Is a trip to the Greek Islands in your bucket checklist? I at all times knew the Greek Islands had been costly however till I began researching our journey to Greece value, I didn’t understand fairly how expensive a trip to Greece could be.
After spending 10 days in Greece for our particular anniversary journey, we’ve got a terrific deal with on what you will have to save lots of in your Greek Islands journey finances (trace: it relies on which island you go to!)
The Greek Islands have by no means been a finances vacation spot, however nowadays if you wish to go the luxurious route for an important day journey (like our Twentieth-anniversary journey!), it’s downright costly. So earlier than you pull the set off and e book a Greek trip, be sure to work out your personal Greece journey value.
How to Plan your Trip to Greece
Planning a visit to Greece can get difficult. Coming from the USA, it’s best to fly immediately into Athens, however then if you’re visiting the Greek Islands, it’s good to work out learn how to get to the assorted islands.
You can even fly into one island and out of one other, however you will have to attach someplace in Europe, and relying on the day you allow, there may also be lengthy layovers. And, you continue to want to fret about getting ferry tickets or flights from place to position. Plus ferry tickets can e book up early so it’s good to plan upfront.
WHere in Greece do you Want to go?
Your first step in planning your Greek Islands trip is to decide on your locations and work out how lengthy you need to spend in every location. Are you largely eager about archeological websites and studying concerning the Ancient Greeks? Or do you need to chill out by the seashore for many of your vacation in Greece?
Which islands you select makes a distinction too. Santorini and Mykonos are notoriously costly. Santorini is fashionable with {couples} and Mykonos is named a celebration island.
Lesser visited islands like Naxos are a lot inexpensive and family-friendly, however some could not have as a lot vacationer infrastructure constructed out. Other islands like Crete are so giant you want per week or extra only for one island.
WHen do you Want to Travel?
Will you journey within the excessive season and cope with the crowds, or go for the much less crowded shoulder seasons? Or perhaps you need to get monetary savings and go to the mainland through the off-season and probably navigate closures, cooler climate, and restricted providers on the islands?
All of those components make calculating what a visit to Greece prices a problem. But to make your budgeting job a bit of simpler, I’ve put collectively a pattern journey finances in your reference.
Greece Budget Assumptions
Our journey was a splurge trip to rejoice a milestone birthday and anniversary, however I’ve primarily based this finances on a extra reasonable journey. I’ve tried to supply some comparisons if you’re seeking to improve to luxurious properties.
For simplicity, I’ve additionally used U.S. {dollars} and sometimes use xe.com to get up-to-date forex conversion charges. Luckily proper now the U.S. greenback is robust in opposition to the Euro so, for Americans, your cash goes additional.
In order to find out what a visit to Greece prices, I’ve primarily based this Greece journey finances on the next assumptions:
- Pricing for 2 adults
- Traveling from a significant airport hub on the east coast of the United States (e.g. JFK)
- Travel through the summer season
- A visit of 12 nights
- Stops in Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete — these fashionable locations had been chosen as they may sometimes be included in a Greek trip bundle
To create your finances and a common concept of how a lot it prices to go to Greece, I’ve included the next:
- Approximate worth of flights (each worldwide and in-country)
- The common value of a resort in Athens and in fashionable island locations
- Transportation prices to get round Greece
- How a lot cash to put aside for particular experiences, like a day journey from Athens or a sundown cruise round Santorini
Keep in thoughts that if you’re touring on a good finances, an effective way to scale back prices is to stay to the mainland and shorten your journey. You can even select to go to a few of the inexpensive islands, like Naxos, Paros, and others. By making these changes, you may simply lower the price of your lodging virtually in half.
How a lot does a visit to Greece value?
Note: This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. If you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I’ll obtain a small fee. Prices are topic to alter.
The prices on this put up have been organized by airfare, lodging, transportation, meals, and actions. As I discussed, I included a few of our precise prices as a comparability.
Airfare to Greece
One of the explanations that airfare eats up some huge cash when budgeting for a visit to Greece is that there are a restricted variety of direct flights from the U.S. to Athens, and even fewer within the low season and shoulder seasons.
If you don’t stay close to certainly one of a handful of airports, you’ll have to attach elsewhere within the U.S. or Europe earlier than arriving in Athens, and sure pay much more to take action. For every day direct service to and from Athens in July and August (peak season), the principle choices at current are American Airlines from Philadelphia, Delta from Boston, JFK, and Atlanta, and Emirates and United from Newark.
