Priced Out of the French Riviera? Where to Vacation in Europe for Less This Summer

The French Riviera is the icon of coastal beauty. Superyachts dot the Port Hercules in Monaco, glamorous beach bars are abuzz with a stylish crowd in Cannes, and turquoise city beaches are packed with vacationers in Nice. The truth is, Côte d’Azur is among Europe’s most expensive beach destinations in summer. It still retains a sort of “boutique” atmosphere, with an emphasis on exclusivity and luxury. 

Thankfully, the continent offers many other Rivieras for your summer escape. Some, like Istria and the Slovenian Coast, feel like stripped-down versions of their French counterparts. Others, such as the Bulgarian and Albanian Rivieras, will give you the best value for your money. The list also includes magnificent lesser-known coasts in Italy and Spain.

Best for affordability

Bulgaria has long been Europe’s number-one destination for budget-friendly seaside escapes. Starting in 2025, traveling to its Black Sea coast became even easier, since the country finally joined the Schengen zone. The 230-mile coastline here offers holiday experiences for every taste. Fancy a breezy sun-and-sea relaxation at a big resort? Party-friendly Sunny Beach and chill Golden Sands come with miles of sandy beaches and a never-ending choice of all-inclusive hotels.

Visit the UNESCO-protected Nessebar for a well-preserved medieval town, ancient Orthodox churches, and pretty wooden houses. Sozopol is another historic seaside gem, with a dramatic fortress. Families with kids will love the tranquility and soft golden sands of Obzor and Albena. If you’re looking for a port town atmosphere and vibrant nightlife, head to Varna and Burgas.

Best for historic towns

Much more laid-back and affordable than the Côte d’Azur, the Slovenian Riviera shares many similarities with the famed French coast. Portorož is an exemplary exclusive seaside resort. You’ve got a Casino, a scenic promenade, Michelin-starred restaurants, and five-star hotels in former palaces. Nearby, Piran is home to one of the Adriatic Sea’s most spectacular Old Towns, encircled by medieval walls.

The beaches of Strunjan and Bele Skale are gorgeous pebbly stretches, surrounded by gentle cliffs. Colorful Baroque houses in the harbor of Izola look like a younger brother to the French Riviera’s Menton. This underdog European coast is ideal for quiet luxury. Be sure to charter a yacht (for a fraction of the price you’d pay in France) to discover its gems from the water.

Best for sublime white-sand beaches and rich food traditions

The Coast of the Gods (or Costa degli Dei) in Calabria is for admiring the rugged cliffs, swimming in the transparent azure waters, and feeling the soft white sand under your feet. It’s not the French Riviera in terms of glamour and glitz, but it’s equally perfect for unforgettable yachting trips, romantic dining with sublime views, lounging in the beach bars, and discovering wild beaches. Towns like Tropea and Pizzo Calabro will take your breath away with their perched seaside glory.

Spiaggia della Rotonda in Tropea is among Italy’s most beautiful beaches, offering sugary sand and turquoise sea. Head south for Costa Viola, another gorgeous part of Calabria. Its most precious jewel, Scilla, is famous for the swordfish dishes, so try one in an atmospheric trattoria in the historic Borgo Chianalea neighborhood. To make things even better, Calabria is still an Italian coast at its most affordable.

Best for the Atlantic beaches and water sports

Spain is Europe’s top holiday destination in summer. While it can get really crowded in popular spots like Mallorca, Alicante, and Barcelona, there’s a coast you should check for more attractive prices and plenty of fun things to do. Costa de la Luz (or “the Coast of Light”) is a lesser-known vacation area in Andalusia. The vast sandy bays of the Atlantic Ocean rule here. Striking Cádiz, also nicknamed the White City for the color of the houses in the Old Town, is the capital of this beautiful land of golden dunes, wetlands, and ancient whitewashed villages that goes up to Tarifa, in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Wide beaches like Zahara, El Palmar, and Barrosa are fantastic for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Costa de la Luz will be a superb choice for thrill-seekers who enjoy less-urbanized stretches and being surrounded by nature, rather than the city.

Best for outdoor activities and kid-friendly beaches

The rocky mountains rise above small resort hamlets in Makarska Riviera, one of Croatia’s most gorgeous coasts. The local vibe is akin to less-urbanized parts of the French Riviera, like the Esterel Coast. The windy roads snake through the dramatic mountainous landscape as the azure sea glistens below. Omiš—set at the confluence of the Cetina River and Adriatic Sea—is the adventure center of the region, offering zip-lining, white-water rafting, and a variety of water sports.

Brela and Baška Voda are Croatia’s answers to the Côte d’Azur’s coves of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Cap d’Antibes. There you will find magnificent beaches, such as Punta Rata and Oseka, ideal for families with kids. Makarska, the Riviera’s capital, is a laid-back resort town with a lively promenade and plenty of traditional restaurants where you can have local seafood dishes.

