How to Stay Connected While Travelling in Greece (in 2026)
As you probably already know, Greece is known for its beautiful islands, crystal clear blue water, rich culture, history, and amazing food – but one thing Greece is not known for is good internet…
Over the past few years, we’ve spent extended periods of time in this beautiful country, exploring the Peloponnese, Crete, Rhodes, and the north – and it’s safe to say that Greece has quickly become one of our favourite countries!
This also means that as digital nomads, we’ve had a lot of time to “experiment” with the wifi, the cell reception, and various different phone plans and eSIMs.
In this post, we’ll share our experience with how you can best stay connected during your time in Greece so you can spend less time being frustrated with slow connections and more time enjoying your holiday!
Disclosure: This post has been created in collaboration with Sim Local. Everything in this post is based on our personal opinions and experiences. The post also contains affiliate links, which means if you decide to use the links and make a valid purchase, we will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Why you need mobile data in Greece
As we mentioned before, while Greece is an amazing holiday destination, it’s not known to have the best internet connection. While it has gotten a lot better over the years, we have still stayed at multiple hotels where the WiFi just wasn’t fully on par.
Especially when many people are using the same network at once, you sometimes can’t download your movie, or upload your holiday photos to social media, or FaceTime home, which is pretty frustrating when all you want to do is just wind down after a day of exploring.
There are also other situations, for example, if you’re travelling between islands or driving between destinations, where you need to navigate your GPS or use Google Maps to find your hotel, etc., where you simply just need to rely on data to get around.
As exciting as travelling is, it can also be unpredictable, and having your own data for navigation and as a backup when you need it not only makes your travels more enjoyable, it also makes it safer.
Should you get an eSIM or a local SIM for your time in Greece?
When we first started travelling, eSIMs weren’t a thing. Back then, you’d rely on getting a prepaid SIM card either from the airport or later once you found a place that would actually sell them.
I remember touching down in Sydney, Australia, and having to connect to the airport wifi to figure out how I was going to get to my hostel. And then once I got to my hostel (with help from my pre-downloaded map and by asking locals), I had to hop on the wifi there to figure out how to navigate to the nearest Vodafone – just to pay $20 AUD to get a few GBs worth of data. It was an absolute mission, to say the least.
Fast forward to today, things have gotten a whole lot easier. You can literally open the internet on your phone, buy an eSIM with Apple Pay (or the Android equivalent), and have your eSIM set up in the span of a few minutes. You can even set this up before your trip, so you don’t have to waste any time during your holiday.
It’s probably pretty obvious what our preference is, but we always opt for an eSIM!
TL-DR: Get your eSIM in Greece through SIM Local 🇬🇷
(and just for our readers, you can get 5% off with code REDWHITE)
Comparing different eSIMS in Greece
We’ve been using eSIMS in 9 different countries over the past few years, and it’s our go-to whenever we’re not covered by our regular phone provider. We assumed that all eSIM providers would be the same since it seems to be a pretty simple product, but that’s surprisingly not the case.
Below we’ve put together a comparison table between some of the most popular eSIM providers in Greece, so you can get an easy overview of plans, pricing, and the different features they offer.
| Features | Sim Local | Holafly | Airalo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activation method | Website, QR, or app | App | App |
| Features | Data + text & call options | Data only | Data only |
| Average price per day (Unlimited data) | 1.64 USD | 3.90 USD | 3.50 USD |
| Unlimited Pro Plan | 10 GB / day | 3-5 GB / day* | 3 GB / day |
| User rating (Google) | 4.8 ⭐️ | 4.8 ⭐️ | 4.5 ⭐️ |
*varies depending on the destination
Who should get an eSIM in Greece?
While we can’t imagine travelling without being connected, you might be wondering if an eSIM is right for you.
eSIMs are great for travellers who are visiting multiple destinations in Greece, who want or need to stay connected on travel days, while navigating the GPS in your rental car, or if you’re a remote worker who needs a solid connection to get their work done from their accommodation and/or cafes.
The only time eSIMs might be less helpful is if you’re driving around rural areas or are staying in a remote mountain town, although, even when we stayed at this Coliving in Crete in a rural mountain town called Zaros, we had no issues with our phone connections when we were outside (just inside because of the thick concrete walls).
How to set up the eSIM
One of the things eSIMS have gotten a lot better at over the years is having a simple setup process.
Some companies make you download an app, go through this whole setup process, and then by the end of it you don’t even know if the eSIM is set up correctly or not (I can’t remember how many times we’ve had to hop on a FaceTime call to help Dom’s parents out with this).
