The sunny spot has become a hit with Brits thanks to its warm weather in the spring and inexpensive cost of living, as well as gorgeous beaches just a few hours from the UK
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AS Brits frantically try and choose their summer holiday destination this year amid the Middle East crisis, let me sell you a slightly different place to go.
Lima, the capital of Peru, almost feels European, and has much cheaper food, hotels… and booze.
The seaside city is the second largest desert city in the world (after Cairo) meaning barely any rain, and highs of 27C.
It is often overlooked as a travel destination, especially those heading straight over to Machu Picchu instead.
But despite just spending a few days in Lima myself, it became one of my favourite cities.
First up, safety – most of Peru is still safe to travel to, which includes Lima.
And as a young woman, I never felt unsafe while walking around early for a coffee or late at night for a drink.
Our guide told us this huge change in recent years – when it wasn’t so safe – is due to the number of community officers around, who are on hand to help tourists who visit.
When it comes to exploring the city, I was transported to the surf towns of Portugal by the huge surfing community in Lima.
It has some of the best waves in the world, and the sheer number of cyclists with boards on their bike and surf shacks offering lessons was huge.
Then there is the colourful Barranco neighbourhood, named one of the best in the world and known for its colourful street art that is everchanging.
Here is where you’ll feel its Latin American routes, with live music on the streets and bars selling the famous Pisco Sour cocktails.
Time Out said: “It’s long had a bohemian vibe, famously fantastical murals, world-class art galleries, boutique hotels and hopping bars.
“And while it’s lost none of its wild roots, the area is now incubating some of the best restaurants in the world”.
In fact, the city is home to a number of the world’s best restaurants.
Maido was named the no.1 restaurant in the world last year, while I headed to Mayta which often makes the top 40.
I opted out of the tasting menu, but still managed to enjoy a delicious deconstrusted paella, a side and a glass of wine for under £50.
The ‘godfather of modern Peruvian cuisine’ Gastón Acurio told local media: “Lima is a gastronomic destination coveted by kitchen lovers.
“Not only because of its restaurants, which compete equally with Europe, but because behind this recognition there is something deeper — a city that has made its cuisine parallel to everyday life.
“From award-winning restaurants to carts, from ceviche shops to chifas, eating in Lima is one way to travel the entire country in a single day.”
Want to eat on a budget? You can easily get snacks and drinks for under £5 from food stalls.
I managed to find an Emoliente (a sugary hangover drink) as well as a famous pork sandwich and sweet doughnuts called ‘Picarones’ for under a fiver altogether.
Or some restaurants offer the “menú del día” or menu of thte day for not much either.
Usually including a drink, soup and main dish, this can be found for under £4.
Beers can also be found for around £1.50 in local bars as well.
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Belpoint Beach Hotel, Antalya, Turkey
This hotel is surrounded by the forests of the Toros Mountains, giving your outdoor swim a pretty impressive backdrop. With a pool decorated with colourful parasols and a waterslide, this pretty resort also has plenty to do indoors, including a sauna and a Turkish bath to unwind in.
El Pueblo Tamlelt, Agadir, Morocco
The huge resort has 363 rooms, each with a balcony or terrace overlooking the sea or gardens. All-inclusive food includes three daily meals in the main buffet restaurant, as well as drinks and snacks such as pizza, hot dogs and burgers at the pizzeria snack bar. If you fancy getting out and exploring, the town centre is a 10 minute drive away.
Terramar Calella, Costa Brava, Spain
Terramar Calella puts you right in the thick of the action, with the sea on one side and the buzzing promenade on the other. Here, days start with sea swims and end with sunset drinks. Platja Gran Calella is the area’s largest beach, and here it’s right on your doorstep.
Canvas by Mitsis Messonghi, Corfu
This Corfu resort was built for families, buzzing with entertainment and activities. With four adult pools, three kids pools, a mini waterpark and a beach on your doorstep, there’s plenty of spots for you to stretch out on a sun lounger and for the kids to splash around. And as the day winds down to a close, the party starts with mini discos, Greek dancing, lively quiz nights and karaoke.
Otherwise make sure to try fantastic chocolate and coffee shops, with Lima being one of the top exporters to the rest of the world for both.
Free activities include the Spanish-style Love Park, inspired by Park Güell in Barcelona or the Museum of Art (MALI) on Tuesdays.
And the Historic Centre of Lima has elements of European architecture too, dating between the 16th and 19th centuries.
If you don’t mind sharing a room, you can find hostel beds for as little a £13 a night.
But if not, even hotels can be found for around £33 a night, such as Ibis – so £16.50 each a night when sharing.
The only thing getting in the way of Lima becoming a popular destination with Brits is the getting there.
LATAM previously had direct flights from London Heathrow to Lima but these were suspended back in 2023, with no current plans on when they will return.
Instead, Brits have to fly via Europe so with changes in Madrid, Amsterdam or Paris.
This takes the trip from around 12 hours to 16 hours, and costing around £500 return.
But there is some good news – the new Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima opened last summer, which is likely to encourage airlines to launch flights.
And airline LEVEL is launching direct flights from Barcelona to Lima from June.
