It is easier to solve the issue of mobile communication for holidays in Greece - before leaving the country. At the same time, the tourist will not only be able to save his money by not overpaying for services, but also save his time. You can compare rates and choose the one that suits you best.
The mobile operator GlobalSim also offers affordable prices for the Internet and inexpensive communication with relatives from Russia. The card has the option 1 cent per 1Mb. Now you will pay only for the spent traffic.
We offer readers a short overview of offers from local cellular companies in Greece, as well as talk about tariff plans that will help you save on cellular services in 2019.
When going on vacation to Greece, the traveler should take into account that the price of the Internet and voice services is not the most affordable here. In addition, dealing with local offers is not so easy, but we will help you with this today.
So, the cellular market is represented by three main cellular companies:
There are also subsidiaries, but more on that another time.
A tourist can connect to any prepaid tariff by providing his passport data. In some cases, when selling a SIM card, they may be asked to indicate the address of residence (mostly just saying it is enough). In order not to get into trouble because of this issue, we recommend that tourists take a business card of the hotel, and, if necessary, indicate its address.
In Greece, there is no concept of internal roaming, so with a SIM card that a traveler buys in Athens, he can safely go to Crete or another city. The price of voice services throughout the country will be the same. The only thing is that tourists need to be more careful in the border areas.
Reception of incoming calls from all Greek operators is free. But it is worth considering that the quality of communication in different cities may vary, so it is important not only to choose a profitable plan for yourself, but also to clarify whether the SIM card will work where you are going.
The Greek SIM card is valid for a year from the last recharge. If the tourist has not replenished the balance for 12 months, the starter package will be valid for another 35 days, and then canceled.
You can learn more about the features of cellular communications and tariffs in different countries -.
Internet in Greece: are local rates profitable?
Cellular provider COSMOTE offers tourists Internet packages without having to pay a monthly fee. The subscriber buys the required amount of traffic for a certain period, for example:
1 GB per day for 5 euros. It should be borne in mind that a SIM card will cost the tourist the same amount.
2 GB for 5 days for 10 euros.
3 GB for 15 days for 18 euros.
Most tourists choose the latter option, because this amount of GB is enough for the entire vacation. It should be noted that COSMOTE offers its subscribers the Internet at 4G speed.
The WIND SIM card is suitable for those who use the mobile Internet little. The operator offers a minimum daily package of 20 MB for 1 euro. It is inexpensive, but there is little traffic. There are other offers of the operator, but the prices for the Internet are high.
As for Vodafon tariffs, the rates for Internet in Greece for a tourist are as follows:
For 1.5 GB you will need to pay 12 €.
For 5 GB - 19 €.
For 9 GB - 20 €.
The validity period of the ordered Internet is a month. If you are interested in a cheaper option - we offer. A tourist can connect the "Internet + calls" tariff for 5 euros. For this money, 600 minutes are charged in the operator's network and 500 MB per month.
However, these are not the only options for tourists. You can also use an international SIM card from Globalsim or Orange.
* Please note that the cost of services of mobile operators in Greece may vary and differ from the indicated cost in the article.
Many people, when going on vacation to Greece, worry about whether they will stay in touch with their relatives. We are in a hurry to please all tourists: since 2017, this has ceased to be a problem, since mobile roaming has been canceled in European countries. Citizens of the EU countries got the opportunity to use the services of local mobile operators at a single tariff, even while being in another European country.
Thanks to such innovations, Russian tourists no longer have to look for and buy local SIM cards. You can use mobile communications in Greece without restrictions, but for this you need to purchase a special Orange SIM card in advance. This can be done on the website https://orangesim.ru/internet-v-gretsii/, here you can also learn more about the tariffs and conditions for its use.
More about Orange SIM card
This SIM card with connected Mundo tariff belongs to the Spanish operator Orange. It is used by many tourists during a trip to Greece and other EU countries. The card works in any mobile phone. Before you start using it, you must configure it in accordance with the instructions that will come with the starter pack.
The Mundo fare can only be used in EU countries. It does not work in all other countries of the world. While staying in border areas near those states that are not included in the tariff coverage area, the owner of the mobile phone must select the operator manually. In Greece, such places include the island of Kos, Rhodes and others located near the border with Turkey.
