EU roaming 2026: What's really included – and why Switzerland can get expensive

€184.37.

That's what was on reader Andreas's mobile bill after a week of camping at Lake Constance. He had never left Germany – not on purpose, anyway. His phone had: it kept connecting to the Swiss network on the other side of the lake at the campsite. And Switzerland is a special case when it comes to roaming. An expensive one.

Before the summer travel season really gets going, it's worth taking a sober look: what does EU roaming actually cover in 2026, where do fair-use limits lurk – and why does our neighbouring country of all places turn into a cost trap, even for people who aren't even going there?

Roam like at home: the basics are solid

Since 2017, the "roam like at home" principle has applied in the EU, and the rule has been extended until 2032. In concrete terms: in all EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, you call, text and browse under your German terms. Your unlimited calls apply on the beach in Portugal just as they do in Berlin, and your data allowance is deducted from your inclusive allowance as normal. No add-on package needed, no registration, nothing.

In everyday life this works surprisingly smoothly. When you cross the border, the familiar welcome text arrives, your phone connects, and off you go. Being called while abroad in the EU also costs you nothing – an old myth from before 2017 that stubbornly persists. The problems start at the edges. In both senses of the word.

The fair-use limit: unlimited isn't unlimited abroad

With normal plans that have a fixed data allowance, you simply take your full allowance with you across the border. With unlimited plans and very cheap offers, however, providers are allowed to set an upper limit for use abroad. This is calculated using an EU formula based on your monthly price and the regulated wholesale data price – in 2026 that's €1.10 per gigabyte.

Rough rule of thumb: divide the monthly price by 1.10, then multiply by two. An unlimited plan for €39.99 a month gives you a good 70 GB to use within the EU before a small surcharge per gigabyte kicks in. That's plenty for a two-week holiday. But if you're roaming across Europe for months as a workation nomad, you'll eventually hit the limit – and you'll get a warning text from your provider beforehand. How much data you realistically use on holiday and what happens once your allowance runs out, by the way, we've already covered in detail here.

What applies where: the overview

Region	What applies when roaming
EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein	Included – use as at home (fair-use limit may apply for unlimited plans)
United Kingdom	No more EU roaming; many providers include it voluntarily – check the price list
Switzerland	No EU roaming. Sometimes included in large plans, otherwise expensive world-zone prices
Ferry, cruise ship, aeroplane	Satellite networks – extremely expensive, cost protection doesn't reliably apply

The Switzerland trap – even for those who stayed home

Switzerland is neither an EU nor an EEA member, which is why EU roaming simply doesn't apply there. Some providers voluntarily include it in larger plans – Telekom, for instance, with many MagentaMobil plans – but you should never rely on that. Checking your plan's price list is a must before heading towards Zurich, Basel, or even just Lake Constance.

That's exactly where the catch lies: you don't even have to cross the border. In border regions, phones tend to connect to the strongest network, and on the lakeshore or on a train along the Rhine, that's sometimes a Swiss one. Anyone travelling by train through Switzerland to Italy also racks up roaming charges along the way. Without an inclusive option, a single megabyte can cost several euros.

At least the statutory cost protection caps data roaming outside the EU at around €59.50 – after that, the connection is cut off until you actively confirm you want to continue. That prevents the very worst shock, but nearly €60 for a few accidental app updates is no fun either. Andreas from Lake Constance can vouch for that: on top of the data cap, he also racked up phone calls, which the safety net doesn't catch.

What helps? Turn off automatic network selection near the border and manually set the German network. It takes less than a minute in the settings and is by far the most effective protection. On the iPhone you'll find the option under "Mobile Data – Network Selection", on Android usually under "Connections – Mobile Networks". Important: switch back to automatic after your holiday, otherwise you'll wonder why you have no signal on your next trip abroad.

Ship and plane: the ultimate cost traps

It gets even tougher at sea. Ferries and cruise ships use satellite networks on open water, where neither EU prices apply nor does the cost safety net reliably work. The same goes for onboard networks on aeroplanes. A few minutes of Instagram on the Baltic Sea ferry can seriously run into three figures. Our advice here is unspectacular but proven: switch on flight mode as soon as the coast is out of sight, and use onboard Wi-Fi instead, if available.

Before your holiday: the five-minute checklist

• Check the price list: Are Switzerland and the UK included in your plan? If not: check the provider's day pass or weekly package – usually cheaper than the standard rate.
• Don't disable cost protection: The €59.50 cap is active by default. Leave it on.
• Near the border = manual network selection: Lake Constance, Basel, Aachen, Görlitz – set your home network manually everywhere there.
• Ship and plane = flight mode: Avoid satellite roaming, no exceptions.
• For longer stays outside the EU: a local eSIM is often by far the cheapest solution. How switching without a plastic card works is explained in our eSIM guide.

And if you regularly call outside the EU – to family in Turkey, to Serbia, to India – roaming isn't really the issue, it's the international minutes from Germany. It's worth looking at plans with included international minutes, as we've Lycamobile check looked at in more detail.

At the end of the day, EU roaming is one of the few regulations that simply works in everyday life. Within the EU, you can use your phone on holiday just like at home, without thinking twice. Only at the edges – Switzerland, at sea, in the air – do you need to stay alert for a moment. Five minutes of preparation before you leave, and there's no nasty surprise on your July bill. If your plan simply no longer suits your travel needs: in the plan comparison you can see what the market currently has to offer.