Budget — Santorini

Santorini is, without serious dispute, one of the most expensive destinations in Greece, and the gap with other Cyclades widens further in peak summer. The reference daily budget of €130 per person reflects comfort-mode travel: a decent double room outside the caldera, two meals in good tavernas and a few activities. For a proper caldera-view honeymoon, that budget easily doubles.

Accommodation is the heaviest line item. A simple pension in inland Santorini or the east coast (Kamari, Perissa) runs €60–€100 a night in May–June. A comfort-tier hotel in Fira or Imerovigli sits in the €150–€300 range, while cave suites with private plunge pools over the caldera routinely exceed €500 a night in July and August — and the most coveted addresses, such as those in Oia, can pass €1,000. Booking several months ahead typically saves 20–30% on these rates.

For meals, the spread is wide. Lunch in an inland taverna comes in at €15–€20 per person; dinner with a caldera view climbs to €50–€80 before you've ordered the bottle of Assyrtiko. Transport is modest: the local bus network reaches the main sights for €1.80 a journey, and a hire car runs €40–€60 per day depending on the season. For activities, count €35–€55 for a volcano-and-hot-springs caldera cruise and €10–€15 for the Akrotiri archaeological site.

Three budget profiles emerge on Santorini. The thrifty explorer can scrape by on €80–€100 a day by basing themselves in Perissa, shopping at the markets and using buses. The mid-range traveller targets €130–€200 a day, the most common bracket. And the high-end honeymooner expects €350–€600 a day for the cave suites and the sunset-view tasting menus that have given Santorini its reputation. Whichever tier you choose, travelling in May, June or September shaves a significant chunk off the bill compared to peak July and August.