Cost To Visit Greece: Travel Budget Guide (2026)
Planning to visit Greece? Learn how much money you will need for hotels, food, transportation, and attractions—plus seasonal price changes, day trip costs, and realistic daily and weekly budgets.
There are many things that can affect the cost of your trip to Greece—when you go and what type of traveler you are will also play a part. This guide breaks down the basics you can expect when visiting Greece, so you can plan your travel budget.
Is Visiting Greece Expensive?
Greece can be more affordable than many U.S. vacations if you avoid the most in-demand islands in peak season, but it can also get very expensive fast—especially on famous islands and during summer.
Compared to the broader Mediterranean region, Greece is often average to moderately priced overall, yet premium islands (think postcard-caldera views) can be among the most expensive spots in Southern Europe during peak weeks.
One of the biggest cost “surprises” in Greece is how different the budget feels between cities vs islands:
- Cities (Athens, Thessaloniki): usually cheaper lodging, more low-cost food options, and public transit that keeps daily expenses controlled.
- Islands: often higher hotel rates, more expensive restaurants in tourist zones, and added costs like ferries/flights, scooter/car rentals, and limited inventory in peak season (which pushes prices up).
Below, we’ll break down Greece travel seasons, then a detailed expense breakdown for lodging, food, transportation, and attractions—followed by organized day trip costs and realistic daily/weekly budgets.
Greece uses the Euro (€). All costs are shown in € (EUR) and converted to $ (USD).
Greece Vacation Costs
Below is a detailed expense breakdown for accommodations, food, transportation, and attractions—followed by day trip costs and realistic daily/weekly budgets.
Avg. Accommodation Cost
Note on city vs island pricing: These ranges reflect “typical Greece trip planning.” Athens often sits on the lower end of each range, while Santorini/Mykonos often sit at the high end (or above it) in peak weeks.
Peak (Jun–Aug)
- Budget Travelers: €95–€170 (≈ $104–$185) per night
- Mid-Range Travelers: €170–€320 (≈ $185–$349) per night
- Luxury Travelers: €380–€900+ (≈ $415–$982+) per night
Shoulder-Season (Apr–May, Sep–Oct)
- Budget Travelers: €80–€150 (≈ $87–$164)
- Mid-Range Travelers: €150–€280 (≈ $164–$305)
- Luxury Travelers: €320–€780+ (≈ $349–$851+)
Off-Season (Nov–Mar)
- Budget Travelers: €65–€125 (≈ $71–$136)
- Mid-Range Travelers: €125–€230 (≈ $136–$251)
- Luxury Travelers: €250–€600+ (≈ $273–$655+)
Food Cost
Budget Travelers
- Breakfast: €5–€10 (≈ $5–$11)
- Lunch: €10–€18 (≈ $11–$20)
- Dinner: €15–€28 (≈ $16–$31)
Mid-Range Travelers
- Breakfast: €10–€18 (≈ $11–$20)
- Lunch: €18–€30 (≈ $20–$33)
- Dinner: €35–€70 (≈ $38–$76)
Luxury Travelers
- Breakfast: €18–€30 (≈ $20–$33)
- Lunch: €30–€60 (≈ $33–$66)
- Dinner: €80–€180+ (≈ $87–$196+)
Island cost note: On high-demand islands, the same meal often costs more—especially in scenic-view locations and beach clubs.
Transportation Cost
Transportation in Greece is usually manageable if you plan around public transit in cities and smart island logistics (ferry vs flight, car vs scooter, how often you move).
Athens Airport (ATH) → City
- Metro/train: €9–€12 (≈ $10–$13) one-way
- Express bus: €6–€8 (≈ $7–$9) one-way
- Taxi: €40–€65 (≈ $44–$71) one-way (time/demand can change this)
Getting around Athens
- Metro/bus/tram rides: budget a typical daily transit spend around €6–€12 (≈ $7–$13)
Ferries (main island cost difference)
Island hopping adds cost quickly. Ferry prices vary by speed/route:
- Shorter routes: €25–€60 (≈ $27–$65) round trip
- Longer / high-speed routes: €60–€160+ (≈ $65–$175+) round trip
If you’re moving islands often, ferry costs can become a major budget line item.
