Sizzling souvlakis, all-embracing sunsets and azure tides gambolling at your feet: there’s no place on earth quite like the Greek Islands.
While most of Greece can be expensive there are some fairly cheap islands in Greece – cheap to sleep, cheap to eat and cheap to party. You can get a souvlaki for about €2 and a freddo cappuccino for about 3€ depending on where you go.
The thing is though, accommodation does fluctuate depending on the season and you have to know where you’re going to get to the cheaper islands. Some of the cheaper islands need you to take a ferry or a plane (or a few) to get to them but once you’re there it’s definitely worth being off the mainland.
So it’s possible to get free or cheap accommodation in the Greek Islands, you’ll find these places below.
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Table of Contents
1. Naxos
Naxos is well known and is one of the cheap islands in Greece that should be on your radar.
Similar to Santorini, Naxos is a rocky island of Greece that is surrounded by cyan colored tides you can bathe in, and littered with historical monuments you can visit. It is also one of the best islands for family vacations in Greece.
There is a bit of a hostel culture where you can stay in a private room for a really small fee. Soula hotel charges as little as €39 per night; Golden Beach Studios: €56; Hotel Rea: €44, and Zeus Hotel: €36.
You’ll be able to live on less than €30 a day, if you eat well, drink, and do some free or affordable activities. With accommodation this cheap, you can see why it is one of the cheap islands in Greece that should be on your bucket list! Mind you, the above quoted price is for two!
Best Budget Accommodation In Naxos
Soula Hotel
⭐️ Rating: 8.9/10 (572 Reviews) Price: $39 per night 📍Location: Agios Georgios Beach, Naxos Chora Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Trust me when I say that the Soula Hotel is totally worth staying in. The hotel is family run so you really get a personal touch when it comes to all the amenities offered. It is also located just 20 meters from the beach!
Even the Naxos town center is a short walk away. It takes just 2 minutes to reach it on foot.
The epic location isn’t all that this hotel has to offer. Three different buildings house the different hotel rooms. Each of these are extremely spacious and are comfortable. Plus they come with all the modern amenities.
“Now that I’ve stayed at multiple hotels while island hopping across Greece I can confidently say Soula Naxos was my favorite. It was only place that offered actual hospitality and where I felt like I was really getting my money’s worth.
The location is perfect, right next to the beaches and walking distance from some amazing bars and restaurants. Everything felt clean, safe, and comfortable, will definitely be back!”
Deutsche (read more reviews now!)
While you are there, make sure to make use of the gorgeous terrace. It provides some spectacular views of the Naxos coast! Naxos maybe one of the cheap islands in Greece but hotels like Soula make sure you live in luxury!
Golden Beach Studios
⭐️ Rating: 9.2/10 (113 Reviews) Price: $56 per night 📍Location: Agios Georgios, Naxos Chora Details: Read more on booking.com now!
The Golden beach studios are a little different type of accommodation. They offer studio suites where you can actually cook your meal at home.
If you are a budget traveler then you know that you can save a lot if you make a couple of quick meals at home!
“Great apartments in a good location between Chora and St George’s beach. Rooms were spotless and cleaned every day, Good size room with comfortable bed. Small kitchen area with hob & fridge to prepare food if needed. Lots of excellent restaurants close by.”
Pauline (read more reviews now!)
Aside from a kitchenette, the rooms also come with a private balcony that is perfect for chilling either in the morning or evening hours. Plus there is free parking on site so you don’t have to worry about that either.
Did I mention that the rooms are also stocked with amenities like a hairdryer and a TV?
Hotel Rea
⭐️ Rating: 7.2/10 (73 Reviews) Price: $44 per night 📍Location: Agios Georgios, Naxos Chora Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Hotel Rea is another great hotel when it comes to prime locations. This hotel is just 350 meters away from the main town and less than half that distance to the beach.
“Great location on a budget. Beaches and town very close by.”
Mayank (read more reviews now!)
One of the top attractions in the hotel is that each room comes with large private verandas. Each of which has a sea view. Granted, it is not one of the most luxurious places in town. It is a great place to stay if you are on a budget. Also note that the cost I’ve included is the cost for two people in the hostel.
2. Andros
Andros is a hidden gem huddled above Mykonos and Santorini that hasn’t yet been exposed to all the tourism that the other two have, and it’s more affordable. It’s peaceful – so not as many parties – and easy to get to from Athens, which makes it a great day trip island.
It’s got the knocking boats on the jetty, blue as the sky waters, and white sandy beaches that we all find so alluring about this corner of the world.
You can stay at some pretty luxurious hotels for about €130 a night and some cheaper hostels for about €17.
Best Budget Accommodation In Andros
Ostria Hotel & Apartments
⭐️ Rating: 8.1/10 (823 Reviews) Price: $38 per night 📍Location: Main Street, Gavrion Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Ostria Hotel has a pretty prime location. It is just 300m from the port of Gavrio which means it is easy to get to. There are loads of restaurants and supermarkets close by which makes its locations super convenient.
