You’re young, you’re free from lectures, and have a few weeks over the summer – or Easter and Christmas – holidays to fill before the new term starts. But you’re also likely to be a bit low on cash. So you’d like a holiday, but not one that’s going to break the bank. Holidaying in the UK is lovely – but also a bit unpredictable so we’ve found the 13 coolest, sunniest and cheapest overseas student holiday destinations for students suffering from information overload or vitamin D deficiency.
There are cheap flights flying out from the UK and offer accommodation starting at a very reasonable price. On average, if you grab a cheap flight and book 3 nights somewhere simple, yet cosy and central, you can find an amazing weekend away for around £200. So whether you’re dying for a bit of culture, all-night partying, or just need to sit by a pool with a pint and a toastie, we’ve got you covered in our top 13 cheap student holiday recommendations below.
The cheapest city break award goes to … Athens
Recent figures say the cost of a trip to Athens has actually decreased in the past year – and is cheaper than many of the traditional budget-friendly Eastern European destinations. It’s home to the incredible Acropolis ruins so you can get a good mix of culture added to the guaranteed sunshine. You can find a great hostel for around £15 a night and enjoy the incredible street food on offer. Also, discover the city by cheaply renting a bicycle to get around.
Best time to go: June/July.
Best clubs: Club 22, Leof. Vouliagmenis 22, Athina 117 43, for live music.
Skullbar, 17, Lamprou Katsoni 13, Athina 114 71, if you love techno music.
Sunny Bar, Zakinthou 37, Athina 113 62, for African music.
The average price of a beer: £3.89.
Pro tip: You can find free walking tours in Athens to join.
Frugal fun in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
Ranked just behind Athens in a poll of the cheapest breaks away is Sunny Beach, which is found on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast. The town is famed for it’s lively nightlife and you really can live it up on a shoe-string budget due to the very low cost of services and consumables. You’ll find water sports, a waterpark, an amusement park, 200 restaurants and a go-kart track. UNESCO-stamped Nessebar Old Town is close by if you’re after a bit of culture too.
Best time to go: June.
Best clubs: Guava Beach Club, Beach Road 3, 8240, for chilled out fun.
Bedroom Beach, on the beach.
Viking, on the beach at GLOBUS Hotel, 8240.
Average price of a beer: £1.36.
Pro tip: Exchange only a small amount of money before you get to Bulgaria (perhaps enough to see you through your first day) as you’ll get a considerably better exchange rate once you get there.
Party all night long in Marmaris, Turkey
Turkey offers great value for money and the weather is hot, hot, hot in the summer months if you just want to hit the pool by day. There are lots of apartments available to rent for a very low fee in Marmaris, one of Turkey most popular party towns. Its been reported than an average meal for two could set you back just over £16 and you can get a beer for less than £2. There is a real party vibe here with foam parties, Turkish taverns and beach bars to let you hair down in. The beach isn’t too Instagrammable so if you don’t mind too much about that, it’s a really fun place to be.
Best time to go: Early September, when it’s not quite as hot and crowded.
Best clubs: Back Garden Pub, Tepe, Bar Street, 39. Sk. no. 87, 48700.
Club Budha Bar, Tepe, 39. Sk. No:26, 48700.
Green House Bar, Tepe, 48700.
Average price of a beer: £1.91.
Pro tip: Go to a public hamam and have a traditional Turkish bath for about £3.
Navigate your way around Lisbon, The Algarve, Portugal
One of Western Europe’s cheapest spots, Portugal has so much to offer. Amazing beaches, check. Amazing food, check. Amazing nightlife, check. Amazing climate, check. And even better it has recently been named one of the cheapest places to take a holiday.