Domestic flights (when it’s worth it)
Sometimes domestic flights are faster (and occasionally comparable in price to high-speed ferries):
- Typical range: €50–€160+ (≈ $55–$175+) one-way depending on route and demand
Car rental
- Off-Season: €35–€70 (≈ $38–$76) per day
- Shoulder: €40–€85 (≈ $44–$93) per day
- Peak: €55–€120+ (≈ $60–$131+) per day
Parking and narrow roads can matter more on islands and old towns.
Scooter/ATV rental (common on islands)
- Scooter: €20–€45 (≈ $22–$49) per day
- ATV: €35–€90+ (≈ $38–$98+) per day
Only do this if you’re an experienced rider and comfortable with local road conditions.
Private driver (popular for island sightseeing days)
- €250–€650+ (≈ $273–$709+) per day depending on hours, route, and vehicle
Attractions
Here are some of the most popular attractions across Greece (costs vary by season and site rules, but these ranges are useful for budgeting):
- Acropolis & Parthenon (Athens): €15–€30 (≈ $16–$33)
- Acropolis Museum: €10–€15 (≈ $11–$16)
- Ancient Agora / Roman Agora combo visits: often €10–€20 (≈ $11–$22)
- Temple of Poseidon (Cape Sounion): €10–€20 (≈ $11–$22)
- Delphi archaeological site: €12–€20 (≈ $13–$22)
- Meteora monasteries (entry per monastery): €3–€6 (≈ $3–$7)
- Santorini caldera-view experiences: “pay for the view” (many are free to enjoy; dining is where costs climb)
- Mykonos beach clubs: variable; often €20–€80+ (≈ $22–$87+) depending on minimums and seating
Day Trip and Attractions Costs
| Day Trip | Transportation Cost (Round Trip) | Top Attraction | Attraction Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delphi (from Athens) | €30–€70 (≈ $33–$76) bus/tour | Delphi archaeological site | €12–€20 (≈ $13–$22) |
| Meteora (from Athens) | €50–€140 (≈ $55–$153) train/tour | Meteora monasteries | €3–€6 (≈ $3–$7) per monastery |
| Cape Sounion | €18–€60 (≈ $20–$65) bus/tour | Temple of Poseidon | €10–€20 (≈ $11–$22) |
| Hydra (day ferry trip) | €60–€120 (≈ $65–$131) ferry | Car-free island stroll + harbor | Free (spend optional) |
| Aegina | €25–€60 (≈ $27–$65) ferry | Temple of Aphaia | €6–€10 (≈ $7–$11) |
| Nafplio + Mycenae (long day) | €30–€90 (≈ $33–$98) bus/tour | Mycenae archaeological site | €10–€20 (≈ $11–$22) |
Daily Budget
A solid daily budget (per person) including lodging, meals, local transport, and a modest amount for attractions:
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | €95–€170 (≈ $104–$185) |
| Shoulder | €85–€155 (≈ $93–$169) |
| Off-Season | €75–€140 (≈ $82–$153) |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | €180–€320 (≈ $196–$349) |
| Shoulder | €160–€290 (≈ $175–$316) |
| Off-Season | €140–€260 (≈ $153–$284) |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | €420–€850+ (≈ $458–$927+) |
| Shoulder | €380–€780+ (≈ $415–$851+) |
| Off-Season | €320–€650+ (≈ $349–$709+) |
Weekly Budget (7 Days)
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | €665–€1,190 (≈ $725–$1,298) | €210–€420 (≈ $229–$458) | €60–€170 (≈ $65–$185) | €90–€240 (≈ $98–$262) | €1,025–€2,020 (≈ $1,117–$2,203) |
| Shoulder | €560–€1,050 (≈ $611–$1,145) | €210–€420 (≈ $229–$458) | €55–€155 (≈ $60–$169) | €80–€220 (≈ $87–$240) | €905–€1,845 (≈ $987–$2,011) |
| Off-Season | €455–€875 (≈ $496–$954) | €200–€400 (≈ $218–$436) | €50–€140 (≈ $55–$153) | €70–€200 (≈ $76–$218) | €775–€1,615 (≈ $845–$1,761) |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | €1,190–€2,240 (≈ $1,298–$2,442) | €420–€770 (≈ $458–$840) | €90–€260 (≈ $98–$284) | €160–€380 (≈ $175–$415) | €1,860–€3,650 (≈ $2,029–$3,981) |
