Nomad Europe eSIM Review: 35 vs 36 Countries & Networks
I travel through Europe often and use Nomad on longer journeys. Here’s where a single regional eSIM helps, when the country list catches people out, and what matters beyond the advertised price.
I’ve spent years traveling around Europe, from ferries in Greece and Italy to trains and road journeys across several countries. I also know Nomad from repeated use on longer trips through Asia and beyond. That combination is why I don’t judge a Europe eSIM by its country count or a single speed test. I want a connection that works when the route changes, without buying another plan every time I cross a border.
The important distinction here is Nomad’s 35-country and 36-country Europe products. They are separate regional packages, not a promise that the bigger number is better for every itinerary. I’ve compared their published coverage and network conditions against the kind of European journeys I take. For my wider experience with the provider, including China and other parts of Asia, see my full Nomad eSIM review.
How I assess this: more than 20 years of independent travel, extensive journeys across Europe and firsthand Nomad use on multi-country trips. European country lists, prices and network partners are assessed from the published products, not claimed as tests of every local network. This regional article is not a paid Nomad placement.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nomad has sponsored a separate provider review on this site; this Europe-focused comparison has not been sponsored. I still assess the exact country lists and partner networks before recommending a plan.
Is Nomad Europe good for most travelers? My verdict
For a trip crossing several European countries, the 35-country plan is my first Nomad comparison. I usually check 10 GB and 20 GB fixed-data options before unlimited. For Türkiye or a Balkan-heavy route, I inspect the full current country lists rather than assuming either Europe option covers everything.
Compare with any roaming already included in your home subscription; many EU residents don’t need to buy another eSIM for an EU-only itinerary.
Nomad Europe 35 vs 36 Countries
Nomad’s Europe catalogue has separate 35-destination and 36-destination options. The 35-country product has historically covered the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and the usual Western, Central and Southern European stops, alongside EU countries. Don’t treat the number as a complete itinerary check: compare the exact destination list for the specific package, particularly when Türkiye, the Balkans, islands or special territories are involved.
Europe 35
My starting point for a conventional Western, Central or Southern Europe route.
- Includes the UK and Switzerland.
- Includes Gibraltar and San Marino.
- Check current Nomad Pass eligibility separately in the app.
- Compare fixed-data and day-based options if offered.
Europe 36
My next comparison when the route extends beyond the core Europe footprint, especially towards Türkiye.
- Inspect the current live plan for Türkiye rather than assuming it is in Europe 35.
- Check territories separately at checkout.
- For the Canary Islands or Northern Cyprus, verify the live list.
- Compare price and validity, not just the country count.
Going to the Canary Islands? Check the live regional coverage before paying. I also have a dedicated Canary Islands eSIM guide.
Nomad Europe Prices: How I Compare the Data Plans
The live price is the only price that matters when booking. Nomad regularly changes promotions, data allowances and validity options, so an old screenshot cannot tell you which bundle is best today. I compare the following plan sizes against my travel dates and the networks available along the route.
| Data allowance | When it suits my trip | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | Arrival data or brief, very light use | Validity and whether the trip needs more than maps and messages |
| 5 GB | A short holiday with reliable Wi-Fi | How often I’ll need navigation and translation away from Wi-Fi |
| 10 GB | My first comparison for an ordinary multi-stop trip | Country list, total price and plan validity |
| 20 GB | Longer journeys, uploads and occasional tethering | Value per usable GB and top-up conditions |
| 50 GB | Heavy data use or regularly connecting a laptop | Whether a local SIM offers stronger value and network access |
| Unlimited | Trips with heavy day-to-day use | Daily full-speed limits, throttling and the reset clock |
1 GB
When it suits my trip: Arrival data or brief, very light use
Check before buying: Validity and whether the trip needs more than maps and messages
5 GB
When it suits my trip: A short holiday with reliable Wi-Fi
Check before buying: How often I’ll need navigation and translation away from Wi-Fi
10 GB
When it suits my trip: My first comparison for an ordinary multi-stop trip
Check before buying: Country list, total price and plan validity
20 GB
When it suits my trip: Longer journeys, uploads and occasional tethering
Check before buying: Value per usable GB and top-up conditions
50 GB
When it suits my trip: Heavy data use or regularly connecting a laptop
Check before buying: Whether a local SIM offers stronger value and network access
Unlimited
When it suits my trip: Trips with heavy day-to-day use
Check before buying: Daily full-speed limits, throttling and the reset clock
For the way I travel, 10 GB or 20 GB is often the most useful range. Ten gigabytes generally leaves room for maps, messages and everyday browsing; twenty adds space for photo uploads and the occasional hotspot. I still buy less for a short city break with dependable Wi-Fi, and I compare a local prepaid option for a longer stay.
