Europe is one of the most popular destinations for US travelers, and the team of Flight Experts at Going spends hundreds of hours every week searching for flight deals to the continent (along with other destinations all 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 in summer 2022 through spring 2023.
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 for flights with terrible routing. In short, we only send truly great deals to our members—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.
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 amount 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 one million people, and collected data on how many deals to those cities we sent to Going Premium members in the last six months.
We chose to rank based on volume of 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.
Here are the results.
If you're itching to visit one of these cities, the great news is that deals to these cities pop up very frequently. But, even if your desired city isn’t on the list, it doesn’t mean you need to give up your dreams of getting to that city without overpaying. 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.
10 Cheapest European Cities to Fly Into
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 very 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. 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, ranking #16 for number of annual international visitors in 2019. So it may not come as a surprise that Milan’s Malpensa airport is Italy’s second-busiest airport (and the 20th-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 trail ride to places like Venice, Tuscany, Rome, and Bologna, and destinations such as Switzerland and southern Italy are well-served by high-speed rail and, increasingly, sleeper trains to Paris or Naples.
Number of deals in last six months: 23
Direct flights from: Newark, New York, Chicago (ending in September), Atlanta (ending in October)
Airlines: American, Delta, Emirates, La Compagnie, Neos, United
Examples of previous deals we’ve sent to Milan:
- NYC to Milan for $395 roundtrip
- San Francisco to Milan for $463 roundtrip
- Boise to Milan for $556 roundtrip
9. Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is the second-largest airport in the Nordic countries, the fourth-busiest airport in Northern Europe, and sees the most international arrivals in Scandinavia. There are direct flights from 7 US cities on both coasts 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 deals in the last six months: 23
Direct flights from: Boston (ends in March), Chicago (ends in March), DC (ends in March), Los Angeles (ends in March), Miami (ends in June), Newark (ends in March), New York (ends in October), San Francisco (ends in March),
Airlines:, Delta, SAS
Examples of previous deals we’ve sent to Copenhagen:
- Chicago to Copenhagen for $384 roundtrip
- Miami to Copenhagen for $344 roundtrip
8. London, UK
London’s LHR airport is one of the busiest in the world—seventh in the world for international passenger traffic, to be exact—and it was surprising when they didn’t make the top ten for the most deals we found last year. It’s the primary hub for British Airways and the primary operating base for Virgin Atlantic and is served by nearly 100 other airlines flying to destinations around the world.
There are direct flights from more than two dozen US airports across the country, making it easy to hop to London with one stop or less. And from there, it’s just as easy to visit just about anywhere in Europe without much expense, thanks to low-cost airlines like easyJet and Ryanair .
Number of deals in the last six months: 24
Direct flights from: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, DC, Phoenix, Pittsburgh (starts in June), Portland (starts in June), Raleigh/Durham (starts in June), Salt Lake City (ends in October), San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (starts in June), Seattle
Airlines: British Airways, American Airlines, Delta, jetBlue, United, Virgin Atlantic
Examples of previous deals we’ve sent to London:
- Boston nonstop to London for $396 roundtrip
- LA nonstop to London for $352 roundtrip
- Portland to London for $496 roundtrip
7. Rome, Italy
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 11th-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 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, Israel, and the Greek islands on Ryanair and Vueling.
Number of deals in the last six months: 26
Direct flights from: Atlanta, Boston (ends in January), Charlotte (ends in October), Dallas (ends in October), DC (ends in October), Los Angeles (starts in June), Miami (ends in March), Newark, New York, Philadelphia and seasonally from Chicago (ends in October)
Airlines: American,, Delta, United
Examples of previous deals we’ve sent to Rome:
- Philadelphia to Rome for $492 roundtrip
- Denver to Rome for $466 roundtrip
- Atlanta to Rome for $392 roundtrip
6. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is a city that would not have made our top ten in 2019, but thanks to great fares from TAP Portugal, we’re now seeing lots of amazing fares to Lisbon. In fact, many of the lowest prices we’ve seen to Europe so far have been on TAP. This is helping put pressure on other airlines—and when airlines compete, travelers win.
