Traveling in Europe (GPS w/ update-able Europe maps)

Try GPS city web site. The sometimes sell Garmin GPS units that are set up for European maps. They are then updatable but are only any use in the UK, Europe.
The only other way is to buy the UK/ Europe maps on the Garmin chip that can be inserted in the memory card slot, but as you say. they are not up dateable.

A good answer above. My thoughts depend on future visits. If you already have a North American Garmin GPS and plan to do a single European trip, go for the Map on SD card from Garmin and use it with your current GPS, especially if minimal driving is planned. If more trips to Europe are under consideration, I'll suggest buying a Garmin GPS device with the map of Europe and lifetime updates rather than trying to add a Europe map to a North American mapped device. A new Europe-mapped Garmin GPS will come with the bells and whistles like Junction View, etc. I'm pretty sure the map-on-SD from Garmin provides a routable map but without Junction View and other perks.

Many people buy units for Europe and on return home place them up for sale. See https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=gps+europe+ma... for a current listing of Garmin units at attractive prices.

I am suspicious that the devices in some of these listings do not have legitimate Garmin City Navigator maps. Most of the listings do not identify the maps as Garmin CN maps or make mention of lifetime updates. Also some of these devices are very old models without the modern features like lane assist, junction view, etc.

My 55LM does junction view, upcoming rest areas, gas stations and food. Will the Garmin SD card for Europe do junction view the other bells and whistles still or is it just a basic map?

No … the Garmin maps preinstalled on SD cards do not support the premium features like junction view. I am not sure about pre-installed POI's but I think these would be included.

I used free openstreetmaps for Ireland and Wales on my Garmin 55LM a few years ago. That did fine.

I purchased and used the data card for UK and Ireland in 20016.
The package states "Displays turn by turn directions, searchable POIs, address and street level detail" but no Junction views. I used it again in 2018 and it still seemed to be up to date for the area that I was in but unfortunately you do not get any updates with the data card maps.
And a warning, you cannot back up the maps on the card, they are locked to each data card so be careful about how you handle them.

I bought my SD card a couple of years ago from Ebay. It was reasonable and It was an original NEW card.
O no, I am thinking I might have bought it from Garmin.
O no, I am not sure where I bought it.
It was new and worked great.
The only problem was I had my USA Maps on SD card because of space and I had to remember to bring both cards on the trip so I could use the Nuvi in the USA and Europe. Other than that it was a great experience.

Mary (getting OLDER every day)