Average flight costs throughout this time of 12 months are $1,000 per particular person. Prices go up the nearer you get to summer season so e book early if you’re visiting Greece in the summertime!
If $1,000 per particular person for the worldwide flight is past attain, remember that the value sometimes drops to $500-900 within the low and shoulder seasons (fall, winter, and early spring). However, some resorts on the islands gained’t be open from November – April, and a few ferry providers is not going to function on a every day schedule, so it’s going to take some finesse in planning to nonetheless see all the things you’d prefer to see.
Given the excessive value of airfare, it could be a superb time to save lots of your bank card factors or airline miles for this journey or think about flying a finances airline that connects someplace in Europe.
Intra-Island Flights
Most individuals touring to Greece and venturing past Athens will find yourself on one other flight in some unspecified time in the future, particularly in the event that they want to go to Crete. The quickest ferry from Crete to Athens is 7 hours.
If you’re planning on primarily visiting the Greek Islands, take note of your flight occasions. I’ve discovered that it may be arduous to get into Athens early sufficient to catch a ferry to Santorini or Mykonos on the identical day if you’re connecting in Europe. This will drive you to spend an evening in Athens regardless of your plans. If Athens isn’t a precedence, chances are you’ll need to fly on to one of many island airports.
The identical shall be true on the return journey. Depending on how far the island is away from Athens, it might be a problem to get again to Athens in time in your flight. Especially contemplating that Greek ferries don’t precisely have a status for operating on time. That might not be a danger you need to take.
Therefore chances are you’ll must return to Athens the night time earlier than your flight except you e book a multi-city flight and return from a distinct island. I additionally discovered that some return flights from Athens have exceedingly lengthy layovers on sure days of the week so that is one other factor to regulate if you end up reserving your flights.
The value for a one-way brief flight between Athens and Crete is lower than $100 per particular person (often $50-75) so this sometimes makes probably the most sense for that individual journey.
For this put up, I assumed guests would spend $1,000 per particular person to get to and from Athens from the U.S., after which one other $150 complete on a one-way home flight again to Athens from Crete.
Total airfare value: $2,150
Accommodations Costs in Greece
In order to estimate lodging prices, I allotted two nights in Athens initially of the journey, two nights in Mykonos, two nights in romantic Santorini, 5 nights in Crete, after which a last night time again in Athens earlier than your return journey again to the United States.
If you don’t have two weeks to get pleasure from Greece, or it’s good to lower prices, there are numerous methods to regulate this itinerary. For instance, if the seashore isn’t an enormous precedence, you might skip Crete or go for just a few days on the island of Naxos or Paros as a substitute of Crete (they’re much nearer to Athens and less expensive than Santorini or Mykonos).
Alternatively, if spending time on the seashore and having fun with views of the Aegean Sea is your high precedence when planning your journey, then think about simplifying your itinerary by solely visiting Athens plus one of many islands in Greece, as a substitute of spending time island hopping round to totally different places.
Athens
In Athens, count on to pay $500-700 or extra per night time for a room at a 5-star property in the summertime such because the Hotel Grand Bretagne. Pro tip: we used Marriott Bonvoy factors to e book an evening on the Hotel Grand Bretagne.
More primary 4-star lodging is round $300-500 per night time. vrbo choices or finances inns typically worth out underneath $200 per night time however do select neighborhoods rigorously to make sure you are in a protected space handy for sightseeing.
Mykonos
Mykonos is likely one of the costliest locations in Greece, particularly on the subject of lodging. Five-star properties are simply $1,000 or extra per night time in the summertime.
Four-star inns are round $400-600 per night time. When we had been planning on doing one night time in Mykonos, I discovered a little bit of a “deal” on the Nissaki Mykonos for 520 euros per night time. Anything under 400 euros will probably be an enormous sacrifice in high quality and facilities (like a pool) or in location. But that isn’t to say that there aren’t finances properties accessible.
Santorini
In Santorini, 5-star inns such because the Canaves Oia begin round $1200 or extra per night time in the summertime. And these attractive suites with private plunge swimming pools or jacuzzis? You might probably spend $2,000 an evening. The city of Oia is the costliest (however provides the gorgeous sunsets and blue-domed church buildings you’ve probably come right here to see).
We went with the marginally extra inexpensive property of the Canaves chain, the Canaves Oia Epitome and the honeymoon suite with the plunge pool was a mere $1,200 an evening. It feels insane to spend that a lot on a resort room however as I stated, this journey was a splurge celebration for us. You can discover upscale boutique inns for much less, such because the Vedema Resort, the place you might be able to discover a room for underneath $500.
