Planning to explore Greece’s ancient ruins and beautiful islands? Don’t let surprise roaming charges ruin your Mediterranean adventure! This guide provides essential insights into roaming fees in Greece and budget-friendly alternatives to keep you connected. Enjoy the country while staying online without breaking the bank keeping Greece’s treasures accessible and your vacation worry-free.

data roaming in greece

I. Understand Data Roaming in Greece

Greece as 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?

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  • 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

1. Buy an eSIM from greeceesim.com

Buying eSIM plan 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.

Top eSIM providers like greeceesim.com offer extremely convenient eSIM plans that are the perfect solution for tourists traveling to Greece with a different range of packages.

  • Purchase online, then install with a snap by scanning the QR code through email, this digital SIM loads instantly – don’t need to wait for a physical card.
  • eSIMs from greeceesim.com provide affordable data-only plans without roaming charges. Options include 5, 10, and 30 days packages starting at a reasonable price.
  • Our eSIMs are compatible with 200+ smartphones. Compatibility checklist and setup instructions reassure travelers.
  • No roaming fees or expensive pay-as-you-go daily limits. Stream music or check maps without bill shock. Additional data can be topped up easily as needed.
Greeceesim.com, affordable data plans, wallet-friendly prices
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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.

✨ Are you going to Greece soon? Do not miss out on important communications or getting directions on the go. Click here to learn about Greece SIM Cards: Updated Prices and Where to Buy

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.

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.