13 Tips for island hopping Greece on a budget

Island-hopping in Greece on a budget is a lot easier than you think! 

From exploring iconic landmarks like the Acropolis to unwinding on pristine white-sand beaches, you can tailor an itinerary to suit you and your budget. 

With a few smart choices (that we will discuss in this article), you can save money without missing out on the places you really want to see.

Greece is a destination that mixes the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, culture, and history.  

And although social media has pictured it as a luxury destination, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a Greece budget holiday.

How to visit greece on a budget

Greece is one of my favourite European countries because of its breath-taking landscapes, its crystal-clear blue water, its historical monuments, and its tasty cuisine. 

I backpacked around the Cyclades Islands on a budget for a month. Staying in hostels, participating in free activities, beach hopping and discovering local history without breaking the bank. 

Here are 13 tips for island-hopping Greece on a budget. 

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Is Greece expensive? 

Greece, like all other countries, can be budget-friendly, or lavish and luxurious. It all depends on what you consider affordable. 

Accomodation, dining out, ferry tickets, and tourist attractions can add up quickly, especially if you are travelling during peak season. 

However, with careful planning and a flexible itinerary, you can ensure your trip runs smoothly without worrying about money. 

How much should I budget for Greece?

If you have a Greek island-hopping itinerary that consists of beaches and pool bars, your budget will be different from that of someone who wants to get lost in the ancient history of Greece.

As a backpacker exploring this beautiful country, I would budget at least €50 a day to cover a hostel, meals, transport, and tickets to attractions. Some days will be nowhere near the €50 mark, and some will be exactly that or more.

However, when days are more expensive, you can use the budget from the cheaper previous days.

The average prices for travelling around Greece are:

Hostels: €10 – €40

Hotels: €40 – €200

Ferries: €15 – €75

Public transport: €1.50 – €15

Tourist attractions: free to €150

Obviously, things can be a lot more expensive, but that is a bracket we won’t be venturing into.

Where to stay in Greece on a budget

To keep costs low and to travel to Greece on the cheap, look at staying in hostels.

Whether you are travelling alone, as a couple, or on a besties trip, hostels are a great way to meet new people, join in activities you might not have thought about, get discounts, and save on accommodation costs.

A lot of hostels also have a communal kitchen, which will keep you from eating out each night.

Hostelworld is a great platform that has thousands of hostels to look at. They have a rating system with the following factors, making it easier to choose the right place for you: Security, Location, Staff, Atmosphere, Cleanliness, Facilities, and Value for Money.

If you decide to go to Greece in peak season (which I don’t suggest if you are trying to save money), make sure you book your hostels in advance. Greece in the summer books out incredibly quickly, as the Greeks are also travelling during this time.

If hostels are not your style, look into Home stays like villas and apartments. Depending on the season and how flexible you are with dates, you can find some great villas there for a fraction of the usual price.

Couch Surfing around Greece 

Couch Surfing is a great way of island-hopping Greece on a budget. This method is severely underrated. 

Couch Surfing has become a paid platform, which I do not think is a bad thing. This allows the website to run further checks on the participants who rent their couches out. 

There are two payment options: a monthly fee of £4.47 or an annual fee of £22.43. 

This fee will allow you to stay for free on any of the couches available. 

Staying with locals gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture, gain knowledge about those hidden locations, and maybe even make friends.

House Sitting/Pet Sitting 

If you are planning to explore Greece for a longer period of time, House sitting/pet sitting would be the perfect opportunity for you. 

As accommodation is the most expensive part of a trip, trading your time to look after someone’s pet or house in exchange for free boarding will drastically reduce your travel expenses. 

Most of these gigs come with comfy beds and fully equipped kitchens, which is ideal if you want to save money by not eating out all the time. You also might be lucky enough to get a cute, cuddly, and fluffy companion.

Unfortunately, house/petting sitting isn’t free (else we would all be doing it!). But an upfront cost of £70 a year if you intend on doing it long-term is worth the investment. 

Two months of house sitting works out at £1.16 per night. 

Look into trusted and reputable companies like Trusted Housesitters, Mind My House, Mad Paws, and Rover. 

Some of these websites do require a police check. 

Travel out of season.

When planning your trip to Greece, take into consideration the season. If you want to island hop Greece on a budget, try and book outside of peak season. 

By going in the shoulder season or the cooler months, you will save money on accommodation as businesses tend to reduce their rates. Flights and ferry tickets are retailed at a cheaper price, and tourist attractions like the Acropolis will have smaller crowds.

Although the weather might not be as warm, you will have the cobbled streets and the blue-domed buildings practically to yourself. 

Average Temperatures in Athens, Greece: 

Months	Highs (cellcius)	Lows (cellcius)
December to February	14	7
March to May	21	12
June to August	33	21
September to November	24	15

If you want to visit the Greek Islands without the crowds and the high prices, avoid July and August (the peak season). I would recommend going early in the spring, like April, or late in the fall, like October. 

Budget-friendly Greek Islands

Planning your island-hopping itinerary in Greece can be the difference between an affordable trip and an expensive one. 

Instead of booking popular islands like Mykonos and Santorini that come with a higher price tag, look into more affordable islands like Naxos, Paros, and Ios.

There are 227 inhabited Greek islands.

Picking lesser-known islands will save you money and help you discover hidden gems. 

