eSIM for Ireland & UK

Name: eSIM for Ireland & UK
Brand: Viasimo
SKU: esim-for-ireland-uk
Price: 8.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Viasimo's Ireland & UK eSIM starts at $2.00 for 1 GB over 3 days, running on local 5G networks where available. Plans last 3 to 180 days, arrive by email in minutes and install from your phone's settings, with no app.

Coverage

Plans cover up to 2 countries

eSIM network coverage, country by country

Select your planIn stock

Duration

Choose your package

Quantity

1 GB · 3 Days$2.00

1 GB · 3 Days ×1

$2.00

Does my phone take an eSIM? Check now

Dial *#06# on your phone. If you see an EID number, your phone takes an eSIM. Most phones sold since 2019 do.

Not sure it works on your phone? Check compatibility

Network

Which networks does the Ireland & UK eSIM use?

The host network is chosen automatically when you arrive.

Data: 1 GB – 50 GB
Validity: 3–180 days
Speed: 4G LTE / 5G
Hotspot / tethering: Supported on most devices
Activation: Starts when you first connect in your destination
Speed management: Roughly 2-3 GB per day at full speed, sometimes less depending on the local carrier, then reduced
Top-ups: Add more data from your account, before the plan expires
Text messages (SMS): Data only: use an app for verification codes
Unused validity: 180 days before it must be installed

Setting up Buy, scan the QR code we email you, and switch on the travel line when you land. How it works

Choosing a plan

How much data do you need?

The allowances below are our sizing recommendations, not measurements. The plan beside each one is the cheapest option on this page that covers it.

Recommended data allowances matched to the plans sold for this destination
You are	Plan for	Cheapest plan that covers it
LightMaps, messaging and the occasional lookup	About 1 GB a week	$8.005 GB, 7 days
TypicalMaps, social, photos and some browsing	About 3 to 7 GB a week	$8.005 GB, 7 days
HeavyVideo streaming, video calls and uploads	10 GB a week or more	$13.9910 GB, 15 days
Working or sharingTethering a laptop, calls and cloud sync	20 GB a week or more	$26.9920 GB, 30 days

Work it out from your own habits

What a week abroad costs

eSIM, local SIM or roaming?

Charged per day

Your carrier roaming

Queue and plastic

A SIM at the airport

$2.00

Viasimo, one bundle

Only the Viasimo figure is a price: it comes from today’s live catalog. The other two rows are directional, not quoted rates.

About this eSIM

One trip, two countries, an open border

Britain and Ireland share the Common Travel Area, and the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic has no checks. Many visitors cross it without noticing, on the Dublin–Belfast train or driving from Donegal into Derry. With separate country plans, that border is exactly where data stops working. With this plan, your phone simply moves from a UK network to an Irish one, or back, and keeps going.

The main ways between the two islands are flights, such as London to Dublin or Edinburgh to Belfast, and the Irish Sea ferries from Holyhead, Liverpool, Cairnryan, Fishguard and Pembroke. On a ferry, expect to lose signal for part of the crossing. Some ships run their own maritime mobile service, which is separate and charged by the ship's provider, so keep an eye on your network name while on board.

Arriving at Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh or Dublin

Most long-haul visitors land at London Heathrow or Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh or Dublin. Turn off airplane mode as you taxi in and the eSIM will attach to a UK or Irish partner within a minute or two. This matters more than it used to, because many UK train operators, car hire firms and hotels now send tickets, collection codes and check-in links by email or app rather than on paper.

If you land in Dublin and plan to head north, you can stay on the same plan all the way to Belfast. Arriving in the UK, remember that visitors from many countries now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before they fly, which is applied for through an app or online.

Network quality on each side

In the UK, the plan can use O2, Vodafone and Three. Opensignal's January 2026 UK report gave O2 the outright win for Coverage Experience, narrowly ahead of EE, while Three led on 5G download speed. Vodafone and Three merged in mid-2025 but still run as separate brands.

In the Republic of Ireland, it can use Vodafone and Three. Opensignal's January 2026 Ireland report placed the two joint first on Coverage Experience with 8.35 out of 10, ahead of eir, with Three fastest on average download speed.

Cities and motorways on both islands are well covered. The weak areas are the uplands and the far west: the Scottish Highlands and islands, Snowdonia, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, Connemara, Kerry and much of Donegal.

What you'll use data for

Trains are the backbone of most UK trips. Live departure apps, advance tickets and seat reservations are all on your phone, and the London Underground now has growing mobile coverage. In Ireland, car hire is more common for exploring the west, so offline maps and live navigation are the main uses.

