eSIM for Crete

Crete: what to know before you go

Arriving

Heraklion (HER) and Chania (CHQ) are the two main airports. Overnight ferries also run from Piraeus, so check the operator's app for times.

Distances

The island is about 260 km from west to east, and mountain roads are slow. A drive between the two ends takes several hours.

Samaria Gorge

The gorge is a long hike that is open for part of the year and closed in bad weather. There is no signal inside, so check the official status before you go.

Beaches

Elafonissi and Balos are popular, and the access roads are rough. Download maps and expect crowds in summer.

How much data you need

A week of driving, maps and photos takes about 3 to 5 GB.

Written 23 October 2026. Opening rules, fees and prices at attractions change, so check the official site before you rely on them.

Greece eSIM 2026: prices, network and coverage

9 plans, from $2.99 (1 GB, 7 days) to $15.99 (20 GB, 30 days). Networks: Vodafone 5G and Wind 5G.

Network

Vodafone 5G, Wind 5G

Top-up

Yes, from the eSIM page, on the same eSIM

Validity starts

At the first connection at your destination

Install by

Shown on your order. An eSIM that is never installed expires

Your number

Stays active, plans are data only

Hotspot

Uses the same plan data, no separate charge

After the daily allowance

Day passes slow down to 500 Kbps

Updated October 24, 2026

Questions about Crete

Is there signal in the mountains of Crete?

Villages have it, and the gorges and some mountain roads do not. Download offline maps before you drive or hike.

How much does an eSIM for Crete cost?

Crete uses the Greece plans, because an eSIM belongs to a country and not to a city. Plans start at $2.99 for 1 GB, valid for 7 days. There are 9 plans, from 1 GB to 20 GB, plus unlimited day passes.

Do I need a local SIM card in Crete?

No. The eSIM is a SIM card in digital form: you install it from a QR code before you leave, and there is nothing to buy at the airport or swap in your phone.

How is it different from roaming in Crete?

If your SIM is from the EU, roaming here costs the same as at home, within the data your plan allows abroad. The eSIM helps when that allowance runs out, or when your line is from outside the EU: then your carrier usually charges by the day or by the megabyte.

Which networks does the Crete eSIM use?

Yapsim connects to Vodafone and Wind, with 5G where it is available. Each plan lists the operators it uses.

Can I add more data?

Yes. You top up the same eSIM from its page, without installing a new one.

Do I keep my phone number?

Yes. Plans are data only, so your usual line stays active for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working as always.

When do the validity days start?

Not when you buy and not when you install: the days start counting when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination for the first time. A 30 day plan gives you 30 days from that first connection.

How long do I have to install the eSIM?

An eSIM that is never installed expires. The "Install by" date is shown on your order and on the site, so you can buy ahead of your trip. Install it before that date, on Wi-Fi.

Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?

Data used through a personal hotspot comes out of the same plan, and Yapsim does not charge it separately. A laptop uses far more data than a phone, so for work a day pass or a bigger plan is safer.

What happens when the data runs out?

Plans are prepaid, so there are no extra charges: when the data is used up, the connection stops until you add more from the eSIM page. Day passes give a daily allowance at full speed, then continue at reduced speed (500 Kbps) until the next day.

When should I install the eSIM?

Before you leave, on Wi-Fi. When you land, set the Yapsim line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.