Holidays during the summer months invariably come with steeper prices. But while costs can be stratospheric in the most popular European resorts of Italy, France or Greece, there are still pockets of Europe that offer a fabulous experience without the hefty price tag. Take cities like Sarajevo and Prague, which are reliably budget-friendly year-round. Or Porec in Croatia, whose beaches are no less dazzling than those in the Côte d’Azur. And then there’s family-friendly Algarve — just head away from the gateway city of Faro. If you’re feeling a little frugal, here are some of the best affordable summer destinations in Europe to consider for 2025.
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1. Marmaris, Turkey
Each year, the Post Office Travel Money Family Holiday Report ranks various resorts according to the total cost of things like a three-course evening meal for two adults and two children with wine and soft drinks; a cup of coffee; sunscreen, and insect repellent. Marmaris, on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, regularly features among the cheapest destinations on the list — coming top in 2023 and second in 2024. That has much to do with the lira’s ongoing struggles, making Turkey a great option for those keen on saving money. The soft sand of family-friendly beaches beckons along the coast, and local providers offer scuba or snorkelling trips.
Don’t miss Boat tours to Dalyan’s mud baths and Iztuzu beach — a prime nesting habitat for turtles.
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Surrounded by bars and restaurants and offering access to its own private beach, Premier Nergis Beach Hotel is great for those who want to do a little more than just fly and flop.
For a longer trip, Intrepid Travel’s eight-day Sail Turkey itinerary takes you from Fethiye to Bodrum in a traditional Turkish gulet.
• Read our full guide to Turkey
2. The Algarve, Portugal
This Portuguese favourite was ranked third on the 2024 Post Office list — not bad for a region so renowned for on-tap sunshine and sandy shores. Other Algarve highlights are affordable surfing outings at Albufeira and rice terraces in the Monchique mountains. Cash-conscious travellers should aim to stay in Faro or Portimao. Look out for the €10 (around £8.50) prato do dia set meals (often lunch-only) and, with car hire costs spiralling, consider travelling around by Uber, train or the reliable bus network. All offer bang for your buck.
Don’t miss Photographing Sagres’s red-hatted lighthouse of Cabo de Sao Vicente.
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Try the award-winning NH Marina Portimao Resort. It’s further from the beach than some hotels (albeit only about 500m), but it has gorgeous marina views and three outdoor pools.
See the Algarve’s other side with Exodus Adventure Travels, which offers an eight-day guided Walking Portugal’s Wild Algarve tour.
• Read our full guide to Portugal
3. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
A long-standing favourite among budget travellers, this Black Sea base took the top spot on the 2024 Post Office report. Though well known for nightclubs, Sunny Beach also excels at child-friendly resort hotels full of facilities. Activities — from catamaran cruises and mud baths to go-karting and jet-skiing — are readily available; there are also Greek, Roman and Byzantine remains for history hounds to inspect in the ancient town of Nessebar, two miles south. Most people jet into nearby Burgas, but you can also fly via the capital, Sofia, for a dose of street food and domed churches.
Don’t miss Encountering unique Black Sea fish on scuba dives.
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Set away from the main strip, adults-only Secrets Sunny Beach Resort & Spa offers all-inclusive packages that allow you to simply kick back and relax.
Take to the water with a half-day Black Sea catamaran cruise, including lunch and the chance to swim and snorkel.
• Best affordable city breaks in Europe
4. Prague, Czech Republic
While the stag-do days of heart-stoppingly low prices are behind us, the Czech capital remains a potential BFF for your bank account. Happily cheap are accommodation options in neighbourhoods beyond the cobbled Old Town (try cool Karlin or Holesovice), pints of pilsner, the reliable public transport network — not least bus-metro transfers from the airport to the centre for a few pounds — and short denni (daily) menus offered at lunchtime by many restaurants. Cheaper still is strolling around Prague’s honeycomb medieval centre and gasping at all the grandeur, gardens and street art — because it’s free.
Don’t miss Crossing the famous, romantic Charles Bridge, ideally at dawn or dusk to dodge the crowds.
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Offering both private and hostel-style shared rooms, quirky boutique hotel Meet Me 23 is right next to the train station and is a short walk to the city’s main attractions.
Consider incorporating Prague into a longer European tour. The nine-day Bohemian Dream tour from Globus will also take you to Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and more.
