Lesser-known Greek island is Europe's cheapest destination for summer holidays

18 April 2024 , 04:00

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Lesser-known Greek island is Europe's cheapest destination for summer holidays

A lesser-known Greek island has been revealed as Europe's cheapest destination for Brits after package holidays this summer.

Kalymnos may not be as famous as the likes of Rhodes, Mykonos or Santorini, but it offers everything you could want for a picture-perfect getaway. We're talking powder sand beaches, crystalline waters, charming villages and tavernas serving up that mouthwatering Greek food.

According to new research from Which? analysing over 4,500 package holidays for the first week of August, it's also the island where you can find the cheapest packages. In fact, the study found that the average price of a seven-night holiday worked out at £847 per person.

There are plenty of holiday firms that offer tempting packages too including Jet2, Olympic Holidays, Loveholidays and TravelRepublic, while TravelSupermarket can be a good source for comparing various flight and hotel deals.

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The Which? team added: "The tiny island is Greece as you imagine it - boasting secluded coves, sapphire seas, rugged mountains, and charming towns. Travellers fly into the island’s busier neighbour Kos, before departing for Kalymnos by boat - a journey that takes just 40 minutes, and is included in the price of your package.

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"The capital Pothia is the most competitively priced resort on the island - with the cheapest package found costing £794 per person. With its delightful mix of whitewashed and brightly painted houses looking out over the Aegean sea, the town and its surrounds offer plenty to keep holidaymakers occupied - from an open air cinema to museums and monasteries. For those looking to relax on the sand, the island’s most popular beach resort, Massouri, costs an average of £856 for a week’s stay."

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

In fact Greece holidays overall proved to offer some of the cheapest packages, with four of the top 10 destinations all being Greek islands. Traditionally budget-friendly destinations such as Bulgaria and Turkey didn't feature on the list, but the team explained that it could be down to the type of packages still available for Brits planning August breaks.

They explained: "At the moment, the Amalfi Coast for example has a wide choice of room-only, self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation still available to book (rather than pricier full board packages) which means that prices are lower. There are also lots of budget flights to the region. However, holiday makers should still consider the cost of eating out and activities when choosing their next holiday."

You can check out the top 10 cheapest package holiday destinations below...

1. Kalymnos, Greece - £847
2. Thassos, Greece- £862
3. Lefkada, Greece- £935
4. Costa Brava, Spain - £952
5. Venetian Riviera, Italy - £965
6. Amalfi Coast, Italy - £977
7. Skopelos, Greece - £985
8. Costa de la Luz, Spain - £994
9. Campania, Italy - £998
10. Malta - £1,006

If you're looking for travel bargains then you may want to bookmark our holiday deals page which we regularly update with the latest sales, discounts and offers we think you'll want on your radar. You can also check out more of Daily Mirror's latest travel stories by signing up to our free weekly newsletter.

Julie Delahaye