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Europe is one of the most popular destinations for US travelers. Going’s team of Flight Experts spends hundreds of hours every week searching for flight deals to the continent (along with other destinations around the world). Despite rising prices for domestic fares, deals to Europe can be a relative bargain, and we continue to send our members fantastic fares for trips to European cities large and small.
Those deals come with high standards. We don’t send deals on certain budget airlines, and we don’t send our members deals for ultra-last-minute dates or flights with terrible routing. In short, we only send our members truly great deals—with a savings of $550 per ticket, on average—and we know that when it comes to scoring cheap international flights, the city you fly into matters as much as where you're departing from.
If you're itching to visit one of these cities, the great news is that economy deals pop up frequently. But, even if your desired city isn’t on the list, it doesn’t mean you need to overpay to get there. We search for deals to every city and often find deals to out-of-the-way spots like Basel, San Sebastian, Split, Santorini, and many, many more.
The best cities to fly into cheaply from the US are cities you might expect; they’re among the busiest airports in big cities in some of Europe's most popular countries. The even better news is that these airports are often well-connected to smaller destinations across the continent, so even if one of the top ten cities isn't your final destination, you could still fly into that city and then take a short, inexpensive regional flight to the place you really want to go.
Here are the top ten cheapest cities in Europe to fly into from the US, based on the volume of deals we found departing US airports and flying to each city.
10. Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal’s largest airport, Humberto Delgado, is a hub for Portugal’s flag carrier TAP Air Portugal and its subsidiary TAP Express, as well as ultra-low-cost carriers Ryanair and easyJet; it’s also a focus city for Azores Airlines, euroAtlantic Airways, Hi Fly, Orbest, and White Airways. Lisbon is served by nearly 60 airlines, making it easy to get to and from 132 destinations around the globe.
From the US, there are direct flights from San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, and Washington, DC. Thanks to TAP Air Portugal’s stopover program, we sent not only direct flights from each of these cities, but also other 2-for-1 fares with a stopover in Lisbon that carried on to destinations like Cape Verde, London, and Paris. Thanks to the extensive network of ULCCs using Lisbon as a base, the city is a great jumping off point for exploring deeper into the European continent.
Number of economy class deals in the past year: 71
Examples of previous economy class deals we’ve sent to Lisbon:
- Chicago and Austin to Lisbon for $451 roundtrip
- Grand Rapids to Lisbon for $510 roundtrip
- San Francisco to Lisbon for $2,798 roundtrip nonstop in business class
>> See cheap flights to Lisbon
9. Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is the largest airport in the Nordic countries, the third-busiest airport in Northern Europe, and sees the most international arrivals in Scandinavia. There are direct flights from nine US cities on both coasts and the Midwest, and the airport is the main hub for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).
From Copenhagen, you can easily hop to other Nordic countries—even Iceland and the Faroe Islands—or major European cities like Paris, London, and Barcelona.
Number of economy class deals in the past year: 78
Examples of previous economy class deals we’ve sent to Copenhagen:
- Miami to Copenhagen for $299 roundtrip
- Washington, DC, to Copenhagen for $377 roundtrip
- Minneapolis to Copenhagen for $545 roundtrip over Thanksgiving
>> See cheap flights to Copenhagen
8. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is the world’s third-busiest airport by international passenger numbers. It’s the primary hub for KLM and a focus city for their budget subsidiary Transavia. More than 270 destinations are connected to Amsterdam with nonstop flights, 19 of which are US cities. In total, 73 airlines transit through the airport.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is also particularly well-served by rail. There’s a station directly adjacent to the airport with strong connections throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, as well as Northern France and Germany.
Number of economy class deals in the past year: 82
Examples of previous economy class deals we’ve sent to Amsterdam:
- Baltimore to Amsterdam for $426 roundtrip
- Boston and NYC to Amsterdam for $475 roundtrip nonstop
- Houston to Amsterdam for $1,244 roundtrip nonstop in premium economy
>> See cheap flights to Amsterdam
7. Milan, Italy
Milan is the center of Italy’s business and fashion worlds and a jumping-off point for trips to the Alps; the city is also one of the most popular destinations in the world. So it may not come as a surprise that Milan’s Malpensa airport is Italy’s second-busiest airport (and the 21st-busiest in Europe). There are direct flights from the New York area on six airlines, and that healthy competition helps keep prices low.
