The best summer holiday destinations from the UK remain the Greek islands, Portugal’s Algarve, Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, Majorca and the Canary Islands. Between them they cover every budget and every style of summer, all within a five-hour flight.
The trick is matching the destination to your version of summer. Here is how the big five compare when it actually matters.
1. The Greek islands — the summer archetype
Whitewashed villages, taverna lunches that dissolve into evenings, and a different island for every mood: party, honeymoon, family or hike. Greece in summer is the thing the word holiday was invented for.
Crowds peak in August, so June and September are the insiders’ months, with the sea warmest late in the season. Island-hop by ferry for the full experience.
2. The Algarve — Europe’s most beautiful coastline
The Algarve‘s sculpted cliffs and golden coves are Europe’s best beach scenery, backed by seafood, golf and family resorts that decades of British visitors have polished to a shine. The Atlantic keeps summer air fresher than the Med.
Value remains excellent by Western European standards, especially in self-catering. Book early for July and August, when family demand peaks first.
3. Turkey — the all-inclusive heavyweight
Turkey owns the all-inclusive summer: vast resorts along Lara Beach and the Turquoise Coast where the rate swallows waterparks, entertainment and midnight buffets whole. The pound’s strength there keeps five-star weeks at three-star money.
Beyond the buffet, gulet boat days, Roman ruins and bazaar haggling give Turkish summers more texture than the brochure suggests.
4. Majorca — the island that has everything
Majorca packs a continent into one island: family bays in the north, mountain villages and cycling cols in the Tramuntana, Palma’s old town and beach clubs in the south. Two-hour flights from everywhere in Britain seal the deal.
Its quieter sister Menorca offers the same sea with half the pace, if crowds are your enemy.
5. The Canary Islands — the guarantee
When the summer absolutely must deliver, the Canary Islands answer with statistical certainty: rain in July is a curiosity, not a risk. Volcanic landscapes, year-round water parks and every category of resort cover the rest.
August trade winds keep the islands cooler than the Med’s worst heatwaves, an increasingly valuable feature.
Which one is right for your summer?
Families default happily to Turkey and the Canaries for facilities, or the Algarve for beaches with breathing space. Couples lean Greek islands and Majorca’s quieter corners; groups split between Greek party islands and Majorca’s resorts.
Budget order, cheapest first, usually runs Turkey, Canaries, Algarve, Greece, Majorca in peak season, though early booking rewrites the table every year.
When to book a summer holiday
For school-holiday dates, January sales and booking by March secure the best family stock. Couples with flexible dates do better waiting for June and September, when the same destinations cost 30–40% less and the sea is just as warm at the September end.
Whichever you choose, the five above have earned their dominance: they deliver, summer after summer.
Summer month by month
June brings near-peak weather at shoulder prices, with the sea warming and evenings long. July and August deliver maximum heat, crowds and cost, though the Canaries’ trade winds and the Atlantic Algarve stay more comfortable than the baking central Med.
September is quietly the connoisseur’s summer: the sea at its warmest all year, school crowds gone, and prices down a third. If your diary allows it, it beats August in every measurable way.
The rising alternatives
Nipping at the big five’s heels: Albania‘s riviera for Ionian beauty at half price, Croatia‘s islands for Adriatic glamour, and Bulgaria for the cheapest organised summer in Europe. Each is a current favourite for a reason.
The classics earned their crowns, but the bench behind them has never been stronger.
Beat the heat: the new summer question
Recent Mediterranean heatwaves have rewritten summer planning: July inland temperatures now regularly top 40°C in parts of Greece and Spain. The Atlantic-cooled Algarve and Canaries, island breezes in the Aegean, and June or September dates are the comfortable answers.
Families with young children increasingly book the shoulder months on purpose. The sea does not read the school calendar, and September’s water is August’s without the queue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to go on holiday in summer?
The Greek islands lead for atmosphere, the Algarve for coastline, Turkey for all-inclusive value, Majorca for variety and the Canary Islands for guaranteed weather. All five sit within a five-hour flight of the UK.
What is the cheapest summer holiday destination?
Turkey generally offers the lowest peak-season prices for equivalent quality, with the Canary Islands and the Algarve close behind. Booking by March matters more than the destination.
Where is hot in summer but not too crowded?
Menorca, the quieter Greek islands like Naxos and Skiathos, and the western Algarve stay noticeably calmer than the headline resorts, even in August.
When should I book a summer holiday?
For July and August school-holiday dates, book by March at the latest. For June or September travel, deals hold much later and prices run 30–40% below peak.
