Some might say it’s impossible. It certainly isn’t easy.

But with proper planning, you can island hop in Greece without breaking the bank.

I spent almost 3 weeks on 7 islands in Greece while only spending €60-70 most days. Here’s how I did it.

Accommodation

There are a lot of Greek islands to choose from, but a surprisingly small amount that are ideal for budget backpackers.

For example, the popular islands of Naxos and Milos have no hostels. Mykonos has 1 that doesn’t show up on HostelWorld. Santorini has hostels, but they’re some of the most expensive I’ve ever seen.

You must be strategic to avoid getting stuck on an island without cheap accommodation. The islands with the most backpacker-friendly options are Crete, Paros, Ios, and Corfu. Notwithstanding Paros and Ios, these islands aren’t close to one another, so you’ll need some stopover places or spend all day on a ferry.

Greek islands were a surprisingly difficult place to travel solo. The best way to manage the non-hostel islands is to meet people on the more backpacker-friendly islands and coordinate to share the cost of a hotel or Airbnb. I met two girls in Crete with whom I split an Airbnb in Milos, and it worked quite well.

Another option is to not solo travel.

I hardly ever view traveling in a group as superior to solo travel, but it might be in Greece. I spent 10 days in Greece with my friend Casey, which simplified the accommodation situation.

Food

It’s easy to ball out on food in Greece because it’s just so good.

But it’s also easy to not ball out on food in Greece because the cheap options are among the best in the world.

On most islands, you can find meat skewers for less than €3, gyros or souvlaki for under €5, and Greek salads for around €7.

If you want to island hop on a budget, you should eat these for lunch and dinner almost daily. This isn’t condemning yourself to a cruel fate–it’s some of the tastiest fast-casual food I’ve tried anywhere. And it never gets old.

Spending on seafood, meat platters, and other delicious high-end Greek food might be tempting. My recommendation: ball out for one meal. Order everything so you don’t feel like you’ve missed out on the Greek island experience. Then it’s back to the gyros.

Casey and I had a ball-out dinner in Naxos where we ordered saganaki, tabbouleh, fresh fish, a local Naxian meat dish, and dessert for around €40 each. It was one of the best meals I’ve had on this entire trip. But I don’t feel like I missed out because I didn’t do it more often.

Transportation

Those Greek ferries are freaking expensive.

I recommend buying a Eurail Greek Islands pass–it costs around $80 and you’ll get 4 free ferry rides.

If you plan to visit more than 4 islands, just use the pass for the more expensive trips.

For example, a ticket from Paros to Naxos can cost less than €10, which is worth paying out of pocket. But Crete to Piraeus (Athens) can be almost €100, and your Greek Island pass will pay for itself in one fell swoop.

Also! If you’re a student with an ISIC card, you can get 50% off many Greek ferries if you book directly.

It’s also important to note that sometimes there are only 1 or 2 ferries between destinations each day. Thus, you’ll have to do some advanced planning, a big difference from the hop-on, hop-off feeling that Eurailling through Europe offers you.

Once on the islands, you have some transportation options. The cheapest by far is the bus–every island has them. The downside is that they normally can’t get you to the best beaches on the island, and you’re victim to the bus schedule. Buses can be quite infrequent.

You can also rent a car–this may be as cheap as a bus if you split it with travel buddies. I’ve seen cars for €35 a day or less. And many islands will also offer ATVs for even cheaper.

I recommend booking a car/ATV for a day and going to all the far reaches of the island. Then, stick to the bus.

Avoid the taxis at all costs–they are insanely expensive.

Things to do

How to do anything on a Greek island without spending money? What about all the boat tours, sunset cruises, and wine tastings?

To be fair, I did one sunset party cruise while in Mykonos. It cost €30 but it was tons of fun.

I also rented a boat for the day in Paros with 5 others. It cost €50 each but was also worth it. When you’re traveling for a long time on a budget, it’s okay to splurge every now and then. You don’t want to jeopardize the experience to save a few dollars!

But there’s always a ton of things to do that hardly cost anything. Go to the beach! That’s free. Go on a hike! Also free. Watch the sunset! $0 and in Greece? Priceless. Walking around a Greek island old town or city center can be breathtaking.

You don’t need some expensive exclusive experience to feel like you’ve done an island in Greece right. My favorite memories stem from deep conversations with travelers on a beach or hilltop.

Conclusion

It was easy for my expenses to balloon while island-hopping in Greece. I was also shocked by how difficult it was to solo travel compared to the rest of Europe.

Perhaps Greece has a reputation as a couples' destination, but it was still possible to enjoy the islands as a solo traveler. And single. It just required more planning to maximize the time there.

For my favorite country in the world, it was planning that I was happy to do.

:)