Jazmin Li
Athens International Airport (ATH) is Greece's largest airport, serving over 25 million passengers annually. As soon as you land, you can purchase a local SIM card from several stores inside the airport, including Cosmote, Vodafone, and Nova (formerly Wind). There are two Sim Local booths at the airport, one directly after passport control and the other in the arrival hall. While it is convenient to buy a SIM card at the airport, it is more expensive than in the city centre, and there may be long lines. An alternative is to order an eSIM online before your trip, which can be cheaper and provide immediate connectivity upon landing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| SIM Card Availability | Yes |
| Recommended | No, due to long lines and higher prices |
| Alternative | eSIM, global SIM card, or buying a SIM card in the city center |
| SIM Card Providers | Cosmote, Vodafone, Nova (formerly Wind), Q, Frog, Vodafone CU, Cosmote What's Up, WIND F2G |
| Best Provider | Cosmote |
| Store Locations | After passport control, baggage claim area, arrival hall |
| Store Hours | 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Payment Methods | Euros, credit cards |
| Requirements | Unlocked phone, passport or valid national ID issued in the EU |
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What You'll Learn
- Prepaid SIM cards at Athens Airport are expensive and have limited options
- SIM Local stores at the airport are open from 6 am to 10 pm and accept Euros and credit cards
- You can buy a SIM card at a booth after passport control or in the arrival hall
- Vodafone, Cosmote, and Wind are the three main mobile networks in Greece
- You need an unlocked phone and a passport to buy a SIM card at Athens Airport
Prepaid SIM cards at Athens Airport are expensive and have limited options
Athens International Airport (ATH) is Greece's largest airport, serving over 25 million passengers annually. As soon as you land, you can purchase a prepaid SIM card from one of the local providers. However, it is worth noting that prepaid SIM cards at Athens Airport are expensive and have limited options.
Firstly, SIM cards at the airport cost more than double the price of SIM cards in Athens city centre. For example, a Jetpac eSIM for Greece with 15 GB of data costs only $15 USD, whereas a prepaid SIM card at the airport will likely be much more expensive.
Secondly, there are very limited options for buying a prepaid SIM card at Athens Airport. There are only two stores at the airport that sell prepaid SIM cards: Sim Local, which has two kiosks, one in the baggage claim area and one in the arrival hall, and Vodafone, which has various kiosks, shops, and vending machines located around the airport terminals.
Thirdly, the lines at the SIM card booths can be long, especially at the booth after passport control. If you want to avoid the lines, it is better to wait until you get to Athens city centre, where there are more options and better deals.
Finally, while prepaid SIM cards can be convenient for staying connected while travelling, they may not offer the best value for money. An alternative option is to order an eSIM online before your trip, which will allow you to stay connected as soon as your plane lands. eSIMs are also easy to set up and can be refilled if you run out of data.
In conclusion, while it is possible to purchase a prepaid SIM card at Athens Airport, it is not recommended due to the high prices, limited options, and long lines. Instead, it is better to wait until you reach Athens city centre or order an eSIM online before your trip.
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SIM Local stores at the airport are open from 6 am to 10 pm and accept Euros and credit cards
Athens International Airport (ATH) is Greece's largest airport, serving over 25 million passengers annually. As soon as you land, you can purchase a local SIM card at the airport. There are two Sim Local stores at the airport, one directly after the passport control right in front of luggage belt number one, and the other in the arrival hall. Both stores are open from 6 am to 10 pm and accept Euros and credit cards.
It is important to note that buying a SIM card at the airport is more expensive than buying one in the city centre. If you are not in a hurry, it is recommended that you wait until you get to the city centre to purchase a SIM card. However, if you need to buy a SIM card at the airport, the Sim Local stores are convenient options.
Athens Airport also provides free WiFi for everyone, so if you are unable to purchase a SIM card, you can still stay connected. Additionally, you can consider ordering an eSIM online before your trip to avoid the hassle of buying a physical SIM card. eSIMs are embedded digital SIMs that can be set up before your trip, providing immediate connectivity when you land.
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You can buy a SIM card at a booth after passport control or in the arrival hall
Athens International Airport (ATH) is Greece's largest airport, serving over 25 million passengers annually. As soon as you land, you can purchase a SIM card at a booth to stay connected during your trip to Greece.
