11 ideas for a cheap beach holiday

1. Agadir, Morocco

Cheap and cheerful Agadir is shaping up to be this year’s cheapest beach destination, with the price of a seven-night holiday coming in at just £400pp.

It’s brilliant value for money, with the average price of a three-course meal for two costing less than £20. Seafood fans will enjoy the feast on offer – the abundance of fresh fish here means you can eat like a king for rock bottom prices.

Most beach bums flock to Agadir’s northern beaches. They’re known for their powder-soft sands and excellent surfing conditions, especially at Banana Beach, which got its name from Jimi Hendrix.

You’ll find more spectacular beaches south of Agadir, but they’re trickier to access because they back on to the jagged Atlas Mountains. Visitors often choose to visit the coastline’s bays on organised boat tours, although there are still a handful of beaches that are easy to get to. These include Sidi Toual, which is especially popular with families.

2. 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 £456pp compared to Antalya’s £547pp. 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 Babadağ Mountain) 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.

3. Spain's costas

There’s not much in it if you’re seeking some budget Spanish sun this summer. The country’s four 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 (£519pp 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.

Costa Brava (£520pp) classics like Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar are great for sandy Blue Flag beaches but you could also head north towards the border with France for quieter (and rockier) stretches of coast.

Malaga is the obvious option in the Costa del Sol (£563pp) – 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.

The Costa Blanca (£571pp) is the priciest of the four, 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.

4. The Canary Islands, Spain

This summer’s cheapest Canary Island? Gran Canaria. It’s just £504pp on average 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.

Your other options for a cheap holiday include Lanzarote (£546pp) and Fuerteventura (£558pp), which is regarded by many as the one 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 more expensive, but it’s by no means the priciest on this list. Expect holidays to cost around £652pp 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.

5. Sardinia, Italy

It’s not often Italy makes it on to the radar of cheap beach holiday seekers but its island of Sardinia, with its crystal-clear waters and stunning beaches is a fantastic choice if you’re after something a little different.

Budget-friendly options include towns like Olbia and Alghero, as well as the island capital of Cagliari – all of which offer more affordable stays than the ultra upmarket Costa Smeralda.

As for its beaches, they rival the best of the Med. A few for your radar include La Pelosa near Stintino, which is famous for its shallow turquoise waters and powdery sand, as well as Cala Mariolu and Cala Goloritzé, which have dramatic cliffs and hidden coves.

Simple budget hotels keep the prices down, so don’t expect many that will make your Instagram feed, but it means you can find seven-night holidays for around £565pp on average.

6. Black Sea, Bulgaria

It’s hard to get more bang for your buck than on Bulgaria’s Black Sea, a regular in our round up of cheap all-inclusive destinations. Crowd-free beaches, delicious cuisine and cheap-as-chips coastal towns are standard here, and adventurous explorers will have plenty to discover along the seaside.

Consider basing yourself around the Bourgas area if you’re keen to visit multiple destinations. Not only is it the cheapest spot in the region this summer (around £601 for a seven-night break) but it’s also a great jumping off point for some of the area’s loveliest beaches, such as those in Albena and Sunny Beach.

If you plan to stay put, make a beeline for the coastal town of Sozopol. Here, the best stretches of sand include Central Beach, which has great facilities and is located between Sozopol’s old and new towns; Harmani Beach, a long, wide stretch of sand with cheap beachfront restaurants; and Zlatna Ribka Beach, a popular surf spot that has its own campsite.

7. 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.

And at around £635pp for seven nights in Majorca, it’s a pretty compelling option. Pitch up by Alcudia, where a long, sandy beach is perfect for families or try Cala Mondrago for turquoise waters and a secluded feel.

Elsewhere, this might be the year to visit neighbouring Menorca (£669pp) 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.

8. 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 by no means 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 £640 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 £648pp.

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.

10. Malta

Malta’s coastline is breathtakingly beautiful – dotted with tiny bays, coves and beaches, many of which line the coastal walking routes that the island is famous for.

Some of the best places to hit the water are found in the northwest corner of the island. The craggy coast gives way to lovely stretches of sand near Mellieħa and Għajn Tuffieħa (beaches include Ġnejna Bay and Għadira Bay), and you’ll be close to Cirkewwa’s ferry terminal, which will whisk you to the even tinier island of Gozo where more of Malta’s best beaches await.

Stay in Valletta, Malta’s capital, to combine culture fixes with visits to the nearby beaches. There are plenty of affordable accommodation options here, as well as cheap and fast ferries to Sliema, the Three Cities and Gozo.

This year, a seven-night break will set you back around £677pp on average.

11. Rhodes, Greece

Greece’s cheapest islands tend to be the larger ones that don’t rely on imports to fuel the country’s tourism industry. But while Crete and Corfu are the traditional crowd-pleasers, Rhodes – around £691pp 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. Our 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.

*Please note: All prices correct as of 31 January 2025. The research looked at all price searches via TravelSupermarket from 16 - 30 January 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.