There is another important point. When staying in countries that are not part of the Eurozone, the owner of the SIM card must always turn off the Internet on the device. Otherwise, all funds from the account will be debited, and the balance will become negative. In this case, the SIM card will not see the mobile network.
Features of the Mundo tariff
- all incoming calls are free;
- the cost of outgoing calls to European numbers is 0.08 EUR/min;
- the cost of outgoing calls to Russian numbers - 3.15 euros / min.;
- connection fee - 0.30 euros;
- the cost of sending SMS to European numbers is 0.73 EUR/min;
- the cost of sending SMS to Russian numbers is 1.21 euros.
Benefits of the Orange Mundo Fare
- cheap cost of mobile Internet in comparison with the tariffs of Russian operators;
- European card internet speed - 4G, it works in all EU countries;
- there is no need to re-pay for mobile services when crossing the border of the country;
- you can use the Internet immediately after entering the EU;
- you no longer have to buy SIM cards in each individual country;
- there is technical support in Russian.
If you plan to use the SIM card more than once, then be sure to register in the "Personal Account" on the official website of the mobile operator. From here, users will be able to control the rest of the traffic on the balance, change tariff plans and perform a number of other actions.
Internet in Greece is provided by three main operators: Wind,Vodafone And "Cosmote". All hotels use the wired Internet of these operators and distribute via Wi-Fi to their guests for free or for an additional fee.
When going to Greece, ask the tour operator in advance or contact the hotel directly if the hotel provides free access to the Web. It often happens that networks in hotels are overloaded or unstable due to the large number of guests connected to the Internet at the same time. You can solve the problem by having a SIM card with an Internet package in your phone at a favorable rate. Then you can access the network from both your phone and laptop by turning on the mobile hotspot.
What SIM card to choose for the Internet in Greece?
There are several options:
Connect roaming to your regular SIM card
Buy a SIM card from a local mobile operator
Each of the options has its own advantages and disadvantages. By connecting the roaming service to your regular SIM card, your phone number will not change, but mobile Internet traffic will cost you a lot. Internet access is provided in roaming at high speeds, but on condition that your device supports 4G technology. You may have to pay a very high price. Agree, you can’t send many photos, not to mention audio calls or video calls to Russia.
You can buy a SIM card from a local mobile operator at any airport or in mobile phone shops. Local calls will be very cheap, but you will have to understand the tariffs in English and present your passport for registration when buying. Additional charges may apply for card activation. An Internet package, for example, from Vodafone will cost about 12 euros for 1.5 GB. No one will know your phone number until you tell your family about it yourself. In addition, upon returning home, this card will no longer be useful to you.
Tourist SIM card "GoodLine" with the tariff "Good-Roaming" can be used on the territory of any European country at the most favorable rates. The cost of 1 MB of Internet will be from 60 kopecks, which is significantly lower than the cost of traffic of local operators and Russian operators in roaming. You can also call Russia at the best rates - only $0.05 per minute. In addition, it is possible to activate the service of saving your regular phone number. You will take this card on any trip and use it only when you need it. It will not be blocked and will not require constant replenishment!
How to use the Internet in Greece? How to stay connected: use your carrier and choose a bundled plan for your smartphone or tablet, or rely on free WiFi? The first is expensive, the second is too unreliable. Then what kind of SIM card to buy for the Internet in Greece, so that it is available, everything works reliably and without the need to set up a phone or tablet for a long time?
We at the Agency Heraklion.ru cooperate with the mobile operator Cosmote, which provides the best 4G Internet in Greece, and we can. But this time we are not talking about getting a local SIM card upon arrival on the island or about roaming with your main operator, but about the Drimsim universal tourist SIM card, which, in addition to Greece, works in more than 197 countries. Which, moreover, you can buy and get yourself at home!
Universal tourist sim card in Greece
Simka Drimsim is, at first glance, the most common SIM card that fits mobile phones, tablets, and routers. The fundamental difference of this card is that it is not tied to any one operator, but can automatically connect to the cellular networks operating around. Therefore, if today you decide to buy a SIM card for the Internet in Greece, then later you can continue to use it in another country too - the number is retained by you for a year even if there is no activity.
