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 destinations across Europe where you can get the most for your money for one week away.
You can view the full research here: https://www.aquacard.co.uk/building-better-credit/summer-destinations-uk-vs-europe
Barcelona crowned the top destination for a summer holiday in 2025
After analysing popular destinations across the UK and Europe, Aqua found that the best value locations were actually outside the UK.
Barcelona ranked #1, offering 22°C average July temperatures, 300+ sunshine hours, and 75M+ 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 with 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).
| Rank | City | Average Travel Cost | Average 3* accommodation cost | Average meal out cost | Average pint cost | Average local transport cost (one way ticket) | Average temperature in July (°C) | Average rainfall (mm) in July | Total sunny hours in July | Instagram hashtag volume | Monthly Google searches | Final Score |
| 1 | Barcelona | £72.00 | £1,136 | £12.55 | £2.93 | £2.13 | 22.0 | 27.2 | 304.8 | 75,100,000 | 344,000 | 7.22 |
| 2 | Madrid | £112.00 | £825 | £12.55 | £2.93 | £1.26 | 24.0 | 7.1 | 357.7 | 52,700,000 | 83,000 | 7.09 |
| 3 | Tenerife | £156.00 | £909 | £12.55 | £2.09 | £1.26 | 23.0 | 0.2 | 363.0 | 12,000,000 | 186,000 | 7.07 |
| 4 | Costa del Sol | £77.00 | £1,181 | £10.04 | £2.51 | £1.17 | 25.0 | 0.5 | 357.6 | 2,700,000 | 23,000 | 7.06 |
| 5 | Budapest | £83.00 | £536 | £8.28 | £2.07 | £0.93 | 21.0 | 60.1 | 260.6 | 16,900,000 | 126,000 | 7.05 |
| 6 | Lanzarote | £151.00 | £935 | £8.79 | £2.09 | £1.42 | 24.0 | 0.2 | 260.3 | 4,300,000 | 125,000 | 6.85 |
| 7 | Rome | £83.00 | £981 | £12.55 | £4.18 | £1.26 | 25.0 | 20.4 | 337.5 | 31,100,000 | 82,000 | 6.70 |
| 8 | Crete | £166.00 | £960 | £10.04 | £4.18 | £1.17 | 26.0 | 4.4 | 363.3 | 6,700,000 | 80,000 | 6.65 |
| 9 | Athens | £171.00 | £830 | £12.55 | £4.18 | £1.00 | 28.0 | 13.7 | 350.5 | 13,200,000 | 57,000 | 6.58 |
| 10 | Lisbon | £158.00 | £989 | £10.88 | £2.51 | £1.67 | 23.0 | 2.1 | 320.6 | 12,300,000 | 94,000 | 6.56 |
*The above table shows the top 10 locations for a summer holiday across the UK and Europe
Budapest named the most affordable location for a holiday this summer
Cost plays a major role in holiday choices, so Aqua analysed return travel, accommodation, meals, drinks, and local transport to identify the best value destinations. Budapest ranks as the most affordable, with return flights averaging £83 per person and weekly accommodation at £536 for two adults. Daily expenses are low, including £8.28 for dinner, £2.07 for pints, and 93p for transport. Visitors can also enjoy free attractions like the Danube promenade and Gellért Hill.
Prague follows closely, with travel costs of £100 per person and the lowest dinner prices on the list at £7.20, plus pints at £2.01. Key sights such as Prague Castle and Charles Bridge are free, keeping costs down. Among beach destinations, Costa del Sol offers the best value. Despite higher accommodation (£1,181/week for two adults), affordable flights (£77 per person), meals (£10.04), and drinks (£2.51) combined with warm weather and free beach access make it ideal for budget-conscious sunseekers.
| Rank | City | Average Travel Cost | Average 3* accommodation cost | Average meal out cost | Average pint cost | Average local transport cost (one way ticket) | Final Score |
| 1 | Budapest | £83.00 | £536 | £8.28 | £2.07 | £0.93 | 9.19 |
| 2 | Prague | £100.00 | £671 | £7.20 | £2.01 | £1.01 | 9.05 |
| 3 | Costa del Sol | £77.00 | £1,181 | £10.04 | £2.51 | £1.17 | 8.08 |
| 4 | Porto | £143.00 | £769 | £8.37 | £2.51 | £1.51 | 7.92 |
| 5 | Lanzarote | £151.00 | £935 | £8.79 | £2.09 | £1.42 | 7.86 |
| 6 | Lake District | £46.31 | £1,015 | £12.00 | £3.00 | £2.00 | 7.53 |
| 7 | Madrid | £112.00 | £825 | £12.55 | £2.93 | £1.26 | 7.52 |
| 8 | Blackpool | £39.76 | £574 | £14.00 | £3.25 | £2.20 | 7.48 |
| 9 | Tenerife | £156.00 | £909 | £12.55 | £2.09 | £1.26 | 7.41 |
| 10 | Forest of Dean | £20.67 | £1,131 | £15.00 | £3.00 | £2.00 | 7.22 |
*The above table shows the top 10 most affordable locations for a summer holiday across the UK and Europe
UK destinations dominate as the most expensive for a summer getaway
UK destinations dominate the list of the most expensive places to holiday when considering combined costs of travel, accommodation, meals, drinks, and transport. London leads with high accommodation (£1,241/week for two adults), meals (£20), and pints (£6.20), though fuel-based travel costs average just £31.73. While many of the city’s top attractions are free, such as the British Museum and Changing of the Guard, the overall spend remains steep.
