With an iPhone 5, how can I avoid data roaming charges "iphone 5," but still get wifi in Europe?

Thank you for your answer. It does seem to solve the problem. BUT -- I had a related question, which this does not solve. Suppose I am in Europe and do not want to incur roaming charges. Your answer would allow me to get email and surf the web, all on wifi. BUT, suppose I want to make just a telephone call or two. I know I cannot use siri with iPhone 5, to make a telephone call, based on wifi, when out of the coutnry. However, If I take off airplane mode, and make my quick call, there is a great risk that lots of data would flow my way, running up a big bill. Any ideas on how I can, when in Europe, use my cell phone for cell phone calls, but do my email and net surfing on wifi, all without getting nailed on the data roaming over cell??? It's a long question, and I apoligize, but thanks for any help. Bob

Never mind. After spending more time searching my answer, I remember now that a Verizon phones don't work in Europe and in most places. Therefore, I cannot use the iPhone 5 for cell calls there. So, my question goes away . . . I think. Am I right? BUT, if anyone has a clever way for me to make cell calls in Europe, I would like to hear it. Thanks again., Bob

I truly appreciate your advice, Tim. I thought all iPhones were locked. So, if I buy a French Nano-sim card in France, put it in my iPhone 5, I can make cell calls there. Andi, I know I can do the wifi, for net and email, as discussed above. Any chance that, with the French Nano-sim, I could, through it, surf and email, when there is no wifi??? And, if so, would it be shockingly expensive? Or, if I put in the French sim, would I want to leave the datacellular data off? Thanks again. Sorry for monopolizing your time.

One more question. Forgive me -- I'm not dumb . . . just scattered. I can't use the Verizon iPhone 5 in Europe, unless I put in a European sim card. But, what if I'm in Canada, where I am going in two weeks? Anyway that I can make a cell phone call there and still be sure of avoiding the scary data roaming costs (but do surfing and email on wifi)??