While Greece is absolutely lovely (think of those Santorini sunsets that you see all over the ‘Gram), it isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of budget travel. Even with its turbulent economic condition, it remains part of the European Union. If you are travelling from a country whose currency isn’t strong against the Euro (a moment of silence for us desis), Greece isn’t as wallet-friendly as south-Asian countries. That said, it is possible to spend not just one, but two weeks in Greece without maxing out your credit card. All it takes is a bit of planning, and you can summer in Greece on a budget!
Happy is the man, I thought, who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Aegean sea.
Nikos Kazantzakis
My tried-and-tested guide to summer in Greece on a budget includes a two-week itinerary, spending hacks and more to help you dive head-first into Greek history and culture, sample local cuisine, relax by the seaside, and indulge in aimless meandering—without breaking the bank. Fair warning – two weeks are nowhere enough to truly explore Greece. I went through major FOMO, but c’est la vie when you’ve to plan your Greece travels around accrued leaves and a tight budget.
The best time to travel to Greece
Tourist Season – Summer
The summer months starting at the end of May, and until the end of September are when the sun is bright and out, and the seas are warm. This is peak tourist season – Greece is packed, and flight and accommodation rates soar. Travelling to Greece on a budget? Avoid summer.
Low season – Winter
Winter months can get quite chilly, so visits to the beaches aren’t the most enjoyable then. On the plus side, the crowds thin out significantly, and you get to experience Greece as the locals do, which is quite a charming way to spend time here. Major museums and archaeological sites sell tickets at reduced rates between November and March.
The best time to visit Greece when on a budget
Without a doubt, it’s the shoulder season. Travelling just before and after tourist season – April to May and September to early October – gives you a lesser crowd, cheaper fares, and pretty enjoyable weather – the best of Greece, on a sensible budget.
Getting to Greece on a budget
The plan begins and ends in Athens, so you will be flying in and out of Athens International Airport. Skyscanner is your best friend for all things airfare.
While it is tempting to choose flights with longer layovers (3+ hours) because they’re cheaper, long layovers will drain you! They sap your energy, and you definitely do not want to start your trip all tired and grumpy.
Your ‘Greece on a budget’ itinerary
This two-week itinerary includes travel time and takes you across five Greek destinations.
The mainland – Athens and Delphi
The vibrant capital of Greece has it all – quiet suburbs and parks, lively streets and bars, rich architecture, several museums, and excellent transport. Here’s how you can spend two magical days in Athens.
Getting around Athens on a budget
To get to your stay from the airport, use the metro or the bus services; both terminals are close to the arrivals gate. These are affordable, costing a fraction of yellow cab and taxi app fares.
Once in the city, purchase an Athens metro ticket (Ath.ena ticket) or a metro card (Ath.ena card) from a metro station, depending on your needs. This itinerary will have you using the metro over the course of two weeks to travel to
- KTEL Bus Terminal
- Piraeus port
- Athens International Airport
While the Ath.ena ticket will suffice and is budget-friendly, the personalized Ath.ena card makes for a memorable keepsake of your travels. 🙂
Things to do in Athens
Start your evening with drinks from one of the many bars and pubs in the heart of the city. I really enjoyed Drunk Sinatra, a wine bar that serves absolutely delightful cocktails, just off Kolokotroni Street (a two-minute walk from the hostel recommended below). The drinks here aren’t exactly budget-friendly; fret not, there are many smaller food joints that serve some of the most delicious beer I’ve ever sipped!
Walk early in the day to the Acropolis crossing the Plaka – a street with many steps, souvenir shops, cosy restaurants, and charming homes that make for some amazing Instagram-worthy pictures.
Spend a good part of the day drinking in the remains of the Parthenon, the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, the Erechtheion, and other architectural marvels that stand lofty and proud as symbols of a civilization that was prosperous, intelligent, and worthy of being the subject of ageless tales.
Hiring a guide for the Acropolis is ideal, but they will cost you. You can download (via Play Store or App store) or stream Rick Steve’s audio tour of the Acropolis, for free.
Explore Athenian street food by grabbing some yummy grub from vendors across the city – bite into a warm and filling pita with gyros, tuck into falafels with tahini, savour tzatziki with pita bread, devour a hearty kontosouvli, and dig into delicious souvlaki.