Lisbon gets our vote because there’s loads to do, the trams are fun to navigate, the architecture is amazing, it’s one of the most up and coming places to go clubbing and they do exquisite pasteis de nata (custard tarts!). You’ll spend a decent chunk of your money on your flight as it’s a popular city but once you get to Lisbon you’ll find the food and accommodation is largely good value. You should definitely do the tram once, but the rest of the time it’s a nice city to roam by foot if you don’t mind cobbled pathways and some steep steps. The museums are mostly free and a lot of the main sites offer 50% discounts to students. Bairro Alto, Arco do Cego (for cheap beer), Santos, Cais do Sodré are the cheapest neighbourhoods to explore.
Best clubs: Park Bar, Calcada Do Combro, 58 Bairro Alto, for amazing views of the river and Santa Catarino Church.
5A, R. do Noronha 5A, 1250-168. Entrance is £10 and includes some free drinks.
Music Box, Rua Nova do Carvalho, 24, Cais do Sodré.
Average price of a beer: £2.08.
Pro tip: Take Tram 28, the classic yellow carriage which takes you on an adventure through the city’s narrow streets.
Immerse yourself in the magic of Krakow, Poland
While many people relate Krakow as the base for a sobering trip to Auschwitz, Krakow itself is a beautiful and magical city to visit – and a great option for a great option for a cheap student holiday. It’s split into two areas – the Old Town with the Wawel castle and Krakow Market Square – and Kazimierz, which is the former Jewish District , both of which you should check out.
You can admire the castle from outside for free from April to September from 6am-8pm. and from October to March from 6am – 5pm. But its well worth paying the £1 to access the Dragon’s Den (Smocza Jama) , a dark cave which legend says was once the home of the Wawel Dragon.
There are also many wonderful museums and attractions to look around, most of which have free entry on one day of the week so plan ahead. Explore by bike or rent a bike for a small fee. There are also free walking tours available but it is customary to leave a tip.
There are many cheap soup cafes serving traditional Polish hot broth, or try a U Stasi restaurant (or milk bar) where you can find an above average three course meal with wine for around £16 per person. You eat what you like in these cheap eateries, which were very popular in the communism era, and at the end of the meal you tell the cashier what you had.
Best time to go: Spring or summer.
Best clubs: Club Jaszczury, Rynek Główny 8, 31-042
Dolce Vita, Berka Joselewicza 6, 31-051
Or try one of the famous boat parties which set off from Świętego Stanisława 14, 31-071
Average price of a beer: £1.45 for a Polish beer.
Pro tip: Buy a Krakow card for £18 if your trip doesn’t coincide with any of the free attraction days as it’s a cheap way of seeing a lot in a short space of time.
Cypriot charm in Paphos
You’ll find sunshine, waterparks, souvlakia and a beautiful castle in the harbour of Paphos. Located on the south west of the beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Paphos has the lively Bar Street and great sandy beaches but with enough culture and hiking routes nearby for those who want to go home from their holiday saying they experienced a bit more than sunshine and nightlife.
Eating out is pretty cheap too. You can get a good meal for around £9 while there are lots of student deals for drinks.
You could even make Paphos just one stop on a trip around the island cheap bus tour as the towns of Nicosia, Limassol and Ayia Napa are worth visiting too. Also make time to stop at the small village of Lefkara, which is famous for making lace.
Best time to go: Early summer before it gets too hot.
Best clubs: Club Rainbow, Ayiou Antoniou, for a long night out.
Memories, Jason Str 12.
Notorious Bar, 25 Agiou Antoniou str. (Bar Street).
Average price of a beer: £2.08 for a domestic beer.
Pro tip: Pick your accommodation carefully as Paphos is located along a large stretch of coastline with most of the action at the north of the town.
Balearic beats in Ibiza, Spain
Since its 1990s heyday, the island has evolved its reputation from ‘all partying, all the time’ to ‘partying quite a lot, but it’s all a bit more chilled now.’ In the club capitals of Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni, the partying season starts in June and continues into the wee hours of October for it’s amazing closing parties. Alas, culturally Ibiza isn’t given enough credit for its wonders. Just put on some sensible shoes and explore the narrow, cobbled streets of Dalt Vila ‘Upper Town’, for some excellent views and Gothic-Catalan architecture. Take a photo for your mum to prove you didn’t just get hammered the whole time.