The second important point is its own convenient application for both Android and Apple devices. Its main purpose is to view the balance, obtain information about current tariffs and manage expenses. The balance and expenses for the Internet in Greece can be viewed at any time with an accuracy of a second and a kilobyte.
The third plus is the order and delivery of the card in Russia: you can buy Drimsim in Moscow or St. Petersburg in just 5 minutes, and delivery will take from 1 to 2 business days. Delivery to the regions is also possible, and it can take up to a week, depending on the distance. You can also map. In short, this card is suitable for those who want to get, install and configure their tourist SIM card while still at home. You can start using it as soon as you arrive!
Real unlimited mobile internet in Greece, islands and beyond
Neither Cosmote, nor Vodafone, nor Wind - our local mobile operators do not offer truly unlimited internet in Greece even in 2020. It all comes down to hard tariffs or additional packages of traffic, minutes and messages. Plus, the need for documents and time for registration and not the most convenient ways to replenish the balance.
Sometimes prepaid packages can be more convenient if you know exactly how much traffic you need, but otherwise the package may end unexpectedly, leaving the device without Internet access and you without connection.
Simka Drimsim in this sense has an advantageous advantage: there are no packages and restrictions in it, and you will pay exactly for the amount of traffic received. In this case, the calculation is carried out per kilobyte!
For example, according to Drimsim tariffs for 2020, 1 gigabyte of Internet traffic in Greece will cost 10 euros. All statistics and consumption are displayed in the application. Simka is great for any use!
How much does the Internet cost in Greece: Drimsim tariffs for communication services
The price of Internet in Greece is still high, but the cost of a gigabyte can change: local mobile operators compete with each other, new technologies are being introduced, network coverage is increasing, and tariffs are being optimized.
On the official website of Drimsim.com they promise:
“We negotiate with the local operator on the most favorable terms. Communication prices are the same as if you buy a local SIM card”
Not really. We checked, and on average, the Internet for "locals" is cheaper; sometimes significantly, but as a rule this is due either to a unique tariff, or to some promotions and discounts for communication (for example, sometimes you can get 5 gigabytes of traffic for free).
However, if we talk about a one-time payment upon purchase, remember that you came on vacation for 1-3 weeks, and also take into account the fact that while you are at home you receive a universal tourist SIM card for your use, which can also be used in other trips in the future without reissuing and unnecessary adjustments, then some may be able to ignore the difference in prices. In general, the overpayment can be justified, and Drimsim can be called a very suitable SIM card for the Internet in Greece and beyond. Now to the rates.
So, together with the Drimsim card, the communication and Internet costs for tourists in Greece in 2020 will be as follows:
Internet, 1 megabyte
1 gigabyte will cost 10 euros
0,01 €
Call to local mobile, 1 minute
1 hour of calls within Greece will cost 12 euros
0,20 €
Call to local landline, 1 minute
1 hour of calls within Greece will cost 7 euros
0,12 €
Incoming call, 1 minute
If they call you, then you pay nothing.
0,00 €
Call to mobile to Russia, 1 minute
1 hour of calls from Greece to Russia to a cell phone will cost 18 euros
0,30 €
Call to landline in Russia, 1 minute
1 hour of calls from Greece to Russia to a landline phone will cost 9 euros
So, you have arrived on the island of Crete. Welcome. The first thing to think about is to unsubscribe / call compassionate relatives so that they don’t worry. However, it is quite expensive to contact the house from a Russian SIM card. Therefore, to save your money, we have a couple of tips:
How to make cheap calls home from Crete
Calling home from Russian mobile phones is quite expensive when you are abroad. You can buy a local SIM card, but it is better to use it for the Internet, and not for calls abroad. Calling from a hotel room is also free of charge.The most economical way to call abroad from Greece is with prepaid calling cards. The most common card is FACE - you can find it in any kiosk or tourist supermarket. Such a card costs 5 euros, and it is quite simple to use it - pick up the handset of a pay phone, dial the phone number 807-9803 written on the card, and then follow the voice instructions. The menu also has a Russian language, that is, it is not difficult to cope with it. For 5 euros paid for the card, you get from one and a half to three and a half hours of conversation, depending on the called country. If you call mobile numbers, you will use up time one and a half times faster.