5. Porec, Croatia
We’ve all heard of Dubrovnik and Split, and everyone knows someone who has holidayed in Hvar, Korcula or Brac recently. But Porec? Located on the Istrian peninsula, in sight of Italy, this attractive seaside resort combines a red-roofed old town and gold-flecked, 6th-century basilica complex with close-by beaches and stalactite-topped caves. More pertinently for this article, two domestic groups — Valamar and Plava Laguna — operate a number of hotels and resorts, keeping prices low, as do a cornucopia of apartment rentals. With lots of coastal cycling paths negating the need for taxis, Porec ranked number 14 on the 2024 Family Holiday Report.
Don’t miss Trying hand-rolled Istrian macaroni-like pljukanci pasta.
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Overlooking the Adriatic, the Valamar Riviera Hotel & Residence is also close to the ferry terminal for boat trips.
Active travellers will love the eight-day Istrian Cycle Explorer tour from UTracks, which departs from Porec and also stops in Buzet, Rabac, Pula, and Rovinj.
• Read our full guide to Croatia
6. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
In a valley below tree-clogged mountains, the Bosnian capital has been named as a brilliant budget bet by Eurochange. The currency firm reckons you can enjoy three-course meals for barely a tenner per person, while accommodation remains good value for money. Factor in bargain beers and direct, low-cost flights and you really won’t need to spend much while exploring multicultural Sarajevo’s vibrant pubs, tea houses, hookah-perfumed bazaars and Latin Bridge — where the assassination of a certain Franz Ferdinand triggered the First World War.
Don’t miss Learning about the more recent Siege of Sarajevo — crucial to understanding this city — on an educational tour.
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Centrally located Hotel VIP is well placed for exploring the sights of Sarajevo’s old town.
Sarajevo plays a starring role in Intrepid Travel’s eight-day Bosnia & Herzegovina Adventure, a fully-guided itinerary that also includes visits to Jajce, Mostar, Konjic, and Umoljani.
7. Costa del Sol, Spain
Spain’s best-known costa can offer good value for money, especially as all Spanish beaches are free by law. Resorts vary wildly, though: Torremolinos suits cash-strapped holidaymakers, but glamorous Marbella and Estepona are more expensive. Emphatically ticking the beach, nightlife and LGBTQ-friendly boxes, “Torre” is also near Malaga — often the lowest-cost airport to fly into, and an economical city to explore in itself. Tickets to its hilltop Alcazaba fortified palace cost next to nothing, or you can visit it and and the Castle of Gibralfaro for free on Sundays at certain times.
Don’t miss Free walking tours and art in Malaga’s rejuvenated city centre.
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The Mariposa hotel is right in the centre of Malaga, making it a great spot for city breaks.
The ten-day, fully-guided Moorish Andalucia tour from Explore! takes you on a loop through southern Spain from Malaga, and includes visits to landmarks such as Granada’s Alhambra Palace, the Alcazar of Seville and Mezquita in Cordoba.
• Read our full guide to Spain
8. Paphos, Cyprus
Mostly concentrated around its elegant harbour and ancient defensive castle, this resort lines the southwestern coast of Cyprus and is nearly always warm. Paphos’s biggest plus point over rival Limassol is that visitors can easily make do without hiring a car. Most all-inclusive resorts provide airport transfers, taxis are affordable and the sprawling Paphos Archaeological Park, containing Roman ruins with superbly preserved mosaics, is nearby and only a few pounds to enter.
Don’t miss Boat excursions to the Blue Lagoon.
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Just a 15-minute walk from the Tombs of the Kings, Kefalos Beach Tourist Village is a relaxed waterfront hotel with all-inclusive packages.
The eight-day Archaeology of Ancient Cyprus tour from Brightwater Holidays is a top pick for any budding history buffs.
9. Madeira, Portugal
Several airlines fly from Britain to this far-flung Portuguese island’s capital, Funchal — helping to keep fares down — while restaurant prices are similar to those in Lisbon. Transport tends to be the biggest cost, as buses are unreliable and Ubers non-existent. Aim to stay in or near Funchal and book cruises and chartered day trips — which can include inexpensive hotel pick-ups — for levada hikes or swimmable volcanic pools. Return ferries to the smaller island of Porto Santo and its sandy beaches cost from around £50pp.