Best time to go: June – September.
Best clubs: Space, Carrer de les Alzines, 1, 07817.
Ushuaïa, Ctra. de Platja d’en Bossa, 10, 07817 Sant Jordi de ses Salines, is a buzzing spot on the beachfront.
Pacha, Av. 8 d’Agost, 07800 Eivissa, Illes Balears.
Average price of a beer: £3.02.
Pro tip: You’ll find many beautiful and inexpensive eateries in Ibiza’s Old Town so make sure you go there at least once.
Party all night in Berlin, Germany
Berlin is a complex city with a myriad of things on offer to entice the prospective adventurer. It could be described as the ultimate party centrum by one person, and the premiere historical and cultural destination by another. Berlin accepts all comers; you only have to wander around Kreuzberg and Neukölln to experience the clash of cultures from street to street to see the varied and multicultural heart of the city.
The only rule is – to treat the city and its people how you want to be treated. Respect and love go a long way here. If techno is your thing, then head to Schlesische Strasse by the Spree for your pick of places pumping an eclectic mix of electronica for the masses. If you’re thirsty for some cultural ambience rather than actual ambient, then check out the spectacular Reichstag Building in central Berlin, you can book a free tour here (free meaning with a tip, £5 or more is totally worth it).
Best time to go: The summer.
Best clubs: K133, Kurfürstendamm 133, 10711.
Riverside beach club YAAM, An d. Schillingbrücke 3, 10243.
Sage, Köpenicker Str. 76, 10179, even has a swimming pool.
Average price of a beer: £3.46.
Pro tip: Don’t go to Berlin without visiting Tempelhofer Feld, an enormous park that was previously an airport strip, excellent for bike rides, roller skating and a great place to see a lot of cute dogs.
Sophisticated fun in Vienna, Austria
One of cheapest places to travel to by air, Vienna is a charming city with an amazing coffee culture, tasty food and where cheap beer and wine can be found. You’re not going to find the huge nightclubs of Berlin, Budapest or Amsterdam here, but if you’re a modest party goer there is a vibrant nightlife scene hidden away. You just need to know where to find it! It’s well known for its classical music scene so you’ll find concerts most days of the week if you like that kind of thing.
Best time to go: Christmas to enjoy the festive markets and mulled wine.
Best clubs: Flex, Augartenbrücke 1, 1010 Wien, is the biggest club in the city.
Praterstrasse, Praterstraße 18, 1020 Wien.
Club Roxy, Faulmanngasse 2, 1040, is a cozy nightspot.
Average price of a beer: £3.69.
Pro tip: Stay in the Eighth district if you want to be in the heart of the nightlife scene.
Amsterdam: the quintessential student holiday in Holland
Amsterdam is one of the few cities where the much-hyped popular tourist attractions are worth visiting. Giggling as you walk around the red light district’s sex shops is essential, as is giggling for different reasons in a coffee shop is equally essential, nearly getting killed by one of the hundreds of bikes riding on the pavement is also a rite-of-passage for a new visitor. After you’ve ticked off the ‘I’ve been to Amsterdam, and I need to Instagram something sexy’ list you can start doing some actual exploring before retiring to a coffee shop for ‘coffee’. The Stedelijk Museum is really worth seeing, even if you don’t venture inside the entire exterior is shaped like a bath and is worth the tram fare alone.
Best time to go: The summer.
Best clubs: Warehouse Elementenstraat, Elementenstraat 25, 1014 AR.
Club Mystique, Smaksteeg 19, 1012 SV, a ‘hidden club’ with amazing salsa.
Jungle Club, Amstel 178, 1017 AE.
Average price of a beer: £2.60.
Pro tip: Visit one of Amsterdam’s oldest houses in the centre of the city, turn down a side street to discover the Begijnhof, one of the city’s oldest courtyards. Still lived in today, The Wooden House was built in 1548 and is an excellent hidden gem.
