Patmos on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Patmos is manageable on a moderate budget if you stay in Skala and use the buses. Plan on about €75 per person per day (bed €35, food €25, sights €10, transport €5), plus the ferry.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €35 | €75 | €160 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €45 | €80 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €25 | €50 |
| Local transport | €5 | €15 | €35 |
| Per person, per day | €75 | €160 | €325 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Patmos day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the old stone path from Skala up to Chora
- Wander the lanes and mansions of Chora
- Walk to the restored windmills above Chora for the view
- Swim at Agriolivado, Kambos or Grikos
- See the coloured pebbles of Lambi beach (do not take any)
- Watch the sunset from the square in Chora
Cheap eats
- Gyros or souvlaki in Skala: about €4
- Patmian cheese pie from a bakery or taverna
- Tomato fritters, a cheap taverna starter
- Grilled octopus at a quayside taverna in Skala
- Honey and almond sweets from Skala's pastry shops
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Skala, where rooms cost about €50–90 for a double and the port, buses and tavernas are close by.
Getting around cheaply
Walk or take the bus (about €2) between Skala, Chora, Grikos and Kambos. A scooter for one day covers the northern bays. Conventional ferries from Piraeus take about 7–9 hours.
A sample budget day
- Morning: walk up to the Cave of the Apocalypse and the monastery (small fees, about €10)
- Lunch: cheese pie and coffee in Chora (about €8)
- Afternoon: bus to Grikos and a swim (about €4 return)
- Evening: souvlaki and a beer on the quay in Skala (about €10)
- Total: about €30–35 plus your bed (about €35), so roughly €65–75
More ways to save
- Visit the monastery and cave early in the morning, before cruise passengers arrive.
- Check monastery and cave opening hours, which are limited and change on cruise days.
- Book Easter and August rooms months ahead.
- Pick a room with a kitchenette and shop at Skala's supermarkets.
- Choose the cheaper conventional ferry if you have time.
- Go to the free public beaches rather than renting sunbeds.
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Common questions
Can I visit Patmos on a budget?
Yes, at about €75 a day with a room in Skala, buses and simple tavernas.
Do I need a car on Patmos?
No; buses and boats reach most places. A scooter helps for Lambi and the northern bays.
What is free on Patmos?
The path up to Chora, the village lanes, the windmills and the public beaches.