For trips beyond Milan, there are easy connections throughout Italy and Europe. Many of these budget flights depart from Bergamo Airport, so be sure to schedule enough time (or even a short stopover) in between connections. Additionally, it's a short train ride to places like Venice, Tuscany, Rome, and Bologna, and destinations such as Switzerland and Southern Italy are well-served by high-speed rail or sleeper trains.
Number of economy class deals in the past year: 99
Examples of previous economy class deals we’ve sent to Milan:
- San Francisco to Milan for $423 roundtrip
- Washington, DC, to Milan for $476 roundtrip
- NYC to Milan for $2,000 roundtrip nonstop in business class over Christmas/New Year’s Eve
6. Madrid, Spain
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas is Spain’s busiest airport—and the fifth-busiest in Europe, with direct connections to more than 200 destinations around the world. It’s the primary hub for Iberia and Air Europa and a major center for connections arriving and departing from the European continent. From the US, there are direct flights from 12 cities on five airlines.
Madrid is a paradise for budget aviation. Most major cities in Western or Central Europe can be reached for less than $80 roundtrip and sometimes far less. Iberia also maintains an extensive network of regional flights within Spain, though for many domestic destinations you’ll find high-speed rail to be faster and better priced if you’re traveling with luggage. Madrid is particularly well-placed if you’re planning to visit Morocco or the Canary Islands as well, with prices under $50 roundtrip on many dates.
Number of economy class deals in the past year: 100
Examples of previous economy class deals we’ve sent to Madrid:
- Des Moines, Omaha, and Pittsburgh to Madrid for $453 roundtrip
- Miami to Madrid for $363 roundtrip
- Long Beach to Madrid for $580 roundtrip
>> See cheap flights to Madrid
5. Rome, Italy
Rome barely squeaked ahead of Madrid as one of the top 5 cheapest cities on our list thanks to a slightly lower average Going deal price at $506 (its lowest Going deal price sent all year was also lower, at $195).
Rome’s Fiumicino Airport is one of the main gateways in and out of Italy. A hub for ITA Airways and Spanish-based budget airline Vueling, it’s the 7th-busiest airport in Europe by passenger numbers. It’s served by direct flights from 10 US cities on three airlines. Budget airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air also operate major services to Eastern Europe out of Rome Ciampino Airport. In addition to serving as a major gateway to all domestic destinations in Italy (including Sicily and Sardinia), expect cheap flights to Ibiza, Mallorca, and Malta, along with Croatia and the Greek islands on Ryanair and Vueling.
Number of economy class deals in the past year: 100
Examples of previous economy class deals we’ve sent to Rome:
- Chicago to Rome for $490 roundtrip
- Raleigh to Rome for $493 roundtrip
- NYC to Rome for $456 roundtrip nonstop
4. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is the second-busiest airport in Spain and the sixth-busiest in Europe—and its passenger volume has been increasing in recent years, not only as Barcelona continues to solidify itself as a popular destination, but also thanks to the addition of services by a growing number of budget airlines due to low landing fees and taxes compared to other major European hubs. In 2022, it was our top airport for cheap flights; in 2023, it took the third spot on our list; and this year, it’s staying in the top five.
It’s a hub for low-cost airlines LEVEL and Vueling and a focus city for Air Europa, Iberia, easyJet, and Ryanair. Like Madrid, it’s possible to reach nearly all major European cities from Barcelona for less than $80 roundtrip. Beyond this, there are a significant number of flights to the UK, including smaller airports in Scotland and England, for less than $50 roundtrip. In the past year, we’ve sent 105 deals to Barcelona—about two per week on average.
