Cheap Travel Destinations from the UK in 2026

Budget · 9 min read · Published 2026-03-20

Twelve destinations where £400–£600 covers a full week from the UK including flights, accommodation, food and activities.

Travel from the UK is more expensive than it was five years ago, but a properly planned week away can still come in under £600 all-in. The trick is choosing destinations where the daily cost on the ground stays low, then booking flights and accommodation on the right days. Here are twelve genuinely cheap destinations from the UK in 2026, with realistic numbers.

What "cheap" actually means in 2026 For this guide we use £600 per person, all-in, for a week as the threshold. That's roughly £150 for return flights, £30 a night for accommodation, and £30 a day for food and activities. Outside high summer and school holidays, these numbers are achievable in all twelve destinations below.

1. Krakow, Poland A two-hour flight, walkable medieval centre, hearty food and a beer for under £3. Easily a week for under £450 if you avoid the main square restaurants. See more in [Best City Breaks in Europe](/travel-guides/weekend-city-breaks-europe).

2. Sofia, Bulgaria Possibly the cheapest capital in the EU. A weekend covers most of the centre and the Vitosha mountain on its doorstep means you can hike without paying entrance fees.

3. Albania Flights from London Luton to Tirana are routinely under £80 return. The Riviera in May or September delivers Greek-island beaches at a fraction of the cost.

4. Lisbon (off-season) November–February in Lisbon is mild, sunny on most days and 30–40% cheaper than peak summer. Trams, viewpoints and pastéis de nata don't change cost with the season.

5. Budapest Thermal baths, ruin pubs and one of Europe's most photogenic skylines. £35 a night will get you a comfortable apartment in District VII.

6. Marrakech Three-hour flight, year-round warmth, and a £25 riad room can feel like a £200 boutique hotel. The medina is exhausting in a good way and dinner can come in at £6.

7. Sarajevo An underrated capital with strong coffee culture, walkable old town and prices that haven't moved much in a decade. Direct flights are limited; routing via Vienna or Istanbul keeps costs down.

8. Naples, Italy The cheapest major Italian city. Pizza for €5, espresso for €1 and the Amalfi Coast on a day trip. Avoid August and prices stay sane.

9. Tirana, Albania Beyond the Riviera, the capital itself is an underrated city break. Direct flights from the UK and a centre you can walk in under an hour.

10. Riga, Latvia A short flight, a fairy-tale old town and Baltic prices. Best in late spring or early autumn for the long evening light.

11. Tenerife (north) The northern half of Tenerife — Puerto de la Cruz and the Anaga rural park — is a different planet from the package-resort south. Flights and apartments are cheap year-round.

12. Belgrade Serbia's capital is gritty, energetic and very cheap. Nightlife, river cruises and great food for half what you'd pay in Berlin.

How to actually book a cheap trip 1. **Use Skyscanner's "everywhere" search.** Set departure airport, leave the destination as "everywhere," and sort by price. You'll find routes you'd never have searched for. 2. **Fly midweek.** Tuesday/Wednesday departures and returns are typically £40–£80 cheaper than weekends. 3. **Stay outside the centre.** Most cities have a metro stop one or two stops out where prices drop 30%. 4. **Eat where locals eat.** A simple two-block rule: walk two blocks away from any major landmark before sitting down for a meal. 5. **Book accommodation late if you're flexible.** Hostels and apartments often drop prices 7–10 days before arrival to fill empty rooms.

What to skip - **Inner-city taxis from the airport.** Almost always 60–80% more than the train or bus. - **Currency exchange at the airport.** Use a Monzo, Revolut or Starling card and withdraw at a bank ATM on arrival. - **Pre-booked airport lounges.** The £30–£40 you'd spend almost always covers a sit-down meal in the city instead.

For more on stretching a holiday budget further, our complete [How to Travel on a Budget](/travel-guides/how-to-travel-on-a-budget) guide goes deeper into the small habits that compound into hundreds saved per trip. And if you want a destination picked for you, our [spin wheel](/) lets you filter by budget before spinning.