In case you have a plan to make use of your phone while roaming in Greece, this guide is just for you. Avoid bill shock and convenience by understanding the roaming charges and options that can be used to cater to your specific needs. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure you make the right choices before you can travel without any complaints of unforeseen costs in your Greek adventure. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
I. Understand Data Roaming in Greece
Staying connected while traveling is important, but data roaming charges can be a hidden cost. If you’re planning a trip to Greece, here’s what you need to understand about data roaming:
What is Data Roaming?
Data roaming offers you the chance to connect to the data plan (internet access) of your home country when you are in a country different from your own. This implies that you can link your phone for tasks like visiting a website, using social media, and streaming music, but it’s the home mobile provider who will ask to pay for the connection.
Key Facts About Data Roaming in Greece
- Greece, being an EU member, allows those with EU mobile plans to use their phones without extra roaming charges, thanks to EU regulations. However, non-EU travelers won’t benefit from “Roam Like at Home“ and should expect high roaming fees. It’s important to check with your provider about costs before traveling.
- Charges Can Vary Between Providers: Even for EU tourists prices for roaming can vary greatly by each mobile company which has its specific agreement with Greek networks.
- There are three main types of roaming charges to be aware of:
- Voice calls: A provisional charge for incoming and outgoing calls per minute is expected for roaming in Greece.
- Data usage: On your share of data basis per MB or GB used. Data consumption does not take time, especially if you use the data extensively on doing applications that consume a large amount of data, e.g. streaming videos or GPS navigation.
- Text messages: Depending on the communication between a messaging application such as iMessage or WhatsApp and the network, you may be charged on a per-message basis while roaming.
II. Roaming Charges in Greece
As a tourist visiting Greece, it’s important to understand the roaming charges you may face with your mobile device. Now, let’s see how to check roaming charges before traveling there.
1. How to Check Roaming Charges Before Your Travel to Greece?
- Contact Your Mobile Service Provider: Initiate communication with your service provider to inquire about their international roaming rates for voice calls, text messages, and data usage in Greece. They will be able to inform you about the specific costs you might incur.
- Research Roaming Fees: Thoroughly review the roaming charges that apply to your mobile plan. Many service providers offer tiered pricing or roaming packages designed to help manage your expenses.
- Call Customer Service: For any inquiries or further clarification regarding your roaming fees, please do not hesitate to contact your provider’s customer service department. Their team can provide comprehensive guidance and assist you in selecting the most suitable options.
2. Roaming Charges in Greece by the UK Mobile Operators
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll pay with different UK mobile operators while roaming in Greece:
| Mobile Operator | Calls (per minute) | Text (per message) | Data (per GB) |
| Three UK | $0.25 | $0.10 | $6.00 |
| Vodafone | $0.35 | $0.15 | $8.50 |
| EE | $0.40 | $0.20 | $10.00 |
| O2 | $0.45 | $0.18 | $9.00 |
From what we’ve seen, roaming charges in Greece can be expensive, especially if you’re using a UK mobile operator. Those per-minute calls, texts, and per-GB data charges can add up if you’re not watching out.
III. Best Ways to Avoid Roaming Charges in Greece
Visiting Greece is so cool, but avoid “data roam charges” that can rack up the bill. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to stay in touch without concavity your purse.
- Buy an eSIM from greeceesim.com
- Buy a local Greece SIM card
- Rely on Wi-Fi
- Turn off data roaming
- Purchase a daily roaming plan or add-on
1. Buy an eSIM from greeceesim.com
eSIM from greeceesim.com is a great solution to prevent roaming fees in Greece. The registration process is fast, convenient, and hassle-free – since your eSIM plan is ready to be purchased, you receive the QR code instantly and activate it on your device.
greeceesim.com variety from plans of 1GB to 20GB, which are daily and multi-day plans. Prices are as low as $ 3.50 for a trip that lasts 3 days, quite a budget-friendly option for all your travels.
2. Buy a Local Greece SIM Card
It can be done either at the airport, in town, or even online while you are meticulously preparing for your trip. One of the perks of using a local SIM card is that you will get cheaper data rates nationally than roaming charges which are on exit also expensive.
The process of getting and installing a local SIM is simple enough, and it might be the way to go if you have no eSIM-supportive device yet.
3. Enable Wi-Fi Calling
Don’t forget that you should connect if a Wi-Fi network is available to reduce your cellular data usage. You will also find that most of the hotels, cafes, and public areas in Greece provide free Wi-Fi so that you can access the internet for basic tasks like browsing or messaging without being charged any roaming charges.
4. Turn off Data Roaming
- On an iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Roaming.
- On an Android: Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Data Roaming.
5. Purchase a Daily Roaming Plan or Add-On
Certain mobile providers may have the option of daily travel plans or top-ups that can be used for your data package when in Greece. In such a case, these alternatives are quite budget-saving if you need occasional mobile data connectivity and do not want to bother with buying a separate SIM card or eSIM.
IV. FAQs about Data Roaming in Greece
Do I have to use my home data roaming in Greece?
If you are a subscriber to a data plan in an EU/EEA country, you can use your domestic data bundle in Greece and will not face additional roaming fees.
Is there any (or fair) data roaming limit in Greece?
Your provider may also reserve the right to impose an allowed usage limit, roughly 20-25GB per month, after which you will have to pay extra, or your speed will be degraded.
Do I have to turn on roaming services before leaving for Greece?
We usually advise that you turn on the data roaming feature with your mobile operator to avoid any trouble after the trip to Greece or hidden fees.
V. Conclusion
Roaming in Greece just got way easier and cheaper for travelers from EU/EEA countries, all thanks to the Roam Like at Home policy. But don’t forget to keep an eye on those fair usage limits, watch how much data you’re using, and think about grabbing a local SIM card if you’re sticking around for a while.
Staying savvy about where you have coverage, cutting down on unnecessary data use, and maybe even using a portable Wi-Fi hotspot can help you roam smoothly and save some cash while you’re soaking up the beauty of Greece.
