Greece eSIM in 2026: plans, tourist SIMs, islands and the neighbours
Do you need an eSIM for Greece? Dated plan prices from Airalo and Greek tourist SIMs, why every Greek prepaid line is tied to an ID document, what Athens Airport sells, why a ferry can switch to an expensive satellite network, and why Turkey, Albania and North Macedonia are outside EU roaming.
By Nomad's Travel Guides. Published .
Researched from official and operator sources and fact-checked before publishing. Prices and rules change, so each one is dated where it appears.
This post contains affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Staying connected in Greece is easy, though islands and borders need some planning. This guide compares an eSIM bought before you fly with a Greek prepaid SIM, explains the ID rule, and covers Athens Airport, ferries and the non-EU neighbours. Every price is dated and sourced.
Do you need an eSIM in Greece?
If your SIM is from an EU or EEA country, probably not. Greece is in the EU, so "Roam like at home" applies: calls, texts and data cost what they cost at home. The European Commission's Your Europe service says the regime also covers Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway "as well as in Moldova and Ukraine" (Your Europe, checked 28 October 2026).
Two catches: your operator may set a fair-use limit on roaming data, and may charge extra if, over 4 months, you spend more time and roam more abroad than at home (Your Europe). Arriving on a ferry from Italy? Our Italy eSIM guide explains EU roaming in more detail.
If your SIM is from outside the zone (UK, US, Canada, Australia and others), plan ahead. "Other countries are not covered by this regime", Your Europe says, though many operators extend similar offers. A data eSIM or a local plan is the practical choice.
Networks and coverage
The main mobile networks:
- Telekom, formerly Cosmote. Deutsche Telekom announced on 3 September 2026 that "COSMOTE TELEKOM becomes Telekom", and describes OTE, the company behind it, as "Greece's largest telecommunications provider" (Deutsche Telekom). cosmote.gr now redirects to telekom.gr.
- Vodafone, whose prepaid range for visitors is called Vodafone International (Vodafone). Vodafone CU, a Greek-language prepaid brand aimed at young people, is also Vodafone's (Vodafone CU, in Greek).
- Nova. Its prepaid brands are FREE2GO and Q; a March 2026 notice changes the price lists of "καρτοκινητής FREE2GO και Q" (FREE2GO and Q prepaid) (Nova, in Greek).
telekom.gr returned a bot check when we tried to read it, so this guide shows no Telekom prices; check its site or shops.
What Airalo's label means. Airalo's Greece plan "Operates on the Nova & Vodafone networks in Greece" and lists Nova as 5G and Vodafone as 4G (Airalo plan page, as of 28 October 2026). It says it "Covers mainland Greece but also other Greek islands including Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos and more". We found no operator page promising coverage on a particular island or ferry route, and we do not rank the networks. Download offline maps.
eSIM vs a local prepaid SIM
Every Greek prepaid line is tied to an ID document. Law 3783/2009 covers the "Ταυτοποίηση των κατόχων και χρηστών εξοπλισμού και υπηρεσιών κινητής τηλεφωνίας" (identification of the holders and users of mobile telephony equipment and services). EETT, the regulator, says the duty applies to every mobile provider in Greece (EETT annual report 2012, in Greek). In 2025 EETT consulted on also requiring operators to keep a copy of the ID, such as a passport, before activation (EETT, in Greek); we could not confirm it has been adopted.
In practice, a passport works. Vodafone's visitor page lets you order a prepaid SIM online "using only your valid passport/id" (Vodafone). Nova's FREE2GO online order asks for an ID card or passport ("ΑΔΤ ή Διαβατήριο"), then a selfie and a photo of the document to activate the line (FREE2GO, in Greek).
Greek top-ups include a mobile tax. FREE2GO says its EUR 15 top-up "περιλαμβάνει φόρο κινητής (10%)" (includes the 10% mobile tax). Vodafone's bundles cost about 10% less than their top-ups (our calculation).
Local prices as of 28 October 2026, in euro (EUR). USD figures are our approximate conversion at the latest European Central Bank rate, from 27 October (EUR 1 = USD 1.1150).
| Option | What you get | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodafone International, 14 days | 50 GB (22 GB in the EU), 14 days | EUR 20 top-up (about USD 22.30); the bundle uses EUR 18.10 of it | Order online with a passport, or buy at Vodafone's Athens Airport kiosk or shops |
| Vodafone International, 28 days | 300 GB, also valid in the EU, 28 days | EUR 35 top-up (about USD 39.03); the bundle uses EUR 31.80 | EU data limit not stated |
| Nova Mobile Internet on the Go | 15 GB, 60 days, data only | EUR 15 (about USD 16.73) | Greece only; activated in a Nova shop |
Vodafone lists no minutes and no separate SIM price. Nova's data SIM "Δεν υποστηρίζει φωνή και SMS" (does not support voice or SMS) and works "μόνο για χρήση εντός Ελλάδας" (only in Greece). Prices change often.