Sample local dark beers, and lose yourself in the music wafting from the streets as people take to their instruments and talents.
The market at Monastiraki Square has quite a few souvenir shops, but hold off on the shopping. You will find better souvenirs in shops in other locations like Delphi and Santorini.
Pocket-friendly stay in Athens
Choose an accommodation that is close to the museums you want to visit, and also to the metro. This helps save a lot of money that you would otherwise spend travelling to the sights.
Avoid staying in Menandrou. The cheaper hotels are tempting, but some streets are shady and a few hotels are disappointing, to say the least.
I recommend staying at Small Funny World, a hostel with free breakfast and Wi-Fi, for €15 per person per night. Located in Kalamiotou, it’s a ten-minute walk from the central bus terminal and the Monastiraki Metro Station and a fifteen-minute walk from the Acropolis!
A village in Central Greece surrounded by high-reaching mountains, lush cypress, and olive trees, Delphi is ideal for escaping city views, losing yourself in the colourful past of the Greeks and a perfect addition to a budget itinerary. The weather is crisp and cool, the food a delight for gastronomes, the Temples of Apollo and Athena Pronaia testaments to why Delphi was the navel of the ancient world, and the Delphi Museum a bang for every euro spent there.
Getting to Delphi from Athens
Take the morning bus from the KTEL Bus Terminal at Athens, and enjoy the en-route scenery – look out for the contrast between bold and flashy Athens, and picturesque and quiet Delphi.
You will need to pre-book a round-trip between Delphi and Athens. Make sure you go through the bus schedules and the bus terminals to alight from. In all probability, your bus from Athens to Delphi will board from Terminal B on Liossion Street, so get down at the metro station that is close to this terminal.
Exploring Delphi on foot
Spend a day walking to the ancient sites and the Delphi museum, and drink in the sights and sounds of a village so simple and beautiful it makes you sigh.
You can save on Delphi Museum ticket fare by skipping it altogether and walking down the road for another ten minutes where you will find the Temple of Athena Pronaia. This has no entry fee.
Enjoy a warm cuppa at one of the many cafes that offer views of the looming mountains. Walk around the village that offers a reminiscence of Christmas-y evenings, and shop for local bakes and trinkets.
On your second evening, you will make your way to the bus station, and head back to Athens, where you will spend the night before you head to Milos the next morning.
If you’re staying in an Athenian hostel, ask them if you can leave some luggage with them, since you only need clothes and essentials for two days and one night in Delphi. Most hostels allow you to leave secured luggage with them for a nominal fee – this makes quite a difference to your carry-on load, especially when you use public transport and island-hop.
Pocket-friendly stay-for-two in Delphi
Delphi is a small village, most of which you can cover on foot in a day. Still, picking a hotel that’s closer to the bus station and the museum is prudent, so you won’t have to walk a lot with luggage.
I recommend Hotel Orfeas; it was one of the most pleasant stays I had experienced in Greece – a nine-minute walk from the bus terminal, friendly hosts, and well-equipped rooms with a gorgeous view of the mountains, all for a steal.
Island hopping – Milos, Santorini, Corfu
What’s summer in Greece without a few days spent at its famed islands?
Greece has a few hundred islands, but we only have a handful of days. To make the best use of our limited time in Greece and a limited budget, split the days between the two major island groups – Cyclades (Milos and Santorini) and Ionian (Corfu).
To get to the Cyclades islands from the mainland, ferries are ideal. Pre-book your ferries to avoid last-minute hassles, and show up to the ports on time so that you have enough time to load your luggage and settle in.
Spend three enchanting days in one of the most beautiful gems in the Aegean Sea. Home to the volcanic mineral obsidian and the birthplace of the famous statue of Aphrodite (Venus de Milo) Milos exudes as much natural charm as it conjures historic allure. It’s laid-back, peaceful, and minus the fuss of its touristy sibling Santorini and the party hub Mykonos.
Getting to and around Milos
The best and budget-friendly way to get to the island is via ferry, starting from Athens. The Piraeus port in Athens would be your boarding point, Adamas port in Milos is where you would get off.