So if you want to visit a unique city with surfing vibes, colourful neighbourhoods and insanely cheap food and drink? Add Lima to your 2026 list.
WHEN it comes to city breaks, some of the cheapest in Europe are found a bit further east.
And Romania‘s Bucharest is not only affordable, but is getting more flights too.
Romanian airline, AnimaWings, has started six new weekly flights from London Gatwick to Bucharest.
This isn’t the only option though as there are also cheap flights with Ryanair from London Stansted with one-way journeys starting from £18.99.
Wizz Air also offers cheap flights to the city from London Luton.
With a flight time of just over three hours, Bucharest is the ideal city break destination.
Last year, The Telegraph even named Bucharest as being one of Europe’s ‘last great cheap cities’.
It added that Bucharest has everything you need for a good city break with “expansive, tree-lined avenues, lively bars and characterful museums.”
Bucharest is inexpensive, according to Numbeo – a pint of local beer costs on average £2.55 and an average meal is around £10.18.
For a three-course meal, you’re looking at around £50 and a cappuccino is just £2.45.
It’s not just food and drink that’s on the cheaper side as public transport is the same – a typical single journey on the tram and metro network is as little as 85p.
One of the most popular places in the city to go is Therme Bucharest, a spa and waterpark.
Split into three parts, the Galaxy area is a more family-orientated with 17 water slides, a wave pool and water playground.
The Palm zone is where people go to relax – with three mineral pools and swim-up bars, it has been created for relaxation.
And Elysium is a ”restoration area’ with lots of traditional and modern treatments from hammams to infrared light therapy beds.
Sun Writer Steve Corbett visited Therme and called it one of ‘Europe‘s greatest secrets’.
He compared it to Center Parcs’ Subtropical Swimming Paradise as he tried out the water slides, high-tech treatments and poolside bars.
One woman even flew to Bucharest for a spa break at the Therme because it was cheaper than one in the UK.
Kara Wildbur booked her and her mum in at the Therme for £64 after finding out a spa break would be £400 back home.
Even with the flights being £157 return for the two of them, with the hotel costing £94 – it worked out cheaper than a UK spa day.
Another attraction is the Museum of Senses, which is an interactive museum – especially good if you’re visiting the city with kids.
It’s full of optical illusions, infinity rooms and hands-on exhibits.
Tickets for adults start from £9.33, and £6.79 for children.
When it comes to eating, there’s plenty of quirky cafes within the city.
Some top spots include The Grand Café Van Gogh in Bucharest which some visitors have said reminds them of Amsterdam.
It’s an art-themed cafe filled with Van Gogh artwork in the Old Town.
Another is Dulcinella which sells éclairs, New York-style rolls and is known for having an ‘Instagrammable-vibe’.
Caru’ cu Bere is considered the most famous restaurant and beerhouse in Bucharest and was founded in 1879.
Its house beer, called Berea casei, is brewed on-site and is still made from the original recipe – you can pick up 400ml from £4.30.
The best times of year to visit Bucharest are between April and October, with highs of 31C in June and July.
Just skip the winter months – the average temperature in December and January is around -2C.
For more on Romania, here’s another city that is one of the world’s ‘most underrated destinations’ that’s super cheap with new 3-hour flights.
And one Travel Writer visited the ‘barely-known European city that has easyJet flights – with world-famous castle’.
OUR Spotlight On column looks at the best things to see and do in popular holiday destinations, as well as som lesser known spots.
This week, we’re looking towards more tropical climates and shining the light of the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico.
The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited the island and raved about it.
She said: “I don’t know why more Brits don’t visit Puerto Rico when planning a Caribbean island.
“The food and drink scene is amazing – after all, its the home of the pina colada, and you can get the local Medalla Light beer for just $2.50 (£1.84) at some bars.
“My highlight was a food tour of San Juan with The Spoon Experience, where we had amazing coffee, ice cream and snacks.
“We even went on a boat trip to Flamenco Beach – one of the best in the world – where we had to jump off the boat and swim to shore.”
Here are some other things to do, as well as where to stay on the island.
Bad Bunny’s recent Super Bowl performance certainly put Puerto Rico firmly on the map.
This compact Caribbean island, which is the birthplace of the rapper and musician, is full of glorious landscapes from lush rainforests to sparkling beaches.
But the top thing for the bucket list has to be a visit to El Yunque National Forest, where visitors can swim beneath waterfalls and spot exotic birds.
The forest comes even more alive at night, thanks to its bioluminescent waters.
The island is home to three of only five bioluminescent bays in the world, including the brightest at Mosquito Bay in Vieques.
For a real taste of local life, head to the Piñones neighbourhood – also known as the “soul of the island”.
Afro-Caribbean heritage comes alive here through vibrant street food, such as alcapurrias, a tyoe of fried fritter made with with grated yuca and sometimes green banana.
Explorers should ditch the beach and head to Puerto Rico’s Central Mountain Region instead.
This area is known for its coffee production so sampling the freshly roasted brews is a must.
Make sure to try Creole-inspired dishes at traditional taverns while soaking up sweeping interior views.
If you don’t fancy trekking up the mountains, then Alma Hotel rooftop bar in Old San Juan is the next best thing.
