This year is looking like another wild ride, but hopefully, we’ll all get a chance to travel, unwind, and soak up new experiences. If Greece is on your radar but you don’t want to break that piggy bank, you’re in the right place.

No fancy resorts here, just a solid list of affordable places in mainland Greece where you can enjoy the Greek way of life for less than you might expect. Also, there’s no particular order, we’re just sharing options to help you figure out where to go next!

>> Want to visit the islands? Check out these Surprisingly Cheap Islands to Visit in Greece

Athens

The capital city of Greece since 1832, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world, first mentioned a round 1400s BCE, but clues indicate that most likely the region has been populated for more than 5000 years.

Home to Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH), Athens is well-connected to the rest of Europe and the world. Plus, getting to the city center and nearby is also easy as the airport is connected by buses, trains, and metro.

No matter if you want to enjoy culture, history, or just have fun, Athens has got you covered. Being a social hub, you will find many events to your liking, from concerts to exhibitions and festivals. Walk into a tavern and enjoy some local food or get into one of the fancy contemporary bars and enjoy a drink. Your choices are unlimited.

For those who are more into family activities or preferwalking around history and absorbing knowledge, you have many places to check out: the Roman Agora, Greek Agora, Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos Museum, Acropolis and the Pantheon, Temple of Winds, Hadrian’s Library, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Kerameikos, Theatre of Dionysus and many other.
You can enjoy museums like Acropolis Museum, National Archaeological Museum, Benaki Muse or the Byzantine and Christian Museum. Explore the Panathenaic Stadium, Philopappos Hill, Lycabettus Hill or the district of Plaka.

For more adventures you can embark on many day trips: to the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion or the amazing home of the oracle Delphi.

If you prefer the vibe of the city, you can explore neighborhoods and streets like Kolonaki, Psiri District, Monastiraki with its flea market, Ermou Street, the Street Art in Exarchia and Psiri, or Technopolis City of Athens, an industrial gasworks site converted into a cultural venue, hosting the Athens Annual Jazz Festival.

With accommodation prices starting from 30 USD (in 2025), the capital city is affordable for both the solo and the group travelers. Besides being a great air hub, Athens is the best place to choose as base if you are into island hopping. The city has three major ports: Piraeus, Lavrio, and Rafina.

>> Read more about: Top Athens Tours, Excursions, & Experiences

Halkidiki (Chalkidiki ) Region

Home to the region’s capital of Polygyros and the autonomous region of Mount Athos, Halkidiki is one of the most sought-after cheap destinations on mainland Greece, being located in the Central Macedonian region, Northen Greece.

Comprising tree different regions, Sithonia, Kasandra, and Mount Athos, this part of Greece awaits tourists with warm weather with an average yearly temp of 18.2 C (64.7 F) and more than 300 days of sunshine a year.
With clear waters and sunshine, the peninsula is a well-known travel choice for a variety of vacationers, whether looking for luxurious accommodation or affordable places to stay.

Whether you want to spend your holiday sipping cocktails and sunbath or exploring nature and history, the Halkidiki region has it all. Enjoy your downtime at one of the amazing beaches or resorts of Sithonia like Kavourotrypes Beach, nick-named the Greek Malidives, or Kalogria Beach, Armenistis Beach, Sarti Beach, Porto Koufo.

Get to one of the buzzing beaches of Kassadra like Kallithea Beach, Hanioti Beach, Pefkochori Beach, Sani Beach, Siviri Beach, or go for a walk to discover one of the more secluded beaches surrounded by pine forests like Kriopigi Beach, Nea Fokea Beach, Elani Beach, Possidi Beach, Myti Beach.

The Halkidiki peninsula will capture your heart with its beauty no matter if you want to dip into clear waters, practice water sports or you just want to hike and walk surrounded by nature.

Take time to discover many of the historical sites of the region, such as charming old villages and towns. In Sithonia you can visit places like the old seaside village of Nikiti, town of Neos Marmaras or the mountain village of Parthenonas. Or perhaps you’d like to check out the ruins of the Byzantine fortress of Lykithos Castle.

In the Kassandra peninsula you can visit places like historical and archeological site of Ancient Potidaea, Temple of Ammon Zeus in Kallithea, Byzantine Tower in Nea Fokea or adventure out into the Sani Wetlands.

If you don’t mind driving, you can visit the Petralona Cave, the place of one of the oldest human remains and a human skull more than 700.000 year old. Or you can check out Mount Athos. It’s both a natural beauty and a mystical place.
Some of the picturesque villages in Kassandra worth your time are Afitos and Pefkochori.

