Is Patmos expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Patmos is mid-priced for a Greek island: cheaper than Mykonos or Santorini, but rooms and dinners in Chora cost more than in the port. A budget day is about €75 per person, mid-range about €160 and comfort about €325; accommodation, boat trips and getting there (there is no airport) are where the money goes.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| 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.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Bus Skala–Chora, Grikos or Kambos | about €2 |
| Cave of the Apocalypse | small entry fee |
| Monastery of St John treasury museum | a few euros |
| Day boat to Arki and Marathi | around €30–45 per person |
| Gyros or souvlaki in Skala | about €4 |
| Taverna meal | about €20–30 per person, more in Chora |
| Scooter or small car | about €25–50 a day |
| Room in Skala | about €50–90 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Rooms are the biggest cost, especially in Chora and in August, when Athenian families fill the island. Boat trips to Psili Ammos, Arki and Marathi add up, and a scooter or car helps for the northern bays. Getting to Patmos is a cost in itself: a long ferry from Piraeus or a flight to Leros, Kos or Samos plus a boat. Lobster spaghetti is the classic splurge. Greece also charges a per-room, per-night climate resilience fee, higher from April to October.
When it is cheaper
May, June and September are cheaper than July and August; Easter is expensive and books up months ahead, and many hotels close from November to April.
How to spend less
- Stay in Skala, the port, for cheaper rooms and easy buses and boats.
- Walk the old stone path from Skala up to Chora instead of a taxi.
- Use the buses (about €2) to Chora, Grikos and Kambos.
- Eat gyros and souvlaki in Skala at lunch and save Chora for one dinner with a view.
- Rent a scooter for just one day for Lambi and the northern bays.
- Ask the price of lobster and fish by the kilo before ordering.
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Common questions
Is Patmos expensive?
It is mid-priced for a Greek island; Chora is more expensive than Skala.
How much does a day on Patmos cost?
About €75 per person on a budget, €160 mid-range and €325 in comfort.
How much does the monastery cost?
Entry to the monastery's treasury museum is a few euros, and the Cave of the Apocalypse charges a small fee.