Summer is one of Europe’s busiest travel seasons, but paying peak prices is not inevitable. Skyscanner’s 2026 Smarter Summer Report highlights how choosing the right week, destination and departure day can make a significant difference to the overall cost of a holiday.

The strongest savings come from flexibility. Travellers who can shift their plans by even a few days may find cheaper flights, while June and September continue to offer a more relaxed alternative to the most expensive weeks of July and August.

Pick the Right Week First

According to Skyscanner’s data, the cheapest week for summer travel in 2026 is 29 June to 5 July. Friday is also identified as the cheapest day of the week to fly.

That means travellers who have not fixed their annual leave yet may benefit from searching by date before choosing a destination.

Traveller tip: Use a whole-month search rather than entering one exact departure day. The difference between flying on Thursday and Friday can sometimes be more useful than spending hours comparing airlines.

Málaga Remains a Favourite

Málaga topped Skyscanner’s list of the most popular destinations for British travellers.

Average return flights were around €205, while accommodation started from approximately €231. The cheapest week for a Málaga trip was identified as 31 August to 6 September, with Tuesday the cheapest day to travel.

The timing is particularly attractive. Early September still brings warm weather and beach-friendly temperatures, but the atmosphere becomes calmer after the August rush.

Budget idea: Stay outside the historic centre or beach areas and use local transport. Málaga is compact enough that paying a premium for the most central address is often unnecessary.

Faro Works Well for Late Summer

Faro ranked second and remains one of the easiest gateways to Portugal’s Algarve.

Average flights were around €223, while accommodation was listed from roughly €236. Skyscanner again highlighted 31 August to 6 September as the cheapest travel window.

Faro itself is worth more than an airport stop. Its walled old town, marina and access to the Ria Formosa Natural Park make it suitable for a short break without immediately heading to a resort.

For a moderate trip, allow roughly €90–150 per person per day for shared accommodation, meals and local transport, excluding flights.

Ibiza Requires a Bigger Budget

Ibiza also appeared among the five most popular destinations, but the price difference is substantial.

Average flights started at around €209, while hotel prices were approximately €365 per day.

That makes accommodation the main expense rather than airfare.

Saving tip: Avoid staying around the most famous nightlife areas unless they are central to your plans. Smaller towns and inland accommodation can offer much better value, particularly if you book early.

Look Beyond the Famous Cities

The report’s most useful advice may be its list of cheaper alternatives.

For June travel from the UK, Poprad in Slovakia had average flights of around €64. Szczecin and Lublin in Poland followed at approximately €68 and €72.

September can be even cheaper. Average fares were around €62 to Poprad, €67 to Dortmund, €75 to Łódź and €80 to Szczecin.

Poprad is particularly interesting for travellers who prefer mountains to beaches. It provides easy access to Slovakia’s High Tatras, where hiking, mountain railways and small towns can replace the traditional Mediterranean holiday.

Szczecin, meanwhile, offers waterfront architecture and a more relaxed urban break, while Łódź combines industrial heritage, street art and a growing cultural scene.

June and September Are the Sweet Spot

Skyscanner describes June and September as summer’s quieter overachievers, and the logic is easy to understand. Travellers still get long days and generally good weather, but with lower fares, shorter queues and easier restaurant reservations.

For anyone without school-holiday restrictions, shifting a trip by two or three weeks can make the biggest difference of all.

Build the Budget Around Timing

A practical summer budget should start with flights and accommodation, because these fluctuate the most.

For destinations such as Málaga or Faro, a realistic moderate budget is around €100–160 per person per day once accommodation, meals and local transport are included. Ibiza can easily exceed €200–300 per day, while Central European destinations such as Poprad or Szczecin can often be managed for considerably less.