Fast boats/ferries are exactly what they claim to be – fast. They’re also expensive (often more than double the rate of a regular ferry) and many get seasick. Regular ferries are budget-appropriate, clean, and comfortable, and don’t have you barfing in the ocean.
Milos lacks public transport. Also, it isn’t possible to walk to the different sights because they’re all quite far apart on the island, and some of the roads aren’t in the best shape. Vehicle rental is your go-to mode of transport in Milos.
Carrying an International Driving Permit (IDP) is a must when renting bikes/ATVs/cars in Greece.
Exploring Milos
Lose yourself in the island’s hamlets, from the port of Adamas to the fishing village of Pollonia. If weather permits, opt for a dive in the clear waters of Papikinou Beach. Head to the little fishing nook of Klima to observe the colourful houses and the syrmata (storage units for boats dug into the volcanic rock).
Experience the historical significance of Milos by visiting the Catacombs of early Christians and the en-route Ancient Roman Theater (this is a free-for-all site). Indulge in impressive Aegean cuisine – pitarakia made of local cheeses, sweet wines, and the traditional dessert Koufeto.
Milos is home to over seventy beaches, each offering something spectacular. From the cliffs and pebbled shores of Papafragas, the quiet blues and sandy landscape of Pollonia, to the lunar facade of the pirate bay Sarakiniko, the topographical marvels of Milos are even better than those at Santorini (and I will not take this back!).
While I had heard enchanting things about the sunset views at Santorini, the ones at Milos are just as amazing. Walk to the Plaka – the commercial capital of the island – via the village of Trypiti, and lose yourself in cobbled pathways and alleys of whitewashed houses. Climb up to the Kastro, and watch the setting sun caress the Aegean Sea, transforming the waters from a bright blue to a captivating gold.
Pocket-friendly stay-for-two in Milos
It is ideal to stay close to the port of Adamas to reduce travel time and cost to get to and from your ferry. Adamas is also the best place to rent transport and has several supermarkets and bakeries in the vicinity.
Look for a room with a kitchenette. Pick up supplies from the nearby grocery stores and whip up your own breakfasts. This will help you save quite a bit of your food budget in the islands of Greece.
I recommend staying at Giannis Hotel Apartments or any of the neighbouring properties.
Honestly, I wasn’t blown away by Santorini – the throngs of tourists, the social media hype, and the rushed ambience (none of which is the island’s fault) put me off. That said, Santorini is a breathtaking island – a caldera formed as a result of volcanic eruptions, and landscapes shaped by many earthquakes.
Getting to and around Santorini
A ferry from the port of Adamas will drop you off at Santorini.
Pack snacks and water for ferry journeys. Some islands are further apart than others, and you will end up either hungry or snacky. The food in the ferries is chargeable and can get quite pricey.
Travellers often rent bikes, ATVs, and cars to move around Santorini. For each of these vehicle rentals, an IDP is required (check below to obtain an IDP from India).
I prefer to use local transport; although they operate on a fixed schedule and thereby affect your flexibility (only slightly), local transport is an immersive, sustainable, and budget-friendly way to explore the island. Unlike Milos, Santorini is well-connected by bus. Don’t forget to take a picture of the timetables posted on the terminals’ bulletin boards. You can use these to plan to move between different areas of Santorini.
Exploring Santorini
Santorini has many beaches, each with unique shores. Check out the Black Beach, Red Beach, and White Beach, (note that they aren’t really close to each other). While heading to Red Beach, allot some time to visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri, for a glimpse into the ancient Minoan civilization.
Head to Fira for a walk around the bustling capital, and window shop (or shop) at the boutique and luxury stores. If you’re up for it, take a cable car ride from Fira all the way down to the port of Santorini.
Walk through Fira, up to the end of Firostefani and Imerovigli, and take the short hike up the Skaros Rock for unbelievable views of the entire island and the Aegean Sea.
In most itineraries, you will be told that the sunset view from Oia is unmissable while in Santorini. I agree Oia is beautiful. But it can get crowded enough to give Bangalore’s Russel Market throngs a run for their money.
The Athens Airport had a billboard for an ad, and while I cannot recall what the ad was for, the billboard said –
Skip the must-do, go with your instinct.