The easiest way to get to the region is by car or bus, as it’s just around a 2-hour drive from Thessaloniki, where you’ll find the closest international airport. From Thessaloniki to the peninsula prices differ according to your destination but start from around 5 to15 USD.

Accommodation prices start at around 50 USD in a double room during in high season (in 2025), while the beachfront prices are a bit higher at around 100 USD. However, they vary a lot depending on your preferred accommodation type and amenities you need.

Thessaloniki

A historical place and a cultural hotspot, Thessaloniki is a great destination for body, mind, soul, and wallet.

Served by an international airport, Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia (SKG), and a train station, it’s an easy-to-get destination in Greece. It’s also well connected to the rest of the country via network of roads, so you can either rent a car or take a bus (if you’ve already flown into another airport, such as Athens). While you can also take a ferry from the capital, you probably don’t want to sail for two days.

Spend your day checking out the city and its historical sights, like Hagia Sophia and the Church of Saint Demetrius showing off its Byzantine heritage, or The Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda, highlighting its Roman influences, or The White Tower and reminder of the Ottoman Legacy. And most certainly, enjoy the vibrant nightlife.

Stop and enjoy a coffee at one of the many places in Aristotelous Square or on the Nea Paralia promenade. Explore the narrow stone streets of Ano Poli, the upper town, or in the Ladadika District.

For the foodies, many of the traditional ouzeries or taverns will be amazing places to try fresh seafood, local dishes, and wines. If you are more on the go enjoy the street food, such as kuluri, traditional gyros, bougatsa, or trigona panoramatos.

Most museums are opened during the low season, and some offer combined prices, (https://www.mbp.gr/en/). You can also plan to visit on one of the many free entrance days to feed your curiosity.

Accommodation prices start at around 35 USD for two, depending on the period and your needs.

>> Read more about: Thessaloniki- Budget hotels near the White Tower

Paralia Katerinis

A well-known and loved destination situated on the west coast of the Thermaic Golf, and not far from Karini’s city center, Paralia Katerinis is connected with the highway that runs from Piraeus to Play making it a 4 and half hour ride from Athens.

If you prefer public transportation you can get to it by taking a train from Athens to Katerinis than a bus to Paralia, or from Thessaloniki to Katerinis and then the bus. If you want to do with more stops, you can bus hop from Athens or Thessaloniki (being just around 2 hours away) with different routes available.

Make sure you pack your swimsuit and enjoy sunbathing and swimming in the crystal-clear water. Or you can embark on a culinary journey and explore the nightlife. No matter what your choice is, a good time is a guarantee.

If you prefer to be more active, you can do many day trips to different destinations like Platamon Castle, Thessaloniki, Meteora, boat cruises to Halkidiki (tho not really the affordable kind) or enjoy Watergamepark Kariba and the national Mount Olympus National Park. Get on your bicycle and discover it for yourself. Other places worth mentioning are the Monastery of Saint Dionysius located just 30 min drive from Paralia, an old monastery build in the 16 century and the Municipal Park of Katerini.

The high season prices starting from 54 USD for two and 68 USD for a family room, but can go high to 100 USD on average depending on your needs, demands and time frame.

Kalambaka (Meteora)

Located right at the footsteps of Meteora, Kalambaka town is the perfect location for an overnight, or base for your trip.
There has been a direct train from Athens, the 884 with the return train 885 but as of now there’s no news on the line. Even so you can get a train ride from Athens to Paleofarsala than change to a bus to Kalambaka. The whole journey takes around 5 hours.

The easiest way to get here though, is from Thessaloniki from where you get a direct 3 hour train ride. No matter what your plans are you can get to Kalabaka via different bus line or rental car. Be aware that many lines are not direct routs, so play ahead based on arrival and desire rout and traveling times.

Being so close to Meteora, Kalambaka is the ideal spot to camp before visiting the many monasteries in the region. Other things to visit are the Natural History Museum of Meteora & Mushroom Museum, Hellenic Culture Museum, Theopetra Cave, the town itself, Church of the Assumption or go hiking and rock climbing in one of the many spots in the region.

Local cuisine is not to be avoided, being well known for its mushroom dishes and wines.

Prices for the high season are from around 50 USD.

Nafplio

Less than 2 hours by car from Athens, Nafplio, the first capital of moder Greece between 1823 to 1834, is a well-known location since ancient times, being first mentioned around the 14th century BC.

An historical and cultural hub, Nafplio has many points of interest and offers quite a lot of day trip possibilities. Enjoy the narrows streets, the local cuisine and culture, discover ancient sites like the Venetian Palamidi Castle, Akronafplia Castle or take a trip to Bourtzi Castle. Enjoy a wonderful sunset on the Arvanitia Promenade or enjoy a good Greek coffee at one of the bars or terraces in Syntagma Square.

