How to roam freely in the EU

Every season has its value. But really, they’re support acts to the main headliner: summer. The sun is shining, everyone’s smiling and the vibes are on point. Sure, your tan might end up looking more like a Rorschach painting and lying in bed sometimes feels like being fired in a kiln, but it’s still a 10/10 no notes time of the year.

The start of summer also means it’s holiday season. Well, it’s part one of holiday season, before the schools break up. That means for those of us without kids or who are empty nesters, there are bargains to be had. Just watch out for any unexpected costs. Although that’s something you wouldn’t have to worry about with your phone bill.

Unlike some other networks, we don’t charge anyone extra for EU roaming up to 25GB, as long as you're on a plan with 25GB or more. So when you’re travelling in our Europe Zone, your data, minutes and text allowances will work just like they do at home, all year round.

You won’t need a new SIM for EU and UK roaming – all you need to know is that your data is subject to a Roaming Limit in Europe. Is your UK monthly data allowance over 25GB? Then your Roaming Limit will be 25GB, meaning you can use up to 25GB of data at no extra cost. If your allowance is under 25GB, you can use data abroad in the EU without charge until you reach the end of your normal allowance.

Sound good? Here’s why having access to data at no extra charge can be so helpful during your next summer holiday. Roam on.

Pre-summer escapes often mean getting friends together for sun-kissed memories ripe for social media. But you don’t need a full squad to have a great holiday. Instead, find like-minded travellers or experiences through a meet-up app. Like dating apps, most meet-up apps are based on your phone’s location. Whether it’s a running club, a movie night or yoga on the beach, it’s a great way to do something out of the ordinary with people nearby looking to do the same. And hey, you are on holiday, so you could also use your roaming for dating apps as well…

If you’re beating the crowds at the start of summer to explore your destination at a leisurely pace, you’ve got the chance to live like a local. That means not hot-footing it to the first and busiest bar, but instead seeking out the best ones. Roaming is your superpower here. Use your maps to check out reviews and drop pins. Trawl local blogs and build out a hit list (your browser can even translate them). Or travel like Gen Z and search for inspo on socials and find videos teaming with great ideas, local hacks or hidden secrets for you to explore.

Some people are the human equivalent of homing pigeons: they walk from the hotel to the local supermarket once, and they can easily retrace their steps. But most of us need some help with directions, especially in unfamiliar locations. This is where roaming data can be invaluable, so use your data to check your route on your smartphone’s map. You’ll be striding towards the beach or a Gothic cathedral (different strokes, right?) before you know it. (Speaking of maps, you can check whether your holiday destination is in our Europe Zone using our interactive roaming charges map.)

With the best will in the world, you can’t get everything in order before you jet off on holiday. You’ll forget something. Maybe your e-reader or tablet is missing a hot new bestseller, your favourite podcast has just dropped a new episode perfect for the sun lounger, or your summer playlist didn’t sync to your phone and you need some big tunes before you head out-out. In the past, you’d have had to make do with whatever paperback had been left in reception. But if you’re with us, we don’t charge anyone extra for EU roaming up to 25GB, provided you're on a plan with 25GB or more. Release the bangers…

We don’t say it enough, but a good use for a phone is using it… as a phone. While there are many clever ways to use your data abroad, staying connected to your loved ones trumps them all. You just have to be in our Europe Zone outside the UK and contacting another Europe Zone country (including the UK). If calls or texts don’t cut it, you can also use services like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Google Meet for video calls and you won’t be charged, so long as you’re within your Roaming Limit.

Want more information about O2 roaming allowances and roaming in Europe? If you haven’t already downloaded the My O2 app, you can use it to check how much of your monthly data you’ve used while you’re abroad. And if your allowance is less than 25GB and you need more data while you’re away, simply buy a one-off Bolt On through My O2. If you don’t get through all the data on your trip, you can still use it when you get back to the UK.

^{Terms and conditions: Your UK data allowance applies in our Europe Zone, subject to 25GB limit if your UK data allowance is over 25GB. If you use all of your UK data allowance when roaming outside the UK, you need to purchase a data Bolt On.Roaming terms and conditions.}