In London, Citymapper and contactless payment make public transport simple, and Uber and Bolt both operate. In Dublin, Uber books licensed taxis, and FREENOW is widely used for taxis in Irish cities. Leap Card or contactless works on Dublin's buses, Luas trams and DART.

Before you fly

Check whether your trip includes the Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey. These Crown Dependencies have their own networks and are not on this plan.

Download offline maps for the Highlands, North Wales and the west of Ireland. Book ferries in advance in summer, and save the confirmations offline so you can show them at the port even if the terminal signal is weak. Keep your home SIM in the phone for bank verification texts, since the eSIM itself is data only.

Before you buy

Important to know

This is a data-only eSIM. It carries no calls or SMS on its own number.
Your existing number stays on your primary SIM, so calls and verification texts keep working.
Your phone must support eSIM, and some carrier-locked phones cannot install one.
Signal varies with location, terrain, congestion and your handset. Dense urban areas are consistently better served than remote ones.
5G only works where the host network has deployed it and your phone supports it. Everywhere else it falls back to 4G LTE.

Looking for more information?

Frequently asked questions

Does an eSIM work in Ireland & UK?

Yes. Your Ireland & UK eSIM connects automatically the moment you arrive, with no roaming fees and nothing to set up at the airport. Coverage runs on 4G LTE and 5G where the network has rolled it out, and falls back to 4G elsewhere.

Do I get 5G in Ireland & UK?

Yes, where it has been deployed. 5G runs on The local networks we use in Ireland & UK, and your eSIM uses it automatically on a 5G-capable phone, dropping back to 4G LTE outside covered areas. No country is covered everywhere, so 5G availability varies by location.

Does the eSIM keep working when I cross from Dublin into Northern Ireland?

Yes. Both the Republic of Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland, are on this plan. When you cross the border, your phone moves from an Irish network to a UK one and data continues. Near the border, the phone may switch back and forth a few times, which is normal. If data stalls, toggle airplane mode once.

Is the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands covered?

No. The Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey are Crown Dependencies with their own mobile networks, and none of them is on this plan's covered list. If you take the ferry from Liverpool or Heysham to Douglas, or from Poole or Portsmouth to St Helier, you will need wifi or a separate plan while you are there.

Will I have signal on the Holyhead to Dublin ferry?

For part of the way. You keep land signal near each port, then lose it in open water in the middle of the Irish Sea. Some ferries run their own onboard mobile network, which is a separate paid service, so turn off data roaming on the eSIM if your phone shows an unfamiliar network name while at sea.

Which UK network has the best coverage for a road trip?

O2 won Coverage Experience in Opensignal's January 2026 UK report, narrowly ahead of EE, and O2 is one of the networks this plan can use. Coverage is strong in cities and on motorways everywhere. The Scottish Highlands, North Wales and the Lake District still have real black spots on every network, so download offline maps.

How much data do I need for 7 days in Ireland & UK?

For 7 days in Ireland & UK, Viasimo sells 5 GB for $8.00. Our sizing recommendation, not a measurement: maps, messaging and the occasional lookup, about 1 GB a week; maps, social, photos and some browsing, about 3 to 7 GB a week. The data calculator on this site works it out from how you actually use your phone.

Installing, keeping your number, topping up and hotspot work the same everywhere: see how it works →

Know before you go

Ireland & UK: what to know before you land

This plan covers Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on one eSIM, so a trip from London to Edinburgh, over to Belfast and down to Dublin and Galway needs no second plan. It uses O2, Vodafone and Three in the UK and Vodafone and Three in Ireland. The Isle of Man and Channel Islands are not included.

Emergency: 999 or 112 in both the UK and Ireland
Plugs: G 230V
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP) in the UK; euro (EUR) in Ireland

Main airports

LHR London Heathrow Airport
LGW London Gatwick Airport
MAN Manchester Airport
EDI Edinburgh Airport

Apps worth having CitymapperTrainlineUberFREENOWBoltWhatsApp

Irish Sea ferries: Holyhead, Cairnryan and Rosslare

If you take a car or travel by rail and sea, you will cross the Irish Sea on one of a handful of routes: Holyhead to Dublin, Liverpool to Dublin or Belfast, Cairnryan to Belfast or Larne, and Fishguard or Pembroke to Rosslare. Crossings range from a couple of hours to around eight hours overnight.

