Beach day budgeting: the best value spots for sun loungers across Europe

Whether you’re admiring the glorious grey skies on Britain’s golden beaches or dipping your toes in turquoise waters on a Greek island, getting great value matters. Travel costs can quickly add up, and savvy holidaymakers know that even small expenses, like renting a sun lounger, can slowly chip away at your overall budget.

With this in mind, we decided to uncover the best-value beaches for sun loungers. By looking at the cost-per-day of sun loungers on 126 beaches in Europe and the UK, we’ve ranked where your pounds stretch furthest when it comes to seaside comfort.

In this article, we’ll show you:

1. Saltburn Beach, North Yorkshire

The UK beach with the most affordable sun loungers is Saltburn Beach in North Yorkshire, where they cost as little as £2.50 to hire for the day.

This charming Victorian seaside town shows you can still soak up the sun and enjoy a traditional British beach day without taking a big chunk out of your holiday savings. 

2. Great Yarmouth Beach, Norfolk – St Ives Harbour Beach, Cornwall, Beer Beach – Devon, Broadsands Beach – Devon, Whitby Beach – North Yorkshire

Second in the ranking were five out of the 20 British beaches included in the research, where a sun lounger costs just £3.00 for the day.

From the bustling East Coast at Great Yarmouth to the picturesque harbours of St Ives, and along the charming southern and northern shores at Beer, Broadsands, and Whitby, our research shows that this is one of the standard prices for a sun lounger on beaches throughout the country.

3. Steephill Cove Beach, Isle of Wight 

A sun lounger on the shores of Steephill Cove Beach on the Isle of Wight costs just £3.50.

Tucked away at the foot of the Ventnor Undercliff area, this beach has become a hidden gem in recent years thanks to its secluded charm and colourful beach huts, perfect for a quiet afternoon by the sea, or a brisk dip if you’re feeling adventurous.

1. Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria (Spain)

Playa de Maspalomas on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria has the most affordable sun loungers outside of the UK, costing just £2.15 per day.

That’s around 20 times cheaper than the most expensive option in our research, Lapad Beach in Croatia, where a single sun lounger will set you back £43.07. 

2. Silistar Beach, Sinemorets and Golden Sands Beach, Varna (Bulgaria)

Tourists visiting these beautiful Bulgarian bays will pay just £2.20 for a sun lounger for the day.

As some of the prettiest beaches on the Black Sea coast, and second in our best-value rankings, the country is a great destination for budget-conscious travellers looking for an affordable escape.

3. Playa de Las Canteras, Gran Canaria (Spain)

Another beach on the island of Gran Canaria featured in the top three, charging £2.58 per day for a sun lounger.

This urban beach in Las Palmas is sheltered by a natural reef, making it ideal for calm swimming. Its lively promenade draws locals and visitors alike to relax, sunbathe, and soak up the vibrant atmosphere.

When looking at the average cost of a sun lounger across all 13 countries, Croatia came out as the most expensive overall, with an average price of £18.52.

At premium beaches such as Kasuni, Pupnatska, and Lapad, a single sun lounger exceeded £25 per day, meaning these high-end spots pushed Croatia’s average well above the rest.

Popular holiday destinations like Spain, Greece, and Portugal came out in the middle. This is down the mix of tourist hotspots, where demand drives prices up, and lesser-known beaches offering more affordable options, which helps balance out their national averages. 

The UK came out as the cheapest country overall, with sun loungers averaging at £4.66 per day. Affordable seaside destinations helped bring the national average down, proving that staying closer to home may be the most budget-friendly option of all. We just can’t guarantee the sun. 

Croatia came in at number one in this top 10 – charging a hefty £43.07 for a sun lounger, making it the least affordable in our research.

The country’s picturesque pebble beaches accounted for four of the five most expensive sun loungers in our research. Once considered a budget-friendly favourite for European getaways, prices have surged by around 50% over the past three years, according to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

Our research shows that with a little forward planning, it’s easy to enjoy a day at the beach on a budget, whether you're heading to Skegness or the Spanish coast.

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Research Methodology

Sources and research

Our findings are based on extensive desk research using over 100 sources from reputable travel guides, tourism boards, local council websites, news outlets, and beach rental operators across Europe. We reviewed:

Prices were collected between July and August 2025 from publicly accessible sources. They can be provided in full upon request.

Disclaimer: Prices are provided for reference only and may change over time. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information will remain up-to-date.