A Euro Trip Is More Feasible Than You Might Think!
Flights across the Atlantic are lower than they have ever been, with some airlines offering fares for just a few hundred dollars. Paris, London and Rome are now all in reach for budget travelers from North America.
If you’re planning on snagging a cheap flight sometime soon though, make sure you get the very best price by looking into the best airports in Europe. We also recommend doing some research about which airlines to avoid so you can start your trip on a positive note. Air travel around Europe may be cost-effective but it isn’t without its pitfalls: it helps to know some of the most convenient airports to fly into as well as those with the best deals.
Couple your choice of airport with these tips on how to find the cheapest flights and you’re set for a budget-friendly trip to some of the most incredible destinations in Europe.
Here is a closer look at some of the best and cheapest airports in Europe.
Dublin Airport, Ireland
With a recent expansion of long-haul routes, there are now flights into Dublin directly from U.S. cities such as Boston, San Francisco and Orlando.
This is also the hub of super cheap airline Ryanair, so from Dublin you will be able to connect to the rest of Europe for incredibly low prices. If you’re flexible with your dates and book in advance, you can score flights for as low as five euros!
Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden
Stockholm is one of the cheapest airports to fly into in Europe if you’re arriving from North America, with round-trip tickets regularly available for less than $800. In the last few years, the airport’s passenger growth has boomed, thanks to routes to most major U.S. cities, firmly establishing Stockholm as a convenient gateway to the rest of Europe.
You may have heard the acronym before, but what is WWOOFing all about? Simply put, it's a great way to travel the world on a budget!
Berlin Tegel Airport, Germany
Intercontinental routes to and from major cities in North America, and of course a rich history, make Berlin a great access point to Europe. As a base for Germanwings and Air Berlin, from here you’ll be able to easily fly to other cheap European destinations.
Return trips usually cost between $700 and $900, so you’ll have plenty of funds leftover to explore the city with.
Brussels Airport, Belgium
Brussels is served by most major European airlines – more than 20 million passengers pass through the airport each year — so the price of fares is kept low. This is also the hub of Brussels Airlines, which flies direct to New York — this return journey can be nabbed for as little as $600.
There are also routes to cities such as Atlanta, Houston and Toronto.
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport
Although there are far fewer direct flights into Budapest from North America than some of the other airports on this list, there are still plenty of great flight deals if you don’t mind stopping over in places like Moscow or Zurich. As long as you book a few weeks ahead of time, you shouldn’t have too much trouble scoring flights for $1,000 or less.
As an added bonus, Budapest is an incredibly affordable destination and a beautiful city to boot, so it makes a great place to kick off a European tour.
Want to make the most of your time in the Windy City but aren't sure you have the funds? Check out these free things to do in Chicago!
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, France
One of the biggest and most well-connected airports in Europe, there is no shortage of competitive fares offered by airlines flying into Charles de Gaulle. The best prices are for flights into major cities such as New York, Chicago and Toronto, with return flights averaging around $900.
Conveniently, this airport is extremely well-connected to the city, so after landing you’ll be standing in front of the Eiffel Tower in no time at all. Plus, once you’ve arrived in Paris you’ll be able to fly directly to pretty much anywhere in Europe, or even Northern Africa and the Middle East.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Netherlands
Amsterdam consistently makes the list of cheapest places to fly into in Europe. As Europe’s fourth busiest airport and the hub of KLM Airlines, there are non-stop connections to intercontinental destinations to be had for rock bottom prices.
Fares in 2017 dipped even lower than in 2016, with an average of around $800 for flights across the Atlantic.
Copenhagen Airport, Denmark
With its colorful buildings and reputation for outstanding cuisine, you hardly need an excuse to fly into Copenhagen. Christmas in Copenhagen is a must-experience too, if you’re planning a trip over the holidays. The low cost of getting there is just another reason to add it to your must-visit list.
A return flight to New York, Chicago or Toronto costs around $700 per person.
As well as being a hub for Scandinavian Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia and Norwegian Air Shuttle also operate out of Copenhagen, making this the perfect gateway to the other Nordic countries.
Budget travel is less about "cheaping out" and more about knowing what areas of travel you can cut expenses on. You'll hardly notice the difference!
Frankfurt Airport, Germany
As the third busiest airport in Europe, Frankfurt is one of the most convenient to fly into. There are even more flights in and out of this airport than Berlin — there are connections from here to everywhere and it is surprisingly cheap to fly into.
Frankfurt is home to Lufthansa, whose flights cover the world. Trans-Atlantic flights average $900 so it’s a great place to enter Europe.
While there are plenty of things to do in Frankfurt, it’s not a major tourist hub, so you may want to take advantage of the onward flight connections and skip town to somewhere higher on your bucket list.
Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy
Milan has several direct flights to the United States, including to New York, Atlanta and Miami. Round-trips average around $850, which is generally cheaper than flying into Rome.
Milan is also a main transport hub for budget airline EasyJet, which can carry you onward to many European destinations. Plus, Milan is a great place from which to start exploring Northern Italy, including the magnificent Florence, classic Pisa and picturesque Cinque Terre.