On all of them, you keep land signal for a while after leaving port and pick it up again as you approach the other side, but there is a gap in the middle. On the Holyhead–Dublin crossing, for example, expect to be out of coverage for part of the journey across open water.

Some ferries carry their own onboard mobile network, which your phone may connect to automatically if roaming is on. That service is separate from this plan. When your phone shows an unfamiliar network name at sea, switch data roaming off on the eSIM until you are back near land. Ships usually offer wifi too, though often slow.

Save your ferry booking, boarding pass and any rail connection details offline before you leave the terminal.

Belfast, the Causeway Coast and the Donegal border

One of the main reasons to buy this plan rather than a UK or Ireland plan alone is Northern Ireland. The Dublin–Belfast Enterprise train runs across the border near Newry, and the drive from Dublin to the Giant's Causeway or from Donegal to Derry crosses it without any checks.

As you cross, your phone will switch from an Irish to a UK network, or the other way around. Near the border, in places like Dundalk, Newry, Lifford, Strabane, Belleek or Pettigo, it may hop between the two several times. That is normal, and this plan covers both, so data continues either way.

Northern Ireland's coverage is generally good in Belfast, Derry and the main towns. The Antrim coast road, the Glens of Antrim, the Mourne Mountains and the Sperrins have weaker spots. The Giant's Causeway visitor centre and nearby Bushmills have signal. In Donegal, Slieve League and Glenveagh National Park are similar.

Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia and the Wild Atlantic Way

Both islands have big empty landscapes where coverage is the weakest on the whole plan. In Scotland, the A82 through Glen Coe, the North Coast 500, the West Highland Line to Mallaig, and large parts of Skye, Mull and the Outer Hebrides have long stretches with little or no signal. Ferries to the islands from Oban or Uig lose coverage mid-crossing.

In Wales, Snowdonia and the Cambrian Mountains have deep valleys that block signal, and walking routes up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) are patchy.

In Ireland, the Wild Atlantic Way from Donegal to Kerry has many black spots, especially around Connemara, the Mullet peninsula, the Dingle and Beara peninsulas and the Ring of Kerry's quieter side roads. The Aran Islands and Skellig Michael boat trips also lose coverage on the water.

Download offline maps for each region, keep accommodation and ferry details saved on your phone, and do not rely on live navigation for single-track roads in the Highlands.

Researched October 2026 · 5 sources

insights.opensignal.com UK mobile network experience report, January 2026 (Opensignal)
insights.opensignal.com Ireland mobile network experience report, January 2026 (Opensignal)
ispreview.co.uk Ookla study on 4G and 5G signal on the London Underground (ISPreview)
gov.uk Ireland travel advice (GOV.UK)
en.wikipedia.org List of mobile network operators in Europe (Wikipedia)

Multi-country route

Eleven days across Britain and Ireland: London, York, Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin and Galway

A first trip across both islands by train and one short flight, from London up the East Coast line to Edinburgh, over to Belfast and the Causeway Coast, then south across the open border to Dublin and west to Galway.

Length: 11 days
Bases: 6

When to go May to September gives the longest days and the most reliable ferry and coach timetables; August is busiest in Edinburgh during the festivals, and winter brings short daylight and more cancellations on the Irish west coast.

Day 1 London

London: Westminster and the South Bank

Start at Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, then cross Westminster Bridge and walk the South Bank past the London Eye to Tate Modern. Cross the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's Cathedral and finish with an evening around Covent Garden. Buy nothing on paper: contactless or a phone wallet works on every bus and Tube line.

Signal Strong 4G and 5G across central London on O2, Vodafone or Three. The Tube has growing in-tunnel coverage, but expect gaps on some deep lines between stations.
Day 2 London

London: museums and markets

Spend the morning at the British Museum, then head to the Tower of London for the Crown Jewels and a walk over Tower Bridge. In the afternoon take the Overground or a bus to Borough Market and Shoreditch, or swap in the Natural History Museum and Hyde Park if the weather turns. Book your East Coast train tickets for tomorrow in advance.

Signal Full city coverage; museum basements and thick-walled sites like the Tower can drop to one bar, so load tickets before you go in.
Day 3 York

York: the Minster and the city walls

LNER or Grand Central from London King's Cross, about 2 hours.

Take a morning train from King's Cross to York. Walk a section of the medieval city walls, visit York Minster and climb the tower if you have the legs, then wander the Shambles and the streets around it. Finish at the National Railway Museum, a short walk from the station and free to enter.

