Greek Islands on a Budget: Tips for When You Plan Your Next Greek Adventure

Chances are, if you’ve seen Mamma Mia or Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, you’ve dreamed of visiting Greece. And even if you haven’t seen these iconic films, chances are you have still wanted to visit the gorgeous isles and stunning blue waters of Greece. But one of the things that halts all of us in our steps when planning a trip, is the potential cost. If you are in the same boat, read on to learn how to travel in Greek islands on a budget.

So many people believe Greece is an expensive destination that is out of their budget. But the truth is, Greece is actually quite an affordable country! I spent about 2 months last year exploring the country and only spent about €1200 (yes that includes island hopping!). Here are some tips I learned to exploring the Greek islands on a budget:

Take the Ferries Rather than Fly

Many of the larger Greek islands, like Santorini, Mykonos and Paros, have airports you can fly into. But before booking your flight directly to the Island of your choice, consider taking a ferry from the mainland. Ferries and Greece go hand in hand, and you’ll more than likely save a pretty penny when booking a ferry rather than a flight. There are three main ports from Athens (Piraeus, Rafina, and Laurio) you can travel from that will take you to almost any of the more than 200 islands out there!

You can find tickets for as little as €15 for a one way trip. And the ferries are a relaxing way to see the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea and neighboring Greek islands. I usually use Ferry Scanner to find ferries when I island hop. I recommend booking your ferry tickets in advance, especially during summer months as tickets could sell out!

Visit Islands That are Off the Beaten Path

Here’s the tip that is probably going to save you the most money as you travel the Greek islands on a budget. I know when planning, it’s super easy to only think of the islands you’ve seen on social media like Santorini, Mykonos, or Paros. Unless you have a non-negotiable dream of visiting these islands, consider other islands off the beaten path to save some money.

As I’m sure you can guess, Santorini and Mykonos are some of the most expensive islands you can visit. Seriously, all those social media videos you see of the resorts with breathtaking views are going to cost you a fortune. Not to mention these islands are incredibly crowded. I remember when I visited Santorini for the first time in late September, there were HOARDS of people crowding the narrow streets.

There are so many islands you can visit that are (in my humble opinion) even better than Santorini or Mykonos and cost a fraction of what you would have paid on the more popular islands. Here are some budget friendly islands I recently visited that cost less and I LOVED:

Crete

The largest Island in Greece offers plenty to do and can be quite affordable. Thanks to its large size, there are many villages and towns you can visit, in addition to pristine beaches and fun nightlife. When booking accommodations, look at places that aren’t right on the beach, or places back in the mountain villages.

Naxos

If you still want a piece of the Cyclades for a more affordable price, then I can’t recommend Naxos enough. With beautiful white and blue buildings, its winding streets are very reminiscent of the ones you can find in Mykonos and Paros. The beaches are stunning and the cuisine is delicious. When I visited, I stayed in Plaka, which is more affordable than staying near the port and had a ton to do!

Amorgos

Amorgos is about an hour and a half ferry from Santorini and is one of the lesser visited islands in the Cyclades. But that is what I loved about this island: the crowdless streets, the affordable accommodations only minutes away from the beach and with stunning views, and the delicious (and of course budget friendly!) cuisine. We only paid about €30 a night for our amazing hotel on this island.

Astypalea

Also known as the Butterfly Island, Astypalea is a romantic and beautiful island that I absolutely fell in love with. Although it resembles the best of the Cyclades islands with its windmills and white and blue buildings along the island’s cliffs, it is actually a part of the Dodecanese islands. Explore the historical Venetian castle in the town’s center or visit one of the many relaxing beaches found across the island for free!

Kos

To be fair, I had only known about this Greek Island because we share the same name. But that meant that I had to visit it. And guess what? It turned out to be one of my favorite islands! It’s located right next to Turkey and there are a ton of fun boat trips you can take to neighboring islands for about €15 – €25 per person, accommodations near the port are super affordable, and renting bikes or scooters to explore the island are very budget friendly.

Like I said earlier, there are more than 200 Greek islands total, and I have only scratched the surface when it comes to exploring them (I’ve only visited 11 so far!). So as I continue to visit more islands, I’m sure this list will grow.

Wander Away From the Touristy Areas

Staying outside of the most popular towns can also save you money. When I traveled to Astypalea last year, we could have stayed in Chora (the capital town of each island) with the insane views, surrounded by history and only steps away from local shops and restaurants but I opted to save more than €100 per night and stayed on the other side of the island closer to Blue Harbor. All I had to do was either rent a cheap scooter to go back and forth or use the local ride share app “astyGO” (similar to Uber) to call for a ride to Chora or other parts of the island.

Travel During Off-Season Months

Obviously the busiest times of the year in the Greek Isles are going to be in the summer. Especially in July and August. Try and avoid these months and opt to visit in late spring or early fall. Think about planning your trip in May, June, September or October. Remember that the islands do get cold in the winter so think about the weather you want to travel in and plan accordingly!

My favorite time to go island hopping is in late September – there are less crowds, the weather is still incredibly warm, and there is still so much to do! If you decide to travel in the spring just know: the water gets super cold in the winter, so if you decide to visit during these months, it might not be ideal to go for a swim. As opposed to the fall months, the weather begins to get chillier but the water stays warm till late October/early November.

There seems to be this illusion that in order to visit the Greek islands, you need to have thousands of dollars saved up or be super rich. But that’s just what it is: an illusion. Remember that through these tips and proper research, it is possible to travel to the Greek islands on a budget. So go out there and enjoy your own Greek adventure!

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