A Guide to Exploring Greece on a Budget

Are you worried about visiting Greece for the first time because you don’t have boatloads of money to spend? Do you want to know if you can still have a good holiday in Greece while still on a budget?

If you’re looking for a new destination to explore, Greece has something for everyone. With its rich culture and gorgeous scenery, the country offers much more than just sunbathing on the beach.

From Athens to Crete, there are many places in Greece worth exploring. But before you go off on your adventure in the beautiful country, it’s important to know where best not to spend your money so that you can budget accordingly. Here is our guide to exploring Greece on a budget. 

Book Ferries in Advance

When in Greece you can’t just stay on the mainland or just on one island, you have to island-hop and see as much as you can. The best way to do this is by ferry. Sometimes these ferries can get pricey if you book them on the day or even the day before. 

If you are sure about where you want to go and what days you want to go, you should try and book your ferries well in advance to get cheaper prices. There are many destinations to see that are not as famous but sure are worth your time and money, like Chios. This island is named a “geological paradise”, and getting there is easy if you use a good ferry service. You can book your Chios tickets with LetsFerry and explore it personally to see for yourself. Although ferries are already cheap as is, there is no harm in saving even more money while still getting to have your dream vacation in Greece and visiting all the islands. And with the money you save on one ferry, you can spend it on another island. 

Avoid Tourist Traps

Greece is a tourism heaven. Every year, thousands of people flock to the islands and the mainland for this summer vacation, and the locals know exactly when this is. Often, as a tourist, you will find yourself paying a lot more than locals would for very simple things and it’s all because they know that you won’t know any different. 

As a traveler on a budget, a way to avoid these tourist traps and outlandish prices, you could visit some of the lesser-known islands that aren’t commonly known as foreign tourist destinations. Some islands are more commonly visited by local tourists. There are so many benefits to doing this, above and beyond just avoiding the tourists’ traps. 

You won’t be overwhelmed by masses of tourists, you will get to experience Greece in its optimal authenticity, and so much more, as well as saving a whole load of money. 

Visit During Off-Season

As mentioned above, Greece is an incredibly popular summer holiday destination, and this means that in its peak season, everywhere will be packed to the brim with tourists looking for accommodation, food, and even activities to do. Not to mention, the peak season flights are so much more expensive. 

If you still want to have an enjoyable holiday while in Greece and on a budget, you should go during the low season. This is typically just after summer. If you have the opportunity to do this and aren’t held to specific school vacation days, then this could save you a massive amount of money from cheaper flights to even cheaper accommodation, food, and so much more. This is a great way to travel to Greece on a budget. 

Avoid Hotels

Last but not least, avoid hotels at all costs. The standard when going on vacation is to stay in a hotel because it is usually the most convenient and they typically have all-inclusive packages. However, if you are traveling on a budget, this can get very expensive very quickly. 

Instead, you should rather stay in an Airbnb. Which is like a house or living space that you can rent out for short periods for a much smaller cost. These are typically personally owned, and you will normally have to cater for yourself but will end up being much more affordable in the long run. 

You can also stay in hostels or even try your hand at couch surfing. There is no doubt that you will be able to find some locals that are willing to let you stay for a couple of nights. It is important to note that couch surfing is better if you are traveling solo.