Everything you need to know about cheap flights to Europe

Where should you go in Europe? What are the best places to visit?

The cities most people from all over the world want to visit are the big ones like: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Prague, Dublin, Rome, Berlin. Of course, Athens is also among Europe’s most popular cities!

If you prefer less touristy destinations, then good choices are: Bucharest, Ljubljana, Porto, Warsaw and Zagreb.

Generally, Northern Europe, Scandinavia, the Baltics, Russia, and the former Soviet countries are colder in winter and have much milder summers.

Southern Europe is warmer in summer and has much milder winters.

Of course, even within countries there is great variation in temperatures each season. Paris may be excessively hot in July, but the mountain town of Chamonix will be quite cool.

A great option if you want to visit many European cities in one trip is, of course, to combine them. For example, you could fly to Barcelona, take the train to Madrid, and fly home from there.

 

Which are the most expensive and which are the most affordable places to visit in Europe?

Generally, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and Western Europe are the most expensive regions in Europe.

According to the cost of living index, the most expensive countries in Europe are Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Finland.

Countries in Southern and Eastern Europe and the Balkans tend to be more affordable for those wishing to travel there.

The cheapest countries in Europe are: Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus, Turkey, Serbia, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania.

Again, however, prices can vary a little in each country. In Russia, for example, St. Petersburg and Moscow are much more expensive compared to smaller cities.

Even in the more expensive countries, you can often reduce your accommodation costs by using public transport, choosing very economical lodging, and cooking your own food.

 

What are the most popular airports in Europe?

Some of the busiest airports in Europe include global hubs such as London Heathrow Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), Iceland Keflavik Airport (KEF), Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Munich Airport (MUC), Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (MAD), Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) and Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino.

Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) is also very popular, although in 2019 the largest volume of flights is expected to be served by the new Istanbul Airport (ISL, which is expected to see even more passengers).

 

Which are the cheapest cities in Europe to fly to?

This is another difficult question with a complex answer. Just because an airport has lower average prices doesn't mean it offers the best airfare for your specific trip.

Overall in 2018, most deals were observed for: Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Milan, Rome, Barcelona, London, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Munich.

Flights to Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Vienna and Berlin also had good prices.

 

When should you travel to various cities in Europe? When is the best time to visit Europe?

Again, this depends heavily on your personal preferences and the money you want to spend on your trip.

If you want very warm weather, so you can enjoy the beach, soak up the sun, or swim in the ocean, from June until early September is generally the best time.

If you want fewer crowds and generally lower prices, go in January or February.

If you want pleasant weather but fewer crowds than the summer high season, also consider travelling in Spring or Autumn: April, May, September and October.

March and November can also be good options, although for March and April, Christian and Catholic Easter are celebrated, which means you might find shops closed due to the holidays.

In November, many cities are quite busy with tourists due to the upcoming Christmas festivities.

 

When is the high and low season in Europe?

The high season throughout Europe is from June to August, as are the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Low season is from November to February (excluding holidays).

All other intervening months are considered mid-season, although very touristy areas are still busy then.

 

What are the most important festivals and holidays in Europe?

Much of Europe is Christian, and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Easter are widely celebrated across the continent.

Easter celebrations vary. Some countries celebrate only on Sunday, while others hold celebrations from Maundy Thursday until the second day of Easter. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are enthusiastically celebrated throughout Europe.

Other holidays, such as independence days and public holidays, vary by country. There is St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, Queen's Day in the Netherlands, Hogmanay in Scotland, and Bastille Day in France.

Each country also has its own significant festivals, which, depending on their size, can impact travellers.

Some of the biggest European festivals include Germany's Oktoberfest in Munich, Carnival in Venice, Spain's San Fermin in Pamplona, the Cannes Film Festival in France, and many more.

 

What is the cheapest month to fly to Europe?

Generally, the cheapest time to fly to any city in Europe is from January to April and from September to early December. The biggest deals are available in January and February.

Data suggests that the cheapest month to fly to Europe is January, but again, the answer is not that simple.

As mentioned, we see many deals for travel in January, but that doesn't mean the cheapest price you'll find for a specific route will be for travel in January.

 

When is the best time to book flights to Europe?

There is no specific month, week, day, or time of day that guarantees you'll secure better prices for your bookings.

Generally, the best time to book a flight is 2 to 6 months before your trip.