Sun, sea and cocktails in Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Venture into any area of Palma, and you’re likely to find rich Mediterranean history steeped in the cobbled city streets and colourful public squares. Coupled with an endless array of galleries, medieval churches, restaurants and vibrant bars offering relaxation in liquid form, almost anywhere becomes the perfect place to unwind and truly melt into the atmosphere of the city. Soak in the impressive Palma Cathedral, designed in classic Catalan Gothic style, before popping down to the Blue Flag Can Pere Antoni beach, located just five minutes away. Surrounded by bars and restaurants selling various local rustic fare, if the beach starts getting too crowded then walk just 10 minutes further to the lesser known Portixol beach for a bit of peace and quiet.
Best time to go: June – September for the party season.
Best clubs: R33, Carrer Poima, 24, 07011.
Galactic, Carrer de Murillo, 9, 07013, for swing and blues music.
La Cantina Parrilla, Son Catlaret, 2, Bajos, 07004.
Average price of a beer: £2.59.
Pro tip: If you get tired of relaxing then visit the Es Baluard, a contemporary art gallery that’s free on a Friday. Go on, using your brain for 20 minutes won’t kill your relaxation buzz, trust me.
Find flights to Palma de Mallorca
Students rejoice! Bulgaria’s capital Sofia is THE big city break on a budget
A city break can rack up the costs before you know it. Drinks, food, souvenirs and transport can all add up to a much less cheap holiday than expected. Another nod to Bulgaria on this list, but Sofia, is the perfect place for a short city break. Sofia is home to a lot of the countries’s premier clubs, restaurants and galleries giving the city a youthful and vibrant feel no matter where you explore.
In the city centre sits the impressive Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, built in the Neo-Byzantine style which is a rare view for those who’ve only holidayed in Western Europe. For the adventure-seekers amongst you, it’s difficult to ignore the towering mountain of Vitosha above the city. You can reach the mountain easily by walking, bus, car or taxi from the centre. From there you can go hiking, skiing, cave exploring or just enjoy the incredible views.
Best time to go: The summer.
Best clubs: Club Terminal 1, Angel Kanchev” 1, 1000 Sofia Center.
Rock’nRolla, Graf Ignatiev, 1, 1000 Sofia Center, for live rock music.
Blackroom, ulitsa Akademik Boris Stefanov, 1700 Studentski Kompleks, for hip-hop.
Average price of a beer: £1.33
Pro tip: Try your luck at chess with some of the players in the City Garden, amateur players typically play in front of the National Theatre.
Try Belfast for your summer holiday, Republic of Ireland
There are a couple of things that are great about travelling close to home. No jet lag, no long plane journeys, no stress about ordering the wrong thing while attempting to speak another language. Add to that the huge amount of awesome things to do in Belfast, Ireland’s often overlooked up-and-coming city, and you’ll be proper happy out.
Once you land, fulfil every stereotype and visit the Crown Liquor Saloon for a pint or a glass, it’s not every day you can visit a Victorian gin palace that’s owned and maintained by the National Trust. After a beer or a few, swing by the Belfast Botanic Gardens, built in 1839 its vast array of flora and fauna is housed in a huge cast-iron-birdcage-like dome. To finish off the day take a trip around the Titanic Belfast to experience how the Titanic was built and shipped from Belfast’s historic dock. Now, put your hands on me, Jack.
Best time to go: May – October.
Best clubs: TIME, 5-6 Lower Crescent
Limelight, 17 Ormeau Ave, BT2 8HD, for indie music.
Cuckoo, 149 Lisburn Rd, BT9 7AJ, for arcade games.
Average price of a beer: £1.42.
Pro tip: Belfast is another hidden foodie gem, you can find every exotic cuisine imaginable in its cobbled alleys. Great Victoria Street is the main thoroughfare but try and explore lesser-known areas for delicious hidden gems.
