The Top 7 European Airports for Budget Travelers
A lot of people think that getting to Europe is too expensive and that they’ll never have the funds to visit this incredible continent. That is why I’ve compiled the 7 cheapest European airports to fly into from the US.
There are 50 countries in Europe and each one has something unique and worth visiting. One of the best ways to see Europe is by booking the cheapest flight from the US to anywhere in Europe and then taking public transportation to the places you want to see.
The cheapest cities to fly from in the US are Miami, Boston, and New York on the East Coast, and San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle on the West Coast. A good plan for cheap flights to Europe is to use your credit card points to get to one of these cheap cities in the US to fly out of and then pay for the rest of the flight to Europe.
All the prices on this list are round-trip flights from the cheapest airport in the US, so keep that in mind as you are looking at them. So with that, let’s get into which airports are the cheapest in Europe.
7. Oslo, Norway
Starting off our list, we have Oslo coming in as the seventh cheapest airport to fly into from the US. Oslo is the capital of Norway and is a beautiful city with lots of modern architecture and great museums. It’s also a great base to see the rest of Norway.
If you’ve seen pictures of Norway before, then you know they are famous for their fjords. Lucky for you, there are lots of fjords just a 6-hour drive from Oslo. You can even do one-day tours from Oslo to see the fjords for yourself without having to worry about renting a car and finding accommodation.
The cheapest city in the US to fly to Oslo is New York. You can find flights here for around $500 in the high season and around $300 in the low season. Oslo is also a cheap city to fly out of to see the rest of Europe.
6. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It has great weather, miles of beaches, and an incredible old town. This city is a great city to start your European travels from too! It’s right on the border of France and just a couple of hours from Madrid, the capital of Spain.
Barcelona is also famous for its tapas, which are little snacks that you can buy by the plate. Most of them are seafood dishes but you can also order food like patatas bravas (Spanish french fries) and churros.
The cheapest city to fly out of in the US to get here is Boston for around $350 in the low season and around $500 in the high season.
5. Dublin, Ireland
From here on out, all the rest of the cities on this list are going to be capital cities. Dublin is famous for its beer, castles, and St. Patrick’s Day. The Irish countryside is just right there as well! You can do day trips to cities like Howth, Kilkenny, and even an entire mountain range called the Wicklow Mountains.
If you are lucky enough to experience Dublin during St. Patrick’s Day, you are in for a treat. Dublin has a parade every year that goes through the city center and has floats, dancers, and, of course, lots and lots of leprechauns (I should clarify, people dressed as leprechauns).
The cheapest US city to fly from is New York. During the low season, it costs around $400 to fly to Dublin, and then in the high season, it costs around $600. These prices are higher than the previous two, however, when averaging prices from all the major cities in the US it comes out being the fifth cheapest place to fly to.
4. Lisbon, Portugal
This city is the westernmost capital city in mainland Europe. Lisbon is known as the city of seven hills and man does it have a lot of hills. Here, there is sunny weather year-round and lots to do and see.
Some of the best things to do in Lisbon are go to one of the many viewpoints around the city, eat some seafood at a local restaurant, and try the delicious pastel de nata pastry. If you want to see the rest of Portugal, Lisbon is a great place to start. You can take a train to Porto, which is in the middle of the country, and along the way stop and see some of the most beautiful medieval towns and cities you’ve ever seen.
Flights to Lisbon during the high season start at around $600 and in the low season are around $350 if you are flying from New York. On average, Lisbon is a cheap place to fly to if you include all the US cities.
3. London, UK
Americans are visiting London more than almost anywhere else in Europe. London is a great place to visit as an American because they speak the same language as us. This means you won’t need to worry about frantically trying to learn an entire language before your summer vacation.
Some things you need to try while in London are riding a double-decker bus, eating fish and chips along the River Thames, and seeing a play at one of the many theaters. There are also thousands of famous landmarks around the city, such as Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London.
During the off-season, a ticket to London from New York costs around $300 and during the high season costs around $500. I’m from San Diego and this is always the cheapest option for me to fly to.
2. Paris, France
Ah, Paris. The city of light and love. If you are looking for a romantic vacation for you and your partner, there’s no better place on earth. You can start your day by going to a local French bakery, then walk to the Eiffel Tower and enjoy a picnic in the gardens, and finish the day at a French restaurant (I guess my ideal French day is just eating).
The area that surrounds Paris is absolutely incredible as well. You can take a day trip to Champagne, France, which is literally the birthplace of champagne. Or you can go north and see the famous Mont Saint-Michel, a castle built on an island just offshore. Or you can go to Giverny and visit the house and gardens of the painter Monet.
Flights to