Cheaper Greek Islands

There is no doubt that Greece is one of the favorite destinations for summer holidays and one of the most beautiful and complete places in the world.

Being able to decide where to let yourself be caressed by the warm sun's rays or cool off in clear, blue waters becomes a problem every time because there are so many islands and seaside resorts that defining which is the best destination is truly a difficult task.

Let's start by saying that Greece is no longer like it was 30 years ago when all you had to do was get a ticket and when you arrived, nice ladies dressed in black and a bit scruffy would run up to you and offer you a room at almost negligible prices. In recent years, they too have conformed to the prices of other well-known locations due to the fact that the cost of living has increased here too.

Many people who come to Greece expect almost third world prices and honestly we cannot understand why everyone has evolved, everyone has had changes, maybe Greece was still able to offer quality at low cost, but know that it is not so therefore if you have this wonderful country in mind for your next holiday, be aware that everything has a price like in any other part of the world.

However, there are small islands that still have low rates, they are certainly not the most famous and those that invest in marketing to advertise themselves, on the contrary prefer to remain in the shadows precisely so as not to be distorted and still maintain that atmosphere of old films.

First of all, in order to save you need to choose a destination perhaps outside the tourist circuits which sometimes requires a greater commitment just to reach it. Another fundamental characteristic is the curiosity in seeking it and wanting to discover it, letting go of instinct and not of the now almost boring, in our opinion, Facebook pages of groups where everyone seems to know everything just because they have been there, let's be clear, someone who writes interesting things and useful people are always there but most speak just from hearsay and this honestly ruins the spirit of adventure that one must have to understand and feel Greece.

Let's also say that the less frequented islands are not necessarily less beautiful than the better known ones, believe us there are small corners of paradise, you just need to observe them with the right eyes.

So let's see, dividing them by archipelago, which ones can be less expensive than others, obviously with the awareness of knowing how to adapt and not expect the impossible.

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NORTH EAST AEGEAN

Much loved above all by Greek or Nordic tourism, it is an area not yet suffocated by mass tourism but which offers places with wonderful history and nature. Lesbos is an example of this, now known only for migrants, in reality it is a wonderful island that is divided between high mountains, pine forests, expanses of olive trees and fantastic waterfalls with miraculous thermal springs. All accompanied by idyllic beaches and a sea of crazy colours. Even from a gastronomic point of view, Lesbos excels, home of the universal Ouzo, producer of one of the best oils as well as the delicious Kalloni sardines to which a delicious festival is also dedicated in August based on tons of blue fish and accompanied by dancing and popular songs that have been handed down for several generations. And we continue with Chios where the Mastica liqueur, known as a digestive throughout Greece, was born, or Ikaria where man first tried to fly, mountainous with heart-pounding crevasses, lush and wild vegetation. We then arrive in Thassos just ten kilometers from mainland Greece where you will not find the classic white houses with blue windows or sun-baked landscapes. It is called the Emerald Isle for its lush fauna where dream beaches alternate to let go and relax. We end up with a secret treasure chest, little Fourni with its slow, quiet atmosphere where everyone knows each other and where you can find an almost surreal peace.

DODECANESE ARCHIPELAGO

Here we play at home since our base is in Kos. Certainly not among the cheapest but undoubtedly beautiful and wild where by searching carefully you can still find places where you won't leave a kidney behind and in this regard given that we have lived there for 11 years you can very well rely on us for anything. Without a doubt, one that still maintains a typical Greek atmosphere and has absolutely no desire to conform to its now very touristy sisters is Kalymnos. The island of free climbing lovers with very wild beaches and an intense blue sea, the island of sponge fishermen and where you can taste the freshest fish of the archipelago. Lively but without too much noise, it is a perfect destination for not spending a fortune but enjoying everything you expect from Greece. The gem of the Dodecanese is undoubtedly Kasos between Karpathos and Crete, still brutally wild, uncontaminated and rural, with little modernity where visitors have to make do but which offers pure simplicity and nature still in its original state, what more could you ask for?

SPORADES ARCHIPELAGO

A group of four islands like the famous musketeers and who are proud and fearless and are not afraid to challenge their more well-known sisters. Let's start with Skopelos which to reach it you have to get to Skiathos and then take a ferry there is no other solution. Covered by mountains with pine forests and fairy-tale forests, valleys full of orchards and olive trees, jagged coasts with postcard-perfect inlets, beaches for all tastes with a clean sea and changing colours. Without a doubt the most famous place is Agios Ioannis where the wedding of the now cult film Mamma Mia was filmed. A perfect island for trekking with numerous paths that will allow you to discover this corner of emerged land among enchanted woods that reach the calm waters. And again Skyros, the largest of the Sporades where the mythical demigod Achilles hid. An island with a population that is, let's say, a little closed but proud of its origins and firmly rooted in its traditions. A mild climate, an almost Cycladic architecture with a territory divided in half where you can find delightful bays protected by verdant forests, enchanting beaches and profiled countryside, while to the south a barren landscape burned by the sun with rocky headlands and steep coasts. Here you can still find ancient taverns where you can taste centuries-old recipes and delight your palate.

