Top Dog Abroad
Summer Jobs in Europe: A J1 Alternative for Irish & UK Students
Thinking about a J1 but not sure it's for you this year? A summer season in Europe is another way to spend the summer working abroad with your friends. Top Dog Abroad lines up summer jobs in Zante, Greece, and Albufeira, Portugal, for Irish and UK students and young workers – with your job offered before you fly, shared workers' accommodation and reps in resort all season.
A summer abroad, a bit closer to home
The J1 has been a big part of Irish student summers for a long time: the Irish Times reported in May 2026 that more than 5,000 Irish students go on a J1 each year, and that many are now weighing up their options. If you're one of them, a season in Europe is worth a look. You're a short flight from home, you'll be in a resort full of people your age, and the whole set-up is built around seasonal workers.
Some of our workers have come out with us instead of doing a J1, because they found getting the documents for a J1 more stressful. If the J1 is still your plan, check the official guidance and the Department of Foreign Affairs advice for J1 students and Youth Information – and if you'd like a European summer instead, here's how ours works.
A standard season with us isn't a J1, a working holiday visa or a college work placement – it's a summer of seasonal work in a European resort. If your course requires a work placement, see Need a college work placement? below.
Where you can work: Zante and Albufeira
- Zante, Greece. Laganas is Zante's famous party resort, with bars, clubs and beach venues that need seasonal staff all summer. Read more about summer jobs in Zante.
- Albufeira, Portugal. Our newest destination, on the Algarve coast, with bars, clubs and restaurants between the Strip and the Old Town. Read more about summer jobs in Albufeira.
Can't decide? Read Zante vs Albufeira: where to work.
Summer jobs you can do
Every venue is different, but these are the kinds of jobs our workers do:
- Bar staff
- Bar back
- PR
- Club rep
- Ticket sales
- Shot seller
- Waiting staff
- Glass collector
You don't need bar experience. For a closer look at the most popular jobs, see our guides to bar jobs in Zante, PR jobs in Zante and bar jobs in Albufeira, or browse every role on our jobs page.
Would you prefer hotel work? Ask us about hotel jobs in Zante – depending on your experience, it may be an option.
Need a college work placement?
If your course requires a work placement, we can help you find hotel work in Zante for your college work placement – a hotel role that fits your course's placement requirements, such as length and paperwork. It's open to students from Ireland and the UK. If you're from the UK, you'll need the right documents to work in Greece – our team can help you sort them. This is a separate route from our standard season jobs.
Your college still has to approve the placement. Before you apply, check your course's placement requirements with your college's placement office. Then contact us – choose "Jobs" – or email bookings@topdogabroad.com, and tell us you need a college work placement.
Who can apply
We welcome workers from Ireland and the UK. You don't need to speak Portuguese for our Albufeira jobs – English is enough. We accept workers aged 18 to 29. Most of our workers are between 18 and 25.
How it works
- Apply. Use our contact form and choose "Jobs", or email bookings@topdogabroad.com.
- Get your job offer before you go. Your job is offered to you before you arrive in resort, and you're guaranteed a trial – after that, it's down to you to keep it.
- Book your stay. Book through our website and pay in full or in instalments, with a deposit for the instalment plan.
- Join the group chat. Get to know the other workers before you fly.
- Land with backup. Our reps are in resort all season to help you settle in and sort out any problems.
What's included
- Accommodation for the period you book
- Airport transfer (Zante only)
- Workers' discount wristband
- Workers' group chat, so you know people before you land
- Our rep team in resort all season
- A guaranteed job trial
The price depends on how long you stay. You'll find the details on our Zante accommodation and Albufeira accommodation pages.
When to go and how long to stay
Our main season runs from the start of June to the end of August. We don't offer May packages, because most venues don't open until the end of May – but if you want to go out earlier, we can organise May accommodation and help you find work if it's available.
The minimum stay is one month (28 days). If you'd like to stay for less than that, you'll pay the same as a one-month stay.
Pay
Pay depends on the venue. Some venues pay hourly, some pay a nightly rate and some pay commission. Ask your venue what you'll be paid and when, so you know where you stand from day one. Budget for your flight and living costs until your first wages come in – our guide to what a season in Laganas costs will help you plan.
Working documents
Zante: the venues you work for help their staff with their working documents, and our reps will help you with yours too.
Albufeira: you need the legal right to work in Portugal. Irish and other EU citizens can work there freely. UK workers can work in Albufeira too, but you'll need the right documentation – our team can help you organise it. For the official guidance, see GOV.UK's Travel to Portugal for work.
Wherever you go, bring a passport that's valid for your whole trip, travel insurance for your whole stay and your EHIC (Ireland) or GHIC (UK) card. Also see what to pack for a season abroad and our guide to doing a season abroad. From the UK? Read summer jobs abroad for UK workers.
Summer jobs in Europe: FAQ
Is this a J1 alternative?
For some people, yes. It's a different kind of summer: a season working in a European party resort instead of the US. Some of our workers have come out with us instead of doing a J1, because they found getting the documents for a J1 more stressful.
Is a season with you the same as a J1?
No. A standard season with us isn't a J1, a working holiday visa or a college work placement. It's a summer of seasonal work in Zante or Albufeira.
Can this count as my college work placement?
A standard season doesn't count as a college work placement. If your course requires one, we can help you find hotel work in Zante for your college work placement – a hotel role that fits your course's placement requirements, such as length and paperwork. It's open to students from Ireland and the UK. If you're from the UK, you'll need the right documents to work in Greece – our team can help you sort them. Your college still has to approve the placement, so check your course's requirements with your college's placement office first, then contact us.
Can UK students do this too?
Yes. We welcome workers from both Ireland and the UK. In Albufeira, UK workers need the right documentation to work, and our team can help you organise it. In Zante, venues help their staff with their working documents.
Do I need bar experience?
No. You don't need bar experience. Confidence, reliability and good people skills matter more than a long CV.
How old do I need to be?
We accept workers aged 18 to 29. Most of our workers are between 18 and 25.
Will I have a job before I go?
Your job is offered to you before you arrive in resort, and you're guaranteed a trial – after that, it's down to you to keep it.
When is the season?
Our main season runs from the start of June to the end of August. We don't offer May packages, because most venues don't open until the end of May – but we can organise May accommodation and help you find work if it's available.
What's the minimum stay?
One month (28 days). If you want to stay for less than that, you'll pay the same as a one-month stay.
How much will I get paid?
It depends on the venue. Some pay hourly, some pay a nightly rate and some pay commission. Ask your venue what you'll be paid and when, so you know where you stand from day one.
Ready for a summer in Europe?
Apply through our contact form – choose "Jobs" – or email bookings@topdogabroad.com. Explore jobs in Zante, jobs in Albufeira or all our jobs.