In addition to that, it also has free parking. You know, just incase you have your own or rented vehicle with you.
“Spacious and clean apartment close to restaurants and supermarkets. Lovely pool area for relaxing. 20 minute walk to the amazing Agios Petros beach. Excellent value for money!”
Natalie (read more reviews now!)
Another good thing about the Ostria hotel aside from the location and the cost, is that each of the units comes with a kitchenette and is airconditioned. Its a great way to beat the heat on one of the hot Greek summers.
This particular spot is one of the best examples of good accommodation that makes cheap islands in Greece hit everyone’s bucket list. After all, the cost of accommodation is usually one of the highest costs when traveling.
Danaides Studios
⭐️ Rating: 9.4/10 (40 Reviews) Price: $46 per night 📍Location: Batsi, Batsi Details: Read more on booking.com now!
This hotel isn’t in the center of the everything and that is why it is such a great idea to consider it. Confused? I know that I have been touting places which are central but it you want a taste of the quiet life then you should check it out!
Not only does it have free private parking, the studios have airconditioned rooms and ensuite bathrooms/
“Definitely value for money, very clean, very near the center, cute backyard. We had sweet brioche breads and wine waiting for us, as well as red eggs (we went in Easter). Dimitra was an excellent host, answered immediately and gave us a detailed map with suggestions on what to do and where to go.”
Eleni (read more reviews now!)
If you are in the mood to cook for yourself, you can use the shared kitchenette. Oh and even though its not super close to the port, the beach is 200m away. There you can easily get loads of taverns and restaurants for a bite to eat.
3. Aegina
If you are looking for cheap islands in Greece then consider heading to Aegina!
Aegina is closer to Athens than Andros which makes it a great day trip — it’s as easy as jumping on a ferry and you’re there. It’s more of a sightseeing island, (and most for free mind you) and it is also one of the cheap islands in Greece. There’s the Doric Temple of Athena Aphaia; the Temple of Apollo, and the Agios Nektarios Monastery as well as the waterfront and Moni Island beach.
Moni Island beach is a secluded beach with roaming deer and peacocks you can see for free, so if animals are up you’re alley it’ll be a great experience for you. You can get a ferry to Aegina from Athens for about €15.
You can stay right along the Port of Agia Marina for as low as €74 a night in peak season. You can see why it is considered one of the cheap islands in Greece.
The Stone House
⭐️ Rating: 9.5/10 (266 Reviews) Price: $60 per night 📍Location: 5, Aegina Town Details: Read more on booking.com now!
The Stone house has a fantastic location and is located very close to the harbor. The rooms are clean, spacious and very comfortable.
One thing that everyone says about this place is that the host is amazing! Oh and the breakfasts each morning are quite the spread.
“Quirky, rustic charm, think Mama Mia, Rena is such a delightful host. Amazing home made breakfast, which I think she is famous for. Lovely views to the sea.”
Lynsey (read more reviews now!)
Think fruit, bread, pastries, eggs, cake and more! My mouth is drooling just thinking about it! It is very highly recommended. Trust me, when it comes to cheap islands in Greece, you don’t really have to skimp out on accommodation because there are gems like this!
Costas Rooms
⭐️ Rating: 9/10 (358 Reviews) Price: $65 per night 📍Location: 3, Aegina Town Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Located just 400m away from the famed Panagitsa Beach, this accommodation has a garden, a terrace and some spectacular views of the city!
For those of you traveling with kids, know that the Costas rooms has family rooms too! Perfect if you need the extra space. I mean, the rooms itself are large, the family rooms are much bigger.
“The location was excellent, very close to all the attractions nearby and restaurants etc. The host was extremely polite and ready to help. Room was quite big and comfortable overall.”
Ioannis (read more reviews now!)
All the rooms are air conditioned which is especially great if you headed out to one of the cheap islands in Greece during the hot summer months.
4. Crete
The gorgeous shorelines of Crete make it one of the well loved cheap islands in Greece.
Crete is a monumental island that travelers love exploring. It has pristine beaches and epic mountain views from spots situated all over the island. The taverns are affordable and the food is good quality and there are hundreds of sites you can visit (and most for free). This puts it high on the list of cheap islands in Greece.
From Athens you can get there by plane for €40. Balos beach, Samaria Gorge, and Palace of Knosses are some excellent places to see in Crete that all have an entry free of about €10. You can visit the Old Venetian Port of Chania for free and see the archeological museum for roughly €20.
Crete has some 3-star hostels that charge between €17 and €23 a night. Public transport around the island will cost around €1.90.
Best Budget Accommodation In Crete
Theo Star Beach Hotel
⭐️ Rating: 8.3/10 (252 Reviews) Price: $61 per night 📍Location: Nikolaou Grammatikaki, Malia Details: Read more on booking.com now!
The highlight about staying at the Theo Star hotel is the beach. Its just a few meters away and everyone who heads to the cheap islands in Greece is looking at indulging their senses at the sandy shores of the islands.
“Great location right by a very nice beach with free sun lounges. Breakfast overlooking the azure waters, absolutely fabulous!”
