How to Visit Greek Islands on a Budget
Is it possible to visit the Greek islands on a budget? Yes, it is, and this guide will show you how to do it!
The Greek islands are a bucket list destination for many travelers. There are actually thousands of islands in Greece, and 227 islands that are inhabited. But many people know about and dream of visiting the most popular islands, like the tourist hotspots of Mykonos and Santorini, or the largest island of Crete.
Although the Greek islands are beautiful, visiting them is not always affordable. In fact, many people associate a vacation to the Greek islands with out-of-reach luxury. But that doesn’t have to be the case!
It’s possible to visit many of the islands on a budget and have that quintessential Greek island experience without breaking the bank. In fact, I think you can have an even more enjoyable time if you avoid the overpriced tourist traps in the Greek islands and focus on having a more affordable, authentic experience.
In this guide, I’ll be sharing my top ten tips for visiting the Greek islands on a budget:
1. Skip the most popular islands.
Mykonos and Santorini are two of the most famous Greek islands, but they’re easily the most expensive, crowded, and touristy islands too. You will overpay for pretty much everything when visiting these islands, from accommodations to dining out to nightlife to shopping to transportation to activities.
If saving money is your top priority, skip these islands for now and plan to visit them on a future trip. Growing hotspots like the island of Paros can be quite pricy as well. However, these islands are just popular and over-hyped — they’re not that much better than other islands, and you won’t be missing out.
2. Visit more affordable islands.
So where should you go if you’re skipping the flashiest hotspots in the Greek islands? With 227 inhabited islands to choose from, there are plenty of amazing alternatives that are much more affordable.
Naxos is in the Cyclades, like Santorini, Mykonos, and Paros, so you’ll get the same dramatic views and whitewashed architecture without the higher prices. Ios is another Cycladic island that is perfect if you’re after parties and nightlife — it’s like a much cheaper version of Mykonos.
Crete, the largest island in Greece, can be affordable and has diverse landscapes, tons of history, and great beaches. Since it’s so big, it doesn’t have to import as much as the smaller islands, making it cheaper.
And if you want to save money on transportation, the Saronic Islands near Athens can be affordable to get to. You can even visit islands like Hydra and Aegina on a day trip from Athens if you’re short on time.
3. Don’t travel during peak season.
Summer is peak season in the Greek islands, specifically the months of July and August. June and September are increasingly popular months to visit now, too, especially in the most touristy islands.
To save money (and enjoy fewer crowds and better weather), I recommend visiting outside of peak season. May, early June, late September, and October are all wonderful times to visit the Greek islands. The water will be warmer for swimming in September and early October, after being heated all summer long.
If you do want to visit popular islands like Mykonos and Santorini, this “shoulder season” is a good time to do so. Prices for hotels are typically much lower, which can save you a lot of money.
It’s important to note that most Greek islands totally shut down in the off-season, which lasts from the beginning of November through mid-April. So this is not a good time to plan a Greek islands trip.
4. Take ferries instead of flying.
Many Greek islands have airports with direct flights from Athens and other cities in Europe. However, flying is almost always more expensive than taking a ferry, even though it might save you time.
If you’re on a budget, you should always opt for ferries over flights. And the slower ferries are much less expensive than the fast ferries. I personally prefer the slow ferries because they’re a lot more comfortable. On fast ferries, you have assigned seats and can’t go outside. On slow ferries, you don’t have to reserve a seat, and you can hang out on the deck or indoors, and check out the dining or shopping options onboard.
Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways typically offer the cheapest fares. Unlike airlines that offer dynamic pricing, ferry ticket prices are pretty much fixed, so there’s no “best” time to book to lock in a cheaper fare. If you aren’t traveling during peak season, booking tickets one or two weeks out is sufficient.
Also, be sure to buy your tickets directly from the ferry company. Aggregator websites like Direct Ferries and Ferryhopper can be a good starting point for research, but they charge higher fees.
5. Stick to one island chain.
One of the fastest ways to blow your budget is trying to see too much of Greece in a short amount of time. It’s possible to do an affordable island-hopping trip, but stick to just one island chain.
There are many different island chains in Greece, and many people don’t realize how geographically far apart they are. For example, trying to travel from Naxos (in the Cyclades) to Corfu (in the Ionian Islands) is a long journey that would require two flights or two ferries with a connection in Athens in the middle.