SIM Local is a good example of how simple it can be. This is the only eSIM platform so far that we’ve encountered where you can just go onto their website on your phone and get an eSIM. They also have an app (and QR code) available, but I love the fact that you don’t need to download an app – my phone is messy enough as it is, lol.
This is the process of setting up an eSIM with Sim Local:
- Select your plan on their website
- Click “Buy Now”
- Confirm that your device is unlocked
(they have a guide to check this if you’re in doubt) - Continue as a guest or create an account
(you can create an account with your email in 2 clicks) - Pay and set up the eSIM via their instructions – this takes a few minutes
Once the eSIM has been set up, you can decide to activate it, or you can activate it once you arrive in Greece. All you need to do is turn it on under your cellular settings, and then make sure you turn data roaming on for your Sim Local eSIM.
This is also when you should turn off data roaming from your normal SIM card to avoid getting charged by your normal provider.
If you wish to make local calls as well, you can get the Europe plan, which includes data and calls in 45 different countries, including Greece. This is also a great option if you’re visiting multiple European countries on the same trip. Check their coverage maps here →
Tips to save data
Back when we lived in New Zealand and worked at a lodge in a national park, people would get 100 MB of data (crazy, I know). And we ran into the same issue almost every day, where people said, they ran out of data before they even got to use it – and that was because of their phone settings.
When we’re used to being on WiFi at home and at work all the time, we don’t realize how much data we actually use. With all the apps running in the background, it’s surprisingly a lot!
Unless you have an unlimited data plan, here are a few tips on how you can save data on your phone:
- Turn off automatic downloads and automatic app updates
- Put your phone on low data mode when you’re not connected to WiFi
- Disable cellular data for cloud backups (this is a big one)
- Download apps and media when you’re on WiFi
- Adjust app settings to lower data mode, i.e. turn off HD video on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook
FAQ / Frequently Asked Questions
Is the data truly unlimited?
If you go with the unlimited data plan, you often find some providers will slow you down at 3GB or 5GB (or around 30GB a month).
With Sim Local, you get up 10 GB data per day before that happens*! That’s plenty for roaming around the cities, downloading a few episodes of your favourite TV show, and FaceTiming home to tell your family you’re enjoying your trip.
*depending on whether you get the “Unlimited” or the “Unlimited Pro” plan. The Unlimited Pro Plan is the one with 10 GB of full-speed data per day. On the Unlimited plan, you get 5 GB of full-speed data per day.
What if I need help?
Setting up the eSIM is pretty straight forward, but should you need help, you can reach Sim Local’s support team 24/7 on WhatsApp or via their app or website.
Which network does Sim Local eSIM use in Greece?
Sim Local eSIM in Greece connects you to the local network formerly called Wind, now known as Nova. This provider is known for competitive pricing and good connection.
A side note for digital nomads
Even though a lot of cafes in Greece offer wifi, we found that at least 50% of the time, the connection is either unstable or super slow.
So we personally wouldn’t rely on cafe wifi alone for getting work done – especially not when you have important deadlines or meetings.
Sim Local eSIMs also have hotspots and tethering available on all plans. We’ve put together this guide on being a digital nomad in Greece if you want to learn more.
You may also like…
- Visiting Symi Island in Greece (What to Do, Where to Stay & How to Get There)
- How to Rent a Car in Crete
- 9 Fun & Unique Things to Do in Kalamata, Greece
- Authentic Food Tour in Kalamata – Eat Like a Local
- 7 Delicious Cafes on Rhodes You Need to Try
Final thoughts on how you can stay connected in Greece
We hope you have the best time in Greece, whether it’s a nice beach holiday or out exploring historic landmarks around the country. No matter where you go, having cell service and staying connected is probably going to be a priority.
The beauty of the eSIM is that you can set it up before you even go on your trip so you don’t have to stress over trying to set it up while you check into your hotel in Athens or looking for a taxi to get you to your beach resort in Santorini.
You can see the different plans here and purchase it right away so you’re ready and connected for your trip to Greece. If you need a lot of unlimited data (or just don’t want to worry about keeping track), getting the Unlimited Pro eSIM is your best option, as it has the most high-speed data per day.
If you have any other questions about how eSIMs work or how to get your plan for Greece, please feel free to reach out by leaving a comment below.
Grab your eSIM here and use the code REDWHITE to get 5% off📱
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