It was like I had entered the white-sand beaches of Greece, and there I felt the presence of adventure and the call of a great bargain. So, in case you have any doubts about whether Greece is worth the money you will spend on it, it is. The Greek islands are an ideal combination of culture, history and natural beauty, and the best thing about them is that they don’t empty your wallet, even though the waters of the Aegean are crystalline. The cliffs of the Ionian are sun-kissed. It has been three years since I have been scurrying about like a hen seeking the cheapest Greek island to go on holiday, every time it might have been a secret in the Cyclades or a village in the North.
What is so economical about Greece? To begin with, there is just too much to choose from when it comes to accommodation and food that matches all budgets in Greece. Second, the web of ferries will help you to escape the prohibitively priced fly alternative that most tourists are seeking; a ferry will be as inexpensive as a cup of coffee and require a sunset by the sea. Third, Greek culture is hospitable in itself; locals will recommend the best local restaurants, the cheapest shops, and where the island feels at its best.
In case you are considering a holiday or a set of them on the islands, this greek islands travel guide will indicate how to ensure that the expenditure is minimal. Yet, you would enjoy the rich heritage, good food and memorable sunsets that have made Greece a legend. I am a travel expert at Low Cost Vibes. I will tell my own experiences of scrambling into a crowded market in Naxos, staying in a pension in Amorgos, which was cheaper than a dinner in Athens, and even finding a secluded beach on the deserted island of Alonissos. It will all help you create a Greek islands travel guide that is both affordable and invigorating.
Use Ferries instead of Flights
The first time I went, I was tempted to book a ticket between Athens and Santorini, but I noticed it was substantially more expensive than staying in a cheap hotel for three nights. I chose the overnight ferry instead, which was cheaper than the mid-range airfare and gave me a full night on the water. Island hopping would not be possible without ferries, which connect nearly every cheap island in the country, both with the high cost of airline travel and with remote, inaccessible islands such as Astypalaia, which would be prohibitively expensive.
The best part? Ferries allow you to bring a small backpack or a carry-on bag, keeping your luggage light to avoid additional charges. I recall that I woke in a little cabin on a Naxos ferry, sniffing the sea, and even made my next booking before the sun went down. Ferries, too, are not strict; to miss one sail, you have another in an hour. On the contrary, the results of the query “cheapest Greek island to fly to” usually include additional expenses: the cost of checked luggage, a connecting flight, and, in some cases, the need to plan the trip months.
I suggest booking ferries via official booking platforms, because they provide accurate information on schedules, fares, and routes. Pay an upfront ticket when you are spending a couple of nights, and have a look at the super cheap offers that come up during off-peak periods. You save a good portion of your travelling funds by riding the ferry rather than the aeroplane, and you have a kind of experience that you cannot get in the airports.
Visit Islands That are Off the Beaten Path (Crete, Naxos, Amorgos, Astypalaia, Kos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Corfu, Lefkada)
Although the majority of tourists are rushing to Mykonos and Santorini, I have found that the cheapest Greek islands are those that are not in the limelight. An example is Crete, which offers a mix of ancient ruins and cheap tavernas; I spent a week in Chania, staying in a family-run guesthouse at a fraction of the cost of a luxury hotel on Amorgos.
Other riches were Naxos, the greatest of the Cyclades. The centre of its town, Hora, is a marketplace for fresh produce, and the prices locals charge are enough to make a gourmet in Athens blush. I frequently took a stroll barefoot to the harbour, where fishermen sold fresh fish to the people. Most restaurants there pay less in euros than those on the more touristy islands.
Cliffs covered with wind and the untainted beaches of Astypalaia were the dream of a cheap tourist. Due to the small number of accommodations on the island, an ordinary apartment in the village of Vathi will be cheaper than a mid-season stay in Mykonos. I also visited the adjacent Kos, where the old ruins are so intermingled with the cheap beer bars, some of which provided free water to keep visitors cool.
Another piece of low-priced paradise is the northern islands of Skopelos, Alonissos and Lefkada. The green woods of Skopelos and the sea culture enabled me to spend time in a little guesthouse in the village of Vourvourou, and Alonissos kept me in a small harbour where I discovered cheap, fresh octopus and the famous local wine. Lefkada was connected to the mainland by a bridge, which gave me the special opportunity to enjoy free ferry transit ideal for jumping between the mainland and the island at the lowest possible cost.
