Getting an eSIM at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): Traveler's Guide

Overview

Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) handles around 76 million passengers a year across several terminals, so connectivity is worth sorting out before you reach the arrivals hall. Free airport Wi-Fi is available, but physical SIM shops are limited, with Relay stores and an Orange outlet in Terminal 2E being the main options. The fastest path is an eSIM installed before you land, so your phone has data the moment you step off the plane.

Airport Wi-Fi

Available

Yes

Quality

Free Wi-Fi covers the main terminal areas and is fine for messaging and maps, but speeds can drop in busy departure and arrival peaks.

Cost

Free. You connect to the airport network and accept the terms on a login page.

Time limit

Sessions may be limited or need re-connecting, so check the login page for current terms; it is not a reliable substitute for mobile data once you leave the terminal.

SIM cards at the airport

Sold at the airport

Yes

Where to buy

Options are limited. Relay convenience stores in the terminals sell some prepaid SIM products, and Orange has a shop in Terminal 2E. Stock, opening hours and which terminals you pass through vary, so do not count on a shop being on your route.

Typical prices

Prepaid tourist SIMs in France generally cost more at airport shops than in town, and prices vary by operator and data allowance. Check the pack before you pay.

Wait times

Expect queues at peak arrival times, plus time for staff to set up the SIM, which usually means showing your passport and swapping physical SIMs yourself.

Why an eSIM

With an eSIM you do the setup at home or at your departure gate, so there is nothing to find, queue for or swap at CDG. Fresim delivers your eSIM instantly by email, and you tap one button, Install on iPhone (iOS 17.4+) or Install on Android (Android 10+), and it installs. The QR code in the same email is a handy second option for sharing the eSIM or installing it from another screen. Your own SIM stays in your phone, so you keep your home number for bank codes and calls. Your phone must be eSIM-compatible and unlocked.

Step by step

• Check before you fly that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
• Open your Fresim store plan for France, check the data amount and validity, and buy it. Prices vary by destination and are set by each store.
• Open the delivery email and tap Install on iPhone (iOS 17.4+) or Install on Android (Android 10+). If you are installing from another screen, scan the QR code instead.
• Before landing, switch off airplane mode only when you are ready, then turn on the eSIM line and enable data roaming for it.
• Once in the terminal, confirm you have a signal, download offline maps for Paris, and check your ride to the city.
• If anything fails, connect to the free airport Wi-Fi to reopen your email and retry the install.

Pro tips

• Install the eSIM at home or at your departure gate, not on arrival. The install needs an internet connection, and airport Wi-Fi is the fallback, not the plan.
• Leave your home SIM active for calls and texts, but set mobile data to the eSIM line so you do not pay roaming rates by accident.
• CDG is large and the terminals are spread out. Download offline maps and your terminal number before you land so you can navigate without a signal.
• Have your RER B, taxi or ride-hailing details ready before you leave the terminal; a working data connection makes the pick-up point easier to find.
• If you plan to rely on the Terminal 2E Orange shop, check its opening hours first, as they can differ from the terminal itself.

If you missed it

If you missed getting set up at CDG, you can buy a physical SIM from mobile shops and tobacconists in central Paris, though you will need ID. Cafes and hotels in the city usually offer free Wi-Fi. An eSIM can still be bought and installed over any Wi-Fi connection, so you do not need to be at the airport.