11 ideas for a cheap beach holiday

1. Turquoise Coast, Turkey

The resorts around Dalaman and Antalya, on Turkey’s Mediterranean-facing Turquoise Coast, have so many accommodation options that prices always seem competitive.

This summer, the better value spot is Dalaman, where prices average £421pp compared to Antalya’s £523pp. That said, both rank well for affordability while you’re there. Pints cost around £3 each and three-course meals at a mid-range restaurant will set you back around £17pp.

Beaches worthy of a shout-out around Dalaman include those at Olu Deniz (you’ll have great views of the ocean and the paragliders descending from the summit of nearby Mount Babadağ) and Icmeler Beach, which has the advantage of being just 15 minutes from Marmaris.

You’ll find just as many talc-soft sands and calm waters along the coastline near Antalya. Golden Lara Beach on the city’s outskirts is 8km (5 miles) of watersports heaven, while Kleopatra Beach near Alanya has white sands and lovely views. No wonder the Egyptian queen insisted on swimming here.

2. The Canary Islands, Spain

This summer’s cheapest Canary Island is Gran Canaria. On average, it’s just £509pp to enjoy seven sun-drenched nights here. That it has some of Spain’s loveliest beaches – like the golden dunes at Maspalomas and classy Playa de Mogán – is just a bonus.

Lanzarote (£560pp) is another great option, though it’s Fuerteventura (£637pp) that’s regarded by many as the Canary Island with the best beaches. The coastline is a magnet for thrill-seekers and you can burn off excess energy (and enjoy some free fun) by scrambling up Corralejo’s sand dunes, or by hiring a paddleboard to explore its coastline from the water.

Tenerife is slightly more expensive, but it’s by no means the priciest on this list. Expect holidays to cost around £659pp for seven nights, but cheap meals (look out for restaurants offering fixed-price menú del día) and beer from around £2.60 to balance it out.

3. Zante (Zakynthos), Greece

Zante’s Navagio (Shipwreck Beach), with its iconic rusting wreck and dazzling blue waters, is one of Greece’s most recognisable beaches, but it’s not the only draw to this sun-baked spot in the Ioanian.

Families enjoy Tsilivi, a fabulous all-rounder with soft sands and shallow waters, or you can visit the dramatic rocky coast at Porto Limnionas for some of the island’s best snorkelling. And at Laganas Beach, a popular nesting spot for sea turtles, you can sunbathe on golden sands all day.

Consider staying in the town of Kalamaki. Its namesake beach has plenty of space to lay your towel and numerous restaurants to head to when hunger strikes. Alykanas and Vasilikos also have charming guesthouses and budget-friendly hotels close to quieter beaches.

This year, a seven-night break comes in at £537 on average.

4. Spain's costas

There’s not much in it if you’re seeking some budget Spanish sun this summer. The country’s most popular costas are wallet winners every year, meaning it’s easy to find something to suit your budget.

Popular picks in the Costa Dorada (£556pp for seven nights) include Salou, which is this year’s cheapest all-inclusive destinations for families, and laidback Cambrils, the foodie hotspot of the region.

The Costa Blanca (£616pp) is pricier, but eating out remains affordable, especially in bigger cities like Benidorm and Alicante where the scale of restaurants and bars keep things competitive price-wise.

In the Costa del Sol (£619pp), Malaga is the obvious option. Even within the region, it still stands out as one of Europe’s most popular cheap beach destinations, though families tend to prefer more chilled-out towns like Torremolinos and Fuengirola.

5. Kefalonia, Greece

Kefalonia offers brilliant bang for your buck if you’re dreaming of a holiday to Greece – it’s the cheapest Greek island this year, with prices from around £605pp in summer.

A diverse range of beaches (from the wild to the well-trodden), delicious cuisine and cheap-as-chips coastal towns are standard here and adventurous explorers will have plenty to discover along the seaside.

Start your bargain hunt in the island’s south, where resorts such as Lassi, Svoronata and Skala have a wide range of self-catering apartments and budget hotels. They’re great bases for a beach-hopping holiday too, so hire a car and you can visit the sandy stretches at Makris Gialos, Kaminia and Skala.

Adventurous travellers might prefer to stay in the north to discover more of Kefalonia’s best beaches. Some, like Fteri and Dafnoudi, can only be accessed by foot or boat but are worth the effort.

6. The Balearic Islands, Spain

The Balearic Islands are brilliant for budget beach holidays in the Mediterranean, especially if you swap a sprawling all-inclusive for a quieter B&B or self-catering apartment a little off the beaten track.

This might be the year to visit Menorca (£627pp) before it gets too popular. According to our data, it’s flying up the ranks among sun-seeking travellers, with a huge 341% increase in searches compared to last year.