Price per GB. Vodafone's 300 GB bundle is about USD 0.13 per GB and its 50 GB bundle about USD 0.45. Nova's data SIM is about USD 1.12. Airalo's fixed plans below run from USD 0.84 to USD 4.00.
Which wins? No Greek plan we could read lasts one week. For a light week, Airalo's 5 GB for 7 days (USD 11.00) is cheapest and needs no ID. For a heavier week, Vodafone's 14-day bundle (50 GB, about USD 22.30) costs USD 3.30 more than Airalo's 10 GB for 7 days (USD 19.00) for five times the data, if you can get the SIM on arrival. For two weeks, it beats Airalo's 20 GB over 15 days (USD 35.00) on price and data. For about a month, Vodafone's 300 GB over 28 days (about USD 39.03) undercuts Airalo's 50 GB over 30 days (USD 42.00), though it runs 2 days shorter. If 20 GB covers a month, Yesim (below) is the cheapest eSIM.
Where to buy. Athens Airport's mobile services page lists one SIM seller, Sim Local, which sells "SIM cards (voice and data) from leading telecommunication operators" without naming them. Its shop is in Arrivals at Exit 1, open daily 06:00 to 22:00, with another in non-Schengen baggage reclaim and vending machines elsewhere (Athens Airport). We found no Vodafone, Telekom or Nova shop page on aia.gr, but Vodafone says you can buy its visitor SIM "from Vodafone kiosk at Athens International Airport".
Airalo plans for Greece
Airalo's Greece eSIM is data-only and covers Greece only. Prices below are as shown on Airalo's Greece plans (opens Airalo in a new tab) on 28 October 2026. The page showed USD; your currency may differ.
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 3 days | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| 3 GB | 3 days | 8.50 | 2.83 |
| 3 GB | 7 days | 9.00 | 3.00 |
| 5 GB | 7 days | 11.00 | 2.20 |
| 10 GB | 7 days | 19.00 | 1.90 |
| 5 GB | 15 days | 11.50 | 2.30 |
| 10 GB | 15 days | 19.50 | 1.95 |
| 20 GB | 15 days | 35.00 | 1.75 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | 12.00 | 2.40 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | 20.00 | 2.00 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | 35.50 | 1.78 |
| 50 GB | 30 days | 42.00 | 0.84 |
| Unlimited | Validity | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | 3 days | 11.50 |
| Unlimited | 5 days | 19.00 |
| Unlimited | 7 days | 27.00 |
| Unlimited | 10 days | 34.00 |
| Unlimited | 15 days | 48.00 |
| Unlimited | 30 days | 69.00 |
The unlimited plans drop to "1 Mbps after 3 GB usage per day". Airalo lists no calls-and-texts version for Greece.
What the numbers say:
- 10 GB for 30 days costs USD 20.00, only USD 1.00 more than for 7 days: the safer buy if your dates might change.
- Is a regional plan cheaper? For unlimited data, yes. Airalo's EU+UK plan (28 countries, including Greece) sells 7 days of unlimited data for USD 23.50, against USD 27.00 for the Greece plan, with the same 3 GB daily limit; 30 days cost USD 58.00 against USD 69.00. For fixed data, the Greece plan is cheaper (10 GB over 15 days: USD 19.50, against USD 22.00 on EU+UK).
- Alternative: Yesim. Yesim's Greece eSIM (opens Yesim in a new tab) sells data-only fixed plans, all valid for 30 days. As of 28 October 2026 it showed 10 GB for USD 19.20 and 20 GB for USD 26.40 (shown as discounts from USD 30.00 and USD 60.00). Yesim is cheaper at both sizes: Airalo charges USD 20.00 for 10 GB and USD 35.50 for 20 GB over 30 days in the table above.
- Hotspot: the plan details do not mention tethering; check with Airalo if you need it.
- Top-ups: Airalo says the plan is "Rechargeable online with no expiry", and its plan data shows no ID check.
Setting it up
Before you fly
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your home carrier.
- Buy and install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi. For Airalo's Greece plan, validity starts when the eSIM first connects in Greece, not when you install it (Airalo's Greece plans (opens Airalo in a new tab)).
- Save the QR code or installation details offline in case you need to reinstall.
- Ordering Vodafone's SIM online? Vodafone says it will be "ready for use upon your arrival"; we could not confirm how it reaches you.
At Athens Airport
- Switch mobile data to the Greece eSIM line.
- Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line: Airalo's plan data lists it as required on both iOS and Android for this plan.
- If something does not work, the airport's "ATH Free Wifi" gives free access "for a duration of 120 minutes per session", and you can reconnect at no charge (Athens Airport).
