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Cheap Europe flights to book in 2021

Compare prices, learn the best time to book and get deals on flights to Europe.

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Amy Stoltenberg
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Our team sources deals from European airlines including Lufthansa, Air France, Air Italy, Virgin Atlantic and dozens of the biggest travel booking sites in the world to help you find the cheapest flights around. Here’s a roundup of our favorite deals, along with some expert tips on booking cheap flights to Europe. Because the lower the cost of plane tickets, the more money you have to spend sipping cocktails on a Mediterranean beach, shopping in Milan or cruising down the Seine. 

  • Before booking your cheap flight to Europe, check to make sure the country you want to visit is open to US travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today’s cheap Europe flight deals

Insight VacationsInsight Vacations

Save up to $600 per person on a wide variety of magical Europe and Americas tours

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Deal ends

TravelocityTravelocity

Flight deals to Ireland as low as $285

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Deal ends

Expedia.comExpedia.com

Cheap flights to Paris from just $164 return

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How much are flights to Europe? 

The prices vary depending on your destination, the time of year, the day of the week and more. To give you a ballpark estimate, here are the average prices for one-way flights from the US to a handful of major cities in Europe:

NYC

  • To London: $250 to $500 
  • To Paris: $200 to $250 
  • To Rome: $200 to $250 
  • To Athens: $300 to $400 

Chicago

  • To London: $320 to $400 
  • To Paris: $360 to $550 
  • To Rome: $360 to $400 
  • To Athens: $380 to $500 

Los Angeles 

  • To London: $300 to $500 
  • To Paris: $350 to $450
  • To Rome: $400 to $800 
  • To Athens: $500 to $600 

We got this pricing from Skyscanner in January 2021. The best and most accurate way to see how much flights to Europe cost is to search for yourself, since prices change regularly. 

When is the cheapest time of year to fly to Europe? 

March is the cheapest time of year to fly to Europe according to CheapAir, a travel booking site that analyzed 917 million airfares. In fact, you’ll save about $371 per ticket if you book a flight to Europe in March compared to July, which is the most expensive month.

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

You’ll get the best rates if you book your flight to Europe 160 days before takeoff, based on CheapAir’s assessment. That’s about five months in advance.

How long does it take to fly to Europe? 

It depends on where you’re starting from, and whether or not you have layovers. Still, to give you an idea of what to expect, here are the quickest flight times from the US to some popular European cities:

NYC

  • To London: About 7 hours
  • To Paris: About 8 hours
  • To Rome: About 8.5 hours 
  • To Athens: About 12 hours

Chicago

  • To London: About 8 hours 
  • To Paris: About 10 hours 
  • To Rome: About 12 hours
  • To Athens: About 13 hours

Los Angeles 

  • To London: About 10.5 hours 
  • To Paris: About 11 hours 
  • To Rome: About 14 hours
  • To Athens: About 16 hours

Where is the cheapest place to fly in Europe from the US? 

It depends on your state — but destinations in Northern and Western Europe are generally cheaper to visit than those in Eastern Europe, simply due to distance. 

Kayak, another major travel booking site, analyzed the median roundtrip airfares to Europe from across the US to come up with the cheapest European city to visit from every US state. Search your state to find the cheapest destination for you. 

Fast facts: 