Further south, Cornwall and Deal also rank among the priciest. Cornwall’s weekly accommodation averages £1,640 for two adults, higher than most European destinations, while meals cost £15 and local expenses add up quickly. Deal, despite its small-town charm, comes in close with £1,325 accommodation for two adults, £20 meals, and £3.95 for local transport. Both highlight a growing trend: domestic getaways, particularly in peak summer, can be just as costly as heading abroad.
| Rank | City | Average Travel Cost | Average 3* accommodation cost | Average meal out cost | Average pint cost | Average local transport cost (one way ticket) | Final Score |
| 1 | London | £31.73 | £1,241 | £20.00 | £6.20 | £2.80 | 4.51 |
| 2 | Cornwall | £45.16 | £1,640 | £15.00 | £5.00 | £4.00 | 4.53 |
| 3 | Deal | £13.82 | £1,325 | £20.00 | £4.10 | £3.95 | 4.79 |
| 4 | Falmouth | £43.39 | £1,764 | £14.75 | £4.75 | £3.50 | 4.86 |
| 5 | Cambridge | £9.73 | £1,557 | £20.00 | £6.00 | £2.00 | 4.96 |
| 6 | Santorini | £166.00 | £1,778 | £14.23 | £4.18 | £2.01 | 4.97 |
| 7 | Nice | £150.00 | £1,400 | £14.75 | £5.86 | £1.42 | 5.03 |
| 8 | Amsterdam | £93.00 | £990 | £16.74 | £5.02 | £2.85 | 5.13 |
| 9 | Edinburgh | £65.44 | £1,650 | £15.50 | £5.50 | £2.00 | 5.24 |
| 10 | Brighton | £10.23 | £1,540 | £15.00 | £6.30 | £2.50 | 5.26 |
*The above table shows the top 10 most expensive locations for a summer holiday across the UK and Europe
London found to be social media’s favourite holiday destination this summer
Social media plays a huge role in travel choices, with destinations gaining popularity through their scenery, culture, and lifestyle appeal. Aqua analysed Instagram hashtag volume and UK monthly Google searches to see which places generate the most buzz. London leads by a wide margin, boasting over 170 million hashtag uses and 368,000 monthly searches. Its iconic landmarks, vibrant neighbourhoods, and photogenic moments, like red buses and afternoon teas, make it a top online favourite.
Barcelona ranks second with 75.1 million hashtags and 433,000 monthly searches, thanks to its mix of beaches, unique architecture, and colourful street life. Gaudí’s masterpieces and beach sunsets are popular on social feeds. Paris comes third, with 147 million hashtags and 151,000 monthly searches, known for its romantic streets, famous landmarks, and café culture that fill social media with stylish snapshots and dream-trip inspiration.
Santorini now more affordable than UK staycations
Across 49 destinations studied, one shockingly clear trend emerged: European holidays consistently deliver better value than those in the UK, even when factoring in longer travel times. The five most expensive spots were all UK locations, including Cornwall, Cambridge, Falmouth, Deal, and London, with UK coastal towns often topping the price charts, especially for accommodation during peak summer. Surprisingly, even iconic luxury European destinations like Santorini and Ibiza were cheaper for everyday expenses like meals and local transport, making the UK’s high prices stand out even more.
Weather paints an even starker contrast. European hotspots like Tenerife, Crete, and the Costa del Sol enjoy over 350 hours of sunshine in July, more than double what many UK destinations see. Santorini shines brightest with 370 hours, offering not just double the sun but also a dinner out averaging just £14.23, far cheaper than UK options. While the UK scores on ease and familiarity, for those chasing warmth, better weather, and value, Europe clearly offers a far more compelling holiday package.
You can find the full research, along with expert insights on holiday spending here: https://www.aquacard.co.uk/building-better-credit/summer-destinations-uk-vs-europe
