When choosing an eSIM package for your vacation, the main question is not the price, but whether it will last until the end of your holiday? In order to avoid the situation of being left without internet in the middle of the beach, we have created this simple guide to the usage of the most popular applications.
We will provide an example of how much data is consumed by the most used applications, and you can assess which package suits you best.
Our experience is based on tourists vacationing in Greece, but the data consumption per application is the same whether you are vacationing in Greece, Turkey, Egypt, or anywhere else in the world.

How many gigabytes (GB) do I actually need for a vacation in Greece or any other destination?

Consumption depends on the user’s behavior, not the destination, as network protocols and applications work the same way in most countries.
Not all applications are the same. Some “consume” gigabytes, while others are very economical.
Here is the average data consumption for the most popular activities:

1. Quick calculation: What consumes the most?

Activity Internet Consumption (average)
Viber / WhatsApp (messages) Almost negligible (a few MB per day)
Instagram / TikTok (scrolling) Up to 1 GB per hour
Google Maps (navigation) 50 – 100 MB per hour of active use
YouTube (HD resolution) 2 GB – 3 GB per hour
Viber / WhatsApp (video call) Around 300 MB per hour
Listening to music (Spotify / Deezer) Around 150 MB per hour

Note: See at the end of the text what you can do to reduce the consumption of data-hungry applications.

2. What type of tourist are you?

Based on your habits, you can easily determine which Nikana eSIM package is for you:

A) “Just to stay in touch” (1GB – 5GB)

If you only need internet for Viber messages, occasional sending of photos to family, checking emails, and short navigation to your accommodation.

  • Tip: Turn off automatic app updates on your phone.

B) “Active on social media” (10GB – 20GB)

If you post Stories on Instagram daily, scroll through Facebook with your coffee, read the news, and use navigation every day to different beaches. If only you use the internet, this 10-20GB package is often sufficient. If you are traveling with family and sharing the internet, consider the estimate below.

  • Tip: This is the most common choice for the average tourist.

C) “Family with kids and we are all online”

Families and internet sharing - real consumption
If the internet is used by multiple family members, there are two common ways of usage:

  • One larger package shared via hotspot for multiple phones and devices.
  • Multiple smaller packages if everyone wants their own internet.

For family use during a 7-10 day vacation, consumption is usually around 20-60 GB or more, especially if a lot of video content is being watched.

Real estimate of mobile internet consumption for families

Internet Usage Estimated Consumption
Light usage (messages, navigation, social media) 10 – 20 GB
Moderate video usage 20 – 50 GB
Intensive streaming and hotspot usage 50 – 100 GB +
Average family needs during vacation (7-10 days) 20–60 GB

Tip: Use Wi-Fi wherever possible to save data for everyone.

The reality is clear: kids in the back seat and YouTube are the biggest consumers of data. To avoid running out of data before you even reach your accommodation, plan ahead. To learn how Nikana eSIM makes family vacations easier (with hotspot for all devices), read more here.

D) “Working online or digital nomads” (50 - 100 GB and more)

Real estimate of consumption

Usage Estimated Consumption
Light online usage (messages, emails, web browsing, basic work in cloud applications) 30 – 50 GB per month
Standard work with video calls 50 – 100 GB per month
Intensive internet use for work (HD video calls, uploading or downloading larger files, hotspot for laptop) 100 GB and more provides greater security.

Tip: For work, communication, and streaming during travels, a larger internet package provides additional security and less worry about consumption.

Compare prices of local SIM cards and digital - eSIM cards HERE and make a decision that best suits your needs.

3. Tips to save data in Greece

To make your package last longer, apply these simple tricks:

  1. Download maps offline: Before you go, download the map of Greece (Turkey, Bulgaria..) on Google Maps while you are on your home Wi-Fi. Navigation will work without using data. This is crucial if you plan to explore hidden beaches of Sithonia or go on a trip to Meteora. (Most beautiful beaches in Sithonia, Guide to Kassandra)
  2. Turn off “Auto-play” on social media: Set videos on Facebook and Instagram not to play automatically.
  3. Viber/WhatsApp images: Set photos and videos sent to you not to be automatically downloaded while on mobile data.
  4. Night updates: Your phone often “pulls” system updates at night, which can be several GB. Turn off this option in settings.
  5. Reduce YouTube resolution: By reducing to 480p resolution, an hour of YouTube only uses about 500 MB. This is especially important for parents with older children, as this way you can extend the duration of your internet package.

4. What if I still use up everything?

If you have used up your data, you have the option to top up:

  • on the Greek SIM card you purchased, or
  • top up online credit on the eSIM card.

Due to frequent issues with slow hotel Wi-Fi and expensive roaming, we have developed Nikana eSIM - a digital card that activates within a minute, without changing your old card.

Nikana eSIM package is easy to top up online. If you see that your package is running out, you can always buy a new package online. The process takes only a minute, and the internet continues to work without the need for new settings. Learn all about Nikana eSIM here.

Conclusion: For an average 10-day vacation with moderate use of social media and navigation, 10GB to 20GB is the “golden mean” for most travelers. Find detailed information about all internet options and choose the one that suits you best.

If your phone supports eSIM - find your ideal amount of internet here: Nikana eSIM Packages and Prices