Best for a budget-friendly Mediterranean holiday

If you’d like to experience the best Mediterranean beaches and save money in the process, Albania is a bargain. The section from Vlorë all the way down to the Greek border is filled with dreamy beaches, diverse resort towns, ancient ruins, and wonderful natural sites. The prices will pleasantly surprise you—even during the height of summer, you can find great hotel deals under 60 USD per night in almost every coastal town. Booking a package holiday will let you save even more.

Located opposite the Greek island of Corfu, Ksamil is where you find the bluest water and most beautiful beaches of the Riviera. It’s close to Butrint National Archaeological Park, famous for its Greek and Roman ruins. Sarandë is the classic resort town for enjoying the buzzy seaside promenade and raucous nightlife. Smaller towns like Dhërmi and Himarë are perfect for a quiet family escape.

Best for all-inclusive leisure

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast is the ultimate destination for affordable holidays. For decades, Europeans traveled to the towns of Antalya, Alanya, Side, and Kemer to enjoy attractively priced package deals. And it’s not just several resorts by the sea; there are hundreds of all-inclusive accommodations to choose from here. It helps that the region is a treasure trove of Mediterranean beauty. Antalya and Alanya charm you with their Ottoman-era Old Towns and gorgeous harbors. In Side, you can explore the Greco-Roman ruins.

The area also has its own Disneyland-like mega-attraction, The Land of Legends, a massive theme park offering over 70 rides and a five-star hotel. The best beaches are Kleopatra in Alanya, Konyaaltı in Antalya, and Olimpos, alongside the ancient city of Olympos. 

Best for romantic seaside towns and beautiful hinterland

Istria has everything you would expect from an Adriatic holiday destination and more. Located on the northern tip of the Croatian coast, this peninsula features picture-perfect towns, pristine beaches, hilltop villages, and ancient ruins. Visit the Colosseum-like Roman amphitheatre in Pula, enjoy the laid-back vibes in the perched village of Vrsar, see the UNESCO-protected Byzantine mosaics in the Euphrasian Basilica of Poreč, and admire the romantic Venetian historic core of Rovinj.

You can also sail to the Brijuni National Park, an archipelago of 14 islands, for virgin coves and a unique safari park on the site of the former summer residence of Josip Broz Tito. Go to Motovun, a stunning hilltop town in Istria’s hinterland, for truffle hunting excursions and wine tasting. Accommodation-wise, the peninsula offers both elegant five-star resorts, such as Grand Park Hotel in Rovinj, and low-key holiday apartment complexes, like Lanterna Resort in a pine forest near Novigrad.

Best for a tranquil Aegean escape

If the main appeal of the French Riviera for you is the dazzling blue sea, you will find equally mesmerizing waters in Halkidiki. A peninsula shaped like three “fingers” is in northern Greece, close to the country’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki. You’re getting the same azure beaches backed by the lush pine tree forests as in the South of France. But you’ll spend significantly less in Halkidiki—the region is still one of the most affordable places to vacation both in Greece and Europe.

There are no big cities here; the area is dotted with small fishing villages-turned-resorts, where it’s tranquil and inspiring even during the height of the summer. Sithonia, the second “finger” peninsula, offers the best beaches, like the crystal-clear bays of Kavourotrypes, Karydi and Fava. In Kassandra, you will find picturesque traditional villages, Afytos and Kassandreia. Enjoy the gorgeous Halkidiki interior by hiking to the Varvara waterfalls.

Best for Old World glamor

If you are priced out of the French Riviera, but still desire to experience it, Riviera dei Fiori will be a fantastic pick. It starts right at the French border, in Ventimiglia, and goes all the way to Cervo. The best part? You can easily move around by fast and affordable regional trains. For example, Menton is just 5 minutes away from Ventimiglia, Monaco is 30 minutes away, and Nice is around an hour away. On the other hand, Riviera dei Fiori is very similar to Côte d’Azur in looks and vibe, but with lower prices.

Ventimiglia will impress you with a dramatic hilltop Old Town and gorgeous turquoise beaches. It’s also home to the ultra-luxurious Marina di Cala del Forte, which is Monaco’s third official harbor. For centuries, Sanremo, the Riviera’s most iconic beach town, has lured the world’s wealthy and famous. As in Nice, the seaside promenade here is dotted with the Belle Époque grand hotels, and gorgeous pebbly beaches are immediately accessible from the city center. The region has also been a magnet for artists. Claude Monet spent three months living and painting in beautiful Bordighera. The town is also famous for the magnificent 18th-century Pallanca exotic gardens.