A classic route runs from Lisbon to the Algarve, then east into Andalusia, in southern Spain, for Seville, Granada and Málaga. With an EU SIM, all of it counts as home for roaming. Two favourite side trips do not: Gibraltar, a British territory, and Tangier, across the Strait in Morocco. Near Gibraltar and the Strait, a phone can slip onto a non-EU network while you are still in Spain.
This guide to an eSIM for a Portugal and Andalusia trip covers where EU roaming ends, the traps around Gibraltar and the Strait, the Tangier day trip and which plan to choose.
Key facts for a Portugal and Andalusia trip
- EU roaming: Portugal and Spain are covered by Roam Like at Home; Gibraltar and Morocco are not
- One plan for the route: the Europe plan covers Portugal, Spain and Gibraltar, but not Morocco
- Local networks: NOS, MEO and Vodafone in Portugal; Movistar, Orange and Vodafone in Spain; Gibtelecom in Gibraltar; Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi in Morocco (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 112 in Portugal and Spain, 999 in Gibraltar, 19 for the police in Morocco
- Embassies: in Lisbon, Madrid and Rabat; none in Gibraltar
Who needs an eSIM for a Portugal and Andalusia trip
With an EU SIM, Portugal and Spain count as home for roaming. An eSIM helps only for Gibraltar, Morocco or a small data allowance abroad.
With a British, American or other non-EU SIM, roaming is usually charged separately. One Europe plan on an eSIM covers Portugal, Spain and Gibraltar, while your home SIM keeps your own number.
The Gibraltar and Strait trap
Gibraltar left the EU with the UK and is outside Roam Like at Home, so an EU SIM on Gibtelecom's network pays its operator's roaming rates. In La Línea and around the Bay of Algeciras, phones often pick up a Gibraltar network while still in Spain, and near Tarifa, Moroccan networks reach across the water. Choosing a Spanish network manually avoids both.
On the Rock itself, a phone can join a Spanish, Moroccan or Gibraltar network. With an EU SIM, choose a Spanish one where available. With the Europe plan, Spanish and Gibraltar networks are both covered, and Gibtelecom advises selecting GIBTEL manually. Neither option covers Moroccan networks.
A day trip to Tangier
On the ferry, the phone can switch between Spanish and Moroccan networks near the coasts, and out at sea it can join the ship's own network, billed separately and outside Roam Like at Home. Keep data roaming off on your home line on board.
The Europe plan does not cover Morocco, so for Tangier add a Morocco plan and set it as your mobile data line once you arrive. Map apps can lose your position in the narrow lanes of Morocco's medinas; download an offline map of Tangier first.
Which plan fits your trip
With an EU SIM, Portugal and Spain need nothing extra; for Gibraltar, a Europe plan covers its network along with Spain's, and Tangier needs a Morocco plan.
From outside the EU, Telcomia's Europe plan covers 38 destinations, including Portugal, Spain and Gibraltar, on one eSIM; add a Morocco plan for Tangier. A country plan, such as Spain, suits a stay in one country.
Open the plan details before you buy: they show the duration, the data, whether you can share the connection with other devices, and the Activation line, which tells you what starts the plan's validity.
Before you leave
- Read the Activation line in the plan details, then install the eSIM, and any Morocco plan, at home on Wi-Fi.
- Set the eSIM as your mobile data line, with data roaming on for the eSIM and off for your home line.
- Around Gibraltar and the Strait, choose a Spanish network manually; on the Rock, GIBTEL also works on a Europe plan.
- Keep each eSIM installed until the trip is over: some eSIMs can be installed only once.
Consular protection: four places, different numbers
- 112 reaches the emergency services in Portugal and Spain.
- In Gibraltar, 999 reaches the police, an ambulance or the fire service. In Morocco, 19 is the police and 15 the ambulance and fire service.
- Embassies are in Lisbon, Madrid and Rabat, with consulates in Tangier for some countries; Gibraltar has none, only some honorary consuls. The Telcomia app shows which mission is responsible for you, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Morocco, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- Emergency phrases in Portuguese, Spanish and Arabic are ready to show on screen in the app.
Questions travellers ask about a Portugal and Andalusia trip
Does EU roaming work in Gibraltar?
Not on Gibraltar's own network, which is outside Roam Like at Home. On a Spanish network, which phones can also reach on the Rock, an EU SIM works as at home. The Europe plan covers both.
Will my eSIM work on a day trip to Tangier?
Only with a plan that covers Morocco. The Europe plan does not, so add a Morocco plan and set it as your data line when you arrive.
One plan for Portugal and Spain?
Yes: the Europe plan covers Portugal, Spain and Gibraltar on one eSIM. With an EU SIM you may not need it.
Why did my phone connect to a Moroccan network in Tarifa?
Morocco lies just across the Strait, and a phone joins the strongest signal, even from another country. Choose a Spanish network manually while you are on that coast.
The short version
Portugal and Spain are inside EU roaming; Gibraltar and Morocco are not. Choose a Spanish network manually around Gibraltar and the Strait, use one Europe plan if your SIM is from outside the EU, and add a Morocco plan for Tangier.
Related reads:
Ready to stay connected without surprises?
Activate your eSIM in seconds and travel connected in 200+ countries and territories.
See plans