eSIM Providers in Greece: Cosmote (Telekom), Vodafone and Nova

Three mobile networks run in Greece: Cosmote (now called Telekom), Vodafone Greece and Nova. All three offer eSIM. The catch for visitors is that their eSIMs come with a Greek SIM line, and Greek law says no line can be switched on until you've shown ID. In practice that means a store visit with your passport. If you'd rather skip that, you can install a travel eSIM at home before you fly. This guide covers what each Greek provider offers, the ID rules, and how to have data the moment you land.

Just need mobile data in Greece? These data-only Greece eSIMs work across the country and you can install them before your trip.

Data-only plans for Greece · 5 GB, 10 GB or 20 GB · Going on to other European countries? See the Europe eSIMs or all eSIMs for Greece

Which eSIM providers in Greece can you choose from?

Here's what each Greek carrier says about eSIM on its own website, checked in October 2026.

Cosmote eSIM (now Telekom)

Cosmote is the mobile brand of OTE Group, and in 2026 it changed its name to Telekom. The website cosmote.gr now sends you to telekom.gr, and stores and apps use the Telekom name. It's the same network, so if a guide or a friend tells you to get a Cosmote eSIM, look for Telekom.

Telekom offers eSIM on its contract plans and on its prepaid card (Telekom Κάρτα, formerly Cosmote Κάρτα). Here's how it works:

• Where to get it: in a Telekom or GERMANOS store, with your ID card or passport. Existing customers can also ask by calling 13888.
• Prepaid: you get an eSIM by swapping the physical SIM of your prepaid line for an eSIM, in a store or by calling 13888.
• Setup: connect your phone to Wi-Fi and scan the QR code. Each QR code works only once.
• New phone: you can't move a Telekom eSIM to another phone yourself. You ask for a new eSIM or SIM instead.

Looking for a Cosmote tourist eSIM you can buy online before your trip? We couldn't find one on Telekom's website. Its eSIM is tied to a Greek line, which you open in a store with ID.

Vodafone Greece

Vodafone Greece says eSIM is available for all its subscribers. New customers can get an eSIM on vodafone.gr or in a Vodafone store, and choose a physical SIM or an eSIM when they open their line. If you already have a Vodafone SIM, you can switch to eSIM in a Vodafone store. The store gives you a card with the QR code and your eSIM PIN and PUK codes. There's a one-off activation fee.

For a new prepaid line, Vodafone checks your ID. In a store, you show your ID card or passport and sign a declaration. If you order a prepaid SIM on vodafone.gr, you verify your identity with a photo of your ID and of your face, and the SIM is delivered within a few working days (Vodafone: prepaid identification).

Nova

Nova is the network that used to be called Wind in Greece. Its eSIM is free, and it's available on its FREE2GO prepaid plans as well as contracts. New customers can pick an eSIM instead of a SIM card. To switch an existing SIM to eSIM, you visit a Nova store. Like a SIM card, a Nova eSIM has its own PIN and PUK codes.

Can you get a Greek eSIM as a tourist?

Yes, but plan for the paperwork. Greek law says a carrier has to collect your identity details when you open a line, and it can't switch the line on before you've given them (Law 3783/2009, article 3). This applies to prepaid lines too. In practice:

• Bring your passport. You'll also sign a declaration that your details are correct.
• Telekom (Cosmote): eSIM is handled in Telekom or GERMANOS stores.
• Vodafone: new customers can choose eSIM when they open a line, online or in a store. Online orders include an ID check with a photo of your ID and your face.
• Nova: new FREE2GO prepaid customers can choose eSIM. Switching an existing SIM is done in a store.

A Greek prepaid eSIM makes sense if you're staying a while, need a Greek (+30) number, or want local prices for a long stay. For a holiday, a travel eSIM you buy before you leave skips the store visit and the ID check. Our guide to prepaid SIM cards for Greece has more on local SIM options.

Already have an EU phone plan? Check it first

If your plan is from an EU country, you may not need a new eSIM at all. Under the EU's "Roam like at home" rules, you use your plan in Greece at domestic prices, within your carrier's fair use limits (Your Europe: Roaming).

