Top 12 Student Holiday Destinations 2025

16 Jan 2025, by Evie Howarth, min. read

Student holiday destinations that don’t leave your wallet empty. Yes, they exist.

Why is it that students are most often deprived of a lovely little holiday? They probably need it most.

No matter the time of year, students should be able to treat themselves to a trip abroad — it can be educational after all. But, where to?

Whether you’re looking for gay friendly holiday destinations, muslim friendly holiday destinations, birthday holiday destinations, we’ve got all the student holiday destinations you need to know about. Sorry, did we mention holiday destinations?

If you sign up to Student Beans, you’ll also unlock a whole range of holiday student discounts that will help make your travelling ventures that little bit more affordable.

Go and immerse yourself in different cultures, eat amazing food (most importantly), and have fun! That’s what travelling is all about.

While you’re here, take a look at our student travel tips to make sure you’re clued up before you travel.

Jump to:

Gay friendly holiday destinations
Muslim friendly holiday destinations
Birthday holiday destinations

Top student holiday destinations

What makes a place a student holiday destination? The vibes and the fun (and affordability). Here are some of the top student holiday destinations right now.

P.S. If you’re keen to try something new, why not try interrailing around Europe? Find out what is interrailing and how much it costs.

All prices are based on a weekend trip.

Gay friendly holiday destinations

You would think any country in 2025 is gay-friendly but unfortunately not everywhere is as open-minded as we think. Below are some of the top gay friendly holiday destinations you can visit for a great, safe travelling experience.

To make your trip cheaper, use our Ryanair student discount for 10% off your flights.

Berlin, Germany

Average spending money: £150-£200

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £75-£300

Berlin is cited for being one of the most student-friendly cities and one of the best student holiday destinations. With its high student population and five public universities, it’s hard not to see why.

The nightlife is impeccable and drinks are fairly priced. But if nightlife isn’t on your radar, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the fantastic cuisine they have to offer. Plus, their walking tours deep dive into what life was like during the wars and how Berlin is still in a state of repair.

The German capital has plenty of gay bars and queer spaces, and a rich LGBTQ+ history, making it one of the greatest gay friendly holiday destinations.

Visit the East Side Gallery, Museum Island, Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral and much more.

Places to stay in Berlin

Hostels & budget hotels

Barcelona, Spain

Average spending money: £200-£300

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £200- £400

Want a holiday that’s super vibrant and offers an equal balance of things to do and beaches to sunbathe on? Then look no further than Barcelona. It’s home to some of the quirkiest architecture by Antoni Gaudi, exquisite Paella, stunning art galleries and did we mention it’s by the beach!?

Barcelona is one of the most gay friendly holiday destinations you’d want to go to, thanks to its LGBTQ+ culture. Supporting and celebrating Pride, Barcelona is the place to be when Pride comes around in summer.

Places to stay in Barcelona

Hostels & budget hotels

Zante, Greece

Average spending money: £150-£300

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £25 to £140

If you’re planning a getaway but want something a little cheaper than say Ibiza, then the Greek island of Zante is your next best bet. With shots costing around 50p, well, we’ll let you think about the rest.

But if you’re not the boozy type then fear not. There are stunning beaches and caves to explore such as the Keri caves, the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, and much more.

Zante has a very welcoming atmosphere for queer people and many gay friendly bars and hotels are on the island. If you’re looking for gay friendly holiday destinations, Zante is one of them.

Places to stay in Zante

Hostels & budget hotels

Vienna, Austria

Average spending money: £130-£300

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £155-£400

For music, art and culture enthusiasts, Vienna is a fantastic student holiday destination. It’s known for its classical music and jazz scene, coffee shops and has even been voted one of the most liveable cities for years running.

So if it’s Art Nouveau and gothic vibes you’re after, Vienna is the place for you.

Vienna is also very progressive in terms of the queer scene — anti-discrimination laws, inclusivity and social acceptance. The city is packed with rich history and notable people who have left a queer mark on the place.

Places to stay in Vienna

Hostels & budget hotels

Muslim friendly holiday destinations

If you’re after Muslim friendly holiday destinations, look no further. Below are the best student holiday destinations for Muslims — expect acceptance and great Halal food.

We’ve also got the best city breaks to travel to this summer for you to grab some more inspo.

Worried about your student budget? Check out our lastminute.com student discounts for money off your holiday.

Ireland

Average spending money: £150-£300

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £150-£500

Want to venture a little closer to home? Then nip across the English Channel to your neighbours in the Republic of Ireland. With student cities like Dublin, you’re in for good vibes, decently priced food and let’s not forget the right way to drink (0%) Guinness !

