7 Tips For Your Greek Trip On a Budget

Your next trip to Greece does not have to break the bank. There are ways to have an unforgettable holiday in Greece while still making sure to stay within your budget, and we will show you how.

Read on for our top 7 tips for travellers looking for an affordable holiday to Greece or watch the video below.

Tip 1 – Choose Your Islands Wisely

Greece has over 6,000 islands but only two get most of the attention. And it will come as no surprise that these are two of the most expensive island destinations in Greece. Lucky for you, there are hundreds more amazing destinations to choose from.

If you want to experience the Cycladic Greek island living without paying for Mykonos then a good alternative is Serifos.

And Crete is the perfect family friendly destination with more options than you will know what to do with.

Lemnos, in northern Greece offers you an off the beaten track experience, with fewer tourists and a wild, untamed beauty.

Heraklion in Crete

Tip 2 – Check the calendar well

One of the simplest ways to have an affordable trip to Greece is to pick the right time of year.

A lot of things around Greece operate on a seasonal basis, which means you can skip the price increases! As a rule of thumb, July and August are going to be the priciest months. In some destinations, that starts as early as June and goes on to as late as early September. However, if you still want to enjoy the warm weather, then May and late September are also a great option, especially if you are looking at southern destinations.

Try different destinations to find better deals

Tip 3 – Where you eat

A quick and affordable Greek lunch can always be found in the quintessential Greek bakery stop. Greek bakeries can be found in every corner and have a wide selection of warm and cold dishes including pies, sandwiches, drinks, and desserts.

This is a great way to taste local Greek delicacies that you might not be able to find in other places that are both tasty and affordable.

Another secret weapon of the budget traveller in Greece are “mageiria”. These are usually family-run small restaurants that serve only lunch but sometimes dinner too. They make everything fresh on the same day and have lots of home-made style dishes like gemista, kotopoulo me patates, briam or gigantes.

There are also a lot of vegetarian and vegan Greek dishes here, since a lot of our traditional dishes are meat-free.

Tip 4 – Don’t skip over the “free things”

Watching the sunset, hiking spots, going to the beach or exploring a park are all free.

Do your research as there are plenty of options no matter where you are visiting in our beautiful country.

Tip 5 – Do the free walking tour

In the bigger cities like Athens and Thessaloniki you can find free walking tours.

Most of them are actually run by expert archaeologists and historians or qualified guides. So you can be sure that you are getting an in-depth view of life in Greece, both then and now. Of course, it is expected that you tip your guide at the end of the tour.

Glorious sunset in Thessaloniki

Tip 6 – Restaurants and Pictures

One of the easiest ways to tell if a restaurant is a tourist trap is to look at their menus. Too many photos of the food in too many languages and it should sound warning bells in your head.

Obviously, this does not apply to every establishment, and we have personally experienced plenty of places that have broken this rule.

But in general, restaurants with lots of menu photos, are geared towards tourists and may even be overpriced.
If you are looking for more authentic Greek cuisine, don’t be afraid to look further.

Cute restaurant in Galaxidi, Central Greece

Tip 7 – Don’t Forget Your International Driver’s Licence

Don’t forget to apply for an International Driver’s licence ahead of your trip. This will allow you to rent a car, scooter or ATV and explore more around the island or city you are visiting.

This will also save you a ton of time and will allow you to explore deeper and further in whatever destination you are visiting.

It also gives you the option to pick accommodation options that are further from the city centre or “chora” of an island, which of course is usually more affordable.

• These are some of the best tips to make sure you have your ideal Greek trip on a budget. Let us know what you think in the comments below!