You can drink in the views, which are undeniably spectacular at sunset, alongside a cocktail.
From this high vantage point you’ll be able to gaze out across the terracotta rooftops, and sparkling bay.
Knock back a plate of oysters alongside a canella old fashioned made with cinnamon-infused bourbon, rosemary syrup and orange bitters.
Cocina Abierta in San Juan served a menu of reinterpreted classics like mofongo, traditionally made from mashed and fried green plantains, except here its made with peking duck.
Plates are bold, elegant and sophisticated.
A five-course tasting menu costs around £64 a head and booking is recommended.
Bacoa Finca y Fogón is another great spot that offers farm-to-table dining with a focus on sustainable cooking.
La Factoría in Old San Juan is frequently ranked among the world’s best bars by 50 Best.
Made up of a maze of candlelit rooms, this chic bar not only serves up creative cocktails, it also hosts regular live music nights.
It’s chaotic, fun, and quintessentially Puerto Rican.
The James Beard award-winning Identidad Cocktail Bar is another top spot for cocktail lovers.
Try the whisky highball which celebrates typical Caribbean ingredients like Glenlivet Caribbean (a type of whisky) muddled with ginger, vanilla, cardamom, bitters and soda.
Dreamcatcher by DW is a boutique vegetarian hotel with just nineteen rooms, that sits a ten-minute drive from Old San Juan.
Quirky suites feature stained-glass windows, old hacienda archways and concrete soaking tubs.
Guests can unwind on tropical terraces in breezy hammocks.
Rooms cost from £224 per night. See dreamerswelcome.com.
EACH year around 1.4million Brits head to Portugal’s Algarve – so why not explore a quieter Portuguese gem that is cheaper?
Portugal’s Silver Coast – also known as Costa de Prata – stretches for 155 miles from central to western Portugal.
And it offers several different holiday types.
Think dramatic landscapes to be explored, beaches to sunbathe on and historic towns to investigate.
Spanning from north of Lisbon to near Porto, the Silver Coast tends to be less crowded than the Algarve.
One spot you can head to is Nazare, known for having the world’s biggest surfable waves.
The old fishing town features a long, crescent shaped beach with white sand and crystal clear water.
And this is one of the spots in the town where you will find surfers tackling huge waves.
In fact, it is the Nazaré Canyon that is the largest underwater canyon in Europe, that produces the town’s colossal waves.
Away from the water, the town also has a lot of narrow streets to explore with cosy restaurants serving fresh seafood.
For example, you could head to Restaurante Maria do Mar, which is the best-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor in the area, serving ‘Maria do Mar’ fish stew for just €9.50 (£8.20).
Surfers should also head to Ericeira, which is another popular surf town.
It is widely known as the ‘surfing capital of Europe‘ and is home to one of only two World Surfing Reserves in Europe.
If you are not a surfer, then simply enjoy the town’s beautiful beaches such as Praia dos Pescadores (Fisherman’s Beach) or Praia do Norte.
There’s also Obidos, which has a charming, medieval walled town.
In the picturesque town you can walk through Moorish gates and see colourful houses covered in bright pink flowers in summer.
The medieval walls encircle the entire village, which you can explore.
There’s even a spot that is dubbed the ‘Venice of Portugal’ – Aveiro.
The nickname comes from the colourful boats that sail down canals in the town.
Originally, the boats – called moliceiros – were used to carry seaweed that had been harvested, but now they offer tours to visitors along the canals and past Art Nouveau buildings.
In the Old Town, you’ll find cobblestone streets with small fish and coastal images embedded into the cobbles.
Make sure to visit Ponte dos Laços de Amizade (Bridge of Friendship Ties) where couples tie ribbons on to the bridge.
And definitely grab some Ovos Moles which are sweets from the area.
They are egg yolk and sugar mixed together and then moulded into different shapes, like seashells.
Drop by Confeitaria Peixinho, the oldest Ovos Moles shop in Aveiro, which has been running since 1856 – each Ovos Mole costs about €1.60 (£1.38).
Nearby Aveiro there is another spot worth visiting called Costa Nova.
Here you will find rows upon rows of colourful striped beach cottages.
Elsewhere along the Silver Coast, you can visit the coastal village of Foz do Arelho and two beaches created by a saltwater lagoon.
Both feature white sand and are the ideal places to go paddleboarding.
If you want to grab a bite to eat, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants along the promenade.
Several of the pubs and bars along the Silver Coast sell beers for €1.25 (£1.08), like at Marcianus 3.0 in Foz do Arelho, where you can pick up a bottle of Imperial beer for this price.
Depending on where you wish to go on the Silver Coast, you can fly into either Lisbon or Porto Airports.
One-way flights from the UK to Lisbon or Porto cost as little as £15 per person in April.
Also, depending on where you want to visit, there are a number of different accommodation options.
The average cost for a night in a four-star hotel in the region costs between £65 and £80.
For more places to explore in Portugal, there’s a secret side to the country that has just been crowned one of the best places in Europe to visit this year.
Plus, the pretty city that was the birthplace of the first king of Portugal that is set to be big this year.
