SANTORINI ON A BUDGET

Santorini, Greece is notoriously one of the most expensive tourist destinations in the world, but it doesn’t have to be. Here is your guide on how to travel to this famous island for under $100 a day.

Accommodation

One of the best parts of Santorini is seeing the beautiful Cycladic architecture and the caldera, but it can be extremely costly. Villas in the famous village of Oia can cost up to $1000 a night for the most luxurious hotels. Here are my tips to finding cheap(er) accommodation.

• Do not stay in the villages of Oia and Fira. They are the most touristy and expensive. For similar views to what you would get in those villages, look for accommodation in quieter villages like Imerovigili or Akrotiri. Imerovigli is in walking distance to Fira, so you will not be missing out on any of the nightlife. Akrotiri is on the south side of the island but is closer to some of the attractions and beaches.

• Stay on the other side of the island in Perissa or Kamari. You will not get the same view, as you are on the beach side of the island, but you will pay a fraction of the price.

• Stay in a hostel. This is your cheapest option if you are a solo traveler, but if you are traveling with a friend this may not be the best option. Hostels usually charge per bed, and not per room. If you are with a friend, get an Airbnb or villa and split the cost.

• Travel in shoulder season. Hotel prices usually are cheaper during this time and there are usually less tourists. Avoid late June-Early August if you can.

Transportation

The island is relatively small, but transportation can quickly start adding up. I would not recommend renting a car because parking is hard to find, and rentals cars are pretty expensive compared to some of the other options listed below.

• Take the bus. This is 100% the cheapest way to get around the island, besides walking. It will only cost you a few Euro to get anywhere on the island. The bus hub is in Fira, so you may have to switch busses there if going all the way from one side of the island to the other.

• Try to get to your bus stop early to make sure you 1) don’t miss the bus and 2) so the bus doesn’t fill up and you have to wait for the next one.

• See if your hotel offers airport pick up. Take advantage of this if you can to save yourself from getting a taxi (which can be up to 30 euro!) after landing, just remember to tip your driver.

• Plan your itinerary before your trip to estimate how much you will need to spend on transportation. Try to plan activities that are close together on the same day to avoid having to travel back and forth multiple times.

Food Activities

Here is a list of free activities you can do on the island:

• Kamari beach

• Perissa beach

• Red Beach in Akrotiri

• Walking around villages in Oia or Fira

• Watching the sunset

• Hike from Fira to Oia

• Skaros Rock

• Cliff jumping in Ammoudi

Low-cost activity options:

• Group boat tour to the volcano

• Archeological site in Akrotiri

• Movie in outdoor cinema

• Museum of prehistoric thira

Activities you could splurge on:

• Catamaran tour

• Santos Winery

I hope these tips were helpful! Enjoy your next trip to Santorini, without breaking the bank.