What is the cheapest month to fly to Europe?

January, February and March are usually the cheapest months, along with November outside of Thanksgiving week. Avoid the Christmas and New Year's holidays and the summer peak.

How far in advance should I book a flight to Europe?

About 2 to 6 months ahead. For summer travel, aim for 4 to 6 months ahead because cheap seats sell out early.

What is the cheapest European city to fly to from the US?

It changes with the season, but big gateways with lots of competition, such as London, Dublin, Lisbon, Madrid and Paris, are often among the cheapest. Compare several before you pick.

Cheapest Time to Fly to Europe from the US

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A trip to Europe is on almost every American's bucket list, and the flight is usually the biggest expense. The same seat across the Atlantic can cost a lot more in July than in February, so timing is the easiest way to save.

Europe's travel seasons

Low season: November to March

Except around Christmas and New Year's, winter is the cheapest time to cross the Atlantic. Days are short and it can be cold and rainy in the north, but museums are quiet, lines are short and hotels drop their prices. Cities with plenty to do indoors, such as London, Paris, Rome and Madrid, are great in winter. Christmas markets make early December popular too.

Shoulder season: April to May, September to October

Many travelers think this is the best time to go. The weather is pleasant across much of Europe, the summer crowds are gone, and flights are noticeably cheaper than in summer. Southern Europe (Lisbon, Barcelona, Rome, Athens) can still be warm enough for the beach in late September and October.

High season: June to August

Summer is the most expensive and the most crowded time to visit, especially in the Mediterranean. If you must travel in summer, book early and consider less touristy cities.

How far ahead to book flights to Europe

Start watching prices about 6 to 8 months before your trip and aim to book 2 to 6 months ahead. For summer, closer to 4 to 6 months is safer, because cheap seats on popular routes sell out. Last-minute deals across the Atlantic are rare.

Cheapest US airports for flights to Europe

Big hubs with lots of competition tend to have the lowest fares:

East Coast: New York (JFK and Newark), Boston, Washington, D.C. and Miami are closest to Europe and have the most flights.
Midwest and South: Chicago and Atlanta have many nonstop options.
West Coast: Los Angeles and San Francisco have good competition, but flights are longer.

If you live far from a hub, compare a ticket from your home airport with a separate cheap domestic flight to New York or Boston. Leave a long gap between flights when they are on separate tickets.

Cheapest European cities to fly into

Big airline hubs and cities with lots of transatlantic competition are often cheapest to fly into. From the US, look at:

London, the busiest transatlantic destination of all. See New York to London and Boston to London.
Dublin, a popular gateway with US preclearance on the way home. See New York to Dublin and Chicago to Dublin.
Lisbon, often good value and a great base for Portugal. See New York to Lisbon and Boston to Lisbon.
Madrid and Barcelona. See Miami to Madrid and New York to Barcelona.
Paris, Amsterdam and Rome. See Chicago to Paris, Washington, D.C. to Amsterdam and New York to Rome.

Once you are in Europe, budget airlines and fast trains make it cheap to hop between countries. It is often cheaper to fly into the gateway with the lowest fare and travel on from there.

Six ways to spend less on a Europe trip

Fly midweek. Tuesday and Wednesday departures are usually cheaper. More in our cheapest day to fly guide.
Use an "open-jaw" ticket. Fly into one city and home from another, for example into London and out of Rome, so you do not have to backtrack.
Watch out for bag fees. Many basic economy transatlantic fares do not include a checked bag.
Book attraction tickets in advance. Top sights like the Colosseum, the Louvre and the Sagrada Familia often sell out. Tiqets sells instant mobile tickets for museums and attractions all over Europe.
Pre-book your airport transfer. A fixed-price transfer with Kiwitaxi avoids surprise taxi fares after a long flight.
Rent a car only for the countryside. In big cities, public transport is cheaper and easier. For road trips through Portugal, Spain, Italy or Ireland, compare rental companies on DiscoverCars or Localrent.

Plan your Europe trip

Compare fares from your city, then browse hotels and things to do in London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona and Lisbon.

Search flights to Europe

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest month to fly to Europe?: January, February and March are usually the cheapest months, along with November outside of Thanksgiving week. Avoid the Christmas and New Year's holidays and the summer peak.
How far in advance should I book a flight to Europe?: About 2 to 6 months ahead. For summer travel, aim for 4 to 6 months ahead because cheap seats sell out early.
What is the cheapest European city to fly to from the US?: It changes with the season, but big gateways with lots of competition, such as London, Dublin, Lisbon, Madrid and Paris, are often among the cheapest. Compare several before you pick.