Greek law bans anonymous prepaid SIMs, so every local card is registered against your passport in the shop. In summer all three networks sell unlimited 30-day data for about EUR 11 to 13 in town, while the airport desk wants EUR 35 for 15 GB.
- Greek law allows no anonymous prepaid SIMs. Every local card is registered against your passport, photographed or copied in the shop, and you must be 18 or over.
- Walk past the airport desk in summer. The SIM LOCAL counter at Athens wants EUR 35 for 15 GB, roughly triple what the same operator charges in town.
- In town, unlimited 30-day data is about EUR 11 from Vodafone CU or Nova, or EUR 11 to EUR 15 from Cosmote - several times the data for a third of the airport price.
- Operator shops sit along Ermou street and around Syntagma, and uniformed street promoters selling and registering cards on the pavement are legitimate.
- Need data before you clear the terminal? A small Saily eSIM from USD 4.49 for 1 GB needs no registration and works as a bridge to the shop.
What to buy as soon as you land
Greek law allows no anonymous prepaid SIMs. Every card sold by a local operator is registered against a valid passport or EU identity card, the seller photographs or copies the document on the spot, and you must be 18 or over.
That single rule decides it for most people:
- Want data the moment the aircraft doors open, to call a ride or navigate to your accommodation? Install an international eSIM before you fly - no registration involved.
- Want a Greek number for calls, or the very large data allowances? Buy a physical card in an operator's shop in town.
Comparison table
Prices are the summer 2026 offers. Greek operators discount heavily in the tourist season, and the same package can cost noticeably more in winter.
| Operator | Tourist package | Price | Data | Validity | Where to buy | Passport registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmote / What's Up | Summer prepaid bundle | EUR 11.00 - EUR 15.00 | Unlimited (summer offer) or 1.5-4.5 GB | 30 days | Cosmote and Germanos shops | Yes |
| Vodafone CU | CU Unlimited summer | EUR 10.90 | Unlimited | 30 days | Vodafone shops | Yes |
| Nova | F2G summer offer | EUR 10.60 | Unlimited | 30 days | Nova Telecom shops | Yes |
| Vodafone (airport) | Travel pass at SIM LOCAL | EUR 35.00 | 15 GB + 200 local and 120 international minutes | 30 days | SIM LOCAL, arrivals level at ATH | Yes |
| Saily (eSIM) | Greece data plan | USD 4.49 - USD 21.99 | 1-10 GB | 7-30 days | Online before departure | No |
Where exactly to buy
- At Athens airport, the SIM LOCAL desk on the arrivals level is the only real option, typically open 06:00 to 22:00 in summer. It stocks one Vodafone travel pass at EUR 35, roughly triple what the same operator charges in town.
- In central Athens, the operator shops sit along Ermou street and around Syntagma square - Cosmote, Germanos (Cosmote's authorised retailer), Vodafone and Nova.
- Street promoters are legitimate - travellers on r/greece report uniformed sellers in the centre who register and sell cards on the pavement, and top-up vouchers are sold at any street kiosk (periptero).
Short verdict
- One or two weeks in summer: walk past the airport desk. Buy an unlimited 30-day package from Vodafone CU or Nova for about EUR 11 once you are in town - several times the data for a third of the airport price.
- Need connectivity before you clear the terminal? Put a small Saily eSIM on the phone before departure, from USD 4.49 for 1 GB, and treat it as the bridge to the shop.
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