16 Money Saving Tips for Santorini: Visiting Santorini on a Budget
Want to visit Santorini on a budget? Check out these money saving tips to learn how to save money in Santorini while making the most of this stunning island.
Once you step foot on Santorini, you’ll completely understand why it receives over 2 million tourists each year. With its famous white washed buildings and beautiful blue domes, you’ll be in awe of how close Santorini is to paradise. Unfortunately, the cost and crowds may put you off, but it is possible to visit on a budget.
Here are 16 money saving tips for Santorini that can make your trip to Santorini budget-friendly – or at least close to it!
Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase.
Money Saving Tips for Hotels in Santorini
Your accommodation in Santorini will be your biggest expense during your trip. Fortunately, there are ways to save money on hotels in Santorini to make it more reasonable.
1. Visit in the shoulder seasons
Avoid summer in Santorini. This is when it is most crowded and prices skyrocket. Instead, visit the Greek Isles in the spring or fall during the shoulder seasons. The shoulder season typically runs April/May and October/November.
You’ll still have great weather but without the crowds or prices. In fact, I’d venture a guess that your trip will be even more enjoyable without the heat of summer or fighting for a place to watch the sunset in Oia.
While visiting in winter, or the off-season is possible, many places on the island close down during this time. This may effect your overall experience which is why I recommend you aim for shoulder season.
Learn more about the tourist seasons in Santorini with 10 Things to Know Before You Go to Santorini.
2. Stay in lesser known parts of the island
Booking a hotel in Oia will run you a pretty penny, no matter what season you’re visiting in. However, there are many other great places to stay in Santorini.
Fira, for example, is a lively and central area that is much more affordable than Oia. Or, you can go a bit further south to Perissa or Kamari. Both Perissa and Kamari are small beachfront towns offering wonderful and affordable accommodations.
Learn more about Fira and Perissa to determine which area might be right for you.
3. Shop around for the right accommodations
There are a ton of Santorini hotels for all budgets. If your budget is tight, it may be worth considering a hostel, Airbnb, or VRBO over a traditional hotel. In fact, here are 5 sites to find affordable accommodations to help you find something right for your budget.
4. Book early!
Santorini is a popular destination and in high season (summer), things sell out. No matter which season you’re looking at, you’ll get the best prices if you book your Santorini hotel multiple months in advance.
Finding Affordable Food and Drink in Santorini
One of the great pleasures in Greece is the amazingly fresh and flavorful Greek food. There are a lot of ways to keep your food budget in Santorini low while also enjoying some of the most delicious food on the island. Here are some of the best money saving tips in Santorini regarding your daily meals.
5. Avoid cliffside and sunset view restaurants
While you’ll want to enjoy all of the fabulous views in Santorini, you can save money by eating at inland restaurants. You won’t be paying for the view, but the food will still be delightful! And, you’ll still have plenty of the time to take in all the stunning scenery.
6. Avoid restaurants in Oia
With Oia being the tourism hot spot of Santorini, you can expect to pay more for almost everything in Oia. This includes restaurants. You’ll find meals can be up to 50% more expensive in Oia simply due to location. To find budget eats in Santorini, look outside of Oia.
7. Seek out affordable but filling food
Looking to save even more money on food in Santorini? There are lots of “grab and go” types of restaurants and foods. If you’re really on a budget, try a Greek gyro. Not only are they tasty, but they are also filling and affordable. They can be found for as low as 4 euros at some of the food stands.
8. Stay at a hotel that includes breakfast
Many hotels in Santorini include breakfast. This will save you the cost of one meal per day, which can really add up over your full trip.
9. Visit the local markets
Save even more money in Santorini by visiting the local supermarkets and stocking up on a few key items. You can easily make breakfast a self-serve option by picking up some yogurt and fruit or select some bread and spreads for lunch.
It’s also a smart idea to purchase some snacks that you can use to snack your way through your mid-day meal. This can save you on the cost of lunch in Santorini.
