What this solves
Buying a SIM at the Athens airport kiosk is the worst place to do it — same Cosmote 5GB/30-day plan is €20 at the kiosk, €10 at a city Cosmote shop. The "best" SIM depends on trip length (longer = better monthly plan), data need (light / medium / heavy), and arrival point (airport = forced into kiosk markup OR an eSIM). Rural and island coverage matters too: Cosmote is best on small islands, Vodafone second, Nova (ex-Wind) has known gaps on remote Cyclades. This calculator compares and gives the airport-vs-city warning.
Calculator
How to read the result
The calculator compares four operator classes: Cosmote (best coverage, Greek NTK backbone), Vodafone (second-best, urban-tuned), Nova (formerly Wind, cheapest, known coverage gaps on small islands), and eSIM via Airalo / Holafly / Ubigi (best for short trips, no airport kiosk markup, instant activation on a phone that supports eSIM). For each, it gives a price for your data tier and a coverage verdict for your input.
The airport markup is the unique angle. The same Cosmote 5GB/30-day plan is €20 at Athens airport and €10 at a city Cosmote shop. If you arrive at the airport late and don't want to navigate the city, eSIM is the clean answer: €15–25 for 5–10GB, no kiosk at all. If you arrive in the morning and have any energy, take the metro to Syntagma and visit a city Cosmote shop.
Limitations
- Plan pricing shown is the headline 2025/2026 prepaid rate. Operators run promo bundles and tourist-specific packs that vary by season.
- EU roaming rules apply to your home-EU SIM — if you're from an EU country, your home plan's data and minutes work in Greece (Roam Like At Home). The Greek-SIM analysis applies to non-EU or US/UK visitors primarily.
- eSIM requires a compatible phone (iPhone XS+ or equivalent Android from 2019+). Older phones need a physical SIM.
- Coverage maps are estimates. Real-world signal can be weak inside older stone buildings, even in central Athens. Wi-Fi at your hotel helps a lot.
FAQ
Can I use my EU home SIM in Greece?
Yes — Roam Like At Home (RLAH) covers all EU countries in your home plan. If you're from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, etc., your plan works in Greece with the same data allowance. The Greek-SIM analysis in this tool is for non-EU visitors (US, UK post-Brexit, Australia, Asia).
Does my US/UK plan work in Greece?
Sometimes — US T-Mobile includes Greece in some tiers; Verizon and AT&T charge $10/day for international roaming. UK carriers vary. For a 2-week trip, roaming at $10/day is $140 — far more than a €20 Greek SIM with 5GB. Buy a local SIM or eSIM if you're on US/UK postpaid.
Which operator has the best small-island coverage?
Cosmote. Vodafone is second. Nova (formerly Wind) has known gaps on small Cyclades (Folegandros, Sikinos, Anafi) and parts of Crete. If your trip is small-coska, Cosmote prepaid is the right answer.
Is eSIM safe to buy from Airalo or Holafly?
Generally yes — both are established providers that use Cosmote and Vodafone as underlying carriers in Greece. Airalo's "Hellas" eSIM is widely reported to be fast. Holafly offers unlimited data plans. Verify coverage in the small-island case before buying.
Related tools
Sources
- Cosmote, Vodafone Greece, Wind (Nova) — published prepaid plan tariffs 2025/2026.
- Airalo, Holafly, Ubigi — published Greek eSIM rates 2025/2026.
- On-site observation: Athens airport kiosks vs Syntagma shop, Foliakane, Santorini 2024–2025.
About this tool
Built because the airport-vs-city price gap for the same SIM is the most common unforced error in Greek-trip planning. Reference data for 2025–2026. We are not affiliated with any operator or eSIM provider.
Privacy Policy
Aegean Compass does not collect personal data. Calculator inputs (trip length, data need, arrival point, coverage priority) stay in your browser and are not transmitted. We display Google AdSense, which sets cookies for ad personalisation. Opt out at adssettings.google.com, aboutads.info, or youronlinechoices.eu. EEA visitors see a Google consent banner before personalised ads load.
Disclaimer
For informational purposes only. Plan pricing changes monthly with operator promotions. Always verify the latest prepaid plan before buying — the headline rates here are reference values. EU Roam-Like-At-Home rules apply to EU residents and override this analysis for them.