There are direct flights to Lisbon from eight US cities on four airlines and connections through Europe on another dozen airlines, and we occasionally see 2-in-1 deals that allow you to add time in another Portuguese city or visit the stunning Azores islands.
Number of deals in the last six months: 27
Direct flights from: Boston, Chicago, DC, Miami, Newark, New York (starts in August), Philadelphia (ends in October), and San Francisco.
Airlines: American, Delta, TAP Portugal, United
Examples of previous deals we’ve sent to Lisbon:
- Fort Lauderdale to Lisbon for $417 roundtrip
- Baltimore to Lisbon for $392 roundtrip
- San Francisco to Lisbon for $376 roundtrip
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is the world’s third-busiest airport by international passenger numbers and the busiest in Europe by aircraft movements. It’s the primary hub for KLM and a focus city for their budget subsidiary Transavia. It’s served by direct flights from 19 US cities, with service on four airlines.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is 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 deals in the last six months: 31
Direct flights from: Atlanta, Austin (ends in October), Boston, Chicago, Dallas (ends in October), DC, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami (from October to March), Minneapolis, Newark, New York,, Philadelphia, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle
Airlines: American, Delta, KLM, United
Examples of previous deals we’ve sent to Amsterdam:
- Chicago to Amsterdam for $346 roundtrip
- LA to Amsterdam for $496 roundtrip
- Kansas City to Amsterdam for $469 roundtrip
4. 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 (and ninth-busiest in the world) by passenger numbers. It’s a hub for France’s flagship carrier Air France, and a focus city for low-cost carriers including easyJet and Vueling.
In all, Paris is served by 19 routes from the United States including major cities as well as smaller ones like Raleigh and Cincinnati.
Number of deals in the last six months: 33
Direct flights from: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati (starts in August), Dallas, DC, Denver (ends in October), Detroit, Houston (ends in March), Los Angeles, Miami (ends in March), Minneapolis, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Raleigh (starts in August), Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle
Airlines: American, Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, Delta, United
Examples of previous deals we’ve sent to Paris:
- Newark to Paris for $381 roundtrip
- San Francisco nonstop to Paris for $393 roundtrip
- DC to Paris for $376 roundtrip
3. Madrid, Spain
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas is Spain’s busiest airport—and the sixth-busiest in Europe, with direct connections to more than 220 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, although 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 deals in the last six months: 35
Direct flights from: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte (ends in October), DC (ends in October), Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, San Juan, and seasonally from San Francisco
Airlines: American, Air Europa, Delta, Iberia, United,
Examples of previous deals we’ve sent to Madrid:
- Austin, Santa Fe, and Tulsa to Madrid for $401 roundtrip
- NYC to Madrid for $214 roundtrip
- Chicago to Madrid for $393 roundtrip
2. Dublin, Ireland
The 12th-busiest airport in Europe, 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—particularly Cyprus, Croatia, and Montenegro—none 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, or the Isle of Man frequently pricing under $40 roundtrip.
Number of deals in the last six months: 40
Direct flights from: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte (ends in October), Chicago, Dallas (ends in October), DC, Los Angeles, Newark, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle (starts in July), and seasonally from Miami
Airlines: Aer Lingus, American, Delta, Ethiopian Airlines, United
Examples of previous deals we’ve sent to Dublin:
- Philadelphia nonstop to Dublin for $387 roundtrip
- Nashville to Dublin for $537 roundtrip
- Orlando to Dublin for $504 roundtrip
1. 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 becomes a more 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.
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.
We sent an average of 7 deals per month to Barcelona, more than one per week in many weeks, making it the best city to score a deal to in Europe.
Number of deals in the last six months: 42
Direct flights from: Atlanta (ends in October), Boston, DC (ends in October), Newark, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia (ends in October), San Francisco, and seasonally from Chicago
Airlines: American, Delta, Iberia,, United
Examples of previous deals we’ve sent to Barcelona:
- NYC nonstop to Barcelona for $286 roundtrip
- Boston or LA nonstop to Barcelona for $447
- Seattle to Barcelona for $518 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.
To reach our conclusions on the best airports to fly into in Europe, we looked at airports in Europe serving metro areas of at least 1 million people. We then tallied up the total number of deal emails we sent to members arriving into those airports between December 1, 2021 and May 1, 2022.
