Tattoo Cost in Greece: What to Expect in 2026

Greece is rapidly becoming a popular place to get tattooed, especially in Europe. Thanks to skilled artists, low prices, and the opportunity to have a tattoo done during your holiday in one of the world's most stunning locations, it makes perfect sense why the island nation continues to grow in popularity among tattoo lovers across the globe. If you're a Greek looking to get your next tattoo, or even a tourist planning to do it while on holiday, knowing about tattoo prices in Greece will help you to budget effectively for a session.

In Greece, tattoo prices depend on a host of factors just like any other place: size, style, location on the body, the artist's level of experience and, of course, the studio location. The Greek prices are a lot cheaper compared to Northern and Western European prices, though; often 30% to 50% below average rates in London, Paris, Amsterdam and the rest. In this section, we cover what to expect in each Greek tattoo city, in different styles, and by sizes.

Tattoo Prices by Size in Greece

A tiny tattoo under 5 centimetres such as a symbol, date, or small icon will cost anywhere between €50 and €100. For small tattoos of 5 to 10 centimetres like a detailed flower, a small animal or short text, the cost is likely to be between €100 and €250. Medium pieces covering a forearm section or shoulder blade are likely to fall between €250 and €500 and will take 2 to 4 hours to tattoo. Half sleeves cost between €600 and €1,500 depending on the tattoo design and its complexity. Finally, full sleeves start at €1,500 and can reach €3,000 or more if you get your sleeve with highly detailed artwork.

In Greece, pricing for full body, and especially large-scale, pieces are usually not based on an hourly rate, but on a day rate. A full day (usually 6 to 8 hours long) costs between €400 and €800, which depending on the artist is considerably cheaper than the €800 to €1,500 day rate you might pay in London or Berlin. In some cases, if you book multiple sessions with an artist, you may be able to get some sort of package deal with a reduced price per session.

Pricing by City: Athens vs Thessaloniki vs Islands

Athens is the tattoo capital of Greece, and thus has the most diverse selection of artists. Expect to pay somewhere between €60 to €80 an hour to a budget tattoo artist, somewhere between €80 to €120 to a mid-range artist and between €120 to €180 to a premium specialist. There are also many alternative art galleries and tattoo studios, especially in Exarchia, where you can easily spend half a day walking between dozens of tattoo parlours. Kolonaki and Glyfada studios are a bit more expensive because of higher rent. Thessaloniki has a decent tattoo scene, often at slightly cheaper prices (roughly €10 to €20 less per hour than in Athens).

Pricing on the islands is higher. Expect to pay a significant premium, typically around 20 to 40% over prices on the mainland. Studios on Mykonos, Santorini and Crete are usually far more expensive in the summer, when the islands are at their peak and most tattooed visitors are there for vacation. A tattoo that costs just €80 in Athens could be €100-120 on Mykonos. Again, this doesn’t mean better quality, but simply a higher price due to high demand in the summer and the high operating cost of running a tattoo business on an island. If cost is a major factor, get inked on the mainland either before or after you take your holiday to the islands!

Hourly Rates and What Affects the Price

In Greece, tattooing is going to run you anywhere from €70 per hour to €150 per hour. Price differences in tattoos are mostly dependent on the experience level of the artist, whether they specialize in a particular style, and the reputation of the studio itself. Some new artists or apprentices will charge closer to €60 or €80, while a more established artist, who has a great body of work and an active social media following, is going to cost at least €100, and sometimes as much as €150 per hour. Tattoo styles that are especially detailed and require advanced technique (such as photorealism, Japanese, or micro-realism) are likely to cost even more!

Color tattoos usually cost more than black and grey because they take a lot more passes, ink, and time. Custom designs also tend to be more expensive than flash since the tattooer spends time working out your design idea before putting the tattoo to your skin. Most tattoo shops will charge you €30-€80 for the custom design fee. If you decide to do get the tattoo, they will take this off your final total.

Getting Tattooed as a Tourist in Greece

In recent years, Greece has become a major hub for tattoo tourism. With its competitive pricing, talented artists and the romantic notion of being tattooed in a lovely location, it is not surprising that Greece is becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists from all over Europe. When travelling to get tattooed, book your appointment at least 2 to 3 weeks ahead of time in the summer. Most Greek artists are reasonably fluent in English, so you won’t have any trouble discussing designs and locations. Bring pictures of what you want and discuss price at the beginning.

In the sun drenched Greek climate, post-tattoo healing is crucial, as sun, salt water and heat can interfere. Don’t swim or go out in the sun for at least 2 weeks after a tattoo session. It is recommended to do your tattoo session at the end of your holiday, if the trip has a beach. Most tattoo studios in Greece have aftercare products and aftercare instructions are in English.

How to Find the Right Artist in Greece

While Instagram is the leading source for finding tattoo artists in Greece, services like Inkjin provide a means for exploring portfolios of authenticated artists, contrasting the different methods used by artists, and scheduling without requiring an account on social media. Check for pictures of the healed tattoo rather than looking only at just the newly-tattooed work. Make sure to see what the Google review is for the establishment, before you decide to visit them. Make sure to request seeing the studio before scheduling an appointment. No matter the cost, the cleanliness of the space is of primary importance.

Be wary of tattoo studios that refuse to show you the autoclave used for sterilization of their equipment, artists who push you into tattooing more than you want, and prices that are too good to be true. A good small tattoo at a quality shop will cost €50 to €80 in Greece. If someone quotes €300 for a detailed sleeve, consider whether the quality of the product and the shop standards are high. In general, the best Greek artists have to be booked weeks in advance.