Number of economy class deals in the past year: 105
Examples of previous economy class deals we’ve sent to Barcelona:
- Atlanta to Barcelona for $497 roundtrip
- Washington, DC, to Barcelona for $379
- Billings, Great Falls, and Aspen to Barcelona for $450 roundtrip
>> See cheap flights to Barcelona
3. Dublin, Ireland
The 12th-busiest airport in Europe, the Dublin airport is the hub and headquarters of Aer Lingus national airline, as well as a hub for Ryanair, the largest low-cost carrier in Ireland, which makes it easy and affordable to fly to destinations across the European continent. There are direct flights from 14 US cities, both large and small, on five airlines.
As one of Ryanair’s largest focus cities, expect cheap connections throughout Western Europe and some Mediterranean favorites—like Cyprus and Malta—neither of which have year-round service from the United States. Likewise, Dublin is a great access point for Wales and Northern England, with flights to Manchester, Cardiff, and the Isle of Man frequently pricing under $40 roundtrip.
Number of economy class deals in the past year: 122
Examples of previous economy class deals we’ve sent to Dublin:
- Detroit to Dublin for $487 roundtrip
- NYC to Dublin for $477 roundtrip nonstop over the summer
- Philadelphia to Dublin for $418 roundtrip nonstop over St. Patrick’s Day
>> See cheap flights to Dublin
2. London, United Kingdom
Fancy a cuppa? You’re in luck because cheap flights to London have been coming in hot over the past year. (London wasn’t even on this list last year, and this year it’s taking the second spot. If we didn’t know any better, we’d say there’s something in the lager over there.)
When in London, there are some half dozen airports to choose from—Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City, and London Southwest. London Heathrow and London Gatwick feature the cheapest deals by far, though. In fact, London Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe and is a hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. It’s served by 89 airlines, with about 30 nonstop routes from major cities across the entire US, meaning you can get to London cheaply from just about anywhere, or with a single stop.
Number of economy class deals in the past year: 136
Examples of previous economy class deals we’ve sent to London:
- Miami and Orlando to London for $212 roundtrip nonstop
- Chicago, NYC, LA, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, to London for $252 roundtrip
- Omaha, Madison, and Wichita to London for $568 roundtrip
>> See cheap flights to London
1. Paris, France
Charles de Gaulle is one of the biggest hub airports in Europe—literally. It’s the largest airport in Europe by acreage and the second-busiest in Europe (if we’re not counting Istanbul); in 2023, it was narrowly bumped from the top-10 list for busiest in the world by passenger numbers, but who’s really counting? It’s a hub for France’s flagship carrier Air France and a focus city for low-cost carriers, including easyJet and Vueling. And that’s just Charles de Gaulle—then you also have Paris Orly.
In all, Paris is served by more than 20 routes from the United States, including major cities as well as smaller ones like Raleigh and Cincinnati, so you can get to Paris from almost any city in the US with one stop. In the past year, we’ve sent a whopping 159 deals to Paris—an average of 13–14 deals per month. With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, airfare to the City of Light is sure to spike in the coming weeks, but they should be coming back down in no time.
Number of economy class deals in the past year: 159
Examples of previous economy class deals we’ve sent to Paris:
- NYC to Paris for $230 roundtrip nonstop
- Baltimore to Paris for $380 roundtrip
- Detroit to Paris for $400 roundtrip
Methodology
The Flight Experts at Going look at thousands of possible airfare deals every week. When a deal meets our standards, we send it out to our 2+ million members, saving them an average of $550 on each international flight.
Deals to some cities in Europe are simply more prevalent than deals to others, and there are a number of factors that impact fares and frequency of deals—including the number of airports in the city, the number of airlines serving those airports, and the amount of competition on various routes to and from that city.
To determine which cities in Europe are among the cheapest for Americans to reach right now, we looked at metro areas with a population of at least 700,000 people. We then tallied up the total number of deal emails we sent to members arriving at those airports between April 15, 2023, and April 15, 2024.
We chose to rank based on the volume of economy deals and average price because—while the price of the single best deal we found to one city might be lower than the price of the single best deal we found to another—volume is the better indicator of a traveler’s likelihood of snagging a great price.
More Europe trip ideas
Published December 13, 2023
Last updated May 15, 2024
