How To Save Money On Greek Ferry Tickets

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Isle hopping in Hellenic republic is ane of those dream vacations that everyone fantasizes nigh doing at some indicate in their lives.

Well, at least I did.

For YEARS.

Then finally, I got my risk to go to Hellenic republic in tardily May/Early June. Despite never having been earlier, I had a feeling that I'd honey information technology so planned to stick around for a while: 3 and a half weeks, well-nigh of which I planned on spending in the islands.

Even so, as dreamy as those azure waters and white villages are, permit me be the starting time to tell you something actually, actually important: Islands Hopping in Greece is crazy expensive.

Seriously.

I had slight panic attacks when I offset started looking at buying ferry tickets. Plenty so that I had to readjust my Greek island hopping plans several times to keep myself more in budget.

That being said, I also discovered a fun, like shooting fish in a barrel, adventurous, and affordable way to run across plenty of Greek islands without blowing out my depository financial institution business relationship.

Interested? Good- you should exist.

Here'southward what you need to know well-nigh Island hopping in Greece based on my personal experience.

Island Hopping in Greece: Ferries

Greek Ferry

When it comes to islands hopping in Greece, the most obvious selection is to employ the ferries. At kickoff glance, the ferries seem like the easiest and most affordable option to get around.

Not quite true.

To start with, the ferries are not cheap. I took two ferries during my time in Greece. The first of which was from Athens to Paros (4 hours) then Paros to Santorini (3 hours). Athens to Paros price me over $70CAD after the exchange while Paros to Santorini was just under $50CAD (past the mode, this was shoulder flavour pricing non high season). Considering I've gotten flights effectually Europe and Southeast Asia for less than that, I was a little disappointed.

Keep in mind that these costs are also for the economy class. There's literally nothing else included in your ticket price-not even a seat. I managed to grab a seat at a minor tabular array from Athens to Paros, but from Paros to Santorini I was squished into a big tabular array in the cafeteria area with a agglomeration of strangers considering there was nowhere else to go. It was fine, just nothing special.

The ferries, even the fast ones that I took, likewise take quite a while. As I mentioned earlier my respective rides were 4 hours and 3 hours. No, it'due south not the end of the world just that withal ends up being half a day when you lot also consider that you lot need to become to the Port an 60 minutes early at least. Sometimes even earlier if you volume your ticket online and need it printed (which has to be done at the respective ferry office and comes with a small press fee of 1-ii euro).

Speaking of booking ferry tickets, there's a lot of mixed information on that besides. I was told that I should book my tickets well in advance because they book up quickly. This meant paying more for booking online, and so paying the additional printing fee and, every bit I mentioned earlier, having to arrive early to the port to impress the tickets. At present, when I visited in late May/early June- I really didn't demand to book in advance online. I could have gone downward to the role and booked my tickets a 24-hour interval or two before which would have saved me a few euros. That being said, the ferry ports aren't always the easiest to get to and in places similar Athens and Santorini, they are quite far from anything else. Then, booking online did have a scrap of a convenience cistron in that regard. I would also imagine that it is a improve thought to book early on if you lot are visiting during the loftier season (mid-June to September), which sees considerably more tourists than I had to bargain with.

Then, can you apply the ferries for island hopping in Greece? Of course y'all can. However, it's not the all-time manner and definitely non the cheapest mode.

Looking to volume a ferry in Greece? Check Ferryhopper.

Island Hopping in Greece: Flights

Another way to experience islands hopping in Greece is by flight between the islands. As tin be expected, flight around the Greek islands is pricier than the ferry. All the same, flying does have the added advantage of being much faster and maybe even easier.

Flight prices volition vary depending on time you fly, the airline, where you lot are flight, the season, and how far in advance you volume your flight. I booked my flight from Santorini to Athens most two weeks in accelerate and paid a trivial over $100CAD which included a checked handbag. I didn't check ferry prices for the same road, however since the fast ferry nevertheless takes 9 hours to get between the two places, I was willing to pay the extra to save on the time.

The disadvantage to flying is obviously needing to prove upwardly at the airport early to get checked in which adds extra time. Again though, adding an actress two hours to a 40-minute flight however beat the 9-hr ferry in my example.

However, as ideal as flying may sound in comparing to the long and expensive ferry rides, they aren't the best method for isle hopping in Greece either. While the big and well-nigh popular islands have airports, not every isle has an airport. Sure, if you merely plan on visiting say, Mykonos or Santorini, so flight might piece of work for you. But, if you want to visit some of the smaller, more local islands (which I highly recommend) then flight won't be a peachy choice.

Another disadvantage to flight is that, while information technology's easy to get from Athens to one of the islands, information technology's not e'er as easy to fly between the islands. Information technology takes a lot of advance planning to work things into your schedule and, even and then, you may accept to backtrack through Athens if flight is the way you desire to go.

Island Hopping in Greece: Sailing

The real reason I went to Hellenic republic is because I was invited to try out an Intrepid Travel sailing bout through the Cyclades islands. Information technology was honestly one of the all-time travel experiences I've all the same.

The tour I did was ten days (starting and ending in Santorini) and we visited vii islands forth the way. We got to spend at least half a mean solar day on each island which, at first, I worried wouldn't be enough time just it really ended upwardly existence perfect. Existence able to experience so many different islands allowed me to feel more and run into the differences between them.

