With nearly half (47%) of Brits with travel plans deciding to cut back due to rising flight costs, it’s clear many UK households are rethinking the way they holiday in 2026. To help budget-conscious travellers make informed decisions, credit card brand Aqua has conducted a new study comparing the cost of a week’s stay in summer holiday destinations across the UK and Europe to reveal where Brits can get the most for their money.
You can view the full research here: https://www.aquacard.co.uk/building-better-credit/summer-destinations-uk-vs-europe
Albania is the top destination for a summer holiday in 2026
By analysing popular summer destinations across Europe and the UK, Aqua found that the best destinations were actually located outside the UK.
Albania is crowned the number one destination for a holiday this summer, with temperatures averaging 24°C in July, £100 for return flights and £381 for a week’s stay for two. Albania also offers some of the least expensive local costs, with an ‘inexpensive’ meal out for two averaging £7.23 and local transport £0.36.
Madrid follows in second place, boasting 358 hours of sunshine, cheaper travel costs (£80 for return flights), and low local costs, ideal for an affordable yet exciting city experience this summer. Barcelona rounds off the top three, combining accessible flights and accommodation (£1,135) with pleasant summer weather (22°C and over 300 hours of sunshine in July).
| Rank | Location | Average travel cost | Average 3* accommodation cost | Average cost of an inexpensive meal | Average pint cost | Local transport cost | Local attraction cost | Average temperature | Total sun hours | Average rainfall(mm) | Instagram hashtags | Monthly Google searches (UK) |
| 1 | Albania | £100 | £381 | £7.23 | £2.27 | £0.36 | £34 | 24 | 335 | 22.9 | 10,810,167 | 180,000 |
| 2 | Madrid | £80 | £673 | £12.97 | £3.03 | £1.30 | £46 | 24 | 358 | 6.8 | 54,308,934 | 78,000 |
| 3 | Barcelona | £90 | £1,135 | £13.83 | £3.46 | £2.29 | £55 | 22 | 303 | 27.6 | 77,325,959 | 367,000 |
| 4 | Tenerife | £164 | £754 | £14.26 | £2.29 | £1.08 | £57 | 23 | 363 | 0.2 | 12,422,474 | 141,000 |
| 5 | Costa del Sol | £88 | £1,058 | £12.97 | £2.59 | £1.21 | £53 | 25 | 357 | 0.5 | 2,928,605 | 21,000 |
| 6 | Cyprus | £284 | £590 | £10.37 | £2.59 | £2.07 | £58 | 26 | 370 | 0.3 | 13,556,230 | 121,000 |
| 7 | Lisbon | £115 | £787 | £12.12 | £2.59 | £1.73 | £50 | 23 | 322 | 2 | 12,591,670 | 87,000 |
| 8 | Athens | £146 | £694 | £12.97 | £4.32 | £1.04 | £66 | 28 | 352 | 12.9 | 13,618,187 | 55,000 |
| Crete | £165 | £679 | £11.24 | £4.32 | £1.12 | £73 | 26 | 364 | 4.1 | 6,973,986 | 80,000 | |
| 9 | Porto | £112 | £676 | £9.94 | £2.59 | £1.34 | £55 | 19 | 303 | 16.7 | 13,703,542 | 74,000 |
| 10 | Rome | £99 | £963 | £12.97 | £4.32 | £1.30 | £58 | 25 | 337 | 20.3 | 31,628,388 | 83,000 |
*The above table shows the top 10 locations for a summer holiday across the UK and Europe.
Albania is also crowned the most affordable destination for a holiday this summer
As cost is a key decision factor for many Brits when it comes to summer holidays, Aqua ranked destinations solely by cost metrics to reveal the best-value locations.
With consistently low costs across food (£7.23), drinks (£2.27), transport (£0.36) and attractions (£34), Albania is the most affordable. Return flights and accommodation are also among the cheapest, at just £481 on average combined.
Prague follows in second, standing out thanks to low daily costs (£8.17 for an inexpensive meal for two, £2.13 for a pint) and return flights just over £100 per person on average. Porto ranks just behind in third. While travel costs (£112) and a weekly stay for two (£676) are slightly higher, meals out in an inexpensive restaurant (£9.94), drinks (£2.59 for a pint) and local transport (£1.34) help balance the budget, making it ideal for budget-conscious travellers.
| Rank* | Location | Average travel cost | Average 3* accommodation cost | Average cost of an inexpensive meal | Average pint cost | Local transport cost | Local attraction cost |
| 1 | Albania | £100 | £381 | £7.23 | £2.27 | £0.36 | £34 |
| 2 | Prague | £101 | £678 | £8.17 | £2.13 | £1.39 | £55 |
| 3 | Porto | £112 | £676 | £9.94 | £2.59 | £1.34 | £55 |
| 4 | Madrid | £80 | £673 | £12.97 | £3.03 | £1.30 | £46 |
| 5 | Lisbon | £115 | £787 | £12.12 | £2.59 | £1.73 | £50 |
| 6 | Costa del Sol | £88 | £1,058 | £12.97 | £2.59 | £1.21 | £53 |
| 7 | Budapest | £109 | £1,290 | £9.65 | £2.90 | £1.21 | £45 |
| 8 | Tenerife | £164 | £754 | £14.26 | £2.29 | £1.08 | £57 |
| 9 | Blackpool | £35 | £572 | £15.00 | £3.50 | £2.50 | £31 |
| 10 | Lanzarote | £191 | £1,048 | £8.64 | £2.59 | £1.47 | £69 |
*The above table shows the top 10 most affordable locations for a summer holiday across the UK and Europe.
London leads the way as the most expensive destination for a summer getaway
Overall, UK destinations dominate the most expensive summer holiday spots, with eight ranking in the top 10. London leads with high accommodation (£1,133/week for two adults), inexpensive meals (£20), and pints (£7). Yet, many attractions, such as the British Museum or the National Gallery, are free, helping to offset the overall cost a little.
Brighton comes second. Accommodation sits on the pricer side, the second highest of all locations analysed (£1,715 a week for two adults). Falmouth, UK, follows in third, driven also by one of the highest accommodation costs (£1,501 a week for 2 adults).
Spending a week in Tenerife is more affordable than a week in London
Across the 52 destinations analysed, Aqua’s research highlighted a clear trend: European holiday destinations are, in most cases, better value than UK staycations. As mentioned in last year’s report, the trend is returning in 2026, with eight of the most expensive destinations being in the UK, with London leading the way and followed by Edinburgh, Oxford, Falmouth, St Ives, Brighton, Deal and Llandudno. The study even found that iconic summer destinations like Tenerife were cheaper than London or Edinburgh overall, making the UK’s high prices stand out even more.
Weather is another defining factor. Places like Cyprus, Santorini, and Crete offer significantly more sunshine, higher temperatures, and less rainfall, each boasting over 360 hours of sunshine in July alone, more than double many UK destinations, and over four times what Edinburgh receives that month.
While Deal and Brighton are the safest bets for a UK summer holiday (187 and 178 hours of sun in July, respectively), Albania appears more attractive, where the sun shines for nearly twice as much (335 hours) and a dinner out costs an average of £7.23. While the UK scores on geographical accessibility and familiarity, Europe clearly offers a far more compelling holiday package, for those chasing warmth, better weather, and good value.
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
Photo by Muhammed Fatih Beki: https://www.pexels.com/photo/scenic-aerial-view-of-shkodra-albania-34062048/
