Greece eSIM for island hopping: does mobile data work on the ferries?

Greece is easy to stay online in. Athens, Thessaloniki and the popular islands all have good 4G and 5G. The tricky part is in between: the ferry crossings, the quiet beaches and the small islands.

Which network does a Greece eSIM use?

Greece has three networks: Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova (formerly Wind). Our Greece plan connects to Vodafone and Wind, with 5G where it is available, and your phone picks whichever is stronger.

Coverage on Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Naxos and Paros is good in the towns and along the main roads. On smaller islands and remote beaches, expect weaker signal on every network.

Does it work on the ferries?

Near the coast, yes. Your phone keeps a signal while the ferry is within reach of a mast on land, which covers most of the short hops between the Cyclades. In open sea, on long crossings such as Piraeus to Crete at night, you lose signal for a while. That happens on every network.

Ferry Wi-Fi exists on bigger boats but is often slow and sometimes paid. Download your boarding passes, maps and a few shows before you board.

How much data do you need?

When we last updated this guide (October 2026), 3 GB for 15 days cost €4.45 and 5 GB for 30 days cost €6.45.

Greece plan, Balkans plan or Europe plan?

If Greece is your only stop, take the Greece plan. If you drive down through Albania, North Macedonia or Bulgaria, the Balkans plan covers Greece and six neighbours in one eSIM. If you fly on to Italy or elsewhere in Europe, the Europe plan covers Greece too.

Frequently asked questions

Is 5G available on the islands?

In the main towns of the popular islands, often yes. Elsewhere you'll mostly be on 4G, which is plenty for maps, messages and social media.

Can I share data on the beach?

Yes. Hotspot is allowed on our plans, with no daily limit.

When does the plan start?

When the eSIM first connects to a network in Greece. Install it at home before you fly.