Signal Good 4G along the East Coast Main Line with brief drops in cuttings; York's centre is well covered, though the narrow Shambles can be weaker indoors.
Day 4 Edinburgh

Edinburgh: Old Town and the Castle

LNER from York, about 2.5 hours.

Catch a morning train north along the Northumberland coast, with views of Holy Island and Berwick. In Edinburgh, walk up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle, then drop down to Victoria Street and the Grassmarket. Late afternoon, climb Calton Hill for the view over the New Town and the Firth of Forth.

Signal The coastal stretch north of Newcastle has a few short gaps; Edinburgh city centre has strong 4G and 5G.
Day 5 Edinburgh

Edinburgh: Arthur's Seat and Leith

Climb Arthur's Seat early, about an hour up and down from Holyrood, then visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse or the Scottish Parliament. Take the tram to Leith for the waterfront and the Royal Yacht Britannia. In the evening, the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street is a good indoor fallback.

Signal Good coverage on Arthur's Seat's open slopes and in Leith; keep a saved route in case the summit is busy and the network slows.
Day 6 Belfast

Belfast: Titanic Quarter and the murals

Flight from Edinburgh to Belfast, about 1 hour. Alternatively, drive or coach to Cairnryan and take the Stena or P&O ferry, about 2 to 2.5 hours at sea.

Fly to Belfast in the morning. Visit Titanic Belfast and the SS Nomadic in the Titanic Quarter, then take a black taxi or walking tour of the Falls and Shankill murals and the peace walls. End at City Hall and the Cathedral Quarter.

Signal Belfast is well covered. If you take the Cairnryan ferry, expect to lose land signal mid-crossing, and ignore any onboard maritime network your phone offers.
Day 7 Belfast

The Causeway Coast

Join a coach tour or hire a car for the Antrim coast road. Stop at Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Ballintoy harbour and the Dark Hedges, then walk the Giant's Causeway paths and cliff-top trail. Dunluce Castle is a short drive west for the late light before heading back to Belfast.

Signal Patchy along the Glens of Antrim and around Ballintoy; usable at the Giant's Causeway visitor centre. Download an offline map of the coast before you set off.
Day 8 Dublin

Dublin: across the border by train

Enterprise train Belfast to Dublin, about 2 hours 10 minutes.

Take the Enterprise train from Belfast Grand Central to Dublin Connolly. There are no border checks. In the afternoon, see the Book of Kells and the Long Room at Trinity College, walk Grafton Street to St Stephen's Green, and end in Temple Bar or along the Liffey quays.

Signal Your phone moves from a UK network to Vodafone or Three Ireland somewhere around Newry and Dundalk, usually without you noticing. If data stalls, toggle airplane mode once.
Day 9 Dublin

Dublin: Kilmainham and the Guinness Storehouse

Book ahead for Kilmainham Gaol, the former prison tied to Irish independence. Walk or take the Luas to the Guinness Storehouse, then visit Christchurch and St Patrick's cathedrals. In the late afternoon, take the DART along Dublin Bay to Howth for the cliff walk.

Signal Strong 4G and 5G in Dublin; the Howth cliff path is mostly covered but drops in a few sheltered coves.
Day 10 Galway

Galway and the Cliffs of Moher

Irish Rail or coach from Dublin to Galway, about 2.5 hours.

Take an early train or coach west to Galway. Join a day tour or local bus through the Burren to the Cliffs of Moher, walking the cliff path south towards Hag's Head if time allows and the coastal walk is open. Back in Galway, walk the Latin Quarter, Quay Street and the Spanish Arch.

Signal Good on the motorway and in Galway; the Burren and parts of the Cliffs of Moher path are patchy, so save your tour pick-up details offline.
Day 11 Galway

Connemara and home

Spend the last day on a Connemara loop past Lough Corrib to Kylemore Abbey and its walled garden, with a stop at Clifden or the Sky Road. Return to Galway in the evening, or head back to Dublin Airport, which has direct coaches from Galway.

Signal Connemara is one of the weakest areas on either island: long stretches between Maam Cross and Clifden have little or no signal. Download maps and any coach times in Galway first.

Staying connected on this route

Download offline maps of the Antrim coast and Connemara before you leave Belfast and Galway; both have long gaps.
Save your Cairnryan or Holyhead ferry booking offline and switch off roaming if your phone shows an unfamiliar maritime network at sea.
The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are not on this plan, so keep data off if your route touches them.

Itinerary sources · 5