10. Hit up Happy Hour
Many restaurants and bars offer happy hour. You’ll often find 2 for 1 drinks which makes drinking in Santorini quite affordable! Or you can find drink and snack deals for under 5 euros.
Happy hour is commonplace around the island and typically hits late afternoon, so keep an eye out. If you’re really looking to “party”, you can even find shots as low as 1 euro during happy hour.
Save Money on Santorini Transportation
Transportation to and from Santorini as well as on the island can be expensive. Here are some tips to make visiting Santorini budget-friendly.
11. Avoid taxis and take the bus
While taxis are always the easiest option for traveling around places, it is also the most expensive option due to the convenience. In Santorini there are only 25 taxis on the island, so not only will it be an expensive means of transportation, but it may also be hard to find a taxi.
Fortunately, there is the local bus system which is affordable and safe. Most rides will cost under 2 euros, and they can get you to almost anywhere on the island. Use the bus to get around if you’re on a budget in Santorini.
12. Book ferries (or flights) in advance
Similarly to accommodation, booking your ferries or flights to Santorini early will save you money. Generally prices rise as your timeline gets closer. If you book up to two months before hand, you could save up to 25%!
13. Take the overnight ferries
The ferry costs of island hopping in Greece can add up quickly. However, there are some options for overnight ferries to Santorini, which are typically more affordable.
This is a great option for budget conscious travelers as you can save on your ferry ticket (up to 50%!), and you also save the cost of a night in a hotel or hostel. Win-win! Of course, you won’t sleep as well, but you also won’t waste a day of your vacation on the ferry.
14. Consider walking when possible
There are multiple places you can reach within Santorini by walking. For example, at some point during your trip, you might want to hike from Fira to Oia. This hike will take between 2.5 – 3 hours. And within each town, you can easily get around on foot!
Find Budget Friendly Activities in Santorini
Santorini is a beautiful island offering plenty of activities to do on a budget. Here are a couple of money saving tips for Santorini activities.
15. Take in the free activities and attractions
Santorini can be enjoyable even on a strict budget. Think stunning views over the Aegean Sea, world class sunsets, beautiful beaches, delicious food, winding white-washed alleys…. You can easily have a memorable vacation without spending a ton of money on sunset cruises and wine tours. Just make sure to spend most of your time enjoying the natural beauty and the other free things to do in Santorini.
Check out 25 Best Things to Do in Santorini.
16. Skip the tours and do it yourself!
Like any popular tourist destination, Santorini offers lots of tours around the island. Rather than sign up for a tour, do it yourself! It’s easy to take the buses around the island or you can rent an ATV, bike, or car to explore the areas the buses won’t reach.
Doing activities yourself will typically be cheaper than a tour, and you can split the cost with others! There are of course some tours that you can’t do yourself, like taking a sunset cruise. Save your Santorini budget for those adventures.
Planning a Trip to Greece?
With these money saving tips for Santorini, you can hopefully afford to visit Santorini and beyond! Here are additional resources to help you plan your trip to Greece.
- One Week in Greece: A First Time Visitor’s Itinerary
- Where to Stay in Santorini: Fira or Perissa?
- 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Oia, Santorini: Where to Stay
- Top 25 Things to Do in Santorini
- Santorini Travel Guide for First Timers: 10 Things to Know Before You Go
- How to Rent a Quad in Santorini
- How to Spend 1 Day in Athens
- What to Expect of Mykonos
Like this post? Pin it.
We really want to travel the Greek Islands. Thank you for your practical insights.
I hope you make it to Greece soon! You will love it! The Greek Islands are every bit as beautiful as expected.
I haven’t visited Santorini yet so this post will really come in handy!
You’ll love Santorini! It’s such a magical island.
These tips are so helpful! I was just in Santorini and it is quite expensive for Greece. These tips are awesome!
Thanks! Did you absolutely love it?? Santorini is definitely the most expensive part of Greece I visited. Although with a few minor changes, it didn’t completely break the bank on my long term backpacker budget!