You can easily do trips and daytrip to visit some of the most amazing archeological sites like Mycenae, Tiryns, and Epidaurus or even Ancient Corinth.

We can’t talk about this destination without talking about swimming and amazing beaches like Karathonas Beach or Arvanitia Beach.

Other landmarks worth visiting are the Leon of Bavarians, between the church of Agion Panton and the city cemetery, the Unesco site of Tiryns, Nafplio Archaeological Museum and Nafplio National Gallery.

Getting to Nafplio is relatively easy as it’s close to both Athens and Corinth. You can opt for the bus, or you can get a train ride from Athens to Corinth and then a bus. There are some ferries lines that connect to the city from the Saronic Islands.

You can get accommodation for as low as 50 USD for 2 per night.

Ioannina and the region of Epirus

Ioannina is the capital city of the Epirus region, one the most breathtaking areas of mainland Greece.

Home to gorgeous historical villages and towns, the region is also known for its natural beauty. Some of the most sought-after locations are the Pamavotida Lake, known as well as Lake of Ioannina, Kalama Narrows and Delta, and the Zagori Villages.

Ioannina or Yannena city is a buzzing mountain city, with rich history that dates back to the 6th century AD, bearing both Byzantine and Ottoman influences.

Discover the local cuisine in one of the old city’s tavernas or enjoy a good coffee in one of the many caffes. Or you can just stroll around the streets.

If you love history and art, this charming little place will have something for you. Discover the Silversmithing Museum or the Archaeological Museum of Ioannina and explore the Ioannina Castle and its past.

Or if you prefer a more serene setting, relax on the Lake Pamvotis shore or take a boat ride to Ioannina Island. Take time to embrace the beauty and nature.

Other activities worth mentioning include exploring the Perama Cave, visiting one of the 46 traditional stone villages of Zagorochoria (Zagori), the most popular being Papigo, Monodendri and Aristi. Or discovering the natural beauty and fauna of the Kalama Narrows and Delta.

If you choose Ioannina as a hub to explore the entire region, there are quite a few sites worth visiting: Vikos Gorge, Voidomatis River, Tzoumerka Mountain, Parga town with its Venetian Castle, the costal town of Syvota, Tower of Ragio and the Monastery of Tsouka, Gitana, Panagia Parigoritissa of Consolation, Theatre of Nicopolis, the bridge of Arte, the ancient Theater of Cassope.

Accommodation starts around 45 USD in the Ioannina but if you looking for a bit more exclusive you can get a holiday home on Ioannina Island for around 100 USD.

You can get to Ioannania by taking a bus from Athens or by renting a car. In both cases the trip is around 5 hours long. There are daily buses, the price of a ticket being around 44 USD.

Ioannania has an airport but it only connects to Athens, although flying here could surely increase your vacation’s price.

Kastoria

The town of Kastoria is full of history, drama, and culture. Located in Western Machedonia, Kastoria changed hands a few times, thus creating a vibrant cultural mixture.

Discover the old town and dive into the local cuisine. Try one of the local specialties like giouvarlakia and fasolada, or the local drinks like tsipouro.

The city itself is on a peninsula on Lake Kastoria (also known as Lake Orestiada) at about 700 meters above sea level. Biking around the lake can be a fun activity, and on your way, you can visit one of the many Byzantine Churches like the Church of Panagia Mavriotissa built in 11th century, or explore the districts of Dolcho and Apozari. For more in-depth knowledge of the local tradition visit the Folklore Museum.

Day trips to places like the Dragon’s Cave, Dispilio Archaeological Site or Nymphaion and its Arktouros Bear Sanctuary can also be great choice while you’re in the area.

The easiest way to get to Kastoria is via bus from Thessaloniki. A one-way ticket is around 22 USD and it takes about 2 and a half hours. There is a way slower option from Thessaloniki by train and car.

As for accommodation, you can book a double room starting as low as 50 USD.

Gytheio

This seaside fishing town with its beautiful beaches is an ideal holiday destination for those who want to slow down and enjoy some peace and quiet.

The nearby Mavrovouni Beach is one of the most beautiful in the area and a migration spot for the sea turtles, which are nesting and laying eggs here.

Some of the popular activities in Gytheio include hiking, practicing water sports, sunbathing, strolling the streets and the promenade, visiting taverns and delving into local cuisine, or exploring nearby villages like Monemvasia and Mystras (both within 2 hour drive time).

And you’ll have plenty of places to check out, too, such as Kranai Island, Dimitrios Shipwreck, Lighthouse of Gytheio, Ancient Theater of Gytheio and Ancient Gythium or the Tzannetakis Tower. If you have a driving license and you want to go on a road trip, head to the Mani region with its small villages and the wonderful Diros Caves.