What Is Nomad Pass?
Nomad Pass has changed. Nomad’s updated Help Center says the old Europe 35 monthly pass was retired as the service moved to a reusable, app-based Nomad Pass, with subscription periods that can extend beyond one month and add-ons for different destinations. That makes a Pass potentially interesting for repeat travelers, but I no longer recommend the old 1 GB/$3 Europe subscription as though it were the product everyone can buy today. Check the current app offer and cancellation terms before subscribing; a normal fixed-data plan remains simpler for one holiday.
Carrier access mattersWhich Networks Does Nomad Use in Europe, and Is There 5G?
Nomad is a travel eSIM provider, not the domestic operator maintaining each country’s towers. Its Europe packages use local partners, but a country-specific Nomad plan and a regional Europe plan can list different networks. That’s the detail I check before remote drives, islands or mountain routes. Instead of repeating a network list that could change between updates, these are the country-specific questions worth checking at checkout.
| Country | What I check on the Europe plan | More detail |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | The available carrier outside major cities, particularly for rural road trips and the islands | Spain network comparison |
| Italy | Coverage through smaller towns, train corridors and coastal or island routes | Italy network comparison |
| Portugal | Mainland versus Azores or Madeira coverage; verify the precise territories | Portugal network comparison |
| Greece | Which networks are supported on ferries, smaller islands and mountain roads | Greece network comparison |
| UK | Whether rural Scotland, Wales and other less-populated stretches suit the partner network | UK eSIM guide |
| Switzerland | Alpine-valley and mountain coverage beyond the urban rail network | Europe eSIM guide |
Spain
What I check on the Europe plan: The available carrier outside major cities, particularly for rural road trips and the islands
More detail: Spain network comparison
Italy
What I check on the Europe plan: Coverage through smaller towns, train corridors and coastal or island routes
More detail: Italy network comparison
Portugal
What I check on the Europe plan: Mainland versus Azores or Madeira coverage; verify the precise territories
More detail: Portugal network comparison
Greece
What I check on the Europe plan: Which networks are supported on ferries, smaller islands and mountain roads
More detail: Greece network comparison
UK
What I check on the Europe plan: Whether rural Scotland, Wales and other less-populated stretches suit the partner network
More detail: UK eSIM guide
Switzerland
What I check on the Europe plan: Alpine-valley and mountain coverage beyond the urban rail network
More detail: Europe eSIM guide
Nomad advertises 4G and 5G on eligible plans, but that is not a guarantee of 5G along a particular journey. Access depends on the partner network, device, location and exact package. A dependable 4G connection on the right local operator is worth more to me than an impressive 5G label.
The European Routes Where Nomad Makes Sense
A natural Europe 35 route with no need to install a new eSIM at each border.
Another strong Europe 35 use case. Check Canary Islands coverage separately.
Switzerland being included makes one regional plan especially convenient.
Good for a route mixing islands, ferries and several mainland countries.
The route that makes me inspect the wider Europe product and confirm that Türkiye is expressly included.
Compare Nomad’s dedicated Balkans eSIM rather than assuming Europe 35 is best.
