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Greece might be part of Europe, but a common complaint I hear from visitors is that our internet is slow, and expensive. It actually has ranked pretty low on speed, coverage and reliability in lots of European surveys.
So what do you do when you need internet? In this guide we’ll answer the physical SIM vs eSIM debate and figure out what actually works when island hopping or trying to navigate cities around the country.
To make this a fair test, I used my locally bought SIM, plus an affordable unlimited data plan by an eSIM provider. Here is what I suggest based on the data.
🥳 TESTED TOP PICKS FOR GREECE
- 🚌 Airport transfer: Athens to City Centre — guide to cheapest options from Athens Airport
⛴️ Ferry tickets: There are a lot of ferry providers but I prefer Ferry Scanner for their simple UI.
- 📱Grab an eSIM to stay connected from Simbye with 10% off with code BACHELOR10. Only $18 for 30 days and 20GB!!
How Mobile Networks Work in Greece
Greece has three main mobile networks:
- Cosmote
- Vodafone
- Nova
If you start researching eSIMs for Greece, you’ll quickly notice that most providers are simply reselling access to one of these local networks.
Traditionally, Cosmote has the strongest reputation overall in Greece — especially for:
- mountain villages
- mainland road trips
- remote islands
- isolated beaches
Vodafone though performs equally well in cities and major tourist destinations.
Since I live in Greece and travel constantly for work, I was curious to compare both properly while testing an eSIM provider against my own locally bought Vodafone SIM.
Speed Test
I usually use nPerf coverage maps and speed maps first, then real-world speed testing, hotspotting, ferry travel, and remote work. Since I currently live in Rhodes and travel around to write about different spots, I was able to test my option: the Simbye Greece plan.
Almost every part of Greece has access to the internet, but you’ll only get “decent” speeds in a few parts like Athens and mainland cities.
The picture on the left is the speed test I run while sitting in one of the cafes I go to that actually has pretty unstable phone signal coverage.
The picture on the right is using my Simbye hotspot from my phone to run the test and do work on the laptop.
Actually as you can see, the download speed is pretty much identical but the upload speed is much better while hotspotting.
SIM vs eSIM difference
Since I use Vodafone happily, I picked an eSIM card network that taps into Vodafone as well.
Using my Simbye sim, my overall day to day life activities had no noticeable differences.
From accessing bank accounts, to surfing the web or using it for Google Maps navigation while traveling down the east coast towards Lindos.
That makes sense since Vodafone actually performs much better than Cosmote on the regional comparison map for Rhodes
My other test was using Simbye to hotspot my Macbook so I can work from a cafe where I usually go to.
Again, I didn’t notice any major differences as a user.
Simbye Benefits
I review the eSIMs I test in terms of:
- coverage and network partners
- cost of the plan per GB
- hotspot support
- activation set up and top up flexibility
For Greece specifically, Simbye ended up being one of the better value options.
Easy Set up
The activation process was straightforward and took only a few minutes from start to finish.
- Download Simbye App
- Top up credits
- Buy my plan for Greece
- Click “start installation”
- Enable data roaming once it was added to my phone
This means that if you travel to Greece but then also take the boat to Turkey, you keep the same eSIM but purchase the add-on plan to Turkey for 2 days.
I really liked the app portal and overall design felt smooth.
⚠️ I also like to create custom labels for my eSIMS and I recommend you do the same. Simbye is one of these companies where you set up a rechargeable sim, so don’t have to delete and keep re-activating eSIM cards.
Vodafone Network worked as expected
Since Simbye currently connects to Vodafone Greece, I was curious whether it would feel noticeably different than my local Vodafone SIM.
I had the perfect set up for this test as I could switch my phone from one to the other right in the spot where I was.
My phone performed the same in Old Town of Rhodes, taking the ferry across to Symi, or hiking the mountain of Profitis Ilias in the west coast.
Hotspot
Simbye allows you to hotspot your devices so you can work from the road, which is a huge plus for me. But what about throttling?
This is where companies advertise unlimited data plans or hotspot capabilities but then will limit the amount of data you can use it for.
I was super happy that Simbye has no throttling on their regular data plans so you get the full 4G/5G speeds depending on the local network of course. Their unlimited plans do have fair usage caps after 2GB a day, which I’m personally okay with.
🗯️ Based on my data consumption in various countries, my 2-week sweet spot is 20GB of data, and that is while streaming, uploading, working and being constantly on my phone for work.
Reasonable pricing
Simbye claims they are 85% cheaper than Airalo, Holafly and Saily, which are all massive players in the market. So let’s test that side by side.
As usual, I’m using the 20GB package which is what suits me most for 7-10 days of travel.
I debated whether I should add Holafly as their plans should be judged based on the fact they are unlimited, but I ended up including it since it is mentioned by Simbye directly in their marketing materials.
| Provider / Plan | Data | Duration | Approx Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simbye Data only Plan 🔥 Recommended | 20 GB total (30 days) | 30 days | $18 with discount | Best overall option. 🎁 Code: BACHELOR10 |
| Simbye EU Plan with Phone | 20 GB total (30 days) | 30 days | $27 with discount | Perfect if you want to make phone calls 🎁 Code: BACHELOR10 |
| Airalo | 20 GB total (30 days) | 30 days | $37.5 | |
| Saily | 20 GB | 30 days | $35.99 | |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 30 days | $74.90 | 🎁 Code: BACHELOROFTRAVEL |
Top up flexibility
Ever since I spent all my data on a ferry cruise in New Zealand in the middle of nowhere and had to spend $70 to activate my local roaming in order to top up, I am a lot more tuned in to how a company allows you to top up.
