Ithaca on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Ithaca works on a moderate budget if you stay in Vathy and share a car or scooter. Plan on about €80 per person per day (bed €35, food €25, sights €5, transport €15), excluding the ferry to the island.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €35 | €70 | €160 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €45 | €80 |
| Sights & tickets | €5 | €15 | €40 |
| Local transport | €15 | €25 | €50 |
| Per person, per day | €80 | €155 | €330 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Ithaca day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the horseshoe waterfront of Vathy and look out at Lazaretto islet
- Walk 15–20 minutes north of town to swim at Loutsa or Dexa beach
- Watch sunset over the bay from Perachori, 3 km above Vathy
- Walk to the Arethusa spring below the Raven's Rock (Korakas Petra), early in the morning
- See the rock pillars known as Araklis near Anogi
- Swim at Polis bay below Stavros
Cheap eats
- Souvlaki pitta: about €3.50–4
- Rovani, Ithaca's rice-and-honey sweet, from a pastry shop: a few euros
- Mandoles, caramelised almonds: a few euros a bag
- Taverna meal with house wine: about €15–25 per person
- Bakery picnic for a beach day: under €10
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in rooms behind the quay in Vathy, about €50–90 a night for a double, close to shops, tavernas and the Gidaki water taxis. There are no hostels, so book ahead for July and August.
Getting around cheaply
The cheapest way around is on foot in Vathy plus a shared scooter (about €20–30 a day) for the north. From Kefalonia, take a taxi to Sami and the 30–45 minute ferry to Pisaetos, then a pre-booked taxi or rental car to Vathy, 8 km away.
A sample budget day
- Morning: walk the Vathy waterfront and visit the small museums (a few euros or free)
- Lunch: souvlaki on the quay (about €4–8 with a drink)
- Afternoon: walk to Dexa or Loutsa beach and swim
- Evening: sunset in Perachori and a simple taverna dinner (about €15–20)
- Total: about €30–40 plus your bed (€35 per person), so roughly €70–80
More ways to save
- Plan ferry days carefully: timetables change each season and some routes run only in summer.
- Bring water shoes rather than buying them on the island.
- Buy supplies in Vathy or Stavros; the small northern harbours have few shops.
- Choose a room with a kitchen for breakfasts and picnics.
- Do one long scooter loop to Kathara, Anogi, Stavros, Frikes and Kioni in a single day.
- Visit in June or September, when rental cars and rooms are easier to find at fair prices.
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Common questions
Can you visit Ithaca on a budget?
Yes, at about €80 a day: stay behind the Vathy quay, share a scooter and eat in simple tavernas.
How do I get to Ithaca cheaply?
Fly to Kefalonia, go to Sami and take the 30–45 minute ferry to Pisaetos; check current timetables.
What can you do for free?
Walk to the Arethusa spring, swim at Dexa, Loutsa or Polis, and watch sunset from Perachori.