If you decide to purchase a local SIM card for communication with each other, mobile Internet, or just for collection, then the next section is for you.
Mobile communications in Crete - which company to choose
With the development of technology, the need for pay phones is gradually reduced to zero. If you have a portable Internet device (smartphone, tablet, whatever), you can always stay in touch with friends and share fresh photos and impressions of your vacation.But, arriving in a new country, it is difficult to immediately navigate the offers of mobile operators. It is necessary to find their offices, compare offers, communicate with sellers, read advertising literature - and the end of the vacation is not far away.
We have made a comparative analysis of mobile phone companies in Greece to save you from unnecessary fuss. So, there are three mobile companies operating throughout Greece: Cosmote, Vodafone and Wind. All three companies constantly have special offers that are similar to one another. The reception of all three companies is almost equally good, but Wind loses a little to competitors in mountainous areas, although it is worth noting that even on the national highway - the main transport artery of Crete - there are places where not a single phone picks up due to the mountainous terrain of the island.
Where and how to buy a SIM card in Crete
Upon arrival in a new country, you want to stay in touch with family members and friends if you flew with a company, and, of course, you want to stay in touch with your guide in Crete. Calling each other from Russian phones is not the most profitable solution. It is better to spend 30 minutes of your vacation buying a local SIM card in Crete and chatting with each other during your vacation for free.In Crete, as well as throughout Greece, there are three competing mobile operators: Cosmote, Vodafone and Wind. The first two are leaders on the island in terms of network coverage and broadcast quality, Wind is a little behind the competition. Each mobile operator in Crete has two types of tariffs - contract tariffs and prepaid tariffs. You, as tourists, will be interested in the latter, because you only need a SIM card in Crete for a few days, maximum months, a year, even if you are an annual guest of Crete.
So, the process of purchasing a local SIM card in Crete is simple and divided into three steps.
- Get ready. It's time for you to go to the city, or a large resort village (but better - to the city), for a SIM card. Don't forget to take your passport with you (if you need a pair of SIM cards, you will need two passports as well).
- Having reached the city, walk along its central streets, or ask any of the cafe owners where the Cosmote or Vodafone office is located.
- At the office of the mobile operator, you will need to explain yourself in English or Greek, here Russian is very rarely understood. You need to explain to the sellers that you need "kartokinito" - a prepaid rate, and do not forget to ask that you set up sim cards for free calls among themselves - every mobile operator in Crete has such a service. To activate the SIM card, you will need your passport (foreign passport).
Mobile Internet in Greece and Crete from Cosmote
We recommend the COSMOTE Internet Monthly Pass 200 tariff - this tariff includes 500 megabytes of traffic for 5 euros. If you use all 500 megabytes, you can pay another 5 euros and get another 500. The program is convenient for those who do not spend around the clock on the Internet, and leave their work at home, and on vacation use mobile Internet only for personal purposes.
Mobile Internet in Greece and Crete from Vodafone
Vodafone has various options for mobile internet tariffs. The most profitable of them is Surf & Email 100. If you connect to this tariff until the end of June 2014, you will receive 500 megabytes per month.
Mobile Internet in Greece and Crete from Wind
Wind, like its competitors, also has a 500 MB program for 5 euros. But the opportunity to connect to it ends on April 30 this year, so we recommend using COSMOTE or Vodafone.
conclusions
To view mail and messages from social networks, any of the above tariffs will be enough for you, but we give our preference to COSMOTE and Vodafone, because the reception of these two companies is at a high level even high in the mountains (and I also like the inverted comma in the Vodafone logo) -acceptance of photo and video materials it is more convenient and faster to use the wireless Internet of your hotel or any cafe.If your hotel does not have free Wi-Fi, you can have a cup of coffee in any cafe you like (or in a cafe whose network catches your phone in the room), take the Internet password from the waiter, and use it throughout your vacation.
We wish you a good rest and bright impressions!