Greece eSIM guide: Athens, the islands and the ferries

A Greece eSIM runs on the Cosmote, Vodafone or Nova (formerly Wind) network, with fast 4G and 5G in Athens, Thessaloniki and the main islands such as Santorini, Mykonos, Crete and Rhodes. Install it at home and you are online when you land in Athens or step off the ferry. Expect gaps at sea between islands and in remote mountain villages.

What a trip costs

Trip	eSIM price
Athens city break (4 days)	1 GB · 7 days: €3.99
One-island holiday (7 days)	3 GB · 30 days: €8.99
Island hopping (10 days)	5 GB · 30 days: €10.99
Two weeks with streaming and hotspot (14 days)	10 GB · 30 days: €17.99

Live prices in euros. Unlimited plans are also available for heavy use; the connection never stops (fair usage policy applies).

Coverage by area

Where	What to expect
Athens	Fast 4G and 5G in the centre, Plaka, Piraeus port and at Athens airport; works on the metro.
Cyclades (Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros)	Good in towns and beaches; weaker on remote hikes and some caldera paths.
Crete	Good in Heraklion, Chania and Rethymno and along the north coast; patchy in the southern gorges and mountains.
Dodecanese (Rhodes, Kos)	Good in towns and resorts. Close to the Turkish coast your phone may pick up a Turkish network, so keep data on the eSIM.
On the ferry	Coverage comes and goes between islands; download tickets and maps before boarding.

Do EU travellers need an eSIM?

Travellers with an EU SIM can roam in Greece at domestic rates, usually with a fair-use data cap. An eSIM still makes sense if your home plan has little data or if you are coming from outside the EU, for example from the UK, Turkey, the US or Australia, where roaming in Greece is charged.

How much data you need

Maps, ferry apps and messaging: about 1 GB for a long weekend.
Daily photos, stories and some video calls: 3–5 GB for a week.
Streaming on the beach or a hotspot for a laptop: 10 GB or unlimited.

Useful apps in Greece

Ferryhopper: ferry timetables and tickets between the islands.
FREENOW and Uber: book licensed taxis in Athens and the big cities.
Google Maps with offline maps for islands and hikes.

Setup

Check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
At home, on Wi-Fi, scan the QR code to add the eSIM.
After landing, choose the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line only.

Frequently asked questions

Which network does a Greece eSIM use?

It runs on the Cosmote, Vodafone or Nova (formerly Wind) network. All three have fast 4G and 5G in Athens, Thessaloniki and the main islands.

Do EU travellers need an eSIM in Greece?

Usually not, because EU SIMs roam in Greece at domestic rates. An eSIM still makes sense if your home plan has little data. Visitors from the UK, Turkey, the US or Australia pay roaming in Greece.

Does an eSIM work on Greek ferries?

Partly, as coverage comes and goes between islands. Download your tickets and maps before you board.

Does an eSIM work in Santorini and Mykonos?

Yes, coverage is good in the towns and on the beaches. It is weaker on remote hikes and some caldera paths.

Why does my phone pick up a Turkish network near Rhodes or Kos?

The Dodecanese islands are close to the Turkish coast, so phones can catch a Turkish signal. Keep mobile data on the eSIM and data roaming off on your home line.

How much data do I need for island hopping?

About 3–5 GB covers daily photos, stories and some video calls for a week. Streaming on the beach or a laptop hotspot needs 10 GB or unlimited.