- If you'd rather not deal with transport on arrival, Welcome Pickups (opens Welcome Pickups in a new tab) lists pre-booked, fixed-fare transfers from Athens Airport, with the driver waiting inside Arrivals.
What to turn off
- Data roaming on your home SIM, unless you are on an EU/EEA plan that includes it.
- Automatic data switching between lines (iPhone: "Allow Cellular Data Switching"; Android phones have similar settings). It can quietly use your home SIM.
- On ferries, switch your home SIM to flight mode if you are not on an EU plan (our suggestion; see below).
Islands, ferries and the neighbours
Ferries can leave EU roaming behind. On a ship, EU rules apply only while your phone uses a land-based network, "e.g. in a harbour". If the ship provides mobile service by satellite, "EU rules no longer apply" and prices are not capped. Your Europe's advice is to "deactivate roaming on your device or activate flight mode while on board" (Your Europe). We found no statement from Airalo or the Greek operators on on-board networks.
Turkey, Albania and North Macedonia are outside EU roaming. None is on Your Europe's list. In February 2026 the Commission proposed opening talks to bring Albania, North Macedonia and four other Western Balkan partners into "Roam Like at Home"; that happens only once agreements are finalised and each has "fully aligned with EU roaming rules" (European Commission). Check your home operator's prices before a day trip.
Vodafone's tourist bundles are valid in Greece and the EU (including Great Britain) only, and Nova's data SIM works in Greece only. Airalo's Greece plan does not cover the neighbours either. Its 10 GB plans over 15 days cost USD 15.00 for Turkey, USD 21.50 for Albania and USD 20.00 for North Macedonia. Its Europe plan (41 countries, including Greece, Turkey, Albania and North Macedonia) costs USD 28.00 for 10 GB over 15 days, less than Greece and Turkey bought separately (USD 34.50). Its 7-day unlimited plan costs USD 27.00, the same as the Greece plan, and slows only after 5 GB a day.
Bulgaria is in the EU, so EU roaming applies there. Heading north? See our Bulgaria eSIM guide with the Sofia guide.
Quick answers
Can I make calls or send SMS? Not on any plan above; all are data-only. Use your home SIM or a Greek plan with minutes.
Will I keep WhatsApp? Yes. It stays linked to your number, not the data line. Keep your home SIM in for verification codes.
How do I top up? Airalo tops up in its app. Greek lines top up online, in the operator's app or with vouchers; the bundle is paid from that credit.
Which currency? Greece has been a euro-area member since 1 January 2001 (European Commission), so all local prices above are in euro.
Sources
Checked on 28 October 2026.
- Airalo, Greece eSIM plan page: airalo.com/greece-esim
- Airalo, EU+UK, Europe, Turkey, Albania and North Macedonia plan pages: airalo.com/eu-plus-uk-esim, airalo.com/europe-esim, airalo.com/turkey-esim, airalo.com/albania-esim, airalo.com/macedonia-esim
- Yesim, Greece eSIM: https://yesim.app/country/greece/ (opens Yesim in a new tab)
- Your Europe, Mobile roaming costs: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/internet-telecoms/mobile-roaming-costs/index_en.htm
- European Commission, Roam Like at Home and the Western Balkans (25 February 2026): https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/roam-home-commission-proposes-open-negotiations-extend-eu-roaming-western-balkans-2026-02-25_en
- European Commission, Greece and the euro: https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/euro/eu-countries-and-euro/greece-and-euro_en
- European Central Bank, euro reference rates: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/eurofxref/eurofxref-daily.xml
- EETT, Annual report 2012 (Greek): https://www.eett.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2012-1.pdf
- EETT, Consultation on the General Authorisations Regulation, June 2025 (Greek): https://www.eett.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/%CE%94%CE%94-%CE%9A%CE%93%CE%91-2025.pdf
- Deutsche Telekom, "COSMOTE TELEKOM becomes Telekom": https://www.telekom.com/en/newsroom/latest-updates/media-information/2026/09/cosmote-telekom-becomes-telekom
- Vodafone, Stay Connected in Greece: https://www.vodafone.gr/en/prepay-sim-card-greece/tourist
- Vodafone CU (Greek): https://www.vodafonecu.gr/
- Nova, prepaid announcement of 16 March 2026 and Mobile Internet on the Go (Greek): https://nova.gr/anakoinoseis/genikes-anakoinwseis/anakoinwsh-kartokinhths-16-03-2026, https://nova.gr/kiniti-tilefonia/kartokiniti/mobile-internet-on-the-go-me-karta
- FREE2GO, SIM order page (Greek): https://www.f2g.gr/gr/f2g/f2g-sim-paraggelia/
- Athens Airport, Wifi, Internet Kiosks & Mobile Services: https://www.aia.gr/en/traveller/services-facilities-airport/wifi-and-internet-kiosks