Taking advice from a billboard? Why not! Bummed out by the crowd that was boarding the bus to get to Oia, I skipped the must-do sunset view at Oia. Instead, I took a bus to the traditional village of Megalochori, walked a few hundred meters across a small vineyard, nearly froze in the whipping wind, and witnessed the setting sun lend the sky and sea a palette of glorious shades, with a stunning panoramic view of the caldera.
It is more than alright to go off the beaten path when in Santorini. The rewards are well-worth skipping Insta-hubs.
Pocket-friendly stay-for-two in Santorini
If you have room in your budget, Santorini is the place to splurge. Those whitewashed boutique hotels with private pools and unbelievable views of the Santorini caldera that are synonymous with a luxurious Greek holiday are in the upper arm of this island – Fira, Oia, and Imerovigli. These will definitely put a dent in your wallet, but I guess a little pampering won’t kill anyone.
Budget-appropriate stays are on the lower arm of the island. Look for a hotel that is close to the bus terminal.
I recommend Onar Rooms, which is a two-minute walk from the Black Beach at Perissa, and the Perissa bus terminal. Zorbas Hotel in Pirgos is another good option, in case you want to stay closer to the port.
Corfu is part of the Ionian group of islands, and once there, you see that it’s nothing like its Cycladic counterparts. Corfu gives you the cyan Ionian Sea and pebbled beaches, lofty mountains and the countryside, Venetian cityscapes, and historic monuments in equal measure. I will go as far as to say that you can cut down your time in Santorini in lieu of Corfu because believe me when I say that this island is as striking as it is idyllic.
Travel to and within Corfu on a modest budget
While you can fly directly into Corfu from major Cyclades islands, flight prices are on the higher side. Take a ferry from Santorini to Athens, and then fly to Corfu by night. This way, you needn’t spend an extra night in Athens.
While scooters and cars are available for hire, nothing beats intra-Corfu travel like the local bus! Tickets need to be pre-purchased on the day of your travels; these are available at the bus terminals and at the attached supermarkets.
Exploring Corfu
Visit the beach at Agios Gordios for scenic views of the horizon, with the sun streaming through the clouds to shine on the clear waters of the Ionian Sea.
Take a bus to Corfu Town, and lose yourself in the many roads and alleys, at each turn marvelling at the different wares being sold – from kumquat fruits and liqueur to handmade jewellery that promise luck.
Visit the Old Fort and the New Fort, and if time permits, visit the Museum of Asian Art, which has an excellent curation of ancient and medieval art and cultural pieces from the Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Nepalese, and Baloch regions. This museum was my favourite of all the ones that I visited during the trip.
Pocket-friendly stay-for-two in Corfu
Look for accommodation that is close to the sights you want to spend more time at, and has a bus station in its vicinity.
The Airbnb property at Agios Gordios – Alexandros Apartments And Studios – was my favourite of all the places I stayed in Greece. The property is a two-minute walk from a supermarket and a bus station, is bountiful with orchards and flowering plants, and the rooms are impressively equipped! Most importantly, the hosts were extremely gracious and hospitable, which made it so much harder to say goodbye to Corfu.
Your two weeks in Greece end in Athens, from where you will fly back home. A final drink at a local pub and we bid adieu to the perfect summer in Greece, all within a reasonable budget.
Got more days to spend in Greece? Or looking for swaps?
You can easily swap some places from this itinerary with the following or include them in your Greek itinerary if you have more time to spend in this multifaceted country.
Meteora – Swap for Delphi, or include it in your itinerary if you have two more days, by taking a bus from Delphi. Meteora is a World Heritage site known for Byzantine monasteries precipitously cut into towering rocks.
Hydra – Part of the Saronic islands, Hydra captivates all those who set foot on this tiny parcel of land. It’s a mere two-hour journey by ferry from the Athenian port of Piraeus. Spend a day or two on this floating idyll, absorbing every bit of beauty that it throws at you. Bonus – Hydra does not allow any cars or motor vehicles to ply on its cobblestone pathways.
Crete – You can easily spend over a week on this island alone. Head to Crete from Santorini via ferry, or via air (into Heraklion). You can even fly into Chania from Athens.
