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Lagos, Portugal
Base yourself in the old town and spend your days tanning at the dramatic sea-cliffed Praia do Camilo. The compact historic centre is packed with bars and hostels running nightly pub crawls — perfect for meeting fellow travellers. Stock up on cheap supermarket snacks and pastel de nata from the local bakeries.
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Ibiza, Balearic Islands
Spend your days at the buzzing Playa d'en Bossa strip, the longest beach on the island and steps from the best clubs. Pre-drink smartly by grabbing bottles from any nearby supermarket before heading to Hï Ibiza or Ushuaïa for world-class DJ sets. Book club entry tickets online in advance to avoid door queues and save on entry fees.
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Interlaken, Switzerland
Take the short train into the Lauterbrunnen valley to hike past 72 waterfalls and jaw-dropping Alpine scenery. Cool off with a cliff jump into the impossibly turquoise glacial waters of Lake Brienz — a bucket-list moment. Cook meals in the hostel kitchen to stretch your budget in one of Europe's priciest countries.
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Rome, Italy
This is a fast pitstop so hit the Colosseum first thing — pre-book the youth discount ticket online weeks ahead to skip the long queues. Grab a slice of street pizza al taglio near Termini, then walk to the Trevi Fountain after dark when the crowds thin out. The neighbourhood around Testaccio is great for cheap, authentic Roman eats.
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Split, Croatia
Spend your first two nights exploring the ancient Diocletian's Palace, which doubles as a lively bar and nightlife district after dark. The beach bars along Bačvice are perfect for a Croatian beer and a game of picigin, the local shallow-water ball sport. From day three, board the Sail Croatia Navigator cruise from Split to Dubrovnik for a week of island hopping, Adriatic swimming, and open-air club nights on Hvar.
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Sofia, Bulgaria
Use Sofia as your base to day-trip by local train to mountain towns like Karlovo and Sopot, gateways into the rugged ridges of Central Balkan National Park with its traditional mountain huts. Back in the city, the Studentski Grad district offers some of the cheapest nightlife in all of Europe — drinks cost less than a euro. Don't miss the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the free Sofia walking tour before you fly home.