What do I mean?
Let’s say you are on a cruise in Greece and suddenly run out of data.
You want to top up, but can’t, you need to wait for WiFi, which might be a few hours away.
Unfortunately, Simbye has no setup for topping up without an internet connection.
But they do give you plenty of warnings when you’re about to run out, so that was really good!
Any complaints?
My one remark for improvement with Simbye is the fact that you can’t top up your credits or activate a new plan, without being connected to the internet. But that is a common issue with a lot of providers.
My other recommendation is adding smaller combinations of data plans.
The current Greece plans jump from 1GB for 7 days to 3GB for 30 days. Maybe it does fit what customers want more though and I’m just the exception.
Ideally I’d love to see more options for 7 days and 14 days, for those that don’t travel long term or for those that want more data within a smaller period.
Do you really need a local number in Greece?
That’s an interesting question and I would lean towards yes here, with a few exceptions.
Most eSIM companies don’t give out local phone numbers but they are data only plans.
In my opinion Simbye has set it up quite well here with a data only and a local number plan that is EU wide.
Meaning that if you are travelling around other European countries, you’ll be able to have a local phone number and your data as needed.
Phone Number in Greece
Why would you need a local number in Greece? I think the main reason would be calling businesses in Greece.
Most places outside of Athens don’t have a website, an actively monitored social media page or even updated info.
If you want to book a reservation to a nice seaside restaurant or taverna that has come recommended, chances are you’ll need to call and book it.
The same is true for some other smaller tour operators.
In my experience, they are slower on email than through the phone, so having the option to call is a sweet upgrade that doesn’t cost that much at all.
The Simbye Europe plan I mentioned, gives you a French number which you can use to make unlimited calls to any European number.
📣 As a tour leader and tourism professional I’m not exaggerating when I say that a lot of the places worth going to in Greece, are still operating with less tech forward tools. So a small guesthouse hotel, a restaurant or even bigger companies, will answer their phone much faster and more efficiently than answering an email.
🚨 Heads up: If you have any EU phone number you can call anywhere in Europe (or use your data). Having a French number makes no difference to using it in Greece.
What about a local SIM card?
That is usually a quick no from me.
Just the hassle of having to change my SIM card to another makes it a non-viable option. I also need my other line open at all times, even if it doesn’t give me data access, for things like 2-factor authentication, banking apps, airline logins and various work providers.
Plus, my phone doesn’t support dual physical SIM cards, so constantly changing them while travelling would become annoying very quickly.
My other issue with local SIM cards is the fact that in years past, I kept losing them. So if I returned to a country the following year, I’d suddenly have to remember which SIM card belonged to which country, whether it still worked, how much data was left on it, or whether the number had already expired.
With eSIMs, I don’t really deal with that problem anymore.
One thing I also like about Simbye specifically is that it works more like a rechargeable travel SIM setup. So if I travel to Greece now but then fly to Turkey later, I can simply add another country plan through the same app instead of deleting and reinstalling a completely new eSIM every time.
Greece also has fairly strict and slightly annoying rules when it comes to buying local SIM cards in store.
Since phone numbers legally need to be linked to the identity of the individual purchasing them, you’ll usually need to show your passport, ID card or residency documents before activation.
That means you can’t just walk into a kiosk, grab a SIM and leave in two minutes. Depending on the store and the summer queues, the process can easily take anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour.
Final recommendation
As you can see in the comparison table below, Simbye makes a lot more sense data wise and price wise than the top competitors.
My overall experience was excellent and I think it is one of the best-value eSIM options for travelers visiting Greece right now.
| Provider / Plan | Data | Duration | Approx Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simbye Data only Plan 🔥 Recommended | 20 GB total (30 days) | 30 days | $18 with discount | Best overall option. 🎁 Code: BACHELOR10 |
| Simbye EU Plan with Phone | 20 GB total (30 days) | 30 days | $27 with discount | Perfect if you want to make phone calls 🎁 Code: BACHELOR10 |
| Airalo | 20 GB total (30 days) | 30 days | $37.5 | |
| Saily | 20 GB | 30 days | $35.99 | |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 30 days | $74.90 | 🎁 Code: BACHELOROFTRAVEL |
Short on time? Top Greece recommendations
📲 Best eSIM for Greece: The easiest way to stay connected in Greece is with an eSIM you install before departure. I’ve tested several options. Use my code BACHELOR10 for 10% the plan from Simbye. They are really well priced.
🚖 Airport Tip: Skip waiting for a taxi and book your Athens airport transfer in advance with Welcome Pickups. For under $50 you’ll have peace of mind and comfort. This guide Athens to City Centre will give you all the options
🏺 Best THINGS TO DO: Greece has a ton of interesting cultural sights, here are some ideas of my favorite things you can plan in regions that you might not know about:
50+ Amazing Things to Do in the Peloponnese (By Region and Interest)
30+ Things You Can do in Crete Island in Greece (Read Before you Book)
How to Get from Piraeus Port to Aegina Island (2026 updated)
Best Rated Food Tours in Athens (and Suggestions from a Local)
⛴️ Ferry tickets: There are a lot of ferry providers but I prefer Ferry Scanner for their simple UI.
