You land at Athens International Airport after a flight from Delhi or Mumbai, and your itinerary probably involves island hopping to Santorini or Mykonos by ferry soon after. Getting mobile data sorted before you leave the mainland matters, since ferry schedules, taxi apps and hotel check-ins on the islands all run through your phone.
Quick answer: the easiest way for Indian travellers to get mobile data in Greece is a travel eSIM installed before you fly, so it works the moment you land in Athens. This skips the airport SIM counter and lets you keep your Indian SIM active for bank OTPs throughout the trip.
Your SIM options for a Greece trip
Travellers to Greece usually choose between two main options: a physical tourist SIM bought at Athens airport or a phone shop in the city, or an eSIM, a SIM built into your phone, installed before you fly.
A physical SIM from a Cosmote, Vodafone or Nova counter at Athens airport works fine, but means queueing after a long flight and swapping out your Indian SIM. If your trip includes island hopping, buying a SIM on the mainland and then finding you need to top it up on a smaller island like Naxos or Paros can be inconvenient, since not every island has a well-stocked phone shop.
Why an eSIM works well for a Greece island-hopping trip
An eSIM installed before you fly means your data plan is already active before you even reach Athens, and it keeps working as you move between islands without needing to find a shop each time. This matters especially if your route includes smaller islands where local SIM shops can be limited.
You also skip the hassle of removing your Indian SIM every time you want to top up. Setup takes a few minutes at home, following our eSIM installation guide.
Physical SIM vs travel eSIM for Greece
| Question | Physical SIM | Travel eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Set up before flying | No | Yes, fully |
| Easy to top up on a small island | Not always, depending on shop availability | Yes, from the plans page anywhere with signal |
| Keeps Indian number active for OTPs | No, unless you have a second SIM slot | Yes, on most eSIM-supported phones |
| Where you buy it | Athens airport or a phone shop | Online, before you even pack your bags |
Keeping your Indian number active for OTPs in Greece
Most phones that support eSIM can run your regular Jio, Airtel or Vi SIM alongside the eSIM at the same time, called dual SIM mode. This means your Indian number keeps receiving GPay and PhonePe OTPs while your eSIM handles data in Greece.
This setup is covered in more detail in our guide on receiving OTPs while using a travel eSIM abroad, including what to check with your operator before you fly.
Does eSIM coverage work well across the Greek islands?
Coverage in Athens, Santorini, Mykonos and Crete is generally strong and reliable, including in most tourist areas and ports. On smaller or quieter islands, and in remote hiking spots, signal can be patchier, which applies to any SIM type, not just eSIMs.
If your ferry route includes lesser-known islands, download offline Google Maps and save your accommodation details before you leave stronger coverage areas.
Setting up your Greece eSIM before your flight out of India
Check your phone is eSIM compatible on the eSIM compatible device list, then install your Greece eSIM the night before your flight, while you still have wifi or Indian data. Set it as your line for data once you land, keeping your Indian SIM active for calls and SMS.
If you are also visiting other European countries on the same trip, a Europe eSIM plan covering multiple destinations can be more convenient than a single-country plan.
A Greece eSIM installed before you fly means no airport counter, no hunting for a shop on a small island, and your Indian number still working for OTPs. Browse Greece eSIM plans starting from a low daily cost on Greece eSIM.
