20 bargain beach holidays in Europe

Whether you want to soak up the sun, get active or party on the sand at a festival, look forward to summer with our pick of beach breaks across Europe

Jasmund national park, Rügen Island. Photograph: Jochen Schlenker/Getty

Rüfugium, Germany

Doing an excellent line in Nordic cool, this pared-back refuge on Rügen Island is right by the Baltic and has an outdoor sauna, underfloor heating and a glossy kitchen. Sleeping eight and set within a biosphere reserve (biosphaerenreservat-suedostruegen.de), it's a great spot for nature lovers. Lobbe, a 5km-long, white sand beach, is a few minutes' bike ride away and the beech forests and chalk cliffs of Jasmund national park are within easy reach. 

Casa Diso, Italy

One of those places you half want to keep to yourself, Casa Diso is a newly-restored townhouse apartment in the village of Marittima, Puglia, sleeping four and 15 minutes' walk from the beach. The rustic chic interiors have whitewashed walls, stone floors and vaulted ceilings. There's a small courtyard and a roof terrace with sea views. Although it's a self-catering let, rental is per night, so it's a good bet for a short break.

Citta dei Nicliani, Greece

Opened last year, this boutique hotel in Kitta on the Mani peninsula is a family-run, 18th-century tower-house with seven suites. There are plenty of frills, from original engravings to Korres smellies, but the price is frill-free. Horse riding, wine and olive oil tastings and fishing are possible nearby, as well as hikes to attractions such as the Unesco world heritage site of Mistra. But you can also spend days lazing on the peninsula's beaches. 

Club Amazon, Turkey

Despite the name, this small resort is more Swallows and Amazons than Brazilian jungle lodge. Set among pine trees in Bordubet, about 30km west of Marmaris, it's a simple, back-to-nature escape popular with families. Swim in the bay (the beach is a 500m walk or kayak away) or pool. Sleep in a mini stone bungalow or the resort's take on gypsy caravans (some have partially glazed roofs for stargazing) and feast on homemade food in the restaurant.

Evert's Boathouse, Sweden

Known for fishing trips and a floating hot tub, Evert's Boathouse is opening a shorefront hotel outside Grebbestad, on the west coast of Sweden in March. Sweden is never going to be a budget destination, but the rooms, all with sea views, are good value for the location. This is the place to try fresh seafood, cycle to the beach, kayak to hidden coves or take boat trips. 

ME by Melia, Mallorca

One of two new hotels being launched by Spanish hotel brand ME by Melia in the Balearics this summer (the other is in Ibiza), ME Mallorca opens in Calvia – the posh end of Magaluf – in May. It's right on the beachfront, and guests can lounge by two pools, book a SkinC spa treatment, dial down to an "aura manager" for bar and restaurant recommendations or head to the beach. This isn't a budget brand but, in May and June, you can bag a slice of beachside luxury for less.

Fishermen's huts, France

Sleeping five, these two-bedroom cabins outside Roquebrune-sur-Argens, near Fréjus on the Côte d'Azur, are set on stilts among palms and bougainvillea. Luxury camping with a few frills, the huts have kitchens, bathrooms and shady dining terraces, and access to several pools, a restaurant and a spa. In peak season there's a children's activity programme; adults can enjoy hiking, cycling (a path takes you to the closest beach in around half an hour) or water sports on the adjacent lake. 

Villa Bronzino, Croatia

This townhouse is literally a stone's throw (10 metres) from the beach across a small lane. It sleeps five and is five minutes' walk from the centre of Pucisca, a pretty village on the island of Brac, with shops and cafes. You won't need a car; hire a boat for the day instead and set off for one of the island's beaches. Or stay at home and hop between beach and house, retreating into the villa's surprisingly contemporary interior to cool off.  

The Pink House, Corfu

Only 20 paces from Kalami Bay's white pebble beach, this seafront villa sleeps six and has a garden with lemon and orange trees, bougainvillea and roses. In the owner's family since the 1930s, when Lawrence Durrell was a neighbour, it has the original tiled entrance hall, wooden floors and antique furniture. Two of its three bedrooms have views of the bay, and thick stone walls keep things cool in the summer. Choose from the sunny terrace at the front for morning coffee overlooking the sea and the shady terrace at the back for lazy lunches. 

Coastal Food Trail, Portugal

Mertola market in the Alentejo, Portugal. Photograph: Luis Davilla/Getty Images

Tour operator Sunvil has launched a year-long food festival (bit.ly/1djokoz) in the Alentejo, designed to highlight restaurants and food producers off the tourist trail. These include A Escola in Alcacer do Sol (restauranteaescola.pai.pt), a converted schoolhouse that serves a winning rabbit pie, and Casa do Porco Preto (barrancarnes.com) in Barrancos, which makes ham from free-range black pigs. To combine sand, sea and sustenance, book into Herdade do Freixial guesthouse, with its pool and yoga classes. Around 30 minutes' walk away is the village of Vila Nova de Milfontes, where you can tuck into fish or roast kid overlooking the sea at Tasca do Celso, or feast on grilled prawns and sardines at beach shack A Choupana. 

Budget adventure, Croatia

Beach in the bay of Vrulja near Brela, Dalmatia. Photograph: Alamy

If you want to spend most of your holiday in the water rather than beside it, try Adventure Dalmatia's budget adventure week. Based in the village of Zadvarje, just over an hour's drive from Split, you can try your hand (and legs) over the course of a week at canyoning, rafting, sea kayaking, snorkelling and hiking. One highlight is a kayak trip to Vrulja beach, famous for its submarine freshwater springs. There's also plenty of free time to relax on river and sea beaches.

