Go Greek on the cheap – how our experts stay in Santorini and Mykonos on a budget with £35 rooms and £4 dinners

The Irish Sun

02-07-2025

THE Greek islands are a dream for holidaymakers looking for sun, sea and whitewashed backdrops.
But this Instagram-perfect mix has also made
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The Greek islands are some of the most stunning places in Europe - but they come with a hefty price tag
Credit: Getty
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Kim Kardashian poses on Mykonos, which has become a magnet for celebrities
Credit: Instagram/kimkardashian
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Freelance travel writer Laura Millar has visited Mykonos every year since she was a teenager
Credit: Laura Millar
Every summer, paparazzi pics of A-listers
So it's no surprise that holidays here
However, for those in the know, a
We spoke to two Greek experts who spend every summer on the islands and their tips could save you hundreds on your holiday.
Money saving in Mykonos
Freelance travel writer Laura Millar has been going to
Mykonos has gained a reputation for being one of the most
Think narrow, maze-like winding streets, walls draped in bright pink bougainvillea and cute chalk-white churches.
But it doesn't have to be extortionate. I speak from experience, as someone who came here for the first time as a student, and has been returning almost every year since.
Swerve the summer
Firstly, if possible, avoid visiting in high season, which is July and August.
Inside Love Island's Maura Higgins' luxurious £2.6k a NIGHT holiday to Mykonos as she poses with £530 designer beach bag
Not only will you
Book as far in advance as you can, or set price alerts for the month you want to travel on sites like Skyscanner.
If you time it right, British Airways offers flights from around £72 one way from London in October, while Easyjet flies from Manchester from £32.99 one way in the same month.
When it comes to accommodation, I like to stay in pretty
As hotels can be pricey, I usually book an Airbnb, and when you share with two or three others you can usually find places that don't cost more than £50 per person per night.
You may be tempted to stay somewhere further away, but bear in mind that while you might find a cheaper hotel in a quieter area, such as family-friendly Ornos or Platis Gialos (a ten to fifteen minute drive from town), you'll have to factor in the cost of paying for a taxi to Mykonos Town, which can get expensive.
Some places are served by a bus route, but not all, so it can be inconvenient.
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When it comes to accommodation, Laura likes to stay in pretty Mykonos Town, home to plenty of affordable bars and tavernas
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Mykonos has plenty of stunning beaches to choose from, whether you want peace and quiet or prefer thumping tunes
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When it comes to beaches, Mykonos has plenty to choose from, whether you want peace and quiet or prefer thumping tunes played by an on-site DJ.
Being based in Mykonos Town means you can take advantage of the network of public buses which serve most of the
Head to Paraga, a slightly quieter beach with plenty of cheap and cheerful tavernas right on the sand.
My favouite is
Be aware, however, that all beaches charge visitors for the privilege of using a sun lounger with a parasol.
Prices can vary from around £20 per day to an
If you don't fancy shelling out, buy a cheap beach umbrella when you get there and lay your towel on the sand.
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Cafe tables and chairs right near the sea with waves overlooking famous Mykonos windmills.
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Med-priced meals
Eating out can be incredibly reasonable if you know where to go.
As there's plenty of competition in
You can't beat
For a quick daytime or late night snack, Leonidas, in the
Fancy a fun night out with cheap drinks?
Head to the popular
Like
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Sunset on the island of Santorini, Greece
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Beers cost £8 and you'll be pushed to get one for cheaper than that in Mykonos.
If you want to be boujee on a budget, do what we do and buy a bottle of Prosecco and some paper cups from one of the supermarkets and take it to the square by the
Save money in Santorini
Local expert Heidi Fuller-Love - a travel writer based in Greece - shares her ways to save and see a more authentic side to Santorini, despite its reputation as one of Greece's
Mykonos is not the only island with a reputation for being overpriced and overcrowded - Santorini is a
Rumour has it that now that Santorini has picked up a premium price tag, it's putting people off, with hotels reporting bookings down by as much as 20–30% this year.
However it's absolutely possible to explore this sizzling Cyclades island in the sun without breaking the bank
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Heidi Fuller-Love knows the secret to Santorini on a shoestring
Credit: Heidi Fuller-love
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Santorini island and its famous blue-domed skyline
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Stay away from the caldera
Santorini might be known for its picturesque volcanic caldera sprinkled with white villages and blue-domed churches, but if you want to save the pennies, head inland.
Away from tourist-heavy hotspots like Oia and Fira, you'll find picture-postcard villages like Megalochori, Pyrgos, or Emborio with cobbled streets, homely tavernas, and c
A lot of people are surprised when I recommend simple but lovely hotels like
Something with few more facilities like Depalmya Suites costs a bit more, but you can still get a deal for £350 for four nights, which is far less than the package prices suggest.
Beach by bus
Car hire is expensive
Luckily, there are plenty of buses in summer leaving from Oia's central bus station (generally every half hour), and tickets cost less than £2.
For the same price, there's also a
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Oia Ia village on Santorini is a sweet spot
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Kamari beach has reasonably-priced sun loungers
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Santorini has plenty of free attractions, if you know where to look.
The beaches, for starters,
It's a bit of a trek to get onto it, but you are rewarded with an uncrowded spot in a
Perissa and Kamari both boast sweeping lengths of black volcanic sand - but, like Mykonos, sun loungers are expensive, so take your own towel and grab a shady spot by the sea wall.
The thing everyone wants to do is a catamaran tour
Instead, enjoy the highlights on a
At sun down, if you're feeling energetic, hike up the cobbled cliff-edge path from Fira to Oia at sunset.
The
Eat like a local
Expect to pay top-notch prices for a table with a
But in the warren of streets behind the volcano's rim, you'll find simple tavernas and cafés serving gyros pita, or tomato-and-sauce-stuffed falafel wraps, for around £4.
If you fancy a picnic, pick up a bag of cheese-stuffed tiropita pies or spanakopita spinach pies from family-run
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Local food tastes better and costs less
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For keenly priced Santorini-themed meals, follow locals to family-run tavernas like
Both have sea views and fresh seafood, like a huge bowl of steamed mussels for £10 and grilled chicken skewers with rice for £12. Beers here are just £4.50 too.
Starry nights out in Santorini can be expensive, but clubs like Town Club Fira or
At Two Brothers, you can get a cocktail for £5, which is half the price of Marinera Bar down the road
Alternatively, grab a hammock and enjoy great value drinks and snacks as you lounge or dance in the sand at
Opting for
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Santorini habour at sunset is stunning
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Go out of season
In summer months in Santorini, when cruise ships dock at Fira and honeymooners head for Oia, you can expect crowds, sizzling heat, and bling-bling prices.
Just like in Mykonos, in May or October, evenings are cooler but days are
Flights cost half the price, on my last trip I paid £28 one way.
Accommodation will be less per night and tavernas tend to offer more value for money too, to draw in business.
If flights are coming up expensive for your dates, there is a way to travel to Santorini much cheaper.
Book a flight to Athens. Ryaniar have bargain flights to the capital for as little as £19 each way.
From here, take a ferry over to Santorini for £40. It's