To save money and avoid logistical headaches, consult a map when planning your island-hopping itinerary to make sure that getting between islands is possible with cheap, shorter, direct ferries.
6. Make a plan for transportation.
The Greek islands are not a destination where you can just “wing it” when it comes to transportation. If you arrive in the port of an island without a plan, you might find yourself in a very expensive taxi.
Taxis are not budget-friendly on any Greek island, and you’ll be much better off renting a car, renting another type of wheels (like an ATV or a bicycle), or using public transportation. Not every island has good public transportation, but some do. The KTEL bus system can be a simple, cheap way to get around.
If you’d prefer to have your own set of wheels, shop around for affordable rental cars on DiscoverCars to find the best rates. Renting an ATV is popular on some islands (I personally did it on Ios), and it’s a lot of fun and cheaper than a car. And of course, bicycles are even cheaper (or maybe free at your accomodation!)
7. Stay in local, family-run hotels.
Instead of staying at a fancy resort or a trendy boutique hotel, look for smaller, family-run hotels called pensiones or studios. These accomodations are usually simple and affordable, and may provide nice showings of Greek hospitality like a delicious, fresh breakfast spread included each morning.
Even if it doesn’t come with breakfast, most of these types of accomodations do usually offer a kitchenette where you can store ingredients and prepare simple meals to save some extra money.
8. Eat local and eat simply.
As I just mentioned above, going grocery shopping and preparing some simple meals for yourself can be a good way to spend less on your Greek islands trip. And when you go out to eat, every meal doesn’t need to be sitting down at a formal, white-tablecloth taverna by the sea. Yes, you should do it somtimes.
But if you’re eating every lunch and dinner out at a restaurant, that can add up very fast! Street food like gyros or picnic lunches are perfect for low-key afternoons, while you can save dining out for dinner. And you don’t always need to eat at waterfront restaurants in tourist hotspots. Look for the cheaper hole-in-the-wall places that are popular with locals instead, and order shareable plates to save money at dinner.
9. Avoid pricy beach clubs and nightlife.
Even more than going out to eat, expensive beach clubs and nightlife can totally blow your budget. The trend of exclusive beach clubs has spread from Mykonos to other islands, where just renting a sunbed can cost €50 or more the day, and drinks and food are exorbitantly priced. This is so not worth it.
By law, all beaches in Greece must have public areas, so pack your own towel and umbrella and enjoy a completely free beach day. If you do want to rent a lounge chair for a day at the beach, you can often find them for more affordable prices (think €15 to €20 for the day) outside of the trendy hotspots.
The same thing goes for nightlife. Skip the overpriced bars and clubs with high cover charges, and instead take advantage of happy hour deals or enjoy a low-key drink by the water. If parties and nightlife are really important to you, the island of Ios is known for this, and it’s way cheaper than Mykonos.
10. Prioritize free activities.
Finally, one more way to enjoy the Greek islands on a budget is to prioritize free activities. Pricy activities like boat tours or cooking classes can be fun, but there are also many fun free things you can do. Obviously, going to the beach is free, but there are other ways you can spend your time without spending money.
Most Greek islands have a Chora, which is the name given to the historic town. You can wander around the labyrinthine streets of the old town and window-shop or take photos for hours. There are also many hiking paths on Greek islands where you can soak in the stunning views of nature all around you.
Visiting historic churches is another free activity you can do on Greek islands, and some ancient historical sites are even free of charge (or at least have certain days that offer free admission to visitors.)
How to Visit Greek Islands on a Budget
This guide showed you my top tips for visiting Greek islands on a budget.
A trip to the Greek islands doesn’t have to cost a fortune. It doesn’t have to be a bucket list trip that you put off for a “someday” that never comes. Even if you can’t afford to have an ultra-luxurious five-star trip to the Greek islands right now, it’s still worth going — in fact, I’d argue it’s even more worth going.
The real magic of the Greek islands isn’t in the fancy resorts of the flashy nightlife. It’s in experiencing the simplicity of this beautiful part of the world — the bright Greek sunshine, the fresh food at local tavernas, the hospitality of family-run hotels, the gorgeous beaches and landscapes of the islands.
Enjoy your trip to Greece!
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