only needs to be downloaded once per device. If in future you wish to book another international data plan in one of the 160+ countries we support, you can do so at any time – no need to re-install the eSIM.
European Regional Plan
Planning on venturing further? The Paris Olympics is a perfect starting point for a European holiday. Why not continue the sporting journey and visit Germany for Euro 2024? Our European eSIM packages give you the freedom to roam uninterrupted across 49 countries and territories in Europe, including France. One data plan for the whole continent - find out more here.
eSIM Plans for Summer 2024
FAQs
Where can I use a French data plan?
Our eSIM plan for France lets you roam at local rates across the whole country. By automatically connecting to the nearest mobile network, a BetterRoaming eSIM ensures you avoid costly roaming charges and unexpected international bills. You can download your eSIM and purchase a data package before you travel – then, the second you arrive, you will automatically connect to French mobile internet with your BetterRoaming eSIM. Find out more about using a plan here.
We offer a range of plans, including weekly and monthly options, so you can find the perfect one for your trip. And rest assured, there’s no hidden costs or contracts – if you use up your data and would like more, simply purchase another package via your phone and keep roaming.
Should I use a Europe+ eSIM instead?
If you’re planning on continuing your journey beyond the French border, consider booking a BetterRoaming Europe+ package. This range of data packages gives you the freedom to roam across 49 countries throughout Europe without ever having to alter your mobile plan. No changing providers and no switching out SIM cards at every border – just one seamless experience across 49 countries and territories. Find the perfect European package for your trip here.
Is the eSIM free to install?
Our eSIMs are completely free to install. Once installed, you can then purchase a data plan for your eSIM via the SMS we send you. This can be done anytime you need connectivity.
Is BetterRoaming safe?
We are a GSMA-certified network operator, meaning that we uphold the most rigorous regulatory and security standards for network providers. This way, you can ensure your BetterRoaming connection is always secure. Rest assured that your data is safe with us.
Is my device eSIM-compatible?
Most smartphones built after 2018 are eSIM-compatible. Find out if your device is eSIM-enabled here. Please note that no smartphones or devices purchased in mainland China will be eSIM-compatible. For certainty, we always recommend checking the product specifications of your device on the manufacturer’s website.
Do I need to activate my BetterRoaming eSIM once I'm in France?
No, not at all. Both Our France and Europe+ eSIM plans operate automatically. This means that, as soon as your phone detects you've arrived in France or Europe, your plan will activate by itself - and you'll immediately be connected to the local mobile network. One thing to make sure of is that you have 'cellular/mobile data' turned on. You can check this on your handset by going to 'Settings' > 'Cellular/Mobile Data'.
Do I need to uninstall the eSIM after my trip?
There's no need to uninstall the BetterRoaming eSIM after your trip. You can always leave it on your phone - then, if in future, you wish to book another BetterRoaming plan for one of the 160+ destinations we cover, you won't need to re-install the eSIM.
Of course, it's always possible to delete, and re-install, the BetterRoaming eSIM for free at any time.
Paris Olympics with an eSIM: a summary
An eSIM is a SIM profile you download to your phone. It allows you to use mobile data in other countries without paying international roaming charges
Our France travel eSIM is easier to use than a local France SIM card - with no need to swap SIM cards, or lose access to your messages or contacts
Choose between prepaid France eSIM plans and Europe eSIM plans
A BetterRoaming France eSIM is free to install. Just download your free eSIM anytime, then choose and purchase a mobile data plan for France or Europe when you're ready to travel- the plan will activate automatically as soon as you arrive
Exploring other countries in Europe this year? For more travel tips, have a look at our guides to visiting Germany in 2024 and keeping your data safe while travelling.