All these islands fall into the affordable Greek islands category, as they are cheap in terms of accommodation and food and offer a relaxed style, allowing you to enjoy every day without robbing the bank.
Get Out of the Touristy Places
One of the biggest mistakes a budget traveller can make is to stay within the primary tourist destinations. During my second visit, I deliberately avoided the crowded beaches of Mykonos and instead walked the small lanes of Ano Leoforos in Naxos. The result? I discovered a neighbourhood baker selling warm muffins for less than a street vendor in Athens.
I also explored the minor country districts of the island of Zakynthos, such as Volimes, where the rocks were sun-burnt and gave a certain exclusiveness to a sunset. The natives were hospitable enough to ask me to eat with them in their family diner, and the dinner, based on fresh fish and a small helping of dolmades, only cost me a fraction as much as it would have cost me in the town of the big city.
It is important to be in smaller towns or villages, where living is cheaper. Stay in a town, like Rethymnon or Elounda, should you happen to be on the mainland of Crete. The hotels here cost half as much as those in Chania. On the coast, cheaper beach bars and tavernas are also found.
The other trick is to shop at local markets and buy food rather than packaged food at tourist supermarkets. In a small market on Amorgos, I purchased fresh octopus, olives, feta, and honey, and made myself a simple lunch for only a few euros. Not only does this save you money, but it also lets you experience the islands’ original flavours.
You can explore off the tourist trail and see things that aren’t in the guide, yet are cheap and more part of Greek culture.
Travelling In the Off-Season Months
The Greek islands are popular tourist destinations from March to October. But the islands are less crowded and more affordable during the shoulder seasons, late October to early April. In March, when I was in Santorini, the fresh sea breeze was in the whitewashed houses, and the hotels were also half-priced.
The main advantage of off-season travel is that you can book accommodation and ferry tickets much earlier and at lower prices. When I booked a room at a budget guesthouse in Crete in January, I got a price that didn’t change for many months. There were also fewer people on the ferries; I just got on the boat and had a relaxing ride to my next island.
The other benefit was the chance to enjoy cultural events, which are usually ignored during the peak season. For example, I went to a local wine-tasting festival in the village of Lakka on the island of Kefalonia, which would have been impossible to attend during the summer crowds.
Off-season travel also means cheap food. Most restaurants offer a special kitchen lunch for locals, and I discovered that it was possible to have a full meal at a local taverna for a fraction of what a coffee would cost in a tourist area.
When planning your budget holiday, you should book your trip during the off-season to get lower prices, a slower pace, and a real experience of everyday island life.
The largest budget constraint may be flights
The first time I arrived in Athens, I felt like taking flights to all the islands I wanted to visit. The fact is: the flights may turn out to be the largest expense of your journey, and you may not be paying attention. The cheapest Greek island to fly to may be found by checking the range of low-cost airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, or Aegean Airlines, though you should also consider the extra charges for luggage and transfers.
I availed myself of the Athens International Airport (ATH), rather than flying to every island, I booked a flight to Mykonos with a low-cost airline that offered free onboard check-in. I then took the near-free ferry between Mykonos and Naxos, saving me money and the airport.
When you have to fly, you can fly at night, as it is often less expensive than a day ticket. Reserve early and check on flash deals -seasonal or last-minute- and observe the low-cost airports around the islands that do not necessarily have all the publicity.
Also, keep in mind that most of the cheapest Greek islands are reachable by ferry and therefore, you might not even need a flight to the mainland, right after which you can jump and pass by island to island.
With proper flight planning, you can keep costs at an affordable level and spend more of your money on food, places to stay, and experiences.
Eat Local, Not Luxurious
One of the simplest ways to maintain a travel budget is through food. I discovered the food can be good at the tavernas in the backyards of the main towns, which were often the smallest. When I went on holiday to Lefkada, I had a meal at a small taverna in Vasiliki, where the cook gave me fresh grilled fish with lemon and herbs for the price of a light meal.
The main trick is to sample the kitchen or all-you-can-eat lunch menu of numerous Greek restaurants. The dishes you will get are listed in these menus, and you can choose what you would like to have- normally a salad, a main meal and an olive oil or wine. During a date and night, you can get a plate of olives and feta too, for about the same price.
This is also true of street food. In Greece, you can also find cheap places in Greece where you can get gyro or souvlaki for under a euro, and the food is usually more authentic than in restaurants used by tourists.
