The best eSIM for Ireland is one that matches your route. If you're only visiting the Republic of Ireland, an Ireland data plan is the simplest choice. If you're also going to Northern Ireland, pick a plan that lists both Ireland and the United Kingdom, because Northern Ireland is part of the UK. Need a phone number for calls and texts? Choose a Bouygues Telecom plan with a French number. Below you'll find which plan fits which trip, how a trip to both sides of the border works, what signal to expect and how to set it up.
Short on time and staying in the Republic? These Ireland eSIMs are data only, work on 4G and 5G, and you can top them up if you run low.
Ireland 10GB (7 days) · 20GB (15 days) · 50GB (30 days) · See all Ireland eSIMs
What is the best eSIM for Ireland?
Start with where you're going, then pick your data and days. All the plans below are on our Ireland eSIM page.
A week in Dublin: Ireland 5GB or 10GB
For maps, messages, bus and train tickets and some social media, 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days is usually enough. A short weekend? There are 1 GB and 3 GB plans for 3 days too.
Two weeks on the road: Ireland 20GB
20 GB for 15 days covers a road trip from Dublin to Galway, the Cliffs of Moher and Kerry, with room for navigation, photos and a few video calls.
A month or longer: Ireland 50GB, 60GB or 100GB
Studying, working remotely or visiting family for a while? 50 GB lasts 30 days, 60 GB lasts 90 days and 100 GB lasts 180 days.
Ireland and Northern Ireland: a plan that covers both
The Ireland plans only work in the Republic of Ireland. If you're also visiting Belfast, the Giant's Causeway or anywhere else in Northern Ireland, pick a plan that lists both Ireland and the United Kingdom. Travel Basic from Bouygues Telecom (15 GB, 15 days) does, and so do the SimOptions Europe data plans. See them all on our Europe eSIM page.
You need a phone number: Travel Basic+ or My European eSIM
The Ireland plans are data only. If a B&B, a tour guide or a car hire desk needs to call or text you, Travel Basic+ from Bouygues Telecom gives you a French +33 number with unlimited calls and texts within Europe. It covers both Ireland and the UK, so it suits a trip to both sides of the border of up to 15 days. Staying longer? My European eSIM 30GB and 60GB last 30 days and also come with a number. More details: Europe eSIMs with a phone number.
Comparing plans for a bigger trip? Read our guide to the best eSIMs for Europe. Adding Scotland or England? See the best eSIMs for the United Kingdom.
Ireland and Northern Ireland: how a trip to both works
The island of Ireland has two countries. The Republic of Ireland is in the EU. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, which is not. There are no border checks on the roads, so you can drive from Dublin to Belfast without noticing where one ends and the other begins. Your phone notices, though.
- Your plan must list both countries. An Ireland-only plan stops working once you're on a UK network in Northern Ireland. A plan that lists Ireland and the United Kingdom keeps working on both sides.
- Near the border, your phone can pick up a network from the other side. With a plan that covers both countries, that doesn't matter. With your home SIM, it can mean roaming charges, so check with your carrier.
- Phone numbers work differently. From abroad, Republic of Ireland numbers start with +353 and Northern Ireland numbers with +44. From the Republic, you can call a Northern Ireland landline by replacing 028 with 048 (Ireland.com: Making phone calls in Ireland).
- Emergency numbers: 112 or 999 in the Republic, 999 in Northern Ireland (Ireland.com: Emergency numbers).
Do you need a travel eSIM for Ireland at all?
That depends on where your phone plan is from.
From the EU: roam like at home
Ireland is in the EU, so if your phone plan is from another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, you can use your calls, texts and data in the Republic of Ireland at no extra roaming charge. Your carrier can apply a fair use limit on data, so check how much your plan includes abroad (Your Europe: Mobile roaming costs).
Two things to watch. EU roaming rules don't cover Northern Ireland, because it's in the UK. And if your plan has little data abroad, a travel eSIM can be the cheaper way to get more.
From the UK, the US, Canada, Australia or elsewhere
Your carrier's roaming in Ireland can come with daily fees or small data allowances. Check its roaming page before you go. A travel eSIM gives you a fixed amount of data for a fixed price, and you can keep your home SIM on for calls and texts.