Maria (read more reviews now!)
Now this may not be the cheapest among all the accommodation that we have talked about but it certainly is money for value. Both the studios and apartments here are extremely spacious. They also have a kitchen incase you want to do a bit on in house cooking.
Did I mention that it also has free parking onsite? Yup! So if you rent a car, you can park here without worrying about additional costs. Plus you can visit the bustling city of Hersonissos which is really close by. It really is one of the best cheap islands in Greece.
Metochi Gavdos
⭐️ Rating: 9.2/10 (302 Reviews) Price: $38 per night 📍Location: Sgoudiana, Gavdos Details: Read more on booking.com now!
If you are headed to Crete for its great hiking then consider staying at Metochi Gavdos. It is not Crete but on one of the smaller islands near by and it is a great place to stop at.
Not only is the accommodation budget friendly, it even has its own tavern and exquisite views of the sea.
“Maria and her family were excellent hosts. We really enjoyed our stay there and felt like home! We had breakfast and dinner multiple times, and they surprised us with the mouthwatering creations each time.”
Dionisis (read more reviews now!)
The rooms are great too. Each room has its own private terrace where you can relax. The only downside is that there is no air-conditioning.
The on-site restaurant even packs lunches for people who head out on hikes. You just need to inform them in advance. Pretty cool right?
5. Zakynthos (Zante)
The blue waters of Zakynthos will convince you that it is one of the best cheap islands in Greece.
Zakynthos, or Zante, and it’s said in English to be a great party island with lots of easy access to free public beaches. Laganas is the main beach and most of the shops along there are affordable, so if you need to buy, say, a bikini you can expect to pay a reasonable amount: around €30.
The parties can go up to about €80 a ticket, but you can find the cheaper ones which might only be €20, and the alcohol is cheap. If you’re looking to take it easy, you can rent a motorbike for about €35 for the day and head up to Porto Limnionas Beach and see the views for free. You can also pay about €20 a go snorkeling around the Keri caves.
Souvlakis are about €2 and a freddo cappuccino are about 3€. During summer, accommodation will cost you about €240 a week, and that will get you your own small apartment with a secondary bed.
The Best Budget Accommodation In Zakynthos
The Senses Tsilivi by Zante Plaza
⭐️ Rating: 9.2/10 (206 Reviews) Price: $47 per night 📍Location: Planos 0, Plános Details: Read more on booking.com now!
An outdoor swimming pool, a terrace and a bar… What more could you ask for? The Sense Tsilivi by Zante Plaza is a gorgeous place to be at and the host’s kindness is one of the reasons why. The actual accommodation is the second.
Large clean rooms with flat screen TVs and air-conditioning are the ultimate luxury that you can pamper yourself with.
“We only stay one night due to flight issue but we had a great time there. Elena is so kind that she let us to extend our stay at room until we left for flying at 8 pm without extra charge. The breakfast was so delicious and had many choices. Love to stay here again if we visit Zakynthis next time.”
Nancy (read more reviews now!)
It is also close to a couple of beaches and the breakfast here is amazing. The best part? Well the cost of a room per night is $47. Mind you this is the price for two unlike in many hostels so its actually pretty good. Makes it pretty intriguing as one of the cheap islands in Greece doesn’t it? I know that I’m tempted!
Pro Tips When It Comes To Cheap Islands In Greece
One of the things that you have to keep in mind when searching for the cheap islands in Greece is to find the right accommodation. That is usually where people spend the largest amount of their money on a holiday. There are various ways that you can reduce this expenditure.
So keep scrolling to check out all the other pro tips I have when it comes to how to budget your vacation on one of the cheap islands in Greece.
Try House Sitting in Greece
If you prefer to not pay anything you can try house sitting in the Greek Islands. It’s cheaper than Airbnb’s and hotels — all you have to do is feed or walk the dog and maybe water the plant occasionally. I was able to do this in Mykonos and Crete for weeks on end just by responding to adds on House Sitters and various other housing websites I was able to make an account on.
Places You May Want to Avoid
Places you want to probably avoid if you’re looking for cheap islands in Greece to visit are Mykonos, Santorini, Hydra, Paros, Corfu and Kefalonia. You can however visit them for a day and stay at some hostels at cheap islands in Greece for as little as €9 a night. Trust me, you just have to take a glance at a few quotes on Santorini and you’ll be heading right over!
It’s one of the best experiences, because you don’t need to pay a thing to stay at the house, and you get to live like a local for as long as the owner needs. You’d be surprised how easy it can be sometimes.
The websites do charge a premium, so just have a look, but for what it’s worth (especially if you’re paying accommodation anyway), it’s worth it if you’re wanting to slow travel in a place and stay that extra couple of months to soak in what that place has to offer.
There you have it! These are some of the best cheap islands in Greece. The best part is that they all have amazing coasts, plenty of activities for all ages and are pretty easy to get to! Many even have loads of things to do.
Do you know any other cheap islands in Greece that should be on this list? Let us know in the comments below.