The other low-cost alternative is to prepare a homemade meal. Several rooms have a kitchenette, or you can borrow a small stove. Buy fresh products at local markets, such as olives, cheese, and bread, and make a quick meal. It is an entertaining way to enjoy local cuisine without spending much.
Local eating will also provide you with a better understanding of Greek culture. No guidebook knows local food better than the locals themselves, and they will be more than happy to pass along tips on where to get the best and the cheapest.
Excursions Online vs. Booking In Person
Upon arrival in Crete, I was conflicted whether to purchase a guided tour online or wait to get what the locals suggested during my visit. I did some quick research and found that online booking platforms offer discounts for early bookings, particularly for popular excursions like the Palace of Knossos or the Samaria Gorge.
Nevertheless, many small islands, particularly the cheapest Greek islands, lack a well-developed online presence. In such instances, you will discover that you can get simple tours in the local shops or in your accommodation at a lesser cost as compared to the online alternative. Indicatively, I have made a booking for an ancient site on the island of Skopelos called Palea at a fraction of the price that the site quoted me via a local guide.
The best approach? When visiting a popular destination, make reservations in advance to get a good price and avoid being left out. Where local or less-commercialised experiences are in question, the locals should be asked to recommend. The employees of your guesthouse, or the hospitable taverna owner, usually have the most insight into how to go about it.
Moreover, it is common that online booking offers the bonus of instant confirmation and the ability to read reviews. In this manner, you will not find yourself among the victims of incurring extra charges or spending hours in line when you are on an adventure to the affordable Greek islands.
Do NOT Use Euronet ATMs
Another mistake that I frequently made at the beginning was withdrawing money from Euronet machines at the airports. Such machines have high withdrawal charges and, in some cases, have an unfavourable exchange rate. Rather, I would go to local banks during the day; most Greek banks charge no fee for withdrawing money with foreign cards up to a specified limit.
I found out during my visit to the island of Amorgos that the island’s bank offered free withdrawals to tourists who used a debit card from one of the larger European banks. I also used to bring a little cash in euros when travelling to less-connected islands, so I wouldn’t need to go to an ATM that might not accept my card.
The other trick is to have a travel card with no foreign transaction fees. I used a travel-related debit card and was able to get euros at the Athens Airport at a very low cost.
Lastly, I monitored exchange rates; sometimes the Greek banks are cheaper than the kiosks at the airport. I avoided using Euronet ATMs and, in the process, saved several euros per withdrawal, which really added up during my trip.
Final Thoughts
Going to the cheapest Greek island does not imply losing the experience. Instead, it will give you more time to absorb the culture, sample local delicacies, and enjoy the beaches without the burden of a tight budget. Island hopping in the affordable Greek islands is an efficient and knowledgeable way to explore the country, whether you’re an individual traveller, a couple, or a family of four.
The Low Cost Vibes’ best-kept secret is to be very clever with your travel: most of your trips are by ferry, find less-frequented destinations, shop like a native, and even book tours intelligently. With all these combined plans, you will be in small towns, walking through the markets and enjoying a new dish of octopus- every time a memory that you will fail to forget- as much as you have saved on the money.
Note: the cheapest Greek Island for holiday are friendly to everyone, and with some research and compromise, even the most budget-conscious traveller can spend their holiday time on a grand one. Bring curiosity, pack light, and leave the seas to lead you to your next adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Crete, Naxos, Amorgos, Astypalaia, Kos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Corfu, and Lefkada are regularly listed as the cheapest Greek islands. These islands offer cheap lodging, local cuisine, and a slow pace that helps keep costs down
The low cost carriers are Ryanair, EasyJet, and Aegean Airlines, and the important point is to book in advance or during a flash sale. Consider flights to large hubs such as Athens, then rely on ferries for much of the island hopping.
Eat in local tavernas, sample menus at kitchen lunches, have gyros or souvlaki from street vendors, and think about cooking simple meals using market staples.
Yes. The islands are safe even when you are on a low budget, as long as you ensure you stay in reputable accommodation, watch your belongings and observe simple safety measures.
Use ferries instead of flights, offbeat islands, the off-season, local markets to eat, and high-charge ATMs. These measures will enable you to avoid the most popular sights and still have a good time in Greece’s cheapest spots without emptying your pockets.
