How to visit the Greek Islands on a budget

Updated by: Aimee White - Travel Copywriter at Explore Worldwide
Updated: 27 March 2025

Scattered across the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea off mainland Greece, thousands of islands large and small make up the Greek Islands. Of these thousands, only around 200 are inhabited. It's these sun-soaked islands, with their sandy beaches, turquoise bays, rocky cliffs, and white and blue houses, that call to adventurous travellers.

From their natural beauty to their distinct culture and architecture, the Greek Islands are some of the most visited destinations in Greece. The most popular islands, like Santorini and Mykonos, annually welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors. So you may be wondering, is it too expensive to visit the Greek Islands? Not at all! Greek island-hopping holidays are a great way to scratch beneath the surface of this beautiful country on an affordable budget.

Here's how you can island hop around the Greek Islands on a budget:

1. Can you visit the Greek Islands on a budget?
2. How do you get from mainland Greece to the Greek Islands?
3. What is the cheapest way to travel around the Greek Islands?
4. When is the best time for budget travel to the Greek Islands?
5. How much should I budget for a trip to the Greek Islands?
6. The cheapest Greek Islands to visit
7. Budget Greek Island accommodation
8. How to save money travelling in the Greek Islands
9. Budget travel like a pro

If you're looking to travel around the Greek Islands on a budget, one of the best ways to save money is by visiting some of the lesser-known islands. True, everyone visiting the Greek Islands wants to go to Santorini or Mykonos. And while they are well worth visiting, you can also find beautiful beaches, sparkling blue waters, white-washed houses and delicious Greek food on other Greek Islands. Nevertheless, each island is still unique, with its own food, architecture, culture and history.

Some of the cheapest Greek Islands to visit include Crete, Andros, Tinos, Corfu and Naxos. These affordable Greek Islands don't see nearly as many visitors as others, making everything from transportation to food and accommodations more affordable. And often, they're not even very far from the more popular islands. In fact, Crete and Corfu are generally the cheapest Greek Islands to fly to from the UK, with direct connections and flight times under four hours.

If you really want to check out the most popular islands like Santorini, you can still do so affordably by visiting outside of peak season, choosing cheaper accommodations and avoiding tourist traps.

You can indeed live out your Mamma Mia fantasy of sailing around the Greek Islands and discovering their unique way of life without breaking the bank. By leaving the planning to the pros, like tour operators who can set up everything for you for the best price, your money will go even further.

Choose one of our themed tours to soak up the best of the Greek Islands on a budget:

1. Walking & Trekking: Step into island life on Corfu or Crete and discover two of the best Greek Islands. Our Greek Island walking and trekking tours are graded as Leisurely, Moderate and Challenging, so you can choose a pace and level that suits you.
2. Food tours: Get your tastebuds tingling with family-distilled ouzo, homemade feta and succulent seafood. Our dedicated food tour starts on the island of Crete, crosses the Aegean Sea and ticks off more island spots, including picturesque Poros.
3. Boat journeys: The quintessential way to explore the Greek Islands. Families can make the most of Evia's enchanting coastline, while private islands and golden beaches await on our Greek Cruise and Island Walking adventure.