Skip to main content

Cheap Greek island hopping: How to do and see it all on a budget

Two women laughing with drinks in Santorini, Greece Photo: Contiki

Ah, the Greek Islands. These have to be the most sought after travel destinations this summer (and every summer, tbh). Who doesn’t want to spend time in cute cliffside villas, awash in pastel hues? Lazing on the beach under the hot sun like the local tiny lizards? Oh, and don’t forget the Aegean Sea, which is somehow the bluest thing EVER. There are so many reasons to visit these stunning Greek isles – and you want to do it in luxury. But prices have never been higher for accommodation, transport and food… everything really. You may think cheap Greek Island hopping is impossible, but we’ve got some helpful tips for you!

On top of that, what if we told you you could island-hop the Greek islands on a budget, but with all of that annoying stuff sorted for you? It’s beautiful and easy and fun – let us also introduce you to Greek Island hopping with Contiki! 

What’s so expensive about Greek Island Hopping?

Greek island hopping can be expensive purely because of how popular it is! I mean, if you wanna live your best life this summer you can’t do much better than a sun, sea and culture-rich trip around Paros, Ios, Santorini, and Mykonos – everybody wants one, and that naturally drives up the price. Though, the exact cost will be more or less depending on what exactly you’re looking to get out of your trip. 

If you want to make the most of Mykonos’ nightlife, for example, then your food and drink bill can easily rack up! If you want the most beautiful hotels right on the cliffs with those perfect Instagrammable views, prepare to pay a pretty penny.

But the main expense when island hopping is the transportation and the accommodation. Though ferries between islands aren’t too expensive, it can all add up quite quickly (on top of everything else). But don’t worry, we’ve got the tips for cheap Greek Island hopping covered.

Greek island hopping on a boat, Contiki

Image source:Contiki

How to budget for cheap Greek Island hopping

So, your main fees when Greek Island hopping will be the following:

Our expert Trip Managers have advised that an average day in the Greek Islands will cost between 140-150€ with accommodation, food, transportation, and various activities included. 

The above three factors are the very basics and your most consistent expenses! Let’s discover how to slash those price tags.

Greek Island Hopping 101: short beginner’s guide

Greek Island Hopping 101: short beginner’s guide

Laura Condrut
by Laura Condrut Jan 15, 2024

Accommodation

Accommodation in the Greek Islands can cost anywhere from 30€ a night to over 250€. It all depends on how fancy you want to be! To keep things cheap, we recommend checking out youth hostels which will give you the basics you need at a low cost, or Airbnbs which you can find in your desired budget with a bit of digging.

Something to keep in mind is that these islands aren’t that big, so you can make your base flexible and still explore. For example, staying in nearby Imerovigli instead of Oia on the island of Santorini might save you some cash, but you can still head to Oia with a quick car-ride and capture those perfect sunset snaps! 

Also, if you’re attached to those glittery seaside views, fear not! Many of the white and blue buildings are built along the slants of the coast, so no matter where you choose to sleep you’ll most likely get a glimpse of the ocean from your window. And you can always head out and explore to make up for it.

Greece coasts

Image source:Contiki

Transport

As stated above, your main transportation fees while island hopping in Greece are going to be ferry tickets. Depending on the routes and time of year, your average ferry ride will cost around 45-55€. If you’re hopping from Athens to Mykonos, Mykonos to Paros, Paros to Santorini, Santorini to Ios, then back to Athens, you’re looking at around $500 (AUD) for the whole séjour. 

It’s totally worth it for all the beautiful beaches, but keep this in mind if you want to do Greek island hopping cheaply.

Best Greek Islands for young adults

Best Greek Islands for young adults

Charlie Fabre
by Charlie Fabre Apr 10, 2024

Food

Food in Greece is on the cheaper end of European eating, though, like all your other fees, it depends on how luxurious you want to make your stay. Many hotels will offer complimentary breakfasts, so you don’t have to worry about that, and for lunch you can easily pick up some delicious street food like gyros! There are plenty of dinner options as well, catering to all price ranges. Make sure to have some authentic Greek food at least on at least one of your nights, and then get your fill or whatever makes your belly happy. 

If you’re staying a week that’s at least 14 meals you have to account for, averaging 20-30€ per meal.

Tipping in Greece, like many other European countries, is not necessarily expected or mandatory, though it is always appreciated. Check out our guide on tipping in Greece for more information on what to expect and how much extra cash to keep. 

eating gyros in Greece

Image source:Contiki

When to visit Greece?

The time of year you choose to visit Greece can also impact the cost of things. Generally speaking, the best times to visit Greece are between the months of May and July, and September to October. 

If you want to keep your Greek Island hopping cheap, the best time to visit is during the shoulder seasons, i.e. spring or autumn. The weather will still be absolutely stunning, but prices will be a little less expensive, which can help massively when you’re on a tight budget.

Greece in summer can still be affordable though, so if you want to catch those extra intense rays along the Aegean, don’t worry – you totally can! It may just take a bit of extra thinking ahead on your part, or perhaps booking with Contiki…?

11 of the best cheap Greek eats

by Chantal Ford Aug 17, 2015

Greek Island Hopping with Contiki

For good value Greek Island hopping that’s filled with plenty of amazing activities, days spent awash on the beach and winding through blindingly-white buildings, and of course a wonderful cast and crew of friends and travel experts – why not book with Contiki?

Our Greek Island Hopping trip is our most popular for a reason:

And there are plenty of variations too! From 18-22 so you can get the party on with people closer to your age, Pride to celebrate love and beauty, and Plus if you want to make things a little more bougie. Not to mention travelling with Contiki is way less hassle because everything is pre-planned and taken care of for you!

So, relax, devour that tzatziki, dance until your feet fall off, and let the memories of the best time of your life burn into your mind.

Up next

Recommended by us

Stop dreaming and make sh*t happen!