How much money do I need to travel to Greece?

High on the bucket list for many is Greece, an idyllic holiday hotspot made up of over 6000 islands. Boasting delicious food, stunning island landscapes and more history than you can poke a sword at, it's no wonder Greece is a long-standing tourist destination. 

Despite their recent economic struggles, Greece continues to thrive with millions of tourists gracing it’s shores each year. If you've decided to pull the plug and experience Greece's glory for yourself, you're going to need to consider your travel budget. 

We know holiday budgets can be a painful process that is often put in the too-hard basket as you instead look at gorgeous Waterview villas and island day trips. This can lead to disaster though, as a last-minute budget is often rushed and inaccurate, leaving you scrambling for cash at the last minute. 

To solve this issue and make things as easy as possible for you, the talented team at Travel Money Oz have put together a nifty holiday budget calculator. Simply punch in your holiday details, and it will punch out a budget personalised to you. Sound good? 

First things first, let's check out what goes into a holiday budget for Greece. 

What goes into a budget for Greece?

Transport

As with any European destination, flights will generally be your most significant expense. European summer is notoriously more expensive for flights; however, you can snag early-bird deals if you buy far enough in advance or at an expo. 

Once you arrive in Greece, there are a few options for getting between destinations. A few islands have their own airport. Flights are relatively cheap and can save a lot of transport time that can otherwise be spent relaxing by the pool. Double-check your baggage allowance when booking flights as extra bags can make the price add up quickly. 

Flights aside, the other most common mode of transport is private boat (if you're a baller) or ferries. Popular routes are serviced regularly by large ferry companies. Tickets range in price and can sell out, so be sure to book in advance to secure your spot. Often you need to pick up your ticket at the terminal, which is usually super busy, so give yourself plenty of time to arrive, get your bearings and grab your ticket before the boat leaves. 

Alternatively, if you want to see as much of Greece as possible without having to pack and unpack your bags, several cruises go between the islands. These are a great way to reduce stress and let someone else take care of your transport. Just keep in mind that your time on the islands will often be limited to a day or a few hours, so if you want to keep exploring more, it might not be the best for you. MSC Cruises often have great sales and offer several Greek routes if you are on a budget. 

Once you're in your destination, your main form of transport will often either be a bus or your own two feet. Buses are relatively inexpensive (a few euros for a trip) and are needed for long distances on hot days. Athens is the exception as a metro system and trolley cars service it. 

Finally, another popular mode of transport in Greece are scooters and ATV rental. If you're there for a few days and want to explore at your own pace, this is an option for you. Just be cautious of dodgy rental companies taking advantage of tourists and ensure your travel insurance covers you for ATV or scooter riding as it is often an added extra. 

Accommodation

Accommodation in Greece is often a bit more on the pricier side. With this in mind, there are still options for all travellers and budgets. In bigger cities, you will find hotel chains, homestays, Airbnb and hostels. On islands expect villas and mountainside hotels that have stunning ocean views. 

The ocean view villas with private pools you see on social media are stunning; however, they often have a price tag to match. If you're after the same amount of luxury with a smaller price tag, move your search away from the ocean view properties. 

Alternatively, move away from the super touristy islands like Santorini and Mykonos in favour of lesser-known but equally gorgeous islands. Lower prices + fewer tourists? Sounds ideal if you ask me, plus your tourist dollars will be helping smaller vendors. 

Food

The food in Greece is out of this world good, so prepare to leave a few kgs heavier than when you arrived. Expect fresh seafood, delicious salads, mouth-watering cheese, flaky pastries and more gyros then you can poke a meat stick at. 

Most of the islands need to import all of their fresh ingredients/ almost everything as the barren landscapes don't yield much in the way of crops. This can depending on the meal, push up the price. With this in mind, expect to pay around the following:

• Gyros, pastries, bakery goods etc.: 3 - 10 euros

• Greek salads: 10 euros and up

• Meals at a restaurant (think Moussaka, meat etc.): 15 euros and up

• Western food like pizzas and burgers: 10 - 20 euros

• Seafood: 25+ euros

Consider these baseline prices. If you are eating anywhere with an ocean view, expect prices to increase exponentially. 

Alcohol ranges in price depending on what you get, but beers start around 5 euros and go up from there. You might find cheaper ones at hostel bars if you're lucky. I recommend scouting out what bars and restaurants are offering happy hours as you will often get 2-4-1 drinks and cocktails. 

Activities

Aside from eating and laying by the pool or beach with a good book, there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied in Greece. 

Water sports are a big one, with pretty much everywhere offering island hopping, snorkelling and diving tours. While there isn't much in the way of coral and reefs, water visibility in Greece is amazing and well worth it. You can also pump up the adrenaline with tubing, parasailing and everything in between. These activities aren't cheap, and start at 30 euros for a basic tour and go up from there. Once again, hostels are often paired with more competitive tour operators, so suss them out if you're on a budget. 

Greece is also known for its rich and intricate history, and there are plenty of tours in every location covering historical monuments as a result. Some of these historic areas can be accessed without a tour and will charge an entry fee. If you're short on time or are keen to get some of the backstories instead of just looking at rocks and stone with no idea, I highly recommend getting a tour guide. Their knowledge will make the experience far more interesting and memorable. 

