As the peak summer travel season arrives, the cost of a day at the beach in Europe can vary dramatically, with some sunbed rentals costing more than a flight to the destination. In hotspots like Mykonos, Ibiza and St Tropez, prices can exceed £100 per person, often before minimum spend requirements are factored in.
At UM Beach House in Magaluf, Mallorca, a bed for two or three starts at €150 (£126) per day, with a €250 minimum spend per sunbed. In Ibiza, a single lounger at Blue Marlin Beach costs €80. On Mykonos, spots like Nammos charge €150 per person for a bed and towel. On Italy’s Amalfi Coast, One Fire beach club in Praiano asks at least €100 for a bed plus €100 minimum spend, while La Scogliera in Positano offers a bed, towel and water for €186.
Other expensive options include La Réserve à La Plage in St Tropez at €85 per deckchair, and La Fontelina Beach in Capri at €47 for a deckchair, with towel and umbrella costing extra. Even public beaches have premium facilities: Cala Major in Palma charges €70 for premium access, double the standard €25. Nikki Beach in Marbella starts at €50.
However, cheaper alternatives exist. In Puglia, Calderisi Mare beach club offers sunbeds with towels from €30. Along Spain’s Costa Cálida in Murcia, two sunbeds at La Zenia beach cost €17. These lesser-known spots provide affordable beach days.
Meanwhile, authorities are cracking down on excessive charges. Greece has introduced new rules requiring sunbeds to be at least four metres from the sea and banning them on beaches with less than four metres of sand. Fines exceeding €350,000 have been issued, and a smartphone app, MyCoast, allows tourists to report violations. In Italy, the EU has pushed for beach concessions to be put up for tender to ensure fair competition, with a ruling from the Italian Council of States in May 2024 ordering the procedure.