Travel eSIM or a local Irish plan?
Ireland has three mobile networks: Eir, Three and Vodafone. Brands like Tesco Mobile, 48, GoMo, Virgin Media and Lyca Mobile use their networks. O2 no longer exists in Ireland: Three bought O2 Ireland in 2014 (RTÉ News).
Three sells a prepay plan for visitors with an Irish number, and you can get it as an eSIM online if your phone supports it (Three Ireland: Visit Ireland plans). A local plan makes sense if you need an Irish number or you're moving to Ireland. For a holiday, a travel eSIM is often simpler: you buy it before you fly, install it at home, and it starts working when you land. Want to compare the local carriers? See our list of eSIM providers in Ireland.
What signal to expect in Ireland
An eSIM uses the same mobile networks as a physical SIM, so your signal depends on the network and on where you are, not on the eSIM itself.
Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and the other cities and larger towns are generally well covered, with 5G in many areas. Along the Wild Atlantic Way, in the mountains of Kerry, Connemara and Donegal, and on the islands, signal can get patchy between villages.
Before you head into remote areas
- Check the coverage on your route with the official coverage map from Ireland's telecoms regulator, ComReg. You can search by address or Eircode (ComReg: Outdoor mobile coverage map).
- Download offline maps while you have Wi-Fi or signal (Google Maps Help: Download areas and navigate offline, Apple: Download maps to use offline on your iPhone).
- Save your bookings, ferry tickets and addresses as screenshots or in your wallet app.
- Carry a charged power bank if you're hiking or driving long distances.
How to set up your eSIM for Ireland
- Check your phone. It must support eSIM and be unlocked. See how to check eSIM compatibility.
- Buy your plan. Your QR code comes by email.
- Install it on Wi-Fi before you fly. It activates on its own when you arrive in a covered country. Step by step: how to install an eSIM.
- Label the line "Ireland" or "Travel" so you can tell it apart from your home line.
- When you land, make the travel eSIM your data line and turn on data roaming for it. Turn off data roaming on your home line. See the correct roaming settings for an eSIM.
Your home SIM can stay on your phone next to the eSIM, so you still get texts and security codes on your usual number (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM). Calls and texts on your home line can still cost roaming fees, so check with your carrier. For calls home, WhatsApp or FaceTime work over the eSIM's data.
FAQs
What is the best eSIM for Ireland?
For the Republic of Ireland only, an Ireland data plan: 10 GB for a week, 20 GB for two weeks, 50 GB for a month. If you also visit Northern Ireland, choose a plan that lists both Ireland and the UK. If you need a phone number, choose Travel Basic+.
Does an Ireland eSIM work in Northern Ireland?
Not if it only covers Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so you need a plan that lists the United Kingdom too, like Travel Basic, Travel Basic+ or a Europe plan.
What is the best eSIM for the UK and Ireland?
A plan that lists both countries. Travel Basic and the SimOptions Europe plans are data only. Travel Basic+ and My European eSIM add a French number with calls and texts.
Can I get an Ireland eSIM with a phone number?
Yes. Travel Basic+ and My European eSIM from Bouygues Telecom give you a French +33 number. If you need an Irish number, look at a local prepay plan from an Irish carrier.
Do I need a travel eSIM in Ireland if my phone plan is from the EU?
Often not. EU roaming rules let you use your plan in the Republic of Ireland at no extra roaming charge, within your carrier's fair use limits. They don't cover Northern Ireland.
Will my eSIM have signal on the Wild Atlantic Way?
In towns and villages, usually yes. Between them, in the mountains and on the islands, signal can drop. Check the ComReg coverage map and download offline maps before you go.
Is O2 still a mobile network in Ireland?
No. Three bought O2 Ireland in 2014 and the brand became Three. The networks in Ireland today are Eir, Three and Vodafone.
Can I keep my own number and WhatsApp?
Yes. Keep your home SIM on for texts and calls, and use the eSIM for data. WhatsApp keeps working with your usual number over any internet connection.