Sunny Beach in Bulgaria has been named Europe's second most affordable holiday destination, with a pint of beer costing just £1.30 and flights starting from £32. The Post Office Travel Money Family Holiday Costs Barometer 2026 found that the total cost of 10 common tourist purchases in Sunny Beach came to £142.16, placing it second behind the Algarve in Portugal.
What Sunny Beach offers
Located on Bulgaria's Black Sea coastline, Sunny Beach is known for its golden sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife. The resort attracts visitors from across Europe, especially during the summer when conditions are warm and pleasant. Beyond the beach, there are countless restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, as well as activities such as Action Aquapark with water slides, lazy rivers, and play areas. TUI also promotes pirate cruises and hotel waterparks as popular family choices.
Quotes and context
Laura Plunkett, Head of Post Office Travel Money, said: “It’s not a surprise that our colleagues at TUI found price rises in some of the most popular European holiday destinations as the impact of the war in the Middle East causes widespread cost of living pressures. Fortunately, sterling has proved remarkably resilient in recent weeks and has seen its value rise against the euro in particular. This means that once the exchange rate has been applied, families will not face the full brunt of the local price rises in resorts they are visiting this year.”
Getting to Sunny Beach
The nearest airport is Bourgas, 13 miles away. The cheapest flights found at the time of writing were £32 in October. Airlines flying direct from the UK to Bourgas include Jet2, Ryanair, easyJet, and TUI. Departure airports include London Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, and Newcastle.
