Santorini, also called Thera, is the most famous island in Greece. one of the Cyclades islands group in the Aegean Sea. Due to its popularity as a honeymoon and wedding location, it is pricey. That doesn’t mean you can’t visit Santorini on a budget. Here are the tips on how you can visit Santorini on a budget.
How to get to Santorini
Flights Santorini has direct flights from Athens and other European countries. If you book your flights well in advance, you can find cheap tickets, which take around an hour from Athens.
High-Speed Ferry, You can take the Seajets high-speed ferry from Athens and other Greece islands. The ferry costs around 80-90 euros and takes about 6 hours from Athens.
Blue Star ferry You also have the option to take a slower Blue Star ferry from Athens and other Greece islands. The ferry costs around 40-50 euros and takes about 7-8 hours from Athens.
You can check the ferry schedule on ferryhopper.com. We recommend booking a flight or high-speed ferry that suits your budget and schedule. We traveled by Seajets ferry, and it was pretty comfortable.
When to visit Santorini
The best months to visit Santorini are May to October. The peak season is June through August when everything is more expensive. The winter months, from November to April, are the cheapest but have fewer options for flights and ferries. Moreover, some restaurants and hotels are closed, and the weather is windy and chilly.
We recommend visiting in May or October for budget travel.
How to get around Santorini
Rental Car You can rent a car from the airport or ferry to get around Santorini. It gives you flexibility if you are planning to visit different areas. In addition to cars, you can also rent quads or motorbikes.
Hotel Transfer Check with your hotels; some offer free transfers from Airport or ferry port. You can also book the transfer through your hotel for an additional cost. You can also check here for shared transfers.
Taxi might be more comfortable and expensive, but you don’t have to share with other passengers.
Bus You can use the public bus from Fira to any town, port, or airport. All buses go to and from Fira, meaning if you want to visit villages on the opposite end, you need to change buses in Fira. The bus ticket costs less than two euros and is the cheapest option to get around Santorini.
We recommend using the public bus to visit different towns and hotel transfers from the port or airport.
Where to stay in Santorini
Oia is the most popular and expensive town to stay in. You might find some cheaper options if you visit in the off-season.
Fira is the capital of Santorini and is in the center of the island. It is cheaper than Oia but has similar views of the caldera and the sunset. It has a lot of options to choose from for all budgets.
Imerovigli is located next to Fira and has similar views of the caldera and the sunset.
Firostefani is in between Fira and Imerovigli and has similar caldera views.
Kamari is on the east side of the island. It’s closer to the airport and the black sand beaches. You can find cheaper options to stay in Kamari but don’t have the famous sunset view of the caldera.
Perissa is similar to Kamari is on the east side and closer to the beach.
Tip: You can book accommodations 4 to 6 months in advance to get reasonable rates. Midweek rates might be cheaper as compared to weekends. Hotels with private pools and sunset views are expensive. Some hotels are adults only, so check the rules if you visit with kids.
We used the booking.com site to compare and book our hotels. We stayed in Fira and had beautiful sunset views without breaking the bank. The bus stand was nearby, and we used the bus to visit Oia and other towns.
How many days in Santorini
Depending on your budget, you can spend 1-7 days in Santorini. You can also stay a couple of nights in one town and a few nights in another.
We recommend staying a minimum of 2 days to enjoy it. Click here to see the top things to do in Santorini.
Where to eat in Santorini on budget
Local Greek restaurants are cheaper as compared to seafood restaurants with sunset views. Gyro costs less than five euros and is a great quick lunch or dinner option.
Some cheap Gyro places to try in Fira are Falafeland, Yogi Gyro, Lucky’s Souvlakis, Obelix, and Ouzeri.
Free Things to do in Santorini
Explore Oia
Oia is the most picturesque town on the northwestern tip of Santorini. You can walk the narrow alleys of Oia and take in the views of the caldera, blue dome churches, and whitewash houses of Oia.
Watch the sunset in Oia
Oia is famous for its sunsets and is the top activity in Santorini.
Watch the sunset from Fira
Fira is less popular than Oia for sunsets, but you can still catch some excellent ones here. If you are staying in Fira, you can also watch the sunsets from the comfort of your hotel.
Walk from Fira to Imerovigli
You can walk to Oia from Fira, which takes 4 to 5 hours, depending on how many times you stop. If you don’t want to walk to Oia, we recommend walking to Imerovigli and enjoying the views. You can also include a hike to Skaros Rock to have even better views.
Visit beaches
Beaches are free to visit in Santorini. We visited Red Beach near Akrotiri. There are also black sand beaches in Kamari and Perissa.
Click here to see the top things to do in Santorini.