How Much Data Do I Need for a Trip? Travel eSIM Guide (2026)

Two days in Lisbon, a week on the Greek islands or a fortnight across Japan: the trip changes, but at checkout the choice is always how much data to buy. Pick a plan that is too small and you are hunting for Wi-Fi halfway through the trip; pick one far too large and you pay for data you never use.

This guide works out how much data you need for a trip: what uses data, the figures streaming and calling services publish, worked examples for a weekend, a week and a fortnight, and simple ways to use less.

Key facts for planning your data

Heavy data use: video streaming, video calls and a laptop using your connection, where the plan allows sharing
Light data use: chat messages, browsing and maps, even more so with offline maps
Plan size: estimate from your heaviest habits, then leave room for the rest
Not sure: the AI option on the plans page suggests a plan
Running low: track your usage in your account and buy another plan if you need more

What uses data on a trip

Most of what you do on the road is light. Messages in chat apps, maps, ride-hailing apps and booking confirmations add up to little, while photos and videos you send use more. Offline maps downloaded on Wi-Fi reduce navigation data further. Where the data goes:

Video streaming: streaming services publish about 0.3 GB an hour at their lowest quality setting, about 0.7 GB an hour in standard definition and up to 3 GB an hour in HD.
Video calls: roughly half a gigabyte an hour for a one-to-one call in good quality, and about 1 GB an hour in HD.
Music streaming: about 43 MB an hour at normal quality and about 144 MB an hour at very high quality.
Social media: feeds that play videos automatically behave like video streaming.
Sharing the connection: a laptop can download updates and sync files in the background, and the plan details say whether sharing is allowed.

How much data you need for a trip: three examples

Add up your heaviest habits first. These totals leave out maps, messages and browsing, so keep some room on top for them.

A weekend city break: an hour of music each day and one hour-long video call home. The music comes to under 0.1 GB and the call to about half a gigabyte, so about 0.6 GB in all.
A week of sightseeing: the same daily music, two hour-long video calls and two hours of standard-definition video on a train. That is about 0.3 GB of music, 1 GB of calls and 1.4 GB of video, roughly 2.7 GB.
A fortnight at the same pace: double the week, about 5.4 GB. Watching or calling in HD raises it quickly, since HD video can reach 3 GB an hour.

How to use less data

Most savings come from moving the heavy jobs to Wi-Fi. Download offline maps, playlists and films before you leave, set photo backups and app updates to Wi-Fi only, and save uploads for your accommodation's connection.

On mobile data, lower the video quality in streaming and social apps, turn off autoplay, and switch the camera off on calls when voice is enough.

Which plan fits your trip

Take your estimate, add room for maps, messages and the unexpected, and choose the plan above it. The Telcomia plans page offers country plans, multi-country zone plans and plans by the gigabyte, and if you are not sure how much you use, the AI option suggests a plan.

Each plan's details show the Activation line, the duration, the data and whether you can share the connection. Create an account to track your usage as you go; if you run low, you can buy another plan.

Before you leave

Download offline maps for every city on your route, on Wi-Fi.
Download playlists and films instead of planning to stream them.
Set photo backups and app updates to Wi-Fi only.
Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi and set it as the line for mobile data.
Turn data roaming on for the eSIM line and off for your home line.
Create an account so you can track your data use.

Consular protection: wherever you travel

112 reaches emergency services in every EU country; in the United States, Canada and Mexico, call 911; elsewhere, save the local number.
The Telcomia app shows which embassy or consulate is responsible for you, with address and phone.
If you are an EU citizen in a country outside the EU where your country has no embassy or consulate, 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).
The app keeps key emergency phrases ready to show on screen.
Keep some data in reserve at the end of a trip, so that maps and messages still work if something goes wrong.

Questions travellers ask about how much data they need

Is 1 GB enough for a week?

Only for light use: messages, maps and some browsing. A single hour of standard-definition video uses about 0.7 GB, most of the allowance, and an hour-long video call about half of it.

How much data does Google Maps use?

There is no single figure: it depends on how much you search, zoom and look at satellite views. Navigation is light compared with video, and an offline map downloaded on Wi-Fi reduces it further.

How much data does a video call use?

Roughly half a gigabyte an hour for a one-to-one call in good quality, and about 1 GB an hour in HD. A voice-only call over the same app uses far less.

What happens if I run out of data?

You can buy another plan from the plans page, so do it while you still have data or Wi-Fi, and keep your home line's data roaming off unless your tariff includes the country. Tracking your usage in your account helps you see it coming.

The short version

Messages and maps are light, music is moderate, and video and video calls are what fill a plan. Estimate from your heaviest habits, move them to Wi-Fi where you can, and choose a plan with room to spare, or let the AI option on the plans page suggest one.

Find the right plan →

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