Gytheio is an important ferry stop and connection to Kythira and Crete. It’s a gateway between the mainland and the islands.

Did you know that the Marathonisi Islet (Cranae) was the first stop of Paris of Troy when he abducted Helen of Sparta, before leaving mainland Greece?

There aren’t any direct buses from Athens, but you can change buses in Sparti (ancient Sparta). Or take a bus from Athena to Isthmos (Chorinth) and then from Isthmos to Gytheio. The trip from Athens via Sparta takes around 5 hours, while via Isthmos is around 4 hours.

Accommodation prices start from 45 USD but if you want to say at a hotel, most likely the lowest price you will find, is around 115 USD in the high season.

Veria

The city of Veria is one of the oldest cities in Greece, first mentioned around 432 BC. In 54 AD it becomes an important religious site for Apostle Paul’s, and later the Byzantine Empire raised plenty of churches, such as the Church of the Resurrection of Christ the Savior and Panagia Dovra.

Situated close to Thessaloniki and Mount Vermio Sky resorts, Veria is an ideal vacation destination all year round.
But Veria offers more than just outdoor fun – there’s something for the art and history lover, too. Not far from the city, around 12 km, you can find Aigai an UNESCO site, the first Capital of Macedon, and the place of the assassination of Philip II, and the proclamation place of his son, Alexander the Great.

Take time to explore the old city districts like Kyriotissa and Barbouta or hike around the natural surroundings.
Veria is connected by bus lines and a train line to Thessaloniki that takes around 1 -1.5 hours, while a trip from Athens takes around 6 hours.

You can find accommodation starting from around 50 USD for an apartment or around 81 USD a double room in a hotel.

Naousa

About 30 min drive from Veria is another gem for winter sports lovers. Naousa, a ski resort, alslo known for its wine production and carnival.

Although Naousa is known as a winter destination, it’s an ideal destination for those who love nature year-round. You can enjoy nature and explore places like the Arapitsa River, Municipal Park or the Agios Nikolaos National Park.

Visit the Nymphaeum of Mieza School of Aristotle, where Alexander the Great learned from the great teacher, Aristotel, or visit the Macedonian Tomb of Judgment in Ancient Mieza (both accessible from Veria and Naousa). Other important landmarks include the Park of Saint Nicholas, Clock Tower in front of the Town Hall or the Obelisk.

Accommodation starts from 50 USD during the winter season, with a double room in a hotel costing around 80 USD, while in summer you can find a guest house as low as 64 USD while a hotel room starts from 83 USD.

Getting to Naousa is pretty easy and straightforward, being a stop on the Thessaloniki -Florina train line, with multiple trains departing per day and a ticket costs 5 Euros.

Other options are taking a bus ride or renting a car following the same route from Thessaloniki. From Athena you can get a train ride with a change in Platy, a 5 and half hour train ride that will cost you 43.50 Euros.

Serres

The second largest city in the region after Thessaloniki that makes a great holiday destination is Serres, the capital of the Serres region, located about 2 hours from Veria and 1h drive from Thessaloniki.

Rich in history from ancient times through Byzantine and Ottoman times till the Balkan wars, and contemporary Greece, you can definitely say that this town saw it all.

It’s mostly known for its beautiful nature that surrounds the city, such as the nearby Lake Kerkini, a hot spot for birdwatchers, and home of Europe latest wild water buffalo herd, Angistro Hot Springs – a natural thermal bath, Alistrati Cave. You can also go cycling or horseback riding in this wonderful untouched land.

Other important landmarks to check out include the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist of Serres, Roupel Bunker, Sarakatsani Folklore Museum, Vyroneia Train Station, Zinzirli Mosque, Siris Microbrewery, Museum Of Natural History – Municipality of Serres, Koca Mustafa Mosque, Archaeological Museum Of Serres, and Eleftherias Square.

For more action orientated activities, go skiing in Lailias Ski Center, or get a track day on Greece longest racing track, the Serres Racing Circuit.

Don’t forget to delve in the local cuisine and wines, tasting foods like bougatsa, akanes or a local version of the souvlaki.

You can get to Seres by bus, on a 1.5 hour ride from Thessaloniki and around 6 hours ride from Athens, or by train, an approximately 2 hour ride from Thessaloniki train station.

As for where to stay? You can rent an apartment during the low season for around 40 USD, and a hotel room for 71 USD, while in the summer high season an apartment goes for 47 USD while a hotter room for around 80 USD for two.

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The prices are valid at the time of publishing and may change without notice.