These are Europe's cheapest places for family holidays this summer – package breaks in stunning locations from £282

The Sun

4 days ago

NEED a holiday this summer but outrageous prices putting you off? We've crunched the numbers to find the cheapest locations for family holidays across Europe.
All-inclusive family package holidays from the UK have jumped in price for some of the most popular destinations among Brits, including Spain, Cyprus and Greece.
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However, some holiday hotspots in these countries still have some great deals, if you know where to look.
TUI, Jet2, Travel Supermarket and Love Holidays all gave us the inside knowledge on their most affordable destinations still on sale for summer 2025.
Because where you go in Europe can make a big difference to how much you spend.
These are the cheapest destinations in Europe for a holiday this summer 2025 (All package prices are for two adults and two children and include return flights from the UK).
Sozopol, Bulgaria
Sozopol is a top pick for budget-conscious Brits who want a break in the sun without a big price tag.
As well as a beautiful old town dotted with cute and cheap cafes and shops, Sozopol has one of the most beautiful beaches in Bulgaria.
Our Bulgaria expert, Pavlena Todorova, recommends Central Beach in Sozopol over the more famous Sunny Beach in Bulgaria.
This sweeping bay is rich in golden sand and has beautiful, calm blue water that is perfect for swimming.
Central Beach, as well as Sozopol itself, is also less busy than the capital Sofia and its popular beaches.
Plus, the beach bars and cafes along the sand are slightly cheaper and you'll find it easier to get a table overlooking the sea.
Beach Bar, Sparrow, has a shady terrace on the sand and you can get a beer for £2.50 and chicken and chips for £6.
Book with: travelsupermarket.com for seven nights bed and breakfast, staying at the 3-star Flagman Hotel, with flights on Jet2 from Birmingham, £399 per person.
Kos, Greece
Kos has always had a quiet reputation for being one of the lesser crowded, more affordable of the Greek islands.
You are spoiled for choice here with brilliant blue waters, sandy beaches and quiet coves, where if you go at the right time of day, you could be the only person on the beach.
Rent a small speedboat for £50 a day and explore the harder to reach beaches, or just take it a mile off the shore and spend the day sunbathing or and jumping off the boat into the crystal clear sea to get cool.
For dinner, one of the many local restaurants in Kos Town will have you filling your boots with gyros wraps, hummus and chips for only £5.
A cold glass of wine to wash it all down is around £4 at most places.
Sunsets are free and stunning, especially when viewed from a table on the beach.
Paphos, Cyprus
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Paphos is a top budget destination if you want a mix of sunbathing and sightseeing.
The coastline is packed with stunning Blue Flag beaches, and spacious sandy stretches all along the coast.
There is a range of hotels in every price range, from 2* self-catering apartments where you can get terrific deals, to luxury villas and 5* star hotels.
If you want to spend time exploring, many of Paphos' main attractions are within walking distance of the harbour.
Ask if your hotel has a shuttle to get you there, the rest can be explored on foot.
This includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, which has some of the Mediterranean's best-preserved mosaics and Paphos Old Town, which mixes ancient buildings and streets with modern additions better than most classic cities.
You have to go to Pinguino on the harbour for breakfast. A full English or a huge pile of pancakes is only £5 and we guarantee you won't need lunch that day.
Book with: travelsupermarket.com seven nights at the Hilltop Gardens Hotel Apartments self catering, with return flights from London Stansted on Jet2, including 22kg checked baggage per passenger, for £282pp. This deal lands back in the UK on the 4th September, so if you have a few extra inset days at the end of the school holidays, take full advantage!
For a similar, mid-holiday package, departing on 25th July and staying at the Marion Apartments, in Paphos, it's £339 with l oveholidays.com.
Heraklion, Greece
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Crete is the largest of the Greek Islands. In the Heraklion area, you have a choice of different resorts, including Malia, Rethymnon and upmarket Elounda.
Heraklion is the largest city in Crete and has an interesting history, including the 16th century Koules fortress on the old Venetian port and the striking fortification walls.
The best deals for beach holidays in this area are just outside the city on the north coast.
There are a lot of resorts along the coastline, most look out onto the brilliant blue Aegean Sea.
The beaches close to Analipsi are the longest and sandiest. The rocky coastline here also makes this a great area for snorkelling.
You will find there are lots of boat trips and guides offering tours at affordable prices.
Book with: loveholidays.com for seven nights self catering at the 3-star Kasapakis Hotel & Apartments and return flights from London Stansted, £339 per person.
Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Lanzarote is one the best islands in the Canaries for families.
You are spoiled for choice with more than 100 beaches, many of which are Blue Flag standard with crystal clear water.
Everything is on offer here, from paddleboarding to boat hire, paragliding and of course, paddling and swimming in the calm waters, which are ideal for younger children.
Plus, the weather here is almost guaranteed to be sunny and hot almost all year, so those who can travel outside of term time can get an even better deal.
The beaches are framed by green hillsides that have hotels and residential homes nestled in cliffs.
Deals on hotels from all the major holiday companies are very competitive with packages for as little as £200 per person for a week if you can travel outside of the school holidays.
And there are so many beachfront bars and restaurants, if you don't get food with your hotel package, there is no end of offers to get you in.
Bottles of beer are £4 on the seafront but only £2 if you pick up a pack in the supermarket.
Book with: travelsupermarket.com for seven nights in the 4-star Sands Beach Resort and flights on Thomas Cook from Bournemouth, for £339pp.
Tips for booking bargain breaks in summer 2025
Budget-conscious ways to save money booking a holiday this summer
Go somewhere different.
You may have set your sights on the Costa del Sol but you may find much better deals for lesser-known beach places like Bulgaria and Poland. These destinations have beautiful beaches and low lifestyle costs, with beer as low as £2 a pint.
Money talks.
To be really clever, choose destinations where the value of the pound is strong. This means more bang for your buck whether you are buying a beer and a sandwich or indulging in a serious shopping spree. This year, the weakest currencies against the GBP include Turkey, Bulgaria and Portugal.
Staycation in the UK
Staying on British soil means you don't have to navigate the airport or pay extra for baggage, transfers or currency exchange. There are still some excellent deals going on UK holiday parks that have water slides, kids clubs and beaches on the doorstep. These can often work out less than overseas flights alone. See our round up of what holiday parks to book this summer here.
Is all-inclusive always best?
If you are not a big drinker or eater or have fussy kids in the family, booking an all-inclusive might not be the best option for your group. So many resorts have self-catering packages too. You will get all the perks of the resort facilities, like kids clubs, evening entertainment and pools, but with a small kitchenette to make your own lunch and dinner and save big.
Book very early…
Some packages, such as with Jet2hoidays and TUI can be booked a year in advance and those willing to commit early can sometimes get some unbelievable discounts.
If you know when you want to travel, keep an eye out for prices on the destinations and resorts you want to book. They may go up and down in price throughout the year, depending on whether airlines and companies have a sale on.
…or, last minute.
Alternatively, booking last minute can mean some fantastic final dash prices. See our list below for the cheapest places to holiday in Europe this summer.