Quick answer
If your phone plan is from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, using it in Spain costs the same as at home, so you need not buy anything. If you come from elsewhere, your operator's roaming can be expensive: check its rates first. A Digi SIM with 100 international minutes costs €5 a month, and wifi calls are free.
If your phone is from the EU: roaming at no extra charge
According to the European Commission, travellers with a mobile plan from an EU country use calls, texts and data in another EU country at the same price as at home. The same applies in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and since 1 January 2026 in Ukraine and Moldova too.
- Data: if you have unlimited or very cheap data, your operator may set a fair use limit and must warn you at 80%.
- Long stays: the system is for trips. If you spend more time abroad than in your home country over 4 months, your operator may contact you and apply a surcharge.
- Useful alert: when you enter an EU country your phone should remind you that the emergency number is 112.
If you come from the UK, the US or another non-EU country
The UK is not part of the EU's no-extra-charge roaming system, although some operators keep the benefit voluntarily. With the US and most other countries it is similar: what you pay depends only on your operator. Before you fly:
- Ask your operator for the daily or per-GB price of using your phone in Spain, and whether it has a travel pass.
- Switch off data roaming if you have not bought a pass, and use wifi only.
- Consider a Spanish SIM or a data eSIM (see our guide to SIM and eSIM for tourists).
The roaming figures in comparison blogs vary a lot from one source to another, so do not rely on them: the rate that counts is the one in your contract.
Calling home with a Digi SIM: international minutes
Digi, a Spanish operator, showed these prepaid plans on its website on 20 October 2026 (monthly price, data rolls over):
| Plan | Price | International minutes |
|---|---|---|
| 5 GB | €3 | Not stated |
| 25 GB | €5 | 100 (national and international) |
| 50 GB | €7 | 100 |
| 100 GB | €10 | 400 |
| 150 GB | €12 | 800 |
| 250 GB | €15 | 2,000 |
Minutes only apply to the destinations on its list. In its table, calls to mobiles are shown as included for, among others, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China and India. Other countries, such as Argentina, Japan or Switzerland, do not appear as included, and some prefixes may be left out. Always check your country on Digi's website before buying. Prices can change.
To buy the SIM you must be over 18 and prove your identity with a valid document Digi accepts. Bring your passport and ask for the details at the point of sale.
The cheapest option: calls over the internet
If you have wifi (hotel, cafés, airport) or data, messaging apps with calling, such as WhatsApp or FaceTime, let you talk to anyone for free without using plan minutes. The other person only needs the same app. A voice call uses little data, but a video call uses a lot more, so keep video for wifi.
What about calling a landline back home?
This is where bill shocks happen. A traditional call to another country can cost more than a national call. In the EU, since December 2025 the European Commission lets operators charge domestic prices for calls and texts to other EU countries, but it is voluntary, so it depends on your operator. For a short trip, a call over the internet is almost always the best choice.
Phone sorted? Now go see Madrid
With data and calls sorted, you can plan the rest calmly. If you want to see Madrid without tiring yourself out, a private 1-hour electric tuk tuk tour leaves from Puerta del Sol with a driver-guide. Here is how to book, and if you stay longer, check our tourist travel pass guide for public transport.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my EU phone plan in Madrid at no extra cost?
Yes. According to the European Commission, calls, texts and data in another EU country are charged as at home, with a fair use limit if your plan is unlimited or very cheap.
Is roaming free if I come from the UK?
It is not guaranteed. The UK is not part of the EU system, although some operators keep the benefit. Ask yours before you travel.
How many international minutes does Digi include?
According to its website on 20 October 2026: 100 on the €5 and €7 plans, 400 on the €10 plan, 800 on the €12 plan and 2,000 on the €15 plan, only to the destinations on its list. Prices can change.
What is the cheapest way to call home?
Internet calls, such as WhatsApp or FaceTime, over wifi. They do not use your plan minutes.
Which number do I call in an emergency in Madrid?
112, the emergency number across the EU.
Sources
- European Commission: roaming
- European Commission: intra-EU communications tariffs (17 Dec 2025)
- Digi: SIM card and prepaid plans
Facts and prices checked on 20 October 2026. They can change: confirm them with the official source before you travel.