Five cheap holiday destinations for students on a budget
Being a University student shouldn’t stop you from seeing the world. It means you must travel on a tighter budget; this could mean staying in hostels, packing light to avoid added suitcase costs on budget airlines or travelling outside peak season. So pack up your rucksack, be prepared to meet your new roommates and enjoy the beauty of Europe.
Whether you want to experience bustling nightlife, explore a new city filled with museums, or enjoy a drink on the beach - there is something in Europe for everyone. October through to March, except for a price hike in December, is a reasonably cheap time to visit the famous European cities mentioned on this list. However, we have also included a few beach destinations students can enjoy in the summer months.
So, here are five cheap holiday destinations in Europe for students looking to leave the UK throughout their studies.
Lloret De Mar, Spain
Lloret de Mar is a seaside town on the Costa Brava coast in Spain. Its main beach is made up of small stones, but it is one of the most popular beaches in the area as it is consistently awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness. You can hire a pedalo with a slide leading straight into the Mediterranean Sea or opt to go parasailing or jet skiing if you’re more of a thrill seeker.
The main strip boasts many bars, restaurants, ice cream shops, and amusements, including dodgems. Visitors can also enjoy a day at the Water World Parc or explore the medieval hilltop Castle of Sant Joan, the Iglesia de Sant Romà church and the Santa Clotilde Gardens.
To get to Lloret De Mar, you can fly into either Girona or Barcelona airport - both of which are accessible from most UK airports. If you book a package holiday, return shuttle bus prices from Girona to your hotel will cost around £25, whilst private transfers will cost around £65. Transfer prices between Barcelona and Lloret De Mar are considerably higher.
We recommend packing light and only taking a hand-luggage size bag, as budget airlines Ryanair and Easyjet charge lots more to check in a suitcase.
Lloret De Mar has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters, so if you’re a sunseeker, the best time to go is between June and September, when the temperatures range from around 16 to 29 degrees celsius. However, the town is open to tourists all year round.
Depending on how long you want to relax by the pool or the Mediterranean Sea, four to five days is usually enough in Lloret De Mar. Prices for four nights in August start at £250 per person but can go much higher depending on which UK airport you fly from and what dates you choose to visit. Most hotels in the town have a pool, and many offer half-board, full-board or all-inclusive packages.
The currency in Lloret De Mar is euros.
S’illot, Majorca
S’illot is a small town on the southeast coast of the Balearic Island of Mallorca, Spain. It boasts a large sandy beach and a bustling promenade, which leads from S’illot Port to the neighbouring town of Sa Coma.
There is a market every Saturday from 5 pm onwards during the summer. Visitors can also spend a day at the Safari Zoo, where you can spot rhinoceroses, gazelles, zebras, gnus, giraffes, monkeys and exotic creatures from the 2-mile-long Safari train ride. If you prefer being by the water, then embark on one of the daily boat trips from the pier.
To get to S’illot, you must fly to Palma Majorca airport. If you book a package holiday, return shuttle bus prices from the airport to your hotel will cost around £30, whilst private transfers will cost around £100. We recommend packing light and only taking a hand-luggage size bag, as budget airlines Ryanair and Easyjet charge lots more to check in a suitcase.
S’illot has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild stormy winters, so if you’re a sunseeker, the best time to go is between June and September, when the temperatures range from around 18 to 30 degrees celsius. However, the town is open to tourists all year round.
Depending on how long you want to relax by the pool or the Balearic Sea, four to five days is usually enough in S’illot. Prices for four nights in August start at £230 per person but can rise much higher depending on which UK airport you fly from and what dates you choose to visit. Most hotels in the town have a pool, and many offer half-board, full-board or all-inclusive packages.
Majorca also has several other popular resorts, including Alcudia, Ca’n Picafort, Cala Millor, El Arenal, Magaluf and Santa Ponsa. The currency on the island is euros.
Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic. It’s home to a Gothic Old Town Square, the medieval Astronomical Clock, the intriguing Dancing House and Karlovy Lázně, the largest nightclub complex in Central Europe. It has five stories, each playing a different music genre, including mainstream pop, dance, oldies, hip-hop, and R&B. The club also has a unique oxygen bar and robot bar.
Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, East Midlands and all London airports fly into Prague. If you are travelling on a budget airline - Ryanair, Wizzair and Easyjet - we recommend packing light and only taking a hand-luggage size bag, as they charge extra to check in a suitcase.
From Prague airport, you can hop on a bus towards the city centre and then switch to the metro to reach your final destination. The public transport system in the city is fast, cheap and reliable.
Prague is hot and sunny between June and August, which means it can become overcrowded with tourists. Outside of these months (April, May, September and October) are better times to visit, and the weather can still be warm and dry. Due to the dull weather, budget travellers are more likely to find accomodation with low prices between November and March. In December and early January, you can visit the Christmas Market in Old Town Square.
The best area of Prague to stay is the Old Town as it’s the most central to all the attractions, bars and restaurants. For a weekend stay in September for two people, prices in the Old Town area start at £30 a night in a shared hostel dormitory and £45 a night in a private hotel room.
The currency in Prague is the Czech Koruna, also known as the Czech crown.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, is split into the hilly Buda district and the flat Pest district. A 19th-century Chain Bridge over the River Danube connects the two. Guests can visit the touching Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial, explore Trinity Square, or enjoy a funicular ride up Castle Hill to visit Buda’s Old Town and the Fishermen’s Bastion.
The city is also famed for its thermal baths, which can be visited at any time of year due to the hot water temperatures. Szechenyi Bath is the biggest and most famous thermal bath and is easily accessible on the subway. The venue hosts a party with dance music and electronic lights every Saturday night.
Bristol, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Manchester, London Stansted, London Gatwick and London Luton airports fly into Budapest. If you are travelling on a budget airline - Ryanair, Wizzair and Easyjet - we recommend packing light and only taking a hand-luggage size bag, as they charge extra to check in a suitcase. From Budapest airport, there is a 45-minute bus directly into the city centre.
The weather is warm and often dry from May to September, which means it’s a great time to explore the capital. However, Budapest is bustling all year round, so as long as you wrap up, visiting in the winter and autumn is also an option. In late November and December, you can enjoy the stunning Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market - however, prices might be higher during this time.
The best area of Budapest to stay is either the 5th district, which is packed with attractions, restaurants and cafes, or the Jewish Quarter if you’re more interested in the Hungarian nightlife. For a weekend stay in September for two people, prices in these areas start at £29 a night in a shared hostel dormitory and £27 a night in a private hotel room.
The currency in Budapest is the Hungarian Forint.
Zagreb, Croatia
Zagreb is the capital and largest city of Croatia. In the Upper Town, visitors can marvel at the Gothic Zagreb Cathedral and the 13th-century St. Mark’s Church. Nearby, Tkalčićeva Street is lined with outdoor cafes, whilst the Lower Town boasts the main square, Ban Jelačić, plus shops, museums and parks.
You can travel with budget airline Ryanair from Manchester or London Stansted to Franjo Tuđman Airport Zagreb. However, we recommend packing light and only taking a hand-luggage size bag, as they charge extra to check in a suitcase. Flights are also available with other, more costly, airlines from London Heathrow.
From Zagreb airport, there is a direct bus into the city centre, which takes less than 30 minutes. The Metro system in the city is safe, fast and reliable - with the high-speed trains arriving every 2 to 4 minutes in peak times.
July and August is the hottest time to visit the city, and it tends to be less crowded as locals head to the coast of Croatia for the summer. However, if you visit between late November to early January, you can enjoy the dazzling Christmas Market.
Lower Town is the best area to stay in Zagreb as it is close to city centre attractions and offers many accommodations choices. For a weekend stay in September for two people, prices in this area start at £34 a night in a shared hostel dormitory and £45 a night in a private hotel room.
The coastal cities of Split and Dubrovnik also make for a great holiday. However, these can be much more expensive, especially in summer. As of January 2023, the currency used in Croatia is the Euro.
