How to Island Hop in Greece on a Backpacker Budget
A top travel destination year-round, Greece is filled with plenty of incredible islands, historical sights, and urban attractions. For backpackers on a budget, there’s ways to easily get around Greece and explore all that it has to offer. Here’s how to island hop in Greece on a backpacker budget.
Start Your Journey in Athens
With inexpensive flights available from major cities around the world, starting in Athens, Greece is a great way to kick off a long trip through Greece. Depending on where you’re coming from, you can find cheap one-way flights to Athens from within Europe, especially if you book ahead. Cities like Rome, Budapest, Berlin, Barcelona, and Paris can be good starting points for flying into Athens within Europe.
Once you’re in Athens, you can easily access the rest of Greece via bus, plane, or ferry. For getting to the different islands, booking a ferry ride can be the most affordable way to go. Compared to flying, ferries are not only cheaper but more scenic. Many ferry lines have services that run during the day and also overnight, and several overnight ferry services have sleeper options available.
Flying to different islands, however, saves time and can also be an inexpensive option, depending on your baggage situation. If you’re traveling light and only have a carry-on bag to go with your personal item, flights to the different Greek islands can be considerably cheap. This is a great option for someone who wants to save time and doesn’t mind booking ahead, since flights tend to rise in price the closer you get to your departure.
Regardless, when you start in Athens, you have several options when it comes to island hopping. Most notable and famous for travelers are the Cyclades, which include the islands of Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, and Paros. This chain of islands is known for its iconic architecture and stunning beaches. But this is also a portion of Greece that is touristy and can be more expensive than other lesser-traveled parts of the country. If you’re interested in visiting the Cyclades, both Tinos and Naxos are quaint islands that are less popular and have sandy beaches, beautiful architecture, and wonderful food.
Getting to Tinos and Naxos
From Athens, you can purchase a one-way ferry to either Tinos or Naxos for relatively cheap. Again, booking in advance is always the best way to save money, and it helps if you travel in the off-seasons. Traveling through Greece during summer will be expensive and crowded, but if that is your only option, you can still find affordable ferry rides and accommodations. When it comes to staying on the islands of Tinos and Naxos, you are not likely to find a hostel, but there are many independently run bed and breakfasts that are affordable and close to the sea.
Getting to Naxos from Athens by ferry takes anywhere from 3 to 6 hours. The island is known for its clear blue waters, white sands, and local feel. Since cruise ships do not service Naxos, it’s a bit more off-the-beaten-path when it comes to tourists. Once you’re on the island, getting around Naxos is easy without a car, and there are tons of great restaurants and museums to explore.
Like Naxos, getting to Tinos from Athens is easy by ferry and only takes a few hours. While there are no proper hostels on the island, there are plenty of apartments for nightly rentals as well as hotels. As another lesser-known island, Tinos offers a more authentic experience when it comes to exploring the islands of Greece. The small island has lots of great food and a more local feel than islands like Mykonos. For a more laid-back travel experience, island hopping to Tinos is a great option for backpackers.
Other Islands to Explore
Crete is home to some of Greece’s most iconic historical sites, such as the Palace of Knossos and ancient Minoan ruins. The island is considered to be home of Europe’s first advanced civilization, and was once ruled by the Ancient Romans. Larger and more populous than Tinos and Naxos, Crete has a mountainous terrain but still sports some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean. Its many mountain ranges make for a scenic backdrop, and there are several gorges that can be explored. With so much history, a number of pristine beaches, and great local food, Crete is a top spot for backpackers island hopping in Greece.
Paros is known for its boutique shops, hotels, and eateries, but the popular Greek island also has loads of great beaches and tons of fascinating history behind it. For backpackers on a budget, Paros might not be at the top of the list, but it still offers plenty to do and has fantastic food. There’s also the Cave of Antiparos, which is considered to be one of the oldest caves in Greece. There are ferries from Athens that run throughout the day, making it easy and quick to access Paros for a few days. With many old churches and great museums to explore, Paros is a worthwhile stop when island hopping around Greece.
