Can tourists buy a prepaid SIM card in Greece?
Yes. Greece has prepaid products specifically aimed at visitors, but local mobile service requires subscriber identification.
Greek law requires mobile providers to associate subscriber identity information with the SIM when establishing service. The relevant provisions appear in the official Greek Government Gazette legislation covering subscriber identification.
Practical requirements vary by operator:
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Vodafone: the tourist ordering flow accepts a valid passport or ID.
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Nova / FREE2GO: activation includes personal details, a selfie, an identity-document photo and a digital declaration.
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COSMOTE: the Travellers’ SIM service is available to visitors, while current registration details should be confirmed in the live purchase flow.
Keep your passport or another accepted official identity document available when buying a physical local SIM. Exact document acceptance should still be checked with the operator before payment.
Local SIM options in Greece
COSMOTE Travellers’ SIM
COSMOTE maintains a dedicated Travellers’ SIM portal for visitors.
Current public material confirms the tourist product, but it does not expose a stable full price-and-validity ladder that is safe to reproduce as a permanent table.
Check these points in the live offer before buying:
Missing fee information should never be interpreted as a zero fee.
Vodafone tourist prepaid SIM or eSIM
Vodafone operates a dedicated tourist prepaid SIM and eSIM page for visitors to Greece.
The current tourist flow promotes prepaid connectivity without a contract and accepts a valid passport or ID when ordering a new connection.
Key points to confirm during purchase include:
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current tourist-package validity;
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physical SIM versus eSIM availability;
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final package price;
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any SIM-related or service charge;
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complete amount payable at order or collection.
Vodafone is particularly relevant when you want a local Greek operator but prefer a tourist-specific route instead of adapting a standard resident-oriented prepaid offer.
Nova FREE2GO tourist SIM
Nova publishes the clearest current tourist package structure through FREE2GO.
The official FREE2GO tourist prepaid page lists:
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€15 All Inclusive: 100GB for 7 days, unlimited minutes to Greek networks and 500 SMS to Greek networks.
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€20 All Inclusive XL: 250GB for 15 days, unlimited minutes to Greek networks and 1,000 SMS to Greek networks.
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VAT included in the published package amounts.
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one-time tourist activation for the selected offer.
Loading the required €15 or €20 activates the corresponding package. The same tourist bundle cannot be activated again after it expires under the published terms.
FREE2GO also describes a tourist identification process involving personal details, a selfie, an accepted identity document and a digital declaration.
What does a Greece tourist SIM really cost?
Tourist SIM comparisons become misleading when the headline data package is treated as the entire purchase price.
Check each component separately:
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Bundle price: advertised cost of the data, call and SMS allowance.
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SIM or connection-pack price: physical starter card may carry a separate charge.
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Activation or service fee: confirm whether the seller applies.
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Mandatory top-up: some prepaid packages start after a specific balance is loaded.
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Retailer charge: third-party sellers may use a different checkout structure.
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Total payable today: ask for the full amount before completing the purchase.
Nova illustrates the distinction well. Its €15 and €20 amounts are mandatory top-ups tied to the two tourist bundles, while the tourist page does not separately state a connection-pack price.
COSMOTE and Vodafone should be treated with the same discipline. Never assume the package headline includes every physical-SIM cost unless the current operator or seller explicitly confirms it.
Registration and activation in Greece
Subscriber identification is part of obtaining local prepaid service in Greece.
Nova publishes the clearest tourist activation flow:
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Enter the requested personal details.
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Take a selfie.
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Photograph the accepted identity document.
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Digitally sign the declaration shown during the process.
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Complete the document-verification stage.
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Receive confirmation after successful identification.
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Use the number after activation is approved.
FREE2GO indicates that document checks may be completed within minutes, but real processing can depend on the documents submitted and the verification result.
Vodafone explicitly accepts a valid passport or ID through its tourist order flow. COSMOTE requirements should be confirmed in the current Travellers’ SIM process rather than copied from older prepaid instructions.
Your phone must also be unlocked if you plan to insert a SIM issued by a different carrier.
Where to buy a SIM card in Greece
Buying channels differ by operator, so broad claims such as “every kiosk sells every SIM” are unreliable.
Useful options include:
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Official operator stores: practical when you want staff help with registration and activation.
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Selected kiosks: FREE2GO explicitly names selected kiosks as tourist-SIM sales points.
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Selected hotels: FREE2GO also lists participating hotels.
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Selected airports: Nova confirms availability at selected airport points, without implying identical stock at every Greek airport.