Crossing several borders? Compare the current 35- and 36-destination lists against every stop. Most ordinary Western/Central Europe routes fit the smaller footprint; more unusual extensions deserve a check. See Nomad’s Europe plan choices.
Is Nomad Europe Unlimited Data Really Unlimited?
Not necessarily at full speed. Nomad’s unlimited packages can include a daily high-speed allowance followed by a slower connection until the next reset. The cap, reduced speed and reset conditions can vary with the specific offer; I check those details at checkout rather than assume all unlimited plans share the same threshold.
That is why I prefer fixed 10 GB or 20 GB plans for most trips. They are easier to understand. Unlimited is more attractive when you expect heavy daily use and are comfortable with a high-speed ceiling.
SetupHotspot, Activation and Border Switching
Nomad supports hotspot and tethering on most eSIMs. I would install the eSIM before departure while I have reliable Wi-Fi. In most cases it activates automatically when the phone reaches a covered destination and connects to a supported network. Turn on data roaming for the Nomad line.
Nomad plans can have a purchase-to-activation deadline, and validity commonly begins after the eSIM reaches an eligible destination network. That is useful when I’m crossing borders, because the same regional eSIM can connect through different supported partners without being reinstalled. I check the exact activation rules before departure and avoid switching the line on during a transit stop if I don’t want the countdown to begin yet.
Strengths and limitsNomad Europe Pros and Cons
What I like
- Useful coverage for mainstream Europe routes.
- The core Europe offer has included the UK and Switzerland.
- Potential access to several local carrier partners, depending on the package.
- Good 10 GB and 20 GB options.
- Hotspot support on most plans.
- The updated Nomad Pass can suit frequent travelers, depending on the app offer.
What I do not like
- The 35 vs 36 split needs careful checking.
- Unlimited is not unlimited full-speed data.
- Regional and country-specific network access can differ.
- One-country travelers may get better value from a local plan.
- Some Balkan routes suit Nomad’s Balkans product better.
If you are still comparing providers, use my broader best eSIM for Europe guide. This page is intentionally narrower and answers the Nomad-specific questions.
If Airalo is the main alternative on your shortlist, I also have a dedicated Airalo vs Nomad comparison covering pricing, regional coverage, partner networks, hotspot use and the situations where I would choose one over the other.
More eSIM Guides for Your Trip
My separate regional Nomad review based on travel across Asia-Pacific.
My firsthand experience across Asia and other journeys, plus the limitations worth knowing.
Nomad Europe eSIM FAQ
Is Nomad eSIM good for Europe?
For mainstream multi-country routes, yes. Europe 35 covers a useful mix of EU countries plus the UK, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. Compare the live price with other regional eSIMs before buying.
Does Nomad Europe work in the UK?
The UK has been included in Europe 35. Check the current list for the particular package at checkout.
Does Nomad Europe work in Switzerland?
Switzerland has been included in the Europe 35 coverage list, but check the regional plan and supported local networks before a mountain-heavy itinerary.
Does Nomad Europe work in Turkey?
Nomad has listed a separate 36-destination Europe option. For a route involving Türkiye, confirm it appears on the exact plan’s live coverage list before paying.
Can I use Nomad Europe as a hotspot?
Yes, tethering is supported on most Nomad eSIMs, subject to device and local network conditions.
Does Nomad Europe include calls and SMS?
Treat the regional Europe product primarily as a data eSIM unless the exact plan says otherwise. Some country-specific Nomad products can include voice and SMS.
My Bottom Line on Nomad Europe
Nomad Europe makes the most sense when the trip genuinely crosses borders. I would start with Europe 35 for a normal Western, Central or Southern Europe itinerary, choose 10 GB or 20 GB for most trips, and check Europe 36 when Turkey or another coverage difference matters. If almost the entire trip is in one country, compare the country-specific plan first.
See current Nomad Europe pricesLast Updated on 04/11/2026 by Panos