  • Reykjavik and Dublin are the cheapest places to fly from most of the international airports in the US. 
  • Flights from Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) to Reykjavik, Iceland are the cheapest overall, with a median fare of $319. 
  • Flights from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) to London, UK are the priciest overall, with a median fare of $1,110. 
State Airport Code Cheapest destination Median Airfare
Alabama BHM Paris, France $1,110
Alabama HSV Frankfurt am Main, Germany $875
Alaska ANC Reykjavik, Iceland $677
Arizona PHX Madrid, Spain $563
Arizona TUS Zurich, Switzerland $805
Arkansas MEM London, England $1,068
California SFO Reykjavik, Iceland $442
California LAX Reykjavik, Iceland $404
California SAN Dublin, Ireland $766
Colorado DEN Brussels, Belgium $379
Connecticut BDL Edinburgh, UK $548
Delaware BWI Reykjavik, Iceland $359
Florida MIA Madrid, Spain $545
Florida MCO Reykjavik, Iceland $541
Florida TPA Reykjavik, Iceland $615
Georgia ATL Budapest, Hungary $640
Georgia SAV London, UK $830
Hawaii HNL London, UK $906
Hawaii KOA London, UK $960
Idaho SLC Venice, Italy $468
Illinois ORD Reykjavik, Iceland $450
Indiana IND Reykjavik, Iceland $788
Iowa DSM London, UK $898
Kansas MCI Reykjavik, Iceland $600
Kentucky CVG Reykjavik, Iceland $509
Kentucky SDF Reykjavik, Iceland $789
Louisiana MSY Dublin, Ireland $732
Maine BOS Stockholm, Sweden $479
Maryland BWI Reykjavik, Iceland $359
Massachusetts BOS Stockholm, Sweden $479
Michigan DTW Reykjavik, Iceland $409
Michigan GRR Reykjavik, Iceland $789
Minnesota MSP Budapest, Hungary $463
Mississippi MSY Dublin, Ireland $732
Missouri STL Dublin, Ireland $752
Missouri MCI Reykjavik, Iceland $600
Montana BIL Dublin, Ireland $822
Montana BZN Dublin, Ireland $797
Nebraska OMA Dublin, Ireland $864
Nevada LAS Copenhagen, Denmark $563
Nevada RNO Reykjavik, Iceland $871
New Hampshire BOS Stockholm, Sweden $479
New Jersey EWR Paris, France $521
New Mexico ABQ Geneva, Switzerland $705
New York JFK Paris, France $517
New York BUF Reykjavik, Iceland $740
North Carolina CLT Dublin, Ireland $739
North Carolina RDU Dublin, Ireland $665
North Dakota BIL Dublin, Ireland $822
Ohio CLE Reykjavik, Iceland $457
Ohio CMH Dublin, Ireland $694
Ohio CVG Reykjavik, Iceland $509
Oklahoma TUL Venice, Italy $760
Oklahoma OKC Venice, Italy $952
Oregon PDX Reykjavik, Iceland $642
Pennsylvania PHL Reykjavik, Iceland $496
Pennsylvania PIT Reykjavik, Iceland $319
Rhode Island BOS Stockholm, Sweden $479
South Carolina CHS Reykjavik, Iceland $789
South Dakota OMA Dublin, Ireland $864
Tennessee BNA Dublin, Ireland $771
Tennessee MEM London, UK $1,068
Texas IAH Madrid, Spain $598
Texas AUS London, UK $642
Utah SLC Venice, Italy $468
Vermont BTV London, UK $780
Virginia ORF London, UK $845
Virginia RIC Dublin, Ireland $793
Washington SEA Munich, Germany $663
West Virginia PIT Reykjavik, Iceland $319
Wisconsin MKE London, UK $835
Wyoming BIL Dublin, Ireland $822
Washington, DC IAD Reykjavik, Iceland $482

Which airlines fly to Europe from the US? 

Most international airlines fly to Europe from the US — here are some of the most popular:

What are the major airports in Europe?

There are hundreds of airports in Europe, but these are some of the busiest:

  • Denmark
    • Copenhagen Airport (CPH) 
  • England
    • London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
    • London Heathrow International Airport (LHR)
  • France
    •  Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
  • Germany
    • Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
    • Munich Airport (MUC)
  • Holland
    • Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
  • Ireland
    • Dublin Airport (DUB) 
  • Spain
    •  Barcelona Airport (BCN) 

Do I need a visa to travel to Europe with a US passport?

As long as you have a US passport, you can travel to 26 countries in the Schengen area without a visa for a maximum of 90 days, including:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • The Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • The Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Vatican City

If you want to stay in Europe for longer than 90 days, or are aiming to visit a county that’s not in the Schengen area, then you’ll need to look into getting a visa. 

Tips and tricks to finding cheap flights

  • Be flexible. If you don’t have a specific destination in mind, you should have no problem scoring a round trip flight to Europe for far less than $1,000. Keep an eye on deals from airlines like Delta and United, or use the Search Everywhere tool on Skyscanner to see what’s up for grabs. 
  • Consider the pros of a longer stopover. If you’re simply looking for cheap fare, an overnight or hours-long layover along the way could be worth saving a few hundred dollars on your fare. Longer stopovers in destinations where you can leave the airport can actually be a nice break between two very long flights.
  • Book a package. Package vacations can sometimes be cheaper than purchasing flights and accommodation separately. We like browsing packages on BookVIP, United Vacations and JetBlue Vacations. 
  • Look for credit card promos. You can get cheap or even free flights by taking advantage of a travel credit card. You could also open a card that offers cashback if you spend a certain amount by the end of the quarter. 

If you need to buy a flight to Europe but can’t find one cheap enough, you could book with an airline or travel site that lets you reserve a seat today and pay later. For example, CheapOAir and Expedia allow you to finance your fare through Affirm. However, make sure you have a plan in place to cover the bill down the road, since Affirm charges interest.

Traveling during COVID-19
The CDC continues to advise caution when traveling within or outside the US, though it no longer requires self-quarantine or a COVID-19 test for fully vaccinated travelers as of April 2021. It recommends that you delay travel if you are not fully vaccinated to protect yourself and your family from getting or spreading the virus.

When traveling, follow safety measures that include wearing a mask in public, social distancing and washing your hands. If you are diagnosed with, have symptoms of or are waiting for COVID-19 test results — or are otherwise at risk of illness — do not attend gatherings or travel for 14 days.

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