Egypt takes second place with inflation at 14.3%. The final cost of a holiday is affected not only by local inflation but also by the exchange rate of the złoty. Since the start of the holidays, it has weakened against the euro from about 4.25 zł to 4.30 zł, further raising the cost of a foreign trip measured in złoty.
Turkey remains the most popular destination for Polish travelers, and it was there that inflation was highest among popular tourist destinations over the past year. Annual inflation at the end of June was 32.1%. This means that a tourist who remembers last year's prices in Antalya or Bodrum may feel a price increase of almost a third this year.
The second country with clearly high inflation is Egypt, where prices rose 14.3% annually by the end of June. This is still far less than in Turkey, but more than in most popular European destinations. High inflation also shows that local costs are rising quickly there. This may be especially noticeable outside the hotel: on optional tours, guide services, tips, transport, or local purchases.
In the group of countries with increased but already much calmer inflation are Bulgaria and Tunisia, where prices rose by 5.3%. This level is noticeable in a tourist’s wallet but may not yet change the entire travel calculation.
Many Poles choose individual trips to Croatia, which has long been considered a rather expensive destination. This year it will be even more expensive, as inflation there was 4.2% at the end of June. Prices rose similarly in Cyprus (4.0%), Greece (3.9%) and Montenegro (3.8%). In these countries price increases are more moderate, but still remind us that holiday prices are not stationary.
Smaller price increases are observed in Spain (3.6%), Albania (3.2%), and also in Portugal and Italy (3.1%). In all these countries prices rose more than in Poland, where the annual increase in June was 2.5%. Lower readings among popular holiday destinations were noted only in France (2.0%) and Malta (1.9%). This does not mean that holidays are cheap there. It only means that prices rose more slowly over the past year.
This is an important distinction. Inflation does not tell us how much a trip costs. It tells us how quickly the price level changed over the past year. A country with low inflation can still be expensive if it already had high tourist service prices. Conversely, a country with high inflation can still remain price‑attractive for Poles if the initial price level was lower or if travel agencies have strong negotiating power with hotels. Therefore, annual inflation is a good thermometer of change, but not a full bill for a holiday.
What we spend during holidays may be more influenced by the złoty exchange rate, and in recent weeks our currency has weakened. Currently we pay 4.30 zł for one euro, whereas before the holiday period it was about 4.25 zł. This may be the result of a return of tensions and another escalation in the Middle East. The same tensions may affect other elements of holiday cost: flight ticket prices, fuel costs, or seat availability on planes. Inflation is therefore one piece of the puzzle, but not the whole picture.
According to data from the Polish Chamber of Tourism, last summer Poles most often chose Turkey, accounting for 32.5% of trips. Greece was second with 17.4%, followed by Egypt with 16.9%. Next were Tunisia, Spain, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Albania, Italy and Croatia.
Over the last year the whole world struggled with rising inflation. Against this backdrop, holiday inflation acts somewhat like a temperature map. It shows where prices have heated up the most and where the situation is more stable. The hottest are Turkey and Egypt. Moderately warm in Bulgaria, Tunisia, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus and Montenegro. The calmest in western Europe and Malta. But for the Polish tourist the most important question remains not only about inflation but about the total cost of a trip. This is especially relevant in the period of another flare‑up of tensions in the Middle East.
Annual inflation at the end of June 2026 in individual countries
Source: Eurostat, GUS, local statistical offices