Don’t miss A dolphin-watching cruise — these are done responsibly and sighting of pods are very likely.
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Located close to the ferry terminal, Funchal’s Savoy Palace is a resort-style hotel with six restaurants and a choice of pools.
The eight-day Walking in Madeira itinerary from Explore! takes you all over the island on a fully-guided group tour.
10. Sliema, Malta
Avoid the capital Valletta (although even that’s hardly exorbitant) and you’ll find that few hotels or all-inclusives in Malta will break the bank. Plenty of bedrooms around this small Mediterranean archipelago cost under £100 a night, even in July or August. Spring and autumn, when it remains hot, are even better; the latter season also delivers warmed-up seas. It’s free to sunbathe on most beaches, and happy-hour specials are common at bars. The main isle’s resort town of Sliema, just north of Valletta’s castles and cathedrals, is a good bet.
Don’t miss A day on the island of Gozo, a diving hotspot.
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With stunning harbour views, the Waterfront has an indoor pool and complimentary access to Aqualuna Beach Lido.
If you want to do away with a hire car but still want to sightsee, the eight-day Malta and Gozo Discovery tour from Explore! is a great way to see both islands on a short trip. The tour ends in Sliema, where you’ll have the option to stay on independently.
11. Mallorca, Spain
It’s easy enough to splash out here, with palatial villas in the mountains and exclusive hotels further inland offering just the sort of privacy that celebrities love. And yet, if you find a self-catering apartment along the coast, away from the main city of Palma, there can be fantastic savings — especially when you book as part of a package holiday. Even eating out can be cheap. As in the rest of Spain, the menu del dia can offer great value, with three courses plus a drink often costing around £12-14. Most people come for the beaches, but just as worthy are the hiking trails in the Tramuntana mountain range and tiny fishing villages by the coast.
Don’t miss A ride on the vintage train from Palma to Soller, which takes you through some of the most scenic parts of the island.
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Try Hotel Illa d’Or, set on the shore of Puerto Pollensa to the north of the island, which offers both hotel rooms and self-catering apartments.
The eight-day Walking in Mallorca tour from Explore! is fully guided, covering everything from the unspoilt Tramuntana mountain range to the sweeping coast.
12. Corfu, Greece
Corfu remains one of the cheapest Greek islands, coming in at number ten on the 2024 Post Office report. You can reduce restaurant costs (which aren’t that high anyway) by purchasing streetside gyros (rotisserie meat swathed in flatbread alongside salad and lashings of tzatziki), and save on car hire or taxis by braving the bus system or hiring a scooter from about £15 per day. Hotels are affordable if booked in advance (or, if you dare, at the very last minute), especially in the south, while return flights from London typically cost around £175 during peak or shoulder season, but as little as £80 in October. With fridges often included in rooms here, it’s easy to shop in supermarkets and pack picnics for days out.
Don’t miss Walking along a pier to the island-like Vlacherna Monastery — actually a small church that tourists can enter. Ramping up the cuteness, the tiny Mouse Island floats out at sea just beyond.
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Family-run Hotel Costas Golden Beach is steps from the pebble-and-shingle beach at Agios Georgios, and is a favourite for returning guests.
Visit Corfu as part of the eight-day Ionian Islands Bike & Boat tour from UTracks, which combines sailing and cycling your way around stops including Parga, Lefkada, Cephalonia, Ithaca, Meganisi and Paxos.
• Read our full guide to Greece
13. Basilicata, Italy
Bordering Puglia on the ankle of boot-shaped Italy, Basilicata is dominated by mountains. In the Dolomiti Lucane you can hike, ride one of the world’s fastest ziplines — the 75mph “Angel’s Flight” (May to early November) — and stay at bargain-priced agriturismos serving good nosh. Or you could just make for the coast: sandy coves tempt either side of Maratea, where cool hotels and tinkling churches tumble down to sea.
Don’t miss Inland city Matera, around whose ancient cave houses James Bond was chased in No Time to Die.
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Hilly Matera is packed with tiny hotels and B&Bs. La Casa di Ele sits in the historic centre, with a charming terrace from which to soak up the views.
Taking in the highlights of Campania, Basilicata and Puglia, the nine-day Hidden Treasures of Southern Italy tour from Globus is a fabulous romp through the rugged south.