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Online ordering: Vodafone provides a tourist-specific route.
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Operator tourist portal: COSMOTE directs visitors to its Travellers’ SIM service.
Stock, retailer pricing and opening hours can vary by location. Confirm the current package and total payable price at the specific seller rather than assuming an Athens shop, island retailer and airport counter will quote identical amounts.
Broader choices beyond local prepaid service are covered in ways to get internet in Greece.
Local SIM or Roafly eSIM?
Local prepaid SIMs and Roafly solve different travel needs.
Roafly suits visitors who mainly need mobile data and prefer to arrange connectivity before reaching Greece.
Verified Roafly benefits include:
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setup before travel;
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no physical SIM swap on a compatible phone;
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no dependency on local store stock or opening hours;
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retention of the primary SIM;
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hotspot/tethering across the purchased data allowance;
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30-day validity on the selected Greece packages.
Roafly Greece plans are data-only based on the owner-verified product information. Visitors needing a Greek phone number, domestic calls or SMS should consider a local prepaid SIM instead.
Roafly currently lists WIND (now Nova) and Vodafone for Greece. Multiple listed networks should not be interpreted as a guarantee of automatic switching, 5G access, specific speed or coverage at every location.
Local prepaid becomes more attractive when you need:
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a Greek mobile number;
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included local calls or SMS;
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very large short-term data allowances;
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a physical SIM because your phone lacks eSIM support;
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a longer local setup managed through the operator.
Roafly becomes more attractive when convenience before arrival matters more than receiving a local number.
Provider-level eSIM comparisons belong in eSIM options for Greece.
Coverage and roaming notes
Greece’s major local mobile brands are COSMOTE, Vodafone and Nova. Older references to WIND can still appear because WIND Hellas was combined with Nova and moved under Nova branding.
Coverage can matter more when an itinerary includes smaller islands, rural roads or remote accommodation. Check the operator’s current coverage information when service at specific location is important.
EU roaming should also be verified against the exact prepaid bundle purchased. Domestic Greek data does not automatically prove that the complete allowance can be used elsewhere in Europe.
Which option fits your trip?
Short trip with very heavy data use: Nova FREE2GO stands out because its current tourist packages publish 100GB for 7 days and 250GB for 15 days. Confirm any physical SIM-pack cost before paying.
Tourist-specific local eSIM: Vodafone deserves a look because its visitor flow currently includes prepaid SIM and eSIM formats. Check the live validity and complete purchase price during ordering.
Preference for COSMOTE: use the live Travellers’ SIM portal and compare the current package rather than relying on an older reseller price table.
Data-first trip with minimal arrival admin: Roafly avoids the local physical-SIM purchase process and lets compatible-device users prepare mobile data before departure.
Need for a Greek number or domestic voice: local prepaid is the more appropriate category when the selected plan explicitly includes those services.
FAQ
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM card in Greece?
Local prepaid service requires subscriber identification. Vodafone explicitly accepts a valid passport or ID in its tourist ordering flow, while FREE2GO requires an accepted identity document during tourist activation.
How much is a tourist SIM in Greece?
Published pricing depends on the operator and product. Nova currently lists €15 for 100GB over 7 days and €20 for 250GB over 15 days, while its tourist page does not separately publish a physical connection-pack charge.
COSMOTE and Vodafone both maintain tourist-specific routes, but their complete current checkout totals should be confirmed directly during purchase.
Can I buy a Greece SIM card at the airport?
Selected airport sales points are explicitly listed by FREE2GO. That does not mean every Greek airport, terminal or operator offers identical stock, pricing or hours.
Does Vodafone Greece offer a tourist eSIM?
Yes. Vodafone’s current tourist route promotes both prepaid SIM and eSIM formats for visitors to Greece.
Is WIND the same as Nova in Greece?
WIND Hellas was combined with Nova and the consumer business moved under Nova branding. Older network listings may therefore still show WIND where current Greek branding uses Nova.
Final recommendation
Nova FREE2GO currently offers the easiest local tourist package to price from official information because its data, validity, domestic calls, SMS and mandatory top-up are clearly published. Vodafone is useful when its tourist SIM/eSIM route matches your device, while COSMOTE remains a visitor-focused local option whose live package should be checked before purchase.
Roafly is the more convenient fit when mobile data matters more than obtaining a Greek number and you prefer to arrange connectivity before arrival. Local prepaid remains stronger when domestic calls, SMS, a local number or very large short-term allowances are the priority.
Roafly publishes this guide and offers the travel-eSIM alternative discussed above.
