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Having access to mobile internet in Greece is a must, whether it’s for booking tickets to the Acropolis in advance, making a reservation at a restaurant, or simply finding your way through the narrow cobbled streets. Getting a Greece SIM card is one of the most popular ways to do just that.

Follow along as we take a look at the top local SIM card options in Greece, including their offers and pricing for tourists. We’ll also introduce Holafly, a travel eSIM that’ll keep you connected without having to fiddle around with plastic SIM cards.

Greece SIM card

Where can tourists buy a Greece SIM card?

There are several ways to get a Greece SIM card for tourists, allowing you to either buy one before you travel or upon landing in Greece.

  • Order online for collection: Local mobile providers, like Cosmote and Vodafone, allow you to order a SIM card with your preferred data package online and collect it at the airport upon arrival. 
  • Physical stores: Cosmote, Vodafone, and Nova allow tourists to purchase their SIM cards directly at their official stores, at the airport, or at dedicated kiosks around Greece.
  • Convenience stores: OK, Smile, and AB Shop & Go are the main convenience stores that sell SIM cards in Greece. These typically come with a prepaid plan with a fixed amount of data and fewer choices than you’d find at a cell carrier store.
  • Get an eSIM instead: eSIMs have become the go-to way for millions of travelers to stay connected. It’s a fully digital SIM, which means you can buy and activate your eSIM online within minutes. No need to look for physical stores or swap physical SIM cards.

How to purchase a Greece SIM card

Depending on where you plan to purchase your prepaid SIM card for Greece, you’ll need different things

To buy a SIM online, here’s what you need to do:

  • Choose your preferred traveler data plan.
  • Upload a photo of a valid passport or ID.
  • Pick up your Greek SIM card at your preferred destination.

To buy a SIM card at physical stores, here’s what you need to do:

  • Look for the closest official Vodafone, Nova, or Cosmote store.
  • Ask an in-store clerk to help you choose a prepaid SIM card plan for Greece.
  • Provide your passport and an unlocked phone to complete the purchase.

To buy a SIM card at convenience stores, here’s what you need to do:

  • Explore the available prepaid SIM cards on the shelves and choose your preferred option.
  • Take your phone and a valid ID to complete the purchase.

When purchasing a Greek prepaid SIM card in a convenience store, each card comes with a predetermined data plan. Look around for the best option based on your trip.

Best SIM cards for Greece

Vodafone, Nova, and Costmote are the three biggest local providers that offer their SIM cards in Greece. Let’s examine each one and see what they offer in terms of data usage, phone calls, activation, and other features they include.

Vodafone

Vodafone offers two plans, ranging from €18.10 to €27 (~$21.10 to $31.50 USD). Depending on your choice, the plans include either 25 GB or unlimited data and 200 minutes for calls in Greece. The duration varies from 20 to 30 days. 

Notably, the bundle cost is slightly lower than the top-up cost, with the top-ups costing between €20 and €30 (~$23.30 and $35), depending on the data limit.

You can request a Vodafone eSIM with any available plans, but you’ll be charged an extra €10  (~$11.70) for “delivery services.”

To activate a Vodafone SIM card in Greece, you can either ask an in-store representative for help or insert the SIM card and follow the activation instructions on your screen.

Vodafone Greece prepaid SIM card offers
Vodafone Greece prepaid SIM card offers. Source: Vodafone Greece

Nova (FREE2GO)

Nova has a separate prepaid SIM card service called FREE2GO, which offers three different plans. The prices range from €13 to €20 (~$15.20 to $23.30), depending on the data limit.

  • 3.5 GB, 1000 local minutes, and 300 texts for €13 (~$15.20)
  • 6.5 GB, unlimited local calls, and 500 texts for €15 (~$17.50)
  • 11.5 GB, unlimited local calls, and 1000 texts for €20 (~$23.30)

You can activate your FREE2GO card at the store where you bought it. Ask an in-store representative to help you if you have doubts about the process.

FREE2GO prepaid SIM deals in Greece
FREE2GO prepaid SIM deals in Greece. Source: FREE2GO

Cosmote

Cosmote offers two data plans for tourists in Greece that range from €13 to €15/month (~$15.20 to $17.50). The two SIMs include 2.5 GB to 4.5 GB of mobile data, 300 to 400 text messages, and 1000 to unlimited minutes for local calls.

Things are a bit more complicated when activating your Cosmote SIM card. Here’s what you need to do:

You’ll receive a notification via your email that your Cosmote SIM has been successfully activated.

Download the Cosmote App and go to “Manage Connections.

Go to “Activate new connection” and press “Prepaid plan.”

Press “Activate SIM card” and follow the steps on the screen.

To complete the activation, you’ll need to upload a photo of a personal ID, the envelope of your SIM card, and a selfie.

Cosmote prepaid SIM deals
Cosmote prepaid SIM deals. Source: Cosmote

Stay connected in Greece with a Holafly eSIM

Looking to get reliable connectivity in Greece without having to deal with physical SIM cards or looking for a place that sells them? Holafly eSIM for Greece offers unlimited data plans and 24/7 customer support, ensuring that you never lose connection during your stay. All you need is an eSIM-compatible phone and an internet connection while you buy your eSIM.

The prices range from €1.43 to €6/day($1.55 to $6.90/day), depending on the duration of your plan. You can choose any duration in the range from 1 to 90 days, allowing you to match your eSIM with your stay and avoid paying for any extra days.

If you’re planning a prolonged stay in Greece or nearby countries, with Holafly Plans, you can get monthly eSIM subscription plans, which cover 170+ destinations. Enjoy 5G connectivity and plans up to unlimited data with unlimited hotspot

Prepare your trip to Greece for 2025, forget about the complicated process of getting a local physical SIM card, and rely on a trusted eSIM provider!

Planning trips to other Mediterranean destinations? Check out our other articles for SIM cards in Europe.

Julio Osuna

Julio Osuna

English Content Writer

I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.

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