The alternative European city you won't have heard of with cheap flights and huge waterpark
Plus, the other 10 alternative European destinations that should be on your must-visit list for summer
POP OFF The alternative European city you won't have heard of with cheap flights and huge waterpark
ALTERNATIVE holiday destinations are taking over summer 2025 and Poprad is fast becoming a must-visit location.
Poprad is a city in northern Slovakia and is known as being the 'entrance gate' to the High Tatras mountains - and you can get cheap flights there according to Skyscanner.
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The city of Poprad sits at the bottom of the High Tatras mountains
Credit: Alamy
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Poprad is home to a huge waterpark with slides and a spa
Credit: Aquacity
Skyscanner has included Poprad on its list of destinations of summer savings with flights from £68.
The landlocked city in Slovakia is growing in popularity over the summer as temperatures rise to an average of 24C during July and August.
Poprad is centred around the quiet Square of St Egíd which has a selection of small shops, a church and ice cream parlour. It also holds a market a few days a week.
The buildings are primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries, but there are some modern additions including a huge waterpark.
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It's called AquaCity and is a two-storey wellness centre and waterpark.
It has 13 heated outdoor and indoor water pools as well as water slides and 250 water attractions.
It also has a 2-storey wellness and spa centre with a sauna, relaxation pool and a snow cave which is said to help circulation.
Entry to the AquaCity for one day cost £25, but they do have offers for families. A family of four for an all day ticket works out at £72 (£18pp).
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Poprad is considered a base for anyone who wants to explore the huge Tatra National Park, with hiking trails and other outdoor activities.
It's a popular location for bear watching, which you can do with an experienced guide that takes tourists up the mountains to see brown bears in their natural habitat.
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AquaCity even has a snow room
Credit: Aquacity
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Poprad Lake is a place of natural beauty
Credit: Alamy
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Another site of natural beauty is Popradské pleso, a huge glacial lake.
You can't swim or go on the water, but it's definitely a must-visit spot to take some incredible pictures.
30 minutes away from Poprad is Spišská Sobota, the historical old town.
It's made up of brightly coloured buildings that have been described as a "fairy tale town".
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According to Tripadvisor, one of the best bars in Poprad is Pivny Dom Dobre Casy that's been described as 'beer paradise'.
It offers 16 variations of craft beer and has room for 300 punters.
One visitor said: From the first moment, it looked like an old pub/bar, in a good way. Fine music, big and great offer of beers, great food, especially burgers."
Poprad also holds annual festivals, concerts and events.
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You can fly from London Luton to Poprad with Wizz Air, or go from London Stansted with Ryanair - both routes work out at very similar prices.
Other affordable and alternative destinations include the cities of Bremen which is the holiday town where Oktoberfest never ends.
The vibrant French city of Strasbourg and Eindhoven - which is 30-minutes away from a huge theme park that has been called 'better than Disney'.