Salvinia Lodge, Poland

Poland may not be the first place you think of for a beach holiday but this 18th-century farmhouse in the Vistula delta is close to some fabulous, white sand beaches. Near the start of the Vistula Spit, just east of Gdansk, the lodge looks like a traditional, half-timbered farmhouse, but step inside, though, and the look is more cool design pad. Restored a decade ago and now sleeping eight, it successfully mixes ancient (painted wooden doors, shuttered windows, giant timber beams) and modern (sleek stainless steel-and-wood kitchen, contemporary standalone baths and, in one of the guestrooms, a vast, minimalist open fireplace). You can also visit nearby Malbork Castle, a Unesco world heritage site, or go amber hunting on the beach.

Casa de la Guadesa, northern Spain

Playa de la Griega. Photograph: Alamy

Can't decide between coast and mountain? At this pretty stone house in San Juan de Duz, you can dip into both. Sleeping four, it's a 15-minute walk up a country lane from Playa la Griega on Asturias's "dinosaur coast" (find out more at the museum in neighbouring Colunga,museojurasicoasturias.com) and around an hour's drive from the Picos de Europa national park. The foothills in between are known for their apple orchards and traditional cider houses; just the thing for toasting the sunset – and mountain scenery – from the cottage balcony after a day on the sand.

Sea kayaking, the Sporades

To reach the kind of empty white sands the cocktail-quaffing, sun lounger-bagging hordes can only dream of, there are few better ways to travel than by kayak. Not least on one of Aegean Escapes' six-day sea kayaking expeditions from Skopelos to Kyra Panagia, in the Alonnisos marine park, in the northern Sporades. Covering up to 35km a day, these are aimed at intermediate kayakers, as there is some challenging paddling – including two open-water crossings – but the rewards include visits to "secret" beaches, sea caves, pretty harbours and, if you're lucky, a chance to spot rare Mediterranean monk seals as well as dolphins and tuna. Wild camping at night means great stargazing, too.

Glisten Glamping, France

Col d'Ibardin campsite

Opening in April in Urrugne, close to a string of beaches in the French Basque country, Glisten's new family-friendly domes come with beds for six, Fatboy beanbags, covered outdoor kitchens and solar-powered fans. Bathrooms are shared with the rest of the site, as are swimming pools, playparks, a farm and, in July and August, a kids' club. And if some of your party want a more back-to-basics approach, Glisten operates as a pop-up glampsite within an existing campsite, Col d'Ibardin, so it's possible to book cheaper standard tent pitches too.

SunSplash, Turkey

Bodrum Harbour. Photograph: Alamy

Moving from Antalya to Aspat, a new site near Bodrum, this year's SunSplash music festival will host beach sets by the likes of Gilles Peterson, Osunlade, Phil Asher and Zara McFarlane between 1-8 June. It's a great setting, with a beach bar and bungalows close to the water, a mountain behind and, to one side, a natural creek shaded by eucalyptus trees. Cool down between sets with a swim, hike to nearby archaeological ruins or join one of several organised fringe events, from yoga classes to music production workshops.

Cycling, Malta

Ramla Bay, Gozo. Photograph: Alamy

The recently launched Sustainable Interregional Bike Tourism project aims to promote cycling in Sicily, Malta and Gozo. Over 1,000km of self-guided day-long cycle routes, from an easy 34km ride past Malta's St Pauls Grotto and catacombs to a challenging 117km trail along the southern coast of Sicily can be downloaded, free, from the project's website (medinbike.com). If it's beaches you're after, head to Gozo. The 42km Gozo Coastal route links the syrup-coloured sand of Ramla and Marsalforn bays with Calypso cave and the rock arch of Wied il Mielah via inland attractions such as the Ggantija temples and Ta' Kola windmill. The website also lists bike-friendly hotels on the islands so you can put together your own itinerary, or choose one of its suggested longer routes.

Climbing, Spain

La Mussara, Sierra de Prades. Photograph: Alamy

At Playa Montroig Parc, on the Costa Dorada, self-catering accommodation ranges from basic tent pitches to timber pavilions and cottage-like villas, all set in shady woodland. It's right beside a huge sandy beach, and there are also children's sports and activities, three swimming pools and a choice of restaurants. It has one other great selling point: it's location is ideal for tackling some of Tarragona's famous climbing destinations, the cliff-top village of Siurana and the La Mussara plateau among them. Eurocamp has included the site in its new Activecollection. Climbing trips have to be booked independently, but camp "couriers" can offer maps and guidance, and recommend suppliers for equipment and lessons.

Yoga on the beach, France

Côte & Dune guesthouse

Between May and October yoga teacher Rachel Hanberry tailormakes budget yoga breaks in Biscarosse Plage, south-west France, through her business Belle Vie Yoga. Book a single class, a weekend retreat or a week's worth of classes and you can spend your time refining your downward dog on the beach, in the forest or in Rachel's studio. Add-on surf lessons can be arranged. Or follow a weekend of yoga with a trip along the coast in one of Hanberry's husband's campervans (belleviecampers.com). The highest sand dune in Europe, the Dune du Pyla, and the Bassin d'Arcachon are just up the coast.

VW camping, Spain

Camper hire company WeDubYou launched in south-west France last year and is now expanding into Spain. The company's 20 vans come with iPads pre-loaded with films, games and music and can be picked up and dropped off at either Girona or Bergerac airports, but it's the add-ons that set this company apart from the campering crowd. The VIP package includes a champagne hamper. The Vélos package buys two electric bikes for the week (all the easier for navigating your way into secluded, narrow coves). And the EasyStart package comes with a luxury campsite and dinner for your first night. Strike out alone, though, and you have a pick of fabulous coastal campsites. One of the region's best is Cala Llevadó, with pitches in a pine forest right by the sea.