Fira is the place the ferry port is positioned and is a bit cheaper, with quick access to Oia by bus or taxi. A 4-star resort in Fira such because the Aria Suites shall be round $500 in the summertime.
Even a really primary 3-star resort in Fira is $300+ per night time throughout peak season. Again, Airbnb/VRBO can provide less expensive choices, however many require a three-night keep minimal, so it might require some itinerary adjustment. If you’re reserving a vrbo in Santorini, make sure you look rigorously at their cancellation coverage and any extra cleansing or service charges they might tack on.
Crete
Crete is the most important Greek island, and it provides a stunning stability of gorgeous seashores plus traditionally and culturally attention-grabbing websites. It additionally has a well-developed tourism infrastructure and loads of family-friendly resorts to select from.
These are all causes Crete works so effectively as a house base for a lengthier keep throughout a visit to Greece. Families can count on to pay $200-500 per night time in summer season for a 4-star resort or boutique resort on or close to the seashore such because the Ammos Hotel or Porto Elounda Deluxe Resort.
For a higher-end luxurious choice, 5-star properties such because the Daios Cove Resort run $500-700 in July and August.
One cost-saving tip is to concentrate on affiliations with U.S. chains like Marriott and Hilton. Many Greek inns and resorts have affiliated with these manufacturers, so visitors can earn a variety of factors or use present factors they might have already got.
Naxos
As I discussed earlier than, you might additionally skip Crete and select a more in-depth island within the Cyclades and keep on Naxos or Paros. We didn’t have fairly as a lot time so we opted for 5 nights on Naxos on the Virtu Suites. We bought a deluxe sea view suite for almost $700 per night time.
To calculate approximate lodging prices, we assumed reserving at 4-star properties in every location, so a $400 common nightly charge was used. You can clearly convey prices down significantly in case you e book an Airbnb for sure parts of the journey (or your complete journey), or redeem some resort factors for a part of your keep. Costs improve dramatically in case you go for a 5-star expertise, paying upwards of $1,000 per night time in some places.
Total Accommodation Cost: $4,800 for 12 nights
Transportation Costs inside Greece
The most effective route for getting to those 4 places is to take the ferry from Athens to Mykonos, then a ferry from Mykonos to Santorini, and a last ferry from Santorini to Crete. Most individuals would then fly again to Athens from Crete for his or her return flight to the U.S., however an in a single day ferry is an choice for that individual journey.
The value of the ferry and the flight are comparable. You can use FerryHopper to test charges and schedules for the assorted ferry traces and e book tickets on-line.
Each of the ferry journeys outlined above is between two-to-three hours and ferry tickets value round $20-90 every (relying on in case you take a quick ferry or not.) You can save a bit of in case you journey on slower ferries or not at peak occasions, nevertheless it’s often not important. You can even select first-class tickets or VIP tickets with precedence boarding and seating, however that can value a bit extra.
Keep in thoughts when planning your journey that you’ll want to e book ferries at the very least a few months upfront as they do promote out and also you don’t need to find yourself caught with no approach to get from island to island.
For those who select to journey to the everyday locations in Greece (Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete, for instance, as outlined on this put up), then a automotive rental isn’t essential. Hotels can prepare transfers or I used Welcome Pickups to schedule transfers to/from the port in lots of locations and it labored completely each time and we had been relieved to not have to attend in a protracted taxi line.
If you need to do some off-the-beaten-path exploration, the price of a personal driver in Greece is often $200-400 per day. On a few of the islands, you too can hire an ATV to discover, however locals strongly advise in opposition to ATVs as they see many deadly accidents annually. On our journey, we simply took taxis, a resort shuttle, or booked personal excursions that helped us discover extra of the islands.
For budgeting functions, let’s assume three ferry providers at $90 per particular person per trip, plus at some point of a personal driver service or day journey at $200, and a further $200 for public transport and taxi fares. For a two-week journey, that is truly fairly inexpensive. Opting to remain within the heart of walkable cities and full-service seashore resorts is vital to this value financial savings.
Total Car Rental/Transportation Cost: $940
Food Costs in Greece
If you’re affected by sticker shock after studying about the price of flights and lodging, you’ll be happy to study that Greece is likely one of the extra inexpensive European nations so far as meals and eating out. First, breakfast is included at most inns and resorts (however do verify that earlier than reserving.) If not, count on to pay lower than $5 per particular person for espresso and a pastry at a restaurant every morning.