Paros, for example, is an affordable version of Mykonos. The streets are still lined with bougainvillea flowers and beautiful white-washed buildings, but without the crowds. 

And Paros is a much bigger island with more place s to explore. Here is a 2, 3, and 4-day itinerary for this incredible island. 

Opt for carry-on only.

To get cheap and cheerful flights to Greece, opt for carry-on only. This will save you money and time.

Flight extras add up and can turn a 40 flight into 80. By packing a smaller suitcase, you can eliminate one of those costs. 

It also saves time on either side of the airport. When everyone is waiting to get their luggage, you can beat the rush and exit quickly.

Book your island-hopping trip to Greece in advance.

Although I love spontaneity and going with the flow, some trips need a little more planning. If you have a strict budget, then booking in advance could save you money. 

If you have decided to go during peak season, booking accommodation and ferry tickets is highly recommended, as places fill up quickly. 

You can also secure discounted rates with hotels that may have offers on occasions like Black Friday. 

Also, having a planned itinerary will help you maximise your time enjoying the islands. 

Use Ferry Hopper 

Ferry Hopper is a comparison website for ferry companies all around Greece. 

Simply type your route into the search engine or the app, and a list of boats will come up showing the times, boat companies, and prices available. 

This was an amazing tool when island-hopping around Greece, as it gave you all the information in one place instead of traipsing through the internet for the best deals. 

You also have the flexibility to pick fast or slow ferries, depending on your price point. 

One of the features that makes Ferry Hopper invaluable is its real-time updates. The website/app has up-to-date information and departure times in case the boat schedules change.

It also tracks the ferry’s location in real time, so you can see how far away you are from your destination. 

And there is online check-in, saving you the hassle at the port. 

Take public transport.

Greece has a great network of public transport that is cost-effective and frequent. 

On mainland Greece, tickets are measured in time, not transport. 

For example, you can buy a 90-minute ticket for 1.40, and it can be used for multiple buses or trains to get to your destination. 

The islands also have good bus systems, with Paros, Naxos, and Ios being the most flexible that I used. 

Tickets for island buses vary but usually cost between 1.60 and 5.00. 

Public transport is a great way to save money during your trip to Greece. Although a rental car is handy, you will be spending a minimum of 30 a day, and that is before insurance. 

Free activities on budget-friendly Greek islands 

When Island-hopping Greece on a budget, do your research and look into free activities on the islands. 

Search for hiking trails like Mount Zas in Naxos and the best beaches to visit on that island. You can also see if museums are free and check out local ancient ruins.

If you want to go snorkelling, instead of booking a tour, hire a mask and fins from a local vendor. 

Window shopping around all the little shops is also a fun evening activity, but try not to be tempted by all the pretty things. 

If you want to participate in activities that cost money, look at websites like Get Your Guide and Klook that always have sales. If you do research in advance, you can monitor the prices on these websites and take advantage of when the price drops. 

Participate in hostel activities 

A great way to make friends and have fun while travelling is by participating in hostel activities, which are usually free or cost very little.

This is a great way to socialise and create memories during your visit to Greece on a budget. 

Usual activities include family dinners, volleyball, walking tours, movie nights, and bar crawls. 

Some hostels also organise group boat trips at a discounted rate. 

How to eat cheaply on each island

One of the big expenses when travelling is eating out at restaurants every night. 

I love eating local cuisine and highly encourage you to eat out and enjoy your travel trip, but there are ways to keep costs low. 

1. Eat at local street vendors. The popular Greek dish called gyros is served almost everywhere, making it easy to locate, and with so much competition, vendors will be selling them at a cheap price. You will get gyros for between 2 and 7. 
2. Research the restaurants and menus before visiting. I do this all the time simply because I like getting excited about what I am going to eat. If you research ahead of time, you will be able to see the price points of each restaurant and if they are within your budget. Also, use blog posts like Cheap Eats in Paros to find budget-friendly options. 
3. If your hostel has a kitchen, use it. Get cheap and fresh produce from local markets or grocery stores. This is a great way to save money. 

Volunteer programs like Worldpackers

If you are looking to travel Greece long-term with flexibility, look into Worldpacker programs. Volunteer programs are a great way to save on accomodation. 

Trade your time for a place to stay and, sometimes, meals to keep costs low. 

Worldpackers is a platform that shows you different volunteer programs from all over the world.

They have all kinds of opportunities in Greece like:

• Digital marketing and graphic design in Ermoupoli
• Helping at an animal refugium in Alganiani
• Housekeeping in

Worldpackers has many different categories you can volunteer in, like animal care, content creation, Au pair work, farming, ect. 

Worldpackers helps you travel safely, have life-changing experiences, and make a positive impact in the world. 

Being part of the Worldpackers community is one of the safest ways to volunteer abroad. 

Each host is verified by the platform, making it safe for everyone.

Fellow travellers also have the opportunity to review every experience. Which helps spread awareness if hosts are behaving badly. 

A yearly membership for the Worldpackers program is $49, but if you use the links in this blog post or use LITTLEONEEXPLORES at check-out you will receive $10 off. 

Final thoughts 

In summary, island-hopping Greece on a budget can 100% be done. With advanced planning, booking budget-friendly accommodation, taking public transport, not eating out every night, enjoying local street food, and exploring the free activities like hiking, beach hopping, and visiting historic sites, you can still get the magic of Greece, but at a fraction of the price.

As always, happy exploring!