Guide To The Best Prepaid eSIM Data Plans for Greece

The best way for travelers to get fast and affordable mobile data in Greece is with a prepaid eSIM data plan. But there are multiple different prepaid eSIM data plans available so I’ve written this guide to help you find the best eSIM for Greece so you can pick the perfect option for your travels.

In A Hurry? I recommend checking out both SimOptions and Holafly for the best deals on eSIM data plans for Greece. Continue reading this article for more in-depth, specific recommendations.

Reasons To Avoid Using Your Current Provider’s “International Plan”

Your current mobile phone provider likely offers an expensive international data plan option but the service is often slow, inconsistent, and has limited data allowances.

For example, the AT&T International Day Pass costs $10/day. They also have their AT&T Passport plan, a monthly plan that’s either $70/month for 2 GB of data or $140/month for 6 GB. Then they charge an insane overage of $30 per GB. Verizon also has a $10/day pass but they knock you down to 3G speeds after using 2GB each day.

And many T-Mobile customers get free “unlimited” international data but you’re only guaranteed 2g data speeds after you hit a total usage of 5GB of data… which will struggle to load Google Maps or even email. T-Mobile gives you the option to pay more to get 5GB at better speeds but then you’ll be charged a premium.

These “international data plans” are 5X as expensive as buying a prepaid eSIM data plan from a third-party provider—for example, eSIM data plans from Orange or Holafly will cost you around $2-$4/day.

For more in-depth information, check out my guide on How To Use Smartphones and Data Plans In Europe and my Guide To Using eSIM data plans in Europe.

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Comparing The Best eSIM Data Plans For Greece

Unlike traditional physical SIM cards, there are only a few different mobile providers that offer eSIM data plans for Greece.

You essentially have two routes when it comes to eSIMs in Greece—buying an eSIM from a local mobile company or buying an eSIM designed for short-term visitors.

Local Mobile Providers in Greece

The first (and most complicated) option is to buy an eSIM data plan directly from one of the main local Greek mobile carriers (Wind, Cosmote, and Vodafone.). The problem for visitors is that many of these Greek plans are intended for people who live in Greece so you’re typically required to sign up for a long-term contract. Their websites and mobile interface aren’t always translated into English so that’s another hurdle you’ll need to deal with.

Additionally, the activation process can take a few hours so you’ll be wasting a lot of your precious vacation time stuck inside a mobile phone shop.

I only recommend this route if you’re visiting for multiple months as the cost savings aren’t practical for most short-term visitors. If you’re looking for a physical SIM card, check out my guide to the best prepaid SIM Cards for Greece.

Traveler-Friendly eSIM Plans For Greece

The best Greece eSIM option is to buy a prepaid data plan geared toward short-term visitors. These plans are much more “tourist-friendly” so you don’t have to mess with registration, translation issues, etc. For this guide, I’ll focus on these “tourist-friendly” eSIM plans.

Each eSIM plan I’ve listed in this guide will vary slightly so spend time looking at the specific details of each plan. But here are the main things to consider:

• Data Allowance: Most plans give you a set amount of mobile data (i.e. 5GB, 10GB, 30GB, etc) but others give you unlimited data over a set amount of time (5 days, 15 days, 30 days, etc).
• Plan Length: eSIM data plans can be valid anywhere from about 5 days to 90 days. It depends on your plan so it’s something you’ll want to consider when picking a plan.
• Mobile Hot Spot Tethering: Most eSIM plans don’t allow you to use your phone as a mobile hot spot.
• Voice Calls and SMS Texting: Some eSIM plans are data only—which means the plan doesn’t include voice calls or SMS texting. This isn’t much of an issue since you’ll probably not be calling people anyway.
  • NOTE: You can still use iMessage to “text” between Apple iPhones but you can’t send messages between iPhones and Android phones. Or you can download WhatsApp to send messages over data (which is what most Europeans do).
  • NOTE: The eSIM plans that include voice calling will give your phone a European phone number but you’ll also keep your original phone number.

Orange Holiday Europe eSIM (50GB)

• Price: $59.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
• Data: 50GB
• Service Speed: 4G/LTE
• Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 120 min outside of Europe.
• Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 1000 outside of Europe.
• Credit validity: 28 day
• Data Tethering: Allowed
• Usable on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
• This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can still be used anywhere in Europe
• Service works everywhere in the EU

If you need a ton of mobile data, consider the newly released Orange Holiday Europe 50GB eSIM data plan which is a beefed-up version of the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM. It has 50GB of data and it’s valid for 28 days (compared to 14 days with the Orange Holiday Europe plan). This eSIM also comes with many features you don’t find with other plans—including international voice calling and texts (it gives you an actual French phone number that works anywhere in Europe).

The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan also allows you to use your phone as a mobile hotspot so you can put that extra data allowance to good use. Orange is also one of the largest mobile companies in Europe so you’ll always get great coverage and high data speeds.

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HOLAFLY GREECE UNLIMITED DATA ESIM

Holafly is a European-based eSIM provider that I’ve personally used while visiting Europe and had a great experience using (read my Holafly eSIM Review to get a more in-depth look). Holafly sells both Greece-specific plans and Europe-wide data plans. Holafly isn’t an actual mobile carrier but they rent bandwidth from local Greek mobile providers (Vodafone and Wind) so there’s a possibility you might get less priority on the Vodafone/Wind networks during peak usage times than actual Vodafone/Wind customers.

Holafly gives you unlimited data and their plans come in durations from 5 to 90 days—so you don’t have to over/underbuy for your particular trip.

Holafly doesn’t allow data tethering in most cases so you won’t be able to use your phone as a mobile hotspot.