Finally, the islands boast plenty of gorgeous hikes and walks that allow you to take in the scenery. You can source a tour guide, but most of them are easy enough to do on your own so grab a bottle of water and be on your merry way. 

Pre-travel costs

Like any holiday, you also need to consider other expenses like travel insurance, visas and any vaccinations. Greece is part of the Schengen zone, so Aussies don't need a visa for stays under 90 days. You can read the official Schengen Visa website on the visa application process for travels longer than 90 days, or have a chat with our friends at Flight Centre for personalised help planning your trip (then of course come and see us for Euros to travel with!). On that note...

How much does a trip to Greece cost?

Step 1

Enter your destination (Greece)
Let us know how long you'll be away
Choose your currency. In this case, it will either be AUD or EUR
Start counting down to unlimited gyros since you've started your holiday budget.

Step 2

How many gyros can you eat in one day? Will you splurge on spanakopita and saganaki every day? It's time to account for everything you plan on eating while you're in Greece. Remember to put yourself in a holiday mindset - when fried cheese is knocking; you're gonna answer the door. Don't forget, this is a judgement-free zone: if you want to have five gyros in one day then own it. If anything we applaud you. 

Step 3

Shopping time! Unless you're in bigger cities like Athens, it is unlikely you will be hitting any malls or designer outlets. Instead think of souvenirs, cute island clothing and gorgeous Greek-inspired designed. 

Step 4

This is for all of your transport outside of flights and significant journeys. So basically, your day to day means of getting around. Have a quick Google of the transport options available in your destinations, so you know what to expect. Chances are it will be buses on the islands and boats/ferries in between. 

Step 5

The hard work is done! Here you'll find a simple layout of your planned expenses in both Aussie dollars and euros. From here you can either go back and edit, or start saving for your holiday!

It's important to note here that this only accounts for your most basic expenses. You'll need to add in travel insurance and other daily expenses. It's also worth having a bit of wiggle room in the kitty for unexpected costs, like deciding to extend your trip by a night or two or upgrade your room because you can't POSSIBLY leave Santorini yet. 

Greek Budget Examples

Here are some examples of what the bones of your travel budget would look like. Please note all of these examples are based off seven nights accommodation and are quoted in Aussie dollars. Prices will, of course, vary with seasonality and availability. 

Couples trip

This couple intends to splurge on a week of romance, luxury and leisure in Santorini. 

Family getaway

Mum and Dad are treating the kids to a week of history, great food and excitement in Athens. 

Solo traveller

This lucky traveller is heading to Ios to party with his mates by night and indulge in some RnR during the day. 

Last-minute tips

• You'll find ATMs in bigger towns and cities; however, the fees are generally pretty steep. A lot of vendors in smaller areas won't take card, so be sure to have plenty of cash on you. Should you need to withdraw cash, do so in more significant sums to avoid numerous transaction fees. 
• Most water-view restaurants and bars will take card, though they are pretty expensive. Load up your Travel Money Oz Currency Pass with plenty of euros to avoid gnarly transaction fees.
• In places like Santorini, cruise ships will often arrive around 10 am and unload their passengers, making the streets more crowded and less pleasant.
• Free wifi is hard to find outside your accommodation. Use it as an opportunity to relax and unplug.
• Tipping isn't expected.
• The ports and airports can be very crowded and overwhelming so give yourself plenty of time to get your bearings before your transport.
• Book ferry tickets in advance to avoid them selling out and get a better price.
• Research your 'per day' budget and include the things you want to do. Once you know the costs, you have a savings goal to work towards.
• Take advantage of Travel Money Oz's Best Price Guarantee. If you find a better price from a competitor, we will beat it*.
• Hostels are a great way to save cash and meet like-minded travellers.
• Check out reviews if you think something is too good to be true. Chances are it might be.
• Don't forget to factor in pre-travel costs like travel insurance, immunisations and visas.
• You have to pay to use sunbeds on beaches. Some beachside bars and restaurants will let you use theirs for free if you buy a drink though, so look out for cocktail specials and grab a seat. Otherwise, beds can range between 2 and 30 euros to rent.
• Take plenty of sunscreen.
• Sign up for Rate Alerts. We'll let you know when the AUD is doing well against the EUR so you can purchase and maximise your travel money.
• The gyros is excellent everywhere, but some places are better than others. Have a quick Google to see what others say.
• On islands, walking is a great way to burn off the carbs and get between places. Chances are you'll have a pretty great view wherever you are. 

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Flight costs based on search from www.flightcentre.com.au and are indicative costs only for travel dates 4 - 11 August 2020. Prices were sourced on December 7 2019. ^Accommodation costs are based on an average per night price for budget, moderate or luxury hotels, as indicated in the table. ~Food based on the average cost of 1 coffee, 1 fast food meal and 1restaurant meal per person, per day. 
COST COMPARISON TABLE: All costs are based on estimated approximate costs from major metropolitan cities. “From” costs indicate costs that start from the indicated price and may be higher than shown. Average prices indicate a typical estimated cost you would pay for the indicated item. Prices may vary from time to time, and in different cities and towns within Greece.  This blog is provided for information only and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs.  You should consider whether the information and suggestions contained in any blog entry are appropriate for you, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.  While we take reasonable care in providing the blog, we give no warranties or representations that it is complete or accurate, or is appropriate for you. We are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise, arising from use of, or reliance on, the information and/or suggestions contained in this blog.