CYCLADES ARCHIPELAGO

Cyclades are undoubtedly the busiest ones as they are well known throughout the world and definitely best sold. Finding a cheap Cycladic island is like looking for a needle in a haystack now, all of them are overused and always full especially in the summer period when most people have the opportunity to go on holiday. Among the most famous we can say that the least expensive one is undoubtedly Naxos. Given its size, it manages to offer numerous accommodation opportunities as well as taverns and restaurants. The secret is to look not in the main centers but to go to the less well-equipped locations and without a doubt you will be able to find something inexpensive and what you save you can invest in a vehicle so you can travel around the island far and wide. wide. Another idea could be Iraklia or Anafi, small without too many frills but with a complete nature. The primary comforts are certainly not lacking, the choice is reduced but who cares if in the end you feel good.

IONIAN ARCHIPELAGO

The one closest to Italy and easily reachable by sea. Here it seems that everything costs less than in other archipelagos, certainly the cheapest are Corfu which however is overrun in the summer by very young people for their graduation trip, or Zakynthos with its sea of iridescent colors and long beaches of immaculate sand beyond that to places like the famous Blue Caves and unique and inimitable masterpieces of Mother Nature, and also Lefkada "the emerald of the Ionian" as it is defined with expanses of sand like talcum powder, turquoise waters that almost seem fake and a landscape rich in greenery, high cliffs, pine forests and overhangs where you can admire idyllic views. If you want something smaller then move to Ithaca or Paxos but here the prices are already rising but their extraordinary beauty will reward you.

THE SARONIC GULF

Little known by mass tourism but particularly loved by the Greeks (and they know a lot), it offers small pearls waiting to be discovered. Let's start with the  Aegina island, famous for its particular pistachios and close to Athens where ferries leave every day to reach it. History to be experienced as at the Temple of Aphaia from the Doric period, one of the best preserved in Greece, or the Monastery of Agios Nektarios similar to the famous Agia Sofia in Istanbul. Its beaches are not among the most beautiful in Greece but they manage to provide tranquility and the possibility of spending relaxing days of laziness under the warm Hellenic sun. Aegina is full of taverns here you can enjoy an infinite variety of Greek cuisine capable of satisfying even the most demanding tastes. We then continue with Angistri which can also be reached from the port of Athens. The smallest in the gulf and the most secret where only those who want to find it can get there. Covered with pine trees, it offers relaxation and a still virgin territory with beautiful beaches, mostly pebbles, an island where you can eat delicious fish and where time passes slowly and lazily. This is the type of holiday you will have if you go this far.

THE PELOPONNESE

Who knows why but when you think of Greece your imagination immediately comes to the islands, nothing could be more wrong, all of Greece is sun and sea, no less the Peloponnese. There are incredible places, with disarming beauty, an unquantifiable historical weight and corners of pure ecstasy. A part that we really like is the Mani Peninsula, dark with a medieval flavor where towers and massive stone are its identifying mark. Land of revolutionaries today it is starting to gain ground as a destination for a holiday in Greece so hurry if you still want to enjoy its virginity. Obviously avoiding Aeropoli and Ghytio which are the most touristy, you will be able to find accommodation in small villages almost frozen in time and not spend absurd amounts of money. It is understood, however, that it is necessary to have a car to be able to visit the countless natural beauties that the Mani can offer. Another extraordinary destination in our opinion is Nauplia which, in addition to having a favorable position for visiting Mycenae, Argos or the beautiful theater of Epidaurus, offers corners with nature and a sea that are not at all enviable compared to the islands.

CRETE

And here we are at the legendary Crete, who wouldn't want to see it at least once in their life! Immense, so much so that to see it all you will have to return again and again but, in every direction it is capable of exciting and giving moments of ecstasy. The north-west part is undoubtedly the most touristy and famous, considering that on this side there are the most famous beaches in the world such as the wonderful Elafonissi, Falassarna or the Balos Lagoon just to name a few, with the sad consequence of being a real own carnage during the summer season and above all rather expensive in terms of expense. If, however, you have the spirit of an explorer, you love adventure and you don't have so much money available, it would be better to go south towards Sougia, Frankostello, Makis Gialos, enchanting places where there is no shortage of wild nature, endless beaches and taverns where you can sit down and get up with a full belly. Do you want to be extreme to the max? Try the Gavdos island but for this one no explanations only pleasant surprises.

In conclusion, being able to predict which islands will be cheaper than the others is really difficult today, the world moves too fast, too many variables arise from one day to the next, we can certainly say that there are places that cost less than others , but at the end of the day, isn't holiday money always the best spent?