Greece has been in the news a lot over the last few years owing to economic problems, but this hasn’t put a dent in its status as a culture-rich tourist destination. There are historical places to visit in Greece that simply can’t be topped: the Parthenon, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the National Gardens to name a few. Greece is famous for its pleasant weather, as well, so it’s truly a Grade A vacation choice, but what about bragging to your friends and family the whole time you’re there? This is where a travel SIM card comes into play.
A cell phone from outside the E.U. has no hope of working in Greece without a new SIM card. Swapping your phone’s card out for a travel one will give you access to data while you’re abroad. They’re as vital a component of your Greek holiday package as your international credit card. A SIM card for Greece is going to come in one of two varieties.
A local SIM
If you’re confident in your Greek language skills (or lucky enough to find a store that operates in English) then you can purchase a Greek SIM card after you arrive. This SIM card will temporarily grant your phone a local status, and you’ll be able to use the same networks as Greek citizens. Have your passport ready because you’ll have to show it before you can purchase the card, but after that, you’re home free.
Greece really only has three main network providers who can offer you a Greek SIM card and prepaid data to use on it: Cosmote, Vodafone, and Wind.
Cosmote has the best coverage, the best quality, and also the highest price. Wind is significantly cheaper but has a much smaller range of coverage. And Vodafone rides the middle ground. There are a lot of things to do in Greece, so you’ll likely be on the move a lot if you want to see even a fraction of what the country has to offer. Comparing coverage maps with your trip itinerary can help you decide if the extra charge for Cosmote is worth it to you.
Greece is still a member of the European Union, so a Greek SIM card is likely to work in most other E.U. countries and vice versa with limited roaming charges. There are exceptions, though, so if you’re banking on your Greek SIM keeping you connected in Spain or France, you’ll want to read all the fine print carefully. Be aware that buying more data for your SIM in a different E.U. country, while not impossible, can certainly prove difficult.
If you run out of data while you’re still in Greece, you can easily buy more, but you’ll have to go back to the store during regular business hours to do it.
An international SIM card
Your other option is to purchase a SIM card meant for global travelling. These international SIM cards will work in all most countries (each company has a slightly different coverage list, but a main player like Greece is going to be covered by pretty much all of them). These cards differ from local Greek SIM’s in a few ways.
- They can be activated before you leave, allowing you to give your new phone number out before your departure. This is handy for those of us who have easily-worried families.
- Receiving calls is cheaper for everyone. (Calling you on your local Greek SIM would cost your friends the same price as any other long-distance call).
- International SIM’s can be reused in different countries. (So you’ll have data during layovers or even for entirely separate vacations).
- Your data is attached to your account and can be refilled online at your convenience (and in English!). So when your data runs low, you won’t have to stress over hunting down a store that sells prepaid data cards.
- Some international SIM cards will allow you to purchase multiple foreign phone numbers.
An international SIM card is the smarter purchase for those who travel frequently, or for trips that take you to multiple destinations. A local SIM has the potential to save you a little money the longer you stay in Greece, but the international card will trounce those savings the second you take it on another trip.
When shopping around for a global SIM card, be as careful as you would be looking for a new mobile service provider back home. They can get crafty with their charges. Some have hidden fees or unforgiving data blackout dates. BNESIM is a good choice for avoiding hidden fees and data expiration. They also cover 170 different countries, so you’ll be able to get a lifetime’s worth of travelling out of one of their SIM cards.
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