Plans from the UK, the US, Canada and Australia aren't covered by these rules. Your carrier sets its own roaming prices, so check them before you go. If they're high, a travel eSIM for data is a simple way to avoid roaming charges. Planning a trip to Iceland as well? Read our guide to eSIM providers in Iceland.

Greek provider or travel eSIM: which fits your trip?

A Greek provider's eSIM is better if

• You live in Greece or stay for several months.
• You need a Greek (+30) number, for example for work, a rental or Greek apps.
• You're happy to show your passport in a store.

A travel eSIM is easier if

• You're in Greece for a holiday or a few weeks.
• You want data the moment you land in Athens or on an island, with no store visit.
• You also visit Cyprus, Turkey, Italy or other countries on the same trip.
• You want to keep your home number on your phone for calls and texts.

The SimOptions Europe data plans cover Greece and 33 other countries, and you can top them up if you run low. They're data-only, so you call and message with apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime. Here's how to make calls with a data-only eSIM. Still comparing? See our guide to the best eSIM for Europe.

Need a phone number in Greece?

The SimOptions data plans don't include a Greek number. If you need a number people can call or text, for a hotel, a ferry booking or a car rental, the Bouygues Telecom plans come with a French +33 number. They include unlimited calls and SMS within Europe, so you can call Greek numbers too, and 5G data in 46 countries, Greece included. Learn more in our guide to a Europe eSIM with a phone number.

Travel Basic+ gives you 20 GB for 15 days, which fits most holidays in Greece.

Install your travel eSIM before you fly

At home, on Wi-Fi

1. Check your phone. It needs to support eSIM and be unlocked. Dial *#06#: if you see an EID, it supports eSIM. More in our guide to checking eSIM compatibility.
2. Buy your plan. Your QR code comes by email.
3. Install it on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly. Scan the QR code and follow the steps on screen. Our guide to activating an eSIM with a QR code walks you through it on iPhone and Android.
4. Leave it there. The eSIM connects when you arrive in a covered country, so you don't need to do anything else before you land.

When you land in Greece

1. Choose the travel eSIM for mobile data. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM). On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs (Google: dual SIMs on Pixel). On a Samsung Galaxy, look under Settings > Connections > SIM manager.
2. Turn on data roaming for the travel eSIM. Travel eSIMs usually roam on Greek networks, so data won't work without it.
3. Turn off data roaming on your home line, so it can't use data abroad. Keep the home line switched on if you want to receive calls and texts. See the correct roaming settings for an eSIM.

Apple's guide to using eSIM while traveling covers the same steps for iPhone. Going beyond Greece? See all Europe eSIMs, or find your destination.

FAQs

Does Cosmote have eSIM?

Yes. Cosmote, which now trades as Telekom, offers eSIM on contract and prepaid lines. You get it in a Telekom or GERMANOS store with your ID or passport, or by calling 13888 if you're already a customer.

Can I buy a Cosmote eSIM online as a tourist?

We couldn't find a Cosmote or Telekom tourist eSIM sold online. A new line has to be registered with your ID, and Telekom handles eSIM in its stores. If you want an eSIM you can buy and install before your trip, a travel eSIM is the simpler choice.

Does Cosmote prepaid have eSIM?

Yes. Telekom says you can get an eSIM with its prepaid card (Telekom Κάρτα, formerly Cosmote Κάρτα) by swapping your physical SIM in a store or by calling 13888.

Does Vodafone Greece offer a prepaid eSIM?

Vodafone says eSIM is available for all its subscribers. New customers choose eSIM when they open a line, and existing customers can switch from SIM to eSIM in a Vodafone store, for a one-off fee. Every new prepaid line needs an ID check.

Do I need a passport for a prepaid SIM or eSIM in Greece?

Yes, you need an ID document. Greek law says a line can't be switched on until the carrier has your identity details. For visitors, that's usually your passport.

Can I use my own phone plan in Greece?

If your plan is from an EU country, "Roam like at home" lets you use it in Greece at domestic prices, within fair use limits. UK, US, Canadian and Australian plans follow their carrier's own roaming prices.

Do I get a Greek number with a travel eSIM?

Not with the SimOptions data plans. The Bouygues Telecom plans come with a French +33 number that works for calls and texts in Greece and the rest of Europe.