Skyscanners Full List Of Affordable Destinations This Summer Bremen, Germany - Average flight price: £60 Poprad, Slovakia - Average flight price: £68 Baden-Baden, Germany - Average flight price: £73 Ouarzazate, Morocco - Average flight price: £84 Strasbourg, France - Average flight price: £88 Luxembourg - Average flight price: £90 Eindhoven, Netherlands - Average flight price: £91 Belfast, Northern Ireland - Average flight price: £95 Shannon, Republic of Ireland - Average flight price: £96 Rodez, France - Average flight price: £105
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Poprad sits at the foothills of the High Tatras mountains
Credit: Alamy
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A lot of the accommodation is low-key - think bungalows behind the dunes or boutique guesthouses a short walk from the beach. One of Spain's oldest beach bars that was loved by A-List stars forced to close — as fans say goodbye to €4 beers and sea views 7 It feels more like California Credit: Alamy The town itself is more of a strip - a few shops, surf schools, and beach bars, all built into the landscape. There's no real centre, but that's part of the charm. It's the kind of place where you can go barefoot all day and no one would batter an eyelid. The whole of El Palmar feels peaceful and raw in the best way. It's not overly polished or fancy, but that's the appeal. You wake up to the sound of waves, stroll out to a café for breakfast, hit the beach, maybe do a surf lesson or just lie in the sun, then head to one of the chiringuitos for lunch. These chiringuitos are what make it for me. These are beach bars right on the sand, serving cold drinks and some of the best seafood I've had in Spain. You can get a table with your feet in the sand, order a plate of prawns or tuna tartare, and just sit watching the waves roll in and the sun in your face. Locals even call the area 'Cádizfornia' for the surfy vibe Most places also do proper Andalusian paella, fried fish, grilled sardines - all cooked fresh and served with a side of salty air. It's not expensive, either. You can get a great meal with drinks for under €20 if you know where to go. In the evenings, some bars have live music - usually acoustic, sometimes a bit of flamenco. It's never full-on party mode, but it's sociable and fun. You won't find bar crawls or club reps here - just locals and in-the-know visitors enjoying the sunsets, which are nearly always amazing. El Palmar's great for doing absolutely nothing. But if you fancy mixing things up, there's a lot to explore nearby. About 15 minutes inland is the whitewashed hill town of Vejer de la Frontera. Here you'll find quaint narrow streets, flower-filled balconies and sweeping views. 7 Visit the nearby Vejer de la Frontera Credit: Alamy 7 Make sure to explore the Old Quarter too Credit: Alamy You can head up for lunch or dinner, wander the old quarter, and enjoy a change of scenery without going too far. Further down the coast is Tarifa - Europe's southernmost town and the meeting point of the Atlantic and the Med. It's more built-up, with a mix of surf shops, Moroccan cafés and tapas bars. It's a great spot if you want something a bit more lively for a day or two - or even to bolt onto your El Palmar trip. And just up the coast is Cádiz city, one of the oldest cities in Europe. Cadiz is full of history, with colourful buildings, crumbling castles, seafood markets and buzzing tapas bars. You could easily spend a day there before heading back to your beach base. How to get there El Palmar's not the easiest place to reach - but that's why you don't see many tourists there, adding to its charm. Hiring a car from airports Seville or Malaga is probably your easiest option. It's under two hours from Seville, and about 2.5 from Málaga. The roads are easy, the views are decent, and once you're there, you'll be glad you didn't mess about with transfers. But if you're lacking a driving licence but have plenty of patience, you can still get there by public transport. From Seville, take a train to San Fernando Bahía Sur station, which is about 1.5 hours away and costs about €17 (£14). From there, it's a 35-minute taxi ride to the beach, which will cost about €70 (£60). You can also go via Cádiz, which has a direct bus to El Palmar run by Transportes Generales Comes. It takes just over an hour and is fairly cheap, between €5–€14. However, buses aren't super frequent and can be even more limited outside of summer. Coming from Málaga? You'll need to train it to Cádiz first (about 3 hours), then catch the same bus down to the coast. All doable, but if you want to avoid the faff, just hire a car. Where to stay, when to go You're not going to find anything super lux at El Palmar, but that's part of its appeal. If you want somewhere stylish but low-key, look at Nexo Surf House, it's got spacious, airy rooms, a restaurant and surf lessons all rolled into one. For something more rustic, the glamping options at Kampaoh are worth a look. Here you'll find safari-style tents with proper beds and private bathrooms, all a short walk from the beach. There are also plenty of local Airbnbs scattered along the coast, many within walking distance to the beach. Some are simple studios, others are bigger houses that are ideal for groups or families. Wherever you stay, you're never far from the sea - and that's the whole point. In the busier summer months of July and August, however, be sure to book well in advance as rooms do get booked up fast by locals. Even then, it's mostly Spanish families, not hordes of tourists. The beach is big enough that it never feels rammed. It's not built for mass tourism, and that's why it's so good. If you want a quieter vibe, I'd opt to go in June or September. The weather's still hot, the sea's warm, and there's lots of space. Flights to Seville from the UK start from around £25 return if you book early enough. If you want a break that's off the beaten track, full of charm, and free from the usual Brit holiday clichés, this is the place to go.
