Greece eSIM Guide: Roaming Costs, Island Coverage and the Best Plans for UK Travellers

Greece is in the Europe roaming zone of UK networks, but many plans charge a daily fee to use your allowance there, so an eSIM for Greece is often the cheaper option. SimplySIM's Greece eSIM starts at £3.09 for 1GB, 5GB for 30 days costs £7.99, and a 7-day unlimited plan costs £17.99. It works on the mainland and across the Greek islands, from Crete and Corfu to Rhodes and Santorini.

Last checked: 27 October 2026. Roaming prices change, often every April, so check your own network's roaming page and the GOV.UK travel advice for Greece before you go.

What UK networks charge in Greece

Greece is treated the same as Spain, France or Italy by UK networks. These are the terms we found on official network pages on 27 October 2026. Older plans can have different rates, so check your own.

A 10-night island holiday at £2.75 a day costs £27.50 per phone, and £55 for a couple. Our guide to UK roaming charges in 2026 covers every network in more detail.

Greek mobile networks

Greece has three mobile networks, regulated by the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT):

• Telekom (formerly Cosmote). Part of OTE and Deutsche Telekom. Cosmote Telekom became plain Telekom on 8 September 2026, so you may see TELEKOM.GR on your phone. It is generally regarded as the strongest on coverage.
• Vodafone Greece. National 4G and 5G coverage.
• Nova. Formerly Wind Hellas, so some phones may still show it as Wind.

Independent tests such as Opensignal's reports compare the three networks if you want to check before you go. SimplySIM's Greece plans connect to Vodafone and Nova, with 5G where available, so the phone can switch between them if one is weak.

Coverage on the islands and the mainland

Athens and the mainland

Athens, Thessaloniki and the main tourist towns have good 4G and 5G. Delphi, Meteora and the Peloponnese coast are generally well covered, with gaps on mountain roads and in remote valleys. Download offline maps before a road trip.

Crete

Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno and the north coast resorts have strong coverage. Signal is patchier in the White Mountains, the Samaria Gorge and on parts of the south coast, such as remote beaches reached by boat.

Corfu

Corfu Town and the main resorts are well covered, with weaker signal in the hilly north and some small coves. Albania is only a short ferry ride from Corfu Town, and a Greece plan does not cover it. The Balkans (5+ areas) plans below cover both.

Rhodes and the Dodecanese

Rhodes Town, Lindos and Faliraki have good coverage. As with most islands, the interior and quieter beaches can be patchy. Near the Turkish coast, your phone may pick up a Turkish network, which is outside EU roaming on UK plans. If you take a day trip to Turkey, a Greece plan will not work there.

Santorini and the Cyclades

Fira, Oia and the main villages have good coverage, but summer crowds can slow data at sunset viewpoints. Our Santorini and Akrotiri guide covers the island in more detail. Smaller Cyclades islands have good coverage in their port towns, with weaker signal inland.

Greek island ferries and maritime networks

Most Greek ferry routes stay close enough to land that your phone keeps a signal from a Greek mast, but there are gaps on longer open-sea crossings. The real risk is your UK SIM connecting to the ship's own maritime network. UK networks do not include maritime networks in their Europe roaming. Three charges standard rates for them, EE says no roaming passes cover them, and giffgaff lists £5 per MB of data.

Before you board, turn data roaming off on your UK SIM and leave mobile data on the travel eSIM. SimplySIM's Greece plans use land networks, Vodafone and Nova, and do not include ship networks. If you lose signal mid-crossing, wait until you are near land or use the ferry's Wi-Fi. Our cruise and maritime roaming guide explains ship networks in more detail.

Off-season travel in Greece

From November to March, many island hotels, tavernas and some ferry routes close or run less often, especially in the Cyclades. Athens, Thessaloniki and Crete stay open all year and are good choices for a winter city break or a quieter spring trip. Mobile coverage does not change with the seasons, but you may rely more on your phone for ferry timetables and taxis when fewer businesses are open.

EES border checks in Greece

Greece is in the Schengen area, so UK passport holders go through the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) at the border. EES has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, and you register fingerprints and a photo on your first entry. ETIAS is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, but the European Commission had not announced a date when we checked. Our EES and ETIAS guide for UK travellers explains what to expect.

SimplySIM Greece eSIM plans

On 27 October 2026, SimplySIM plans included:

Unlimited plans include 1GB a day at full speed, then continue at a reduced speed until the next day. A 30-day unlimited plan and a 50GB 180-day plan are also available on our Greece eSIM page.

Island hopping across borders

If your trip goes beyond Greece, a regional plan can cover every stop on one eSIM. On 27 October 2026, options that covered Greece included:

The Balkans plans cover Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, which suits a Corfu and Albania trip. Check the country list on each product page before you buy. Our guide to Europe regional eSIMs versus single-country plans helps you choose, and all regional plans are on our regional and global eSIMs page.

Before you go

1. Check your phone supports eSIM and is network-unlocked with our device compatibility checker.
2. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi before you fly, and leave it off until you land.
3. When you arrive, choose the travel eSIM for mobile data and turn data roaming on for that line only.
4. Turn data roaming off on your UK SIM, especially before ferry crossings. Keep the UK line on for calls and texts.

A SimplySIM eSIM is data only, so you will not get a Greek phone number. WhatsApp and other apps work over the eSIM's data as normal. Our guide to how much data you need for a week abroad helps you pick a size.

FAQs

What is the best eSIM for Greece?

For most UK travellers, a Greece plan sized to the trip is best value: SimplySIM's 5GB 30-day plan costs £7.99, and unlimited plans start at £17.99 for 7 days. If you are also visiting Albania or the Balkans, a Balkans plan covers them on one eSIM.

Does a Greece eSIM work on all the Greek islands?

Yes. A Greece eSIM works on Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Santorini and the other inhabited islands, using Vodafone and Nova. Coverage is strong in towns and resorts and weaker in mountains and on remote beaches.

Does my phone work on Greek ferries?

Near land, usually yes, on a Greek network. On longer crossings you may lose signal. Turn data roaming off on your UK SIM so it does not connect to the ship's maritime network, which UK networks charge at high rates.

What happened to Cosmote in Greece?

Cosmote Telekom became Telekom on 8 September 2026. The network is the same, and your phone may show TELEKOM.GR.

Is Greece included in EU roaming on UK networks?

Yes, Greece is in the Europe zone of EE, O2, Vodafone and Three, but several networks charge a daily fee or sell passes for it. O2, giffgaff, SMARTY and iD Mobile include it on most plans, within fair use limits.

Will I get a Greek phone number with a SimplySIM eSIM?

No. The eSIM is data only. Keep your UK SIM on for calls and texts, with its data roaming turned off.