| Shoulder | €1,050–€1,960 (≈ $1,145–$2,136) | €400–€720 (≈ $436–$785) | €85–€240 (≈ $93–$262) | €150–€350 (≈ $164–$382) | €1,685–€3,270 (≈ $1,838–$3,565) |
| Off-Season | €875–€1,610 (≈ $954–$1,755) | €380–€680 (≈ $415–$742) | €75–€220 (≈ $82–$240) | €130–€320 (≈ $142–$349) | €1,460–€2,830 (≈ $1,593–$3,086) |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | €2,660–€6,300+ (≈ $2,902–$6,867+) | €980–€2,100+ (≈ $1,069–$2,289+) | €220–€800+ (≈ $240–$872+) | €300–€1,200+ (≈ $327–$1,309+) | €4,160–€10,400+ (≈ $4,538–$11,337+) |
| Shoulder | €2,240–€5,460+ (≈ $2,442–$5,953+) | €900–€2,000+ (≈ $982–$2,182+) | €200–€720+ (≈ $218–$785+) | €280–€1,050+ (≈ $305–$1,145+) | €3,620–€9,230+ (≈ $3,947–$10,065+) |
| Off-Season | €1,750–€4,200+ (≈ $1,907–$4,578+) | €840–€1,900+ (≈ $916–$2,071+) | €180–€650+ (≈ $196–$709+) | €240–€900+ (≈ $262–$982+) | €3,010–€7,650+ (≈ $3,281–$8,340+) |
Flight Cost
Flight cost depends on where you’re departing from, the season, and the airline. Major international airports usually have cheaper flights than smaller airports. Most U.S. travelers fly into Athens (ATH), with some routes connecting onward to island airports.
Average round-trip flight ranges from the U.S.:
- Peak: €750–€1,400 (≈ $818–$1,526)
- Shoulder: €600–€1,150 (≈ $655–$1,254)
- Off-Season: €480–€950 (≈ $523–$1,036)
You can save money on flights by signing up for cheap flight alerts from Jetsetter Alerts.
Learn what Greece is like for tourism and weather during the month you want to visit!
Cards are widely accepted in Greece, especially in cities and tourist areas, but cash is still helpful for small tavernas, tips, beach vendors, and smaller islands.
- Practical cash buffer: €20–€60 (≈ $22–$65) per person per day.
ATMs are common, but on smaller islands they can be limited—so it’s smart to withdraw before you arrive.
In most cases, Athens is cheaper than the islands—especially the famous ones.
- Cities (Athens/Thessaloniki): more hotel competition, more budget food options, and public transit that keeps daily costs lower.
- Islands: higher hotel rates in peak season, more “tourist-zone” pricing, and extra costs like ferries/flights plus scooter/car rentals.
- Big exception: smaller, less-hyped islands can be very affordable—pricing spikes the most in places like Santorini and Mykonos.
January is often one of the cheapest months for Greece, especially for Athens and mainland travel.
- Why it’s cheaper: lower hotel demand and fewer crowds.
- Tradeoff: many islands are quieter with reduced ferry schedules and seasonal closures.
August is often one of the most expensive months due to peak summer demand.
- Island hotels book up early and rates jump.
- Ferries and domestic flights can be more expensive and sell out faster.
It can be—especially if you base in Athens (or one affordable island), travel in shoulder/off-season, and limit pricey island-hopping.
- Works best for: Athens + 1 nearby island/day trips, casual meals, a few paid attractions.
- Harder to do: Santorini/Mykonos in peak season, multiple islands with ferries, and lots of tours.
A big cost driver is how many times you pay for ferries/flights plus separate island transport.
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