Greece is a country of islands, and most trips involve at least one ferry. For travellers with an EU SIM, the basic answer is reassuring: Greece is covered by Roam Like at Home, and an EU tariff behaves on Greek networks as it would in your own country. With a British, American or Australian SIM it is usually a daily roaming fee instead, and over a fortnight of maps, ferry tickets and photos that adds up.
There is a catch that surprises even experienced travellers. Several of the most popular islands sit a few kilometres from a country outside EU roaming.
Key facts for Greece
- EU roaming: covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Cosmote, Vodafone, Nova (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 112; police 100, ambulance 166, fire 199, coast guard 108; tourist assistance 1571
- Embassies: in Athens, with consulates in Thessaloniki and on some islands
Islands that face Turkey
Kos, Rhodes, Samos, Chios and Lesbos look across a narrow strait at the Turkish coast. On the eastern shores and in the harbours, a phone can connect to a Turkish network without you leaving Greece, and Turkey is outside EU roaming, so an EU plan can charge for it at non-EU rates. The same can happen in the north of Corfu, which faces Albania. On these islands, set your phone to a Greek network manually and check the network name before you use data.
Ferries and island hopping
Ferry operators issue e-tickets that you show on your phone, and timetables can change with the wind, so a working connection at the port matters. Near the coast phones stay on Greek networks; on long open-sea crossings the signal fades, and some ships offer their own onboard service, billed separately. Keep data roaming off at sea unless you know which network you are on.
112 alerts: heat, wildfires and storms
Greece uses the 112 number to send emergency alerts to phones in an affected area, in Greek and English, for wildfires, floods and severe storms. They reach phones connected to Greek networks, so keep emergency alerts switched on in your phone's settings, and follow the instructions if you receive one.
Athens, Crete and the mainland
Coverage is strong in Athens and Thessaloniki and along the main roads. Book Acropolis and museum tickets online and keep them on your phone. In the mountains of Crete and inside gorges such as Samaria, signal is limited; tell someone your route and carry water in summer.
Getting connected
EU SIM: nothing changes on Greek networks. A travel eSIM is worth adding when your tariff gives little data abroad, or when you base yourself on an island facing Turkey or Albania.
SIM from outside the EU: install a travel eSIM before you fly. It starts its validity at the first connection in Greece, your usual number keeps receiving texts, and ferry tickets, maps and messaging run on its data.
Consular protection: who to call in Greece
- 112 is the general emergency number; 100 reaches the police, 166 an ambulance and 199 the fire service.
- 108 is the coast guard, for emergencies at sea.
- 1571 is the Hellenic Police's tourist assistance line, in Greek, English, French and German.
- Embassies are in Athens, and several countries have consulates in Thessaloniki and on the larger islands. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- Emergency phrases in Greek are ready to show on screen in the app.
Questions travellers ask about Greece
Why was I charged roaming on Kos?
Near the Turkish coast, phones can connect to Turkish networks, which are outside EU roaming. Choose a Greek network manually.
Do 112 alerts reach a foreign phone?
Yes, if it is connected to a Greek network and emergency alerts are switched on in the settings.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Greece?
Cosmote, Vodafone or Nova, depending on the plan, with 4G and 5G where available.
Who do I call for help as a tourist?
112 in an emergency, and 1571 for tourist assistance from the Hellenic Police.
The short version
From the EU, your plan covers Greece, but watch Turkish networks on the eastern islands and Albanian ones on Corfu. Keep emergency alerts on and save 112, 108 and 1571.
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