Holafly Greece eSIM Specs:

• Prices For Unlimited Data (Check Holafly for details)
  • 10 Days: $34
  • 15 Days: $47
  • 20 Days: $54
  • 30 Days: $64
  • 60 Days: $84
  • 90 Days: $99
• Service Speed: 4G/LTE
• Texts/SMS: None
• Tethering: No
• Network: Vodafone/Wind
• Calls coverage: None
• Data service works everywhere in the EU

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Bouygues My European eSIM

Bouygues is another major French telecommunications company and they’ve recently released their own prepaid eSIM data plan to compete with the popular Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan. I used a prepaid Bouygues SIM card on a previous trip to Europe so I’m glad they’re finally offering an eSIM.

There’s a lot to like about the Bouygues My European eSIM plan—especially since it comes standard with 30GB of data and unlimited calls/texts within Europe. I also like how this Bouygues eSIM plan is valid for 30 days so it’s a great option for longer trips.

• Price: $44.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
• Data: 30GB
• Data Tethering: Allowed
• Service Speed: 4G/LTE
• Calls: Unlimited within Europe and credit for overseas calls
• Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and credit for overseas sms
• Credit validity: 30 day
• Phone Number: This eSIM card comes with a French phone number
• Coverage: Anywhere within the European Union (except Switzerland)

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ORANGE HOLIDAY EUROPE ESIM

The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM data plan is the most robust eSIM plan on this list because it comes with many features you don’t find with other mobile plans—including international voice calling and texts (it gives you an actual European phone number that works anywhere in Europe). The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan also allows you to use your phone as a mobile hotspot.

You’ll get 20GB of data with this plan but Orange sometimes runs a special where they give you an extra 10GB. But even 20GB should be plenty of data for most users. Orange is also one of the largest mobile companies in Europe so you’ll always get great coverage and high data speeds.

The potential downside to the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan is that it’s only valid for 14 days once activated so it’s not great for longer visits (but you can always top up to extend the plan for an additional 14 days).

• Price: $49.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
• Data: 20GB (Orange often upgrades plans to 30GB of data)
• Service Speed: 4G/LTE
• Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 120 min outside of Europe.
• Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 1000 outside of Europe.
• Credit validity: 14 day
• Data Tethering: Allowed
• Usable on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
• This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can still be used everywhere in Europe.
• Service works everywhere in the EU

I’ve personally used the Orange Holiday Europe plan while traveling through Europe and it worked flawlessly. Read my Orange Holiday Europe review to hear more.

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ORANGE HOLIDAY ZEN ESIM

The Orange Holiday Zen eSIM is the budget version of the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan. It comes with 8GB of data and has fewer voice minutes and texts, otherwise, it’s the same as the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan.

Most users will use more than 8GB of data while traveling during a typical trip to Europe—but light data users could easily use less than 8GB of data during a typical 10-14 day trip.

• Price: $29.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
• Data: 8GB (Orange often gives you 15GB of data)
• Service Speed: 4G/LTE
• Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 30 min outside of Europe.
• Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 200 outside of Europe.
• Credit validity: 14 day
• Data Tethering: Allowed
• Usable on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
• This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can still be used everywhere in Europe.
• Service works everywhere in the EU

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SIM OPTIONS EUROPE 30GB ESIM

The eSIM/SIM retailer SimOptions also sells their own data-only Europe 30GB eSIM that covers the EU. It doesn’t include any bells or whistles but comes with a generous 30GB of data and is valid for 30 days after activation.

• Price: $49.99
• Data Allowance: 30 GB
• Service Speed: 4G/LTE
• Calls: None
• Texts/SMS: None
• Tethering: No
• Credit Validity: 30 Days
• Service works everywhere in the EU

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MORE TIPS ON USING YOUR PHONE IN GREECE

I’ve written extensively about using smartphones and data plans in Europe as well as tips for buying SIM Cards For Visiting Europe but below are some more helpful tips about using your phone in Greece.

GET A PORTABLE BATTERY CHARGER

Traveling with your phone will quickly drain your batteries so I highly recommend a portable battery. I use Anker PowerCore because it’s tiny and affordable but there are multiple options.

TAKE STEPS TO LOWER YOUR MOBILE DATA USAGE

Data can be expensive and it’s extremely easy to unknowingly burn through a lot of data because many apps use data in the background. Facebook, email, Instagram, Snapchat… those all constantly use data throughout the day without you knowing it. That’s why it’s important to know how to limit your data usage.

USE AIRPLANE MODE AND BLOCK DATA TO SPECIFIC APPS

I’ll put my phone in Airplane Mode because that disables all data (but GPS still works in Airplane Mode). You can also go into the settings and disable data access to each individual app. I’ll go in and turn every off except for things like Google Maps or others that I’ll use more frequently — this way when I turn off Airplane Mode only those apps that will use data. Then I’ll turn Airplane Mode back on when I’m done.

DOWNLOAD OFFLINE MAPS

Google Maps lets you download entire city maps so they can be used offline. As an added bonus, GPS doesn’t use data so offline Google Maps works fairly well (but not all functionality works). Here is a good YouTube video that explains everything.

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MORE EUROPE TRAVEL TIPS FROM THE SAVVY BACKPACKER

• Europe Travel Packing List and The Best Travel Backpacks: Tips for packing for your trip.
• The Best Travel Shoes: Tips for finding comfortable shoes for travel.
• Complete Guide To Train Travel In Europe: Everything you need to know about traveling Europe by train.
• How To Buy Train Tickets in Europe: Tips for buying the cheapest train tickets.
• How To Avoid Pickpockets in Europe: How to outsmart those pesky thieves.
• The Best Party Cities in Europe: Where to go for the best nightlife in Europe.
• The Best Cities in Europe: The can’t-miss cities in Europe.
• The Cheapest Cities in Europe: The best European cities for saving a little cash.