The island’s most popular destinations are the resorts of Cala Blanca, Cala'n Bosc, Arenal d'en Castell and Cala en Porter – they have some of the best beaches in Europe and can be entirely free to enjoy.

Elsewhere, seven nights in Majorca will set you back £660pp on average. Pitch up by Alcudia, where a long, sandy beach is perfect for families or try Cala Mondrago for turquoise waters and a secluded feel.

7. Corfu, Greece

Cheap and cheerful Corfu has delivered good-value getaways for decades, and it’s promising more of the same in 2025, with seven-night summer holidays around £649pp on average.

It’s brilliant value for money, especially if you’re choosing a self-catering stay in resorts like Gouvia or Dassia. Just north of Corfu Town, they’ll place you close to the island’s cheap supermarkets (there are two Lidls on the capital’s outskirts) and have lovely beaches right in town. Some of Corfu’s most popular beaches aren’t far away either, whether you’re after long stretches of golden sand (try Agios Georgios beach) or clear-water bays ideal for snorkelling.

Another great base is Sidari on the north coast, where you’ll be close to a string of small-but-stunning pebble beaches, as well as the dramatic Canal d’Amour, which glows gold as the sun sets.

8. Kos, Greece

Seeking an active beach break? Make a beeline for Kos. This Greek island in the Aegean Sea has excellent conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing – especially when the Meltemi winds are at their strongest in July and August.

There are watersports centres across the island, so you can try it out wherever you stay. Beginners will appreciate being early birds as the water and winds tend to be calmer in the morning.

Alternatively, base yourself in Kos Town, the island’s capital, to combine culture fixes with visits to the nearby beaches. Historical highlights here include the Ancient Agora, the Casa Romana and the open-air Western Archaeological Site, as well as the restored 3rd century BC ruins at Asklepieion, about 10 minutes away by car.

There are plenty of affordable accommodation options right across the island, and you can expect a seven-night break to set you back around £658pp on average.

9. The Algarve, Portugal

Portugal’s southern Algarve region is a cheap beach break mainstay and this year, seven nights will cost you around £673pp.

There are plenty of choices along its golden coast, from bustling Albufeira with its lively bars and budget-friendly hotels to quiet Carvoeiro, where you can retreat to a romantic guesthouse for a week or more.

Praia da Marinha, with its golden cliffs and clear waters, is one of Portugal’s most beautiful beaches, but really, you’ll have lots to love wherever you stay along this stretch of coast. Make time for Praia da Falésia, which stuns with its dramatic red cliffs that are especially beautiful come sunset.

In the lesser-visited east, the protected islands of the Ria Formosa have pristine white sands that stretch for miles. You can reach Praia do Barril via a footbridge or jump on the ferry from Olhão to visit car-free islands like Armona and Culatra.

10. Rhodes, Greece

Crete and Corfu are the traditional crowd-pleasers but Rhodes – around £687pp for a summer beach break – is an underrated bet for anyone visiting the Greek islands on a budget.

A wide range of historic sites means you get more bang for your buck here. Favourites include the ruins of Kritinia Castle (in the village of the same name), which date back to the 1400s. Admission is free and if you walk the ramparts, you’ll enjoy fantastic coastal views.

Rhodes’s most popular beaches include Kiotari, Plimiri and Gennadi on the southeast coast, although if you’re on a budget, it’s worth heading north. Not only will you be closer to Rhodes’s UNESCO-listed old town, which is famous for its gorgeous mix of Turkish, Italian and Byzantine architecture, but staying in villages like Faliraki and Trianda will help your money go further.

11. Sicily, Italy

It’s not often Italy makes it on to the radar of cheap beach holiday seekers but its island of Sicily, with its pretty beaches and trendy towns is a fantastic choice if you’re after something a little different.

Budget-friendly options include towns like Trapani and Marsala, as well as the island capital of Palermo – all of which offer more affordable stays than the upmarket coastline near Taormina.

As for its beaches, they rival the best of the Med. A few for your radar include San Vito lo Capo near Trapani, which is famous for its shallow waters overlooked by the towering Mount Monaco, as well as sandy stretches at Mondello and Lungomare di Cefalù, on the north coast.

Simple budget hotels help keep the prices down here but there are plenty of swankier options if you’re feeling flush. It means you can find seven-night holidays for around £697pp on average.

*Please note: All prices correct as of 2 May 2025. The research looked at all price searches via TravelSupermarket from 17 April - 1 May 2025 for 7-night holidays departing between May and September 2025. The cheapest beach holiday destinations were based on the median price for all holidays. Research prices are indicative only and do not necessarily reflect live deals on site.