Tiny Iraklia and Schinoussa were absolutely adorable. I never would take through to get to either on my own and I loved how non-touristic they were. Equally such, prices were much more than reasonable also which I definitely appreciated. Both islands were tiny with non much going on, so they made the perfect place to spend half a day enjoying the pristine local beach earlier grabbing a meal and drinks at a local taverna.

Syros was another island that surprised me. The capital of the Cyclades, it had a completely different feel than the other islands. We went into X which had a real metropolis feel, more like something y'all would observe in Italy or the South of France, compared to the small white villages that I had grown accustomed to exploring on the other islands. Information technology was definitely worth exploring.

Of course, we likewise visited some of the main islands besides: Naxos, Paros, Ios, and the famous party island: Mykonos. Originally, I planned to visit Mykonos on my own for a few days as well, but cancelled those plans in one case I saw the ferry prices. For me, that half a day was the perfect amount of time to spend. I didn't get to whatsoever of the beach clubs, but nosotros explored town, saw a stunning sunset, and even half a day well-nigh emptied my wallet: 17 euro cocktails, anyone?

Without a doubt, sailing was the perfect method for Greek isle hopping because we got to see then much at an affordable toll. Recollect, with sailing yous sleep on a boat then not only was our transportation taken care of (8 islands in total including Santorini) only that was likewise our adaptation every bit well.

I as well want to betoken out that our transportation wasn't merely getting from bespeak A to point B- simply involved a bit of an adventure alone the style. Sailing is incredible- I absolutely loved it. We saw sea turtles and pods of dolphins- a few of which fifty-fifty stayed with us one day and played effectually the boat. We also had swim stops nearly every 24-hour interval (weather-dependent) which included pond through caves and free diving effectually a WWII plane wreck. Information technology was incredible and, over again, not something I would have been able to do on my own.

Substantially, built within the price of the sailing tour we had: accommodation, transportation, a guide, and daily activities. When yous compared pricing and break it downwards similar that, there'south no question that sailing is the best value when information technology comes to isle hopping in Greece and, based on my experience, also the most enjoyable.

My Favourite Cycladic Islands for Greek Island Hopping

Paros

Paros is, without a doubt, my favourite Greek island. Specifically, the town of Naousa which I might likewise contend is the prettiest Greek village. I spent half dozen days hither only relaxing, exploring, and visiting the beaches, and brutal head over heels in love with it. Originally, Paros wasn't on our itinerary merely our skipper loves it well-nigh as much as I do and suggested an itinerary change which we all jumped on board with. Everyone in our grouping loved Naousa.

Santorini

Santorini is iconic when it comes to the Greek islands. While information technology wasn't my favourite spot, I'one thousand glad I visited and spent a few days exploring the island. The crowds were awful at times and the prices were absurd in Oia and Thira, just in that location is no denying that it is admittedly stunning and I really think information technology is a must-run across. Be sure to cheque out my Santorini itinerary.

Amorgos

Amorgos surprised me which how cute it was. The hora (erstwhile town) was perched up on a hill that we needed to rent a machine to become to. We besides did a mini road-trip to a nearby monastery built into a cliff, and a photo stop by the water where we saw a Greek Nuptials (I secretly wanted to crash it). The landscape was cute and the hora was adorable. I also really enjoyed the port area where I had the best moussaka e'er that I'chiliad pretty certain I will be peckish for the rest of my life. Honestly, I'd exercise the Intrepid travel sailing tour all once again only for that moussaka (and the fact that I loved sailing).

Iraklia

Iraklia was somewhere I had never heard of before my Greek Island sailing tour and, fifty-fifty if I did know of it, probably not somewhere I ever would have gone on my own. Yet I LOVED it. Information technology's tiny. The small town can be walked in x minutes and consists of two small-scale grocery stores I think 4 tavernas (nosotros did a 'taverna clamber' before dinner to check them out) and a beautiful embankment. It was the perfect place to relax for a one-half a solar day and at that place were only a few other sailboats in the harbour which meant very few other tourists. Irakia and Naousa (Paros) were the business firm favourites of anybody on my sailing bout.

Naxos

Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades islands so nosotros really ended up spending a day and a half here. We spent our half day, when nosotros arrived, exploring town and the beach. The total day four of us rented a car and drove a loop around the islands that took us to tiny villages, ancient ruins, and a cute beach. The drive was stunning and we had a blast on our trivial road trip in Naxos.

Thinking of Joining a Sailing Tour to become Island Hopping in Greece?

This is the bout I took, but Intrepid Travel too offers a few more options for Hellenic republic sailing tours.

Mykonos to Santorini
Athens to Santorini

A Note on Travel Insurance in Greece

Please, do Non travel without travel insurance! I've had to rely on mine multiple times. While the cost may seem abrasive and better spent elsewhere, trust me when I say you'll be sorry if you don't take information technology. For just a couple bucks a twenty-four hours, you lot tin can save yourself a whole lot of stress and money. I like to recommend SafetyWing for travel medical insurance every bit they are ane of the well-nigh affordable options I've found, plus, they are who I employ and I have had bully experiences with them. Learn more about the importance of travel insurance here.

island hopping in Greece