Since it’s the height of summer, all we can think about is holidays. Where to find the best beaches, beer gardens and generally anywhere we can take in the sunshine and have a stroll is truly the name of the game. Now, one of our very own North West destinations has been named one of the most affordable compared with other European holiday spots, so you may want to rethink where you summer.
In recent years, UK households have had to take a closer look at their spending, and many people have had to re-think how they holiday. To help budget-conscious travellers make more informed choices, credit card brand Aqua has conducted a new study to reveal the most affordable European destinations where get the most for your money for one week away.
The Lake District ranks as the sixth most affordable destination to visit in Europe this summer, with the average pint cost £3 and meal out cost £12. No matter where you go in the Lake District, there’s something for everyone, and being reachable within around an hour and a half from Manchester, we really ought to make the most of it.
If you choose to staycation in the Lake District, you’ll benefit from the gorgeous fells, which not only provide lovely scenery, but world-class walks and hikes, friendly pubs and local spots, and of course, some of the most famous lakes in the world. You can also catch the train fairly easily from Greater Manchester, if you can get to Wigan North Western or Warrington Bank Quay – the West Coast main line connects the likes of Penrith and Oxenholme to our neck of the woods.
Budapest is the most affordable European destination, with return flights about £83 per person and weekly accommodation for two at £536. Daily costs include £8.28 for dinner, £2.07 for pints, and 93p for transport.
In second place is Prague, with travel costs of £100 per person and the lowest dinner prices on the list at £7.20, plus pints at £2.01. And Costa del Sol rounds off the top three with local transport costing £1.17 and the average pint costing £2.51.
London is Europe’s most expensive destination, with a weekly accommodation cost of £1,241 for two adults, and meals typically cost around £20, and a pint is approximately £6.20.
The most affordable holiday destinations in Europe this summer:
- Budapest
- Prague
- Costa del Sol
- Porto
- Lanzarote
- Lake District
- Madrid
- Blackpool
- Tenerife
- Forest of Dean
Barcelona was crowned the top destination for a summer holiday in 2025, offering 22°C average July temperatures, more than 300 hours of sunshine, and over 75 million Instagram hashtags. Despite higher accommodation costs (£1,136/week for two adults), cheap return flights (£72 per person) and strong online popularity make it a standout.
Madrid followed, actually boasting warmer weather (24°C), cheaper hotels (£825/week for two adults), 358 sunshine hours, and low local costs—making it ideal for budget-conscious travellers seeking a vibrant city experience. Tenerife came third, topping the list for July sunshine (363 hours) and lowest rainfall (0.2mm). Accommodation averages £909/week for two adults, with low food and drink prices (pints at £2.09), balancing out higher flight costs (£156 per person return).
Top European destinations for a summer holiday in 2025:
- Barcelona
- Madrid
- Tenerife
- Costa del Sol
- Budapest
- Lanzarote
- Rome
- Crete
- Athens
- Lisbon
You can see the full research from Aqua here.