Crete deserves at least a week for you to be able to soak in its unadulterated beauty. The island is a colourful canvas, a stark contrast to the Cycladic islands of Milos and Santorini known for their blue-domed structures and small, white-painted homes. Experiences abound in Crete – from hiking the Samaria Gorge and exploring the Lasithi Plateau to time-travelling in the city of Knossos, the capital of Minoan Crete. If you visit the Akrotiri Museum in Santorini, you can easily chart out trading routes and patterns that existed in ancient Greece, ones that connected these distant islands in ways that have come to shape the civilization and culture of today.
Other islands – While the most popular in the Cycladic group are Mykonos and Santorini, smaller gems like Sifnos and Serifos are perfect for those who want to escape the crowds and slow travel through paradise.
The Ionian islands have a contrasting charm to them, like in Corfu. Check out Zakynthos, home to the Navagio beach – the site of a famed 1980 shipwreck resting in a picture-perfect sandy cove flanked by cliffs, or head to Kefalonia – the largest of the Ionian islands.
Travelling from India? Here’s how you can get your visa and IDP
Since Greece is a part of the European Union, a Schengen Visa is your way in. The Global Visa Centre (GVS) handles visa processing for Greece. Once the online form is properly filled in and submitted, schedule an appointment via the same portal. Print out the form, keep your documents ready and attend the appointment. Once done, the application will be processed within fifteen days.
You will need travel insurance, so make sure you pick from a vendor that provides coverage according to the Schengen visa requirements. An international driving permit is mandatory if you plan to rent a two-wheeler or a car in Greece.
More tips for Greece on a budget!
Of course, I have more budget hacks and tips for you. I’m not going to leave you hanging. 🙂
- SIM cards – don’t sweat it, you can get affordable plans easily in Athens. The city centre has many cellular stores, and most often city buses will have their stops close to them. For connectivity, before you get your hands on a Greek SIM card, connect to the free Wi-Fi in the airport or in any cafe.
- Once you get your Greek number, make sure to call your accommodation and confirm your stay at least forty-eight hours prior to your scheduled check-in. You would have booked using your local phone number, so unless your stay reaches out to you via email or your booking app’s messaging platform (in case of any changes), you will be unreachable.
- Food will be a major component of your budget. Luckily, Greece is known for cheap street food that’s filling and quite delicious. Choose local foods from small joints – pita with gyros, souvlaki, falafel, and even Greek salads!
- Make bakeries, bread carts, and fruit vendors the go-to for breakfasts in Greece, to stay within budget.
- Portions are HUGE. Order just one portion of an item if it costs more than €5 because this will easily fill two people.
- Avoid mass fast-food chains; instead, dine at local delis. Not only are they more reasonably priced, but you will also be supporting native businesses while trying out authentic flavours.
- Tipping is not mandatory but is appreciated. Greece is still in an economic crisis, so any amount makes a difference.
- Tap water is drinkable in Athens, so pack reusable water bottles and fill them up before you leave your rooms. You’ll need plenty of water for your walk up to the Acropolis.
- Tap water in the islands is not drinkable and is outrightly stated to you by your host. Most accommodation options provide two bottles per day (additional bottles are chargeable). You can drop by a local supermarket (avoid mini-markets) and pick up mineral water bottles in packs of six or eight – these come at pretty low prices.
- Read this guide to Greek cuisine.
Packing essentials
Two weeks in Greece, even if on a budget, call for some serious packing! Packing smart and light is our goal; I’ve put together a handy packing list that helped me (or at least it tried to) pack light.
- The duffel bag/backpack is your friend, the stroller is your lover.
- Plan to carry one outfit a day; honestly, it’s more than enough.
Greece is a masterpiece of seas, stories, and dreams. Its hospitable spirit is a testament to the resilience of its people who have endured so much – from volcanic eruptions and earthquakes to the occupation of the country by then-Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, and the current economic crises that have led to this multifaceted land to throw open its arms to tourism. There are many undiscovered gems, unexplored trails, uncharted caverns, and muted stories that define Greece – solidifying our belief that this country was indeed crafted by and for the gods. Travelling here shouldn’t be out of limits for those who travel on a tight budget. The good thing is, it really isn’t. Greece is much of a budget destination as we make it to be.