There are two places to buy a SIM card at Athens Airport. One is a booth directly after passport control, in front of luggage belt number one. You will see big signs saying "buy your local prepaid SIM card here". This booth can get busy, so you may have to wait a few minutes. If you want to pick up your luggage first, you can also buy a SIM card in the arrival hall. This booth is a little quieter, and you will have more time to browse the different SIM card options. Both booths are operated by Sim Local and are open from 6 am to 10 pm. They accept euros and credit cards.
It is recommended that you buy a SIM card from one of the major providers, such as Cosmote, Vodafone, or Wind. These providers offer better coverage and faster internet connections. You will need to show your passport when purchasing a SIM card in Greece for identification.
Although it is convenient to buy a SIM card at the airport, it may be more expensive than buying one in the city centre. You may also experience long lines at the airport booths. If you are not in a hurry, it might be better to wait until you get to Athens city centre to purchase a SIM card.
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Vodafone, Cosmote, and Wind are the three main mobile networks in Greece
Yes, you can buy a SIM card at Athens Airport. There are two places to do so: one is directly after passport control in front of luggage belt number one, and the other is in the arrival hall. However, it is recommended that you buy a SIM card in the city centre, as the airport prices are much higher and there can be long lines. You can also buy an eSIM online before you land, which will be cheaper and save you time.
Vodafone, Cosmote, and Wind (now Nova) are the three main mobile networks in Greece. According to Opensignal's 2023 report, Cosmote is the dominant operator in Greece, with the fastest download and upload speeds. Cosmote also has the widest 5G coverage. However, some travellers have suggested that Vodafone is the best network. You can buy SIM cards from these providers at the airport, in the city, or online.
Vodafone has kiosks in the city centre at Ermou street, Syntagma, and Monasteraki. You can also buy a Vodafone SIM card from street vendors.
Cosmote has a widespread network of stores, and you can also buy its SIM cards from Germanos shops. Cosmote offers unlimited internet plans for around 9 euros.
Wind (now Nova) offers free calls to Serbia in its packages. With a supplement of €4.5, you get 500MB of internet and 25 free minutes to Serbia, plus another 400 minutes to users of the same network.
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You need an unlocked phone and a passport to buy a SIM card at Athens Airport
If you're travelling to Athens, Greece, and want to stay connected, you can buy a SIM card at Athens Airport. However, it's important to note that SIM cards at the airport are more expensive than those in the city centre. There are two Sim Local stores at the airport, one in the baggage claim area and another in the arrival hall, which are open from 6 am to 10 pm and accept credit cards and Euros.
To purchase a SIM card in Greece, you will need an unlocked phone and a passport. Contact your phone provider before your trip to request an unlock code. According to local legislation, you must be over 18 years old and present a valid passport or a national ID issued in the EU.
Athens Airport also provides free WiFi, so if you're not in a hurry, you can wait until you get to the city centre to buy a SIM card at a better price. There are three main mobile operators in Greece: Nova, Cosmote, and Vodafone. You can find their stores in the city centre and at popular tourist destinations and islands. Street vendors in Athens also offer great SIM card deals, but they are not available at other tourist spots like Mykonos, Crete, or Santorini.
If you want to avoid the hassle of buying a physical SIM card, you can also consider getting an eSIM, which can be set up before your trip so that you have data as soon as you land. eSIMs are embedded digital SIMs that can be programmed remotely and refilled as needed. However, keep in mind that not all devices are compatible with eSIMs, and there may be an extra fee for purchasing one.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can buy a SIM card at Athens Airport. There are two Sim Local stores at the airport, one in the baggage claim area and the other in the arrival hall.
There are three major mobile networks in Greece: Cosmote, Vodafone, and Wind. Cosmote is said to have the best coverage throughout the country, followed by Vodafone. Wind has been rebranded to Nova as of 2023.
Buying a SIM card at the airport is convenient and allows you to stay connected during your travels in Greece. You can also take advantage of free WiFi at the airport while you set up your SIM card.
SIM cards at the airport are reportedly more expensive than those found in the city center or online. Additionally, the lines at the airport can be long, causing potential delays. It is recommended to purchase an eSIM online before your trip or to buy a physical SIM card from a street vendor or official store in the city center for better deals.