The key to saving cash on Greek meals is to eat at native institutions (and also you in all probability got here for the contemporary seafood and native meals anyway) or strive some road meals. A big lunch at a taverna is often $10-15 per particular person, or you may simply seize quick meals sandwiches or a light-weight chunk and feta cheese from bakeries or cafes to get pleasure from a picnic on the seashore or between sightseeing adventures.
A hearty sandwich or low-cost gyros shall be lower than $5 from native retailers or stands. For dinner, count on to solely pay about $15-20 per particular person for a multi-course dinner at native eating places. Of course, this all goes out the window if you’re eating at a luxurious resort or attempting a degustation menu (in Santorini an expertise like that with wine pairing can run you $500+ for 2!)
A couple of finances busters in Greece, nevertheless, are cocktails or imported wine. Best to stay to beer or home wine in case you don’t need to spend some huge cash on drinks.
We assumed {couples} would spend per day on $20 lunch and $40 per day on dinner, however once more, you might simply spend much less in case you didn’t sit down for a full-service meal for each every day. I’ve additionally finances one advantageous eating dinner for a further $100.
Total Food Cost: $820
Tours and Activities Costs in Greece
Another cost-saving perk of a visit to Greece is that a lot of what you got here to see is free, like a day spent having fun with one of many spectacular seashores or wandering the gorgeous facet streets and alleys of Santorini. That stated, you’ll undoubtedly need to finances for just a few memorable actions.
A personal tour of Athens is a should, for my part, particularly for historical past buffs. These could be personalized to your pursuits or wants, like a common strolling tour as a method of getting oriented in your first day, or to dig deep and study extra about necessary archaeological websites just like the Acropolis, which is a UNESCO World Heritage website, and even only a meals tour. Prices for a half-day personal tour in Athens are round $300-500, though you might be a part of a gaggle tour for about $50 per particular person.
An Athens sightseeing cross whereas in Athens may additionally make sense if you wish to go to sights just like the Acropolis Museum, as many of the landmark historic websites do cost admission. A cross often leads to value financial savings for many who plan to see a number of of the included websites. The worth is round $40 per grownup.
A sundown cruise whereas in Santorini, Mykonos, or Crete is often a spotlight for guests to Greece as effectively. Done as a small group, it’s often round $200 for a pair, which generally features a meal or drinks. Done privately, count on to pay round $500-1,000 or extra.
Also on Crete, many guests get pleasure from a guided tour of the Palace of Knossos or maybe olive oil tasting. Again, count on to pay $200-300 for a small group expertise or $500+ for a personal tour. There are additionally some meals excursions or wine excursions on Santorini and Naxos that may make for a enjoyable afternoon. We did a half-day personal wine-tasting tour in Santorini for round $350 and a full-day meals, wine, and island tour on Naxos for nearer to $800.
For this Greece journey finances, I estimated $1,000, primarily based on two excursions or excursions and a sightseeing cross in Athens. If the resorts or inns you e book cost for each exercise and amenity as a substitute of being considerably all-inclusive, chances are you’ll need to improve your exercise finances accordingly.
Total Activity Cost: $1,000
Total Greece Trip Budget
Given these parameters, a complete Greece trip finances when visiting Greece in the summertime for a complete of 12 nights for 2 adults could be $9,710. However, if you could find a method to make use of miles or factors for airfare or inns, a visit to Greece can truly be fairly cheap.
If spending almost $10,000 on a two-week journey is past your attain, simply know that there are extra inexpensive methods to go to Greece. If you could have the pliability to journey from April by June, for instance, chances are you’ll discover flight costs and lodging prices to be considerably much less (and even higher, fewer crowds!)
Also, selecting residence leases by on-line reserving websites is usually half the price of a resort keep, particularly if you’re keen to forego facilities like a pool. Or, decide to go to much less fashionable islands or places, as a substitute of expensive locations like Mykonos and Santorini.
| Category | Cost |
| Airfare | $2,150 |
| Accommodations | $4,800 |
| Transportation | $ 940 |
| Food | $ 820 |
| Activities | $1,000 |
| Total Greece Trip Budget | $9,710 |
Don’t neglect to additionally finances for journey insurance coverage for a visit to Greece! And don’t e book something that isn’t totally refundable.
If Greece sounds too costly, you too can take a look at our journey budgets for:
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