Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) SIM Cards: Where to Buy

You can buy tourist SIM cards at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport through Orange’s Terminal 2E pop-up and participating Relay shops. Buying on arrival makes sense if you need a physical SIM or a plan with calls; an eSIM arranged before departure is more practical when you mainly need data and want to leave the airport without shopping.

Where to buy a SIM card at CDG

Start with your arrival terminal. CDG has both public-area shops and outlets behind security, so finding a retailer on an airport map does not necessarily mean you can reach that branch on your arrival route.

Orange and Relay branch details checked on 28 September 2026. Hours are local Paris time. Relay’s CDG SIM distribution is confirmed, but individual branch stock and available packages are not published live.

Orange’s Terminal 2E pop-up

The Orange Tourist SIM counter in Terminal 2E is a dedicated tourist sales point offering Orange Holiday in physical SIM and eSIM formats. It is the more useful type of counter if you want someone to explain the package before you buy.

Its official listing identifies Terminal 2E without clearly resolving whether every arriving passenger can reach it. Ask airport staff for directions from your current position before making a terminal detour.

Orange Holiday includes several different packages. Some combine mobile data with calls and SMS, which can be useful for contacting accommodation or making ordinary telephone calls. Ask for the exact allowance, validity and phone-number details of the pack being offered.

Relay shops

Relay sells travel essentials as well as tourist SIMs. Orange Holiday is sold through selected Relay outlets, while Bouygues Telecom confirmed in July 2026 that its My EuropeanSIM SIM and eSIM range is distributed through Relay at CDG.

The practical distinction is between buying a pack and receiving dedicated setup assistance. Ask whether staff can help with installation before paying if that is why you are buying at the airport.

Use a branch marked Zone Publique when you need a landside shop. Stores described as Salle d’Embarquement are in departure areas; do not plan an arrival purchase around unless it is on your permitted route.

How much does a SIM card cost at CDG?

Current airport price not reliably published. Neither the verified Orange branch listing nor the Relay store pages provide a dependable, complete counter-price menu covering the SIM, included plan and any setup charge.

That matters because a national promotion, an eSIM price and a physical pack sold at an airport can be different purchases. We would compare the actual pack at the counter with the alternative you can buy, rather than assume a price found applies at CDG.

Before paying, settle these points:

• Complete total: the amount due for the SIM or eSIM, the plan and any installation or service charge.

• Usable allowance: how much data is included and when it expires.

• Calls and number: whether the package includes a French number, ordinary calls and SMS, or data.

• Onward destinations: which countries are included if your trip continues outside France.

• Renewal: whether the purchase ends automatically or creates an subscription.

Keep the receipt and SIM sleeve. If staff install the SIM, switch off Wi-Fi and load a webpage before leaving so you know mobile data is working.

Passport, registration and payment

Bring your passport when buying a local tourist SIM. Orange Holiday requires registration in the user’s name; its current registration guidance gives a 30-day window, with service liable to suspension if registration is not completed.

Follow the Orange SIM registration instructions for your exact offer. The required details can include your SIM identifier, phone number and a valid identity document. Getting a data connection at the counter is separate from completing registration.

Other packages have their own registration steps. Ask the seller whether anything remains for you to submit after purchase, especially if you expect to top up later.

Orange’s CDG branch lists bank-card payment. Have a working payment card available; accepted payment methods at individual Relay counters and any cash restrictions should be settled at the shop.

Your phone must also be carrier-unlocked. A physical SIM needs an available SIM slot, while an eSIM requires support on your exact device model.

Should you wait and buy a SIM in Paris?

Waiting can make sense if you already have enough connectivity to reach your accommodation and want more time to compare local plans. Orange Holiday is also available in mainland-France Orange stores, so buying a tourist package is not limited to the airport.

As a reference for what to ask about, Orange’s national Holiday range includes physical SIM options such as 20 GB or 50 GB with 31-day validity. Those are product examples, not confirmation of the packs stocked at CDG or their airport prices.

The city option is especially worth considering for a longer stay or a more specific calling requirement. It is not automatically cheaper: compare the same allowance and validity, including the SIM cost and any recurring payment.

Our guide to buying a tourist SIM in France covers the wider prepaid choices and registration process. If you are still deciding between local SIMs, roaming and Wi-Fi, compare the main ways to get internet in France before committing to a plan.

Using a Roafly eSIM instead of an airport SIM

Roafly’s France eSIM uses Orange and suits visitors who mainly need maps, messaging, bookings and mobile internet. It is data-only, with no local phone number or ordinary calls and SMS; a local tourist package may suit you better if those features matter.

Hotspot sharing uses your purchased allowance without a separate hotspot quota, and top-ups are supported. The France plan does not require ID verification. You need an unlocked, eSIM-compatible device.

Install the eSIM before travelling using a reliable internet connection, then follow the setup instructions for arrival. The France plan’s validity starts when it first connects to a supported network in France.

Arranging data in advance removes the need to find a stocked counter during its opening hours. It is particularly useful for a late arrival or when you want to go straight from baggage reclaim to your transport.

If you want to compare providers and package features first, our France eSIM comparison covers that decision in more detail. Keep your itinerary in mind: the France country plan is for France, so a multi-country trip needs a plan covering those additional destinations.

Free Wi-Fi and late arrivals

CDG provides free, unlimited internet through WIFI-AIRPORT, as confirmed in Air France’s CDG connection guidance. Select the network and complete the connection page shown on your device.

Use it to retrieve your hotel address, contact your pickup or install an eSIM if you have not already done so. Save the details you will need before leaving the terminal; airport Wi-Fi is a temporary connection, not mobile data for the rest of your journey.

Compare shop closing times with when you expect to reach the public arrivals area, not just your scheduled landing time. The Terminal 2E public-area Relay has later published hours than the Orange pop-up, but a late flight should still have a connection plan that does not depend on finding a shop open.

During a short airside connection, stay on your transfer route and use airport Wi-Fi rather than leaving the secure area to look for a SIM. For a stay in France, buy at CDG when a suitable physical pack or calling plan is available on your route; arrange an eSIM before flying when data access and a quick departure from the airport are your priorities.