If you want something a little more chill, think places like Limerick, Galway and Killarney which all offer picturesque scenery and calming vibes.

Ireland is considered a very accepting place towards tourists and prohibits discrimination based on religion or ethnicity. Many of the universities have faith centres and there are a lot of Halal-friendly restaurants to eat at. Ireland is one of the best Muslim friendly holiday destinations.

Places to stay in Ireland

Hostels & budget hotels

Here are some hostel and hotel recommendations for Dublin.

Majorca, Spain

Average spending money: £50-£350

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £30-£300

Known as a destination for families and couples, it’s also really ideal for a student getaway too!

Palma is the Island’s capital city and a great place to stay if you want to be in the hustle and bustle. You can even enjoy a day out at Hidropark Waterpark, go rock-climbing or even paddleboarding.

If you’re worried about whether Majorca is Muslim friendly, you’re in luck. Majorca is one of the best Muslim friendly holiday destinations. It has a history of Islamic influence, a lot of Halal food on offer, and has the presence of Muslim architecture (Arab Baths). There are a few Mosques and places of worship, too, so you should feel very safe in the Spanish city.

Places to stay in Majorca

Hostels & budget hotels

Malta

Average spending money: £100-£350

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £50-£300

Malta is a great student holiday destination — it has the best of both worlds (land and sea), a lot of culture and history, and is considered affordable, too. English is also widely spoken so it makes it that bit easier for tourists.

Visit one of the gorgeous beaches, or head to the capital Valletta for a spot of shopping and sightseeing.

Malta also has a small population of Muslims, and has hotels that offer alcohol-free rooms and some mixed-gender areas that require modest swimwear, too. There are a lot of Halal food options and a small Mosque on the island as well, making it one of the best Muslim friendly holiday destinations to visit.

Check out how to get free or cheap airport lounge access for an upgrade to your travels.

Places to stay in Malta

Hostels & budget hotels

Lisbon, Portugal

Average spending money: £50-£350

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £100-£300

Lisbon is a great student holiday destination for its vibrant culture, attractions, nightlife, and food. Walk around the hilly city taking in all the beautiful architecture and weather, visit the beach, and devour your body weight in Pastel de Nata.

The Muslim friendly city has an Islamic history with several Mosques located near Lisbon and across Portugal. They also value religious freedom and have a lot of Halal food options in a variety of cuisines.

Places to stay in Lisbon

Hostels & budget hotels

Birthday holiday destinations

What better way to celebrate a birthday than by going on holiday. Stuck for ideas where to go? Check out these birthday holiday destinations.

Want to travel solo instead? Check out the top 12 solo holiday destinations in the UK and Europe for a bit of solo TLC.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Average spending money: £200

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £60-£600

Capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, is rich in history, art, culture, bike rides and canals. Visit numerous museums and points of interest such as Anne Frank’s house, hire a bike to cycle around the city, sample numerous coffee shops and try some authentic stroopwaffel. Amsterdam is a top choice for student holiday destinations — nothing but cool vibes, laidback people, and some fragrant ‘coffee shops’. One of the most popular birthday holiday destinations in recent years.

Places to stay in Amsterdam

Hostels & budget hotels

Budapest, Hungary

Average spending money: £100-£200

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £100-£400

Have you ever considered Hungary for a student getaway? Budapest is the capital of Hungary and has tons to offer for students. From £1 pints to numerous geothermal bath houses, there’s something for everyone.

Explore the creepy labyrinths that still exist under the city, its stunning architecture, unique cuisine and if you’re lucky, a trip on a boat down the Danube.

Whether you’re after a relaxing birthday break or a boozy, bar crawl birthday, Budapest is one of the best birthday holiday destinations — fun and affordable!

Places to stay in Budapest

Hostels & budget hotels

Use our Hotels.com student discount to make your travels even more affordable.

Prague, Czech Republic

Average spending money: £150-£500

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £40-£400

The capital of the Czech Republic and also known as ‘City of a Thousand Spires’, Prague is another cultural hotspot with fantastic nightlife too, making it one of the better birthday holiday destinations.

Meander through all of its museums, check out the astonishing Prague Castle and wander the cobblestone streets to observe its well-preserved historical buildings.

Places to stay in Prague

Hostels & budget hotels

Crete, Greece

Average spending money: £90-£300

Average cost for travel and accommodation: £100-£600

Known as Zeus’s birthplace, Crete is the place to go if you’re after a chill holiday with crystal clear waters.

It’s the largest Greek island with lots to do. Filled with hundreds if not thousands of historical sites, beautiful landscapes and scrumptious food. As one of the birthday holiday destinations on this list, Crete is no stranger to hosting a killer birthday party, no matter the vibes.