• Read our full guide to Italy
14. Gran Canaria, Spain
Along with those other large Canary Islands with direct UK flights — Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma and Lanzarote — Gran Canaria suits anyone travelling on a budget. All-inclusive stays frequently cost less than £100 here; the trick is to avoid central Maspalomas or Playa del Ingles and stay nearby in the likes of Bahia Feliz, San Agustin or Arguineguin. Modestly priced and reliable public transport makes it easy to reach the beach; you can catch a bus up to the beachside capital, Las Palmas, for still more modest prices.
Don’t miss Maspalomas’s caramel-hued sand dunes, which can rise more than 10m high.
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A great option for families, Tui Blue Orquidea is a beachfront hotel in Bahia Feliz with its own splashpark for little ones.
Why not consider a no-fly break? P&O Cruises has round-trip itineraries from Southampton that visit Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands before returning to the UK.
• Best things to do in Gran Canaria
15. Athens, Greece
The Greek islands may be the main draw for the summer, but capital Athens has plenty to offer too. In August, most Athenians will have fled for their own holidays, making it a much less crowded city, but restaurants, bars and museums will remain open. Speaking of museums, the Acropolis will be your biggest expense at around £30 in summer, with many museums and galleries costing under £10. If the city heat gets too much, there’s also the Athens Riviera for beach time.
Don’t miss The Monastiraki flea market rivals any in Paris, so save your pennies and buy your souvenirs here.
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With a top-notch view of the Acropolis, Herodion Hotel is well located for sightseeing.
For something a little different, the ten-day From Istanbul to Athens tour with Globus gives you a chance to explore how the histories of these nations intertwine.
16. Krakow, Poland
The Post Office Travel Money also compares the costs of city breaks in Europe, and Krakow — Poland’s second city — ranked among 2024’s most affordable in terms of day-to-day costs. There’s plenty to delight kids in this cultural powerhouse, starting with Wawel Royal Castle and its fire-breathing dragon sculpture and armoury. Eight miles southeast and easily visited on tours, the vast Wieliczka Salt Mine contains an underground lake and ornate, rock-carved chapels — but, be warned, plenty of walking is involved. Then there are sightseeing cruises, nearby thermal baths (try Bialka Tatrzanska) and the Pinball Museum’s retro ready-to-play machines.
Don’t miss Meet the Prince and Princess of Wales in the Polonia Wax Museum — a cheaper, queue-free version of Madame Tussauds.
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Overlooking Krakow’s main square, the Bonerowski Palace is a gorgeous boutique hotel in a historic building offering affordable luxury.
Explore! offers an eight-day Highlights of Poland tour with stops such as Krakow, Wroclaw and Warsaw, offering an insight into their fascinating history.
17. Auvergne, France
One of the most inexpensive regions in France, unsung Auvergne sits west of Lyon. Here you’ll find the Chaîne des Puys — a line of extinct volcanoes (and Unesco world heritage site) amid forests, quaint villages and Romanesque churches. Even the ski resorts here are low-key. Biking (from mountain to electric) and hiking are popular pursuits thanks to waymarked trails. And, this being France, you’ll eat well: Auvergne produces five protected-status cheeses for starters, with weekly markets an economical place to pick them up.
Don’t miss Pilgrimage town Le Puy-en-Velay, below plumes of petrified lava.
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For a characterful stay, book Maison au Loup, a B&B in the historic centre of Le Puy-en-Velay.
The ten-day French Food Lover’s Le Puy Camino tour from UTracks takes you on a gastronomic pilgrimage.
• Read our full guide to France
18. Crete, Greece
Crete, Greece’s largest island, has plenty going for it, from blue-flag beaches to superb cuisine. It’s also budget-friendly compared to the likes of Mykonos or Santorini: direct flights mitigate costs while hotel rates tend to outdo smaller, more remote islands where a dearth of rooms pushes up prices. Sea-facing religious sites such as Rethymnon’s Church of Saint Spyridon are free to visit, or you can hike through the ten-mile Samaria Gorge.
Don’t miss All that saving leaves money for snorkelling expeditions to the sunken Messerschmitt fighter plane.
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Located on a quiet stretch of coast outside Heraklion, Civitel Creta Beach hotel is an ideal base whether you’re looking to relax or explore.
The eight-day Walking in Crete tour from Exodus Adventure Travels is the perfect way to see the island up close at a relaxed pace.
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