Backpacking Greece: The Complete 2020 Guide

Alright, so we have covered what to see and do when backpacking Greece.

But let’s look at all the aspects you need when planning your travel to Greece.

Best Ways to Get Around Greece

There are five popular ways for backpackers to get around Greece; flights, ferries, buses, car rentals, and trains. 

Let’s take a detailed look at all these modes of public transportation.

After your first flight into the country, you might be tempted to use planes are your primary method of getting around Greece. While this is the quickest option, it is also the most expensive.

Greece doesn’t have a lot of big airports to choose between. So your options for flying are limited. And good luck if you are trying to use budget carriers like RyanAir and EasyJet.

There are airports on someone the islands, but as I talk about later, they are not a cheap option for backpackers.

Personally, this is the last mode of travel I would choose when backpacking Greece.

If you are going to the islands, then ferries are a must. They showcase the stunning waters and islands of the Aegean. There are two types of ferries in Greece; fast and slow and prices vary accordingly.

The most popular ferry company is Blue Star Ferries. These are massive slow boats that are reasonably priced.

Prone to seasickness? Then avoid the quick ferries as they are much smaller boats and rougher on the water.

My first trip backpacking in Greece I took a lot of trains. This time the majority of my trip was busing around with a group. However, my opinion hasn’t changed.

Trains are my favorite way to backpack Europe. They are comfortable, and reliable (eh, mostly), and are also inexpensive.

For example, you can train from Athens to Thessaloniki, a huge chunk of the country, for 50 Euro.

You can also get a Greece Eurail Pass, which is a great deal!

Buses are another option when getting around Greece.

They seem to be less than trains, but a little slower, less legroom, the landscape isn’t as pretty, and you can’t get up and move around.

Another option is to rent a car and make your journey.

Car rentals are insanely cheap in Europe – I’ve rented a car for less than $10 a day.

But don’t forget to add the insurance in your budget, unless you have a travel credit card that automatically ensures it.

If you are traveling with three or more people, then renting a car can probably be the cheapest way to backpack Greece. There are some great websites to help you rent a car in Greece. For example Car hire prices for sanitized cars in most of the Greek destinations > cost on average 5-6 euros/day on Rentagile.

Travel Insurance

Buying travel insurance is an investment in yourself. 

It protects you, your trip, and most of your gear while you are out exploring the world.

I always use world nomads because the prices are low and the coverage is exceptional. 

Get a free quote below.

Where to Stay When Backpacking Greece

Hostels have been my home for the last eight years. I love the atmosphere, community, and price.

I’ve made lifelong friendships, gone on some of my craziest nights out, and even met my wife all because of hostels.

They are also cheap, making them the perfect choice for people backpacking on a budget.

If you have a slightly bigger budget and value a little more privacy than hotels are a good option.

Hotels in Greece cost around 2 to 3 times the price of a hostel but give you an element of added security.

Hostels are a good idea for your stay in Greece. ( booking in advance is smart).

Private Rooms are basically a hotel room in a hostel – minus the amenities- but cost much less. However, they are much more expensive than the dorm rooms. After all, privacy has its price.

For those who hate being crammed into a dorm room with 18 other travelers. But are still on a tight budget, I suggest paying a little more and booking a dorm that only has 4 to the 6 beds.

Usually, they are only a few dollars more a night than the massive dorms and are still significantly cheaper than private rooms.

Pro Tips: Look for rooms with an ensuite. This means the bathroom is in your room. Instead of a shared bathroom with the entire floor.

In today’s world, over 80% of the hotels in Greece are booked online. With Booking.com, Trip Advisor, and Expedia are a few of the major players.

Most hotel rooms in Greece come equipped with extra pillow and blankets. (usually in the closet or dresser). 

Also, many places in Greece are still smoking rooms. 

However, they do an excellent job of cleaning them, and any smoking I stayed in smelled clean and not like cigarettes.

Airbnb is another option for people looking to stay with locals or meet other travelers.

You can get $40 off your first stay with Airbnb by signing up with this link.

Greece Packing List

What to pack when backpacking Greece greatly depends on what time of the year you are visiting.

But as the most popular time to visit Greece is in the summer months, so we will focus our packing list for that time of the year.

The summer is hot and dry so packing the right clothes and gear is important.

Traveling means long flights, layovers, buses, and trains. Basically, a lot of hours waiting in lines or sitting in a seat.
For me, one of my favorite ways to kill time during these long stretches of boredom is with an audiobook.

Which is why I love Audible.

What’s great is that when you sign up for the free trial you get two free audio-books, and you can cancel at any time!

Get Your Free Trial Here

Summer Packing List

• Passport, ID, Debit, & Credit Cards
• Copies of Passport and Cards 
• Travel Insurance 
• 3 Paris of Shorts 
• 4-5 T-Shirts
• 1 Pair of Jeans / Skirt that Goes Below Your Knees (Forgetting into monasteries and churches)
• 1 Pair of Sandals and 1 Pair of Shoes 
• 2-3 Pairs of Socks 
• 1 Pair of Swimming Trunks
• 5 -6 Pairs of Underwear
• 1 set of Headphones
• All required Toiletries 
• All Electronics; Phone, Camera, etc.

Visa’s for Greece

There is a good chance you will have a 90-day visa when entering Greece. The country is in the EU and the Schengen Zone.

If you are from the USA, UK, EU, and a few other countries, then you won’t need a visa for entering Greece.

Below is a list of who needs to apply for a visa before visiting Greece.

Currency in Greece

Greece’s currency is the Euro. The safest and best place to withdraw money if you are using a debit card are bank ATMs.

However, there is no shortage of ATMs all over the country, even on the smaller islands.

You should know that if you are withdrawing money in Greece at random ATMs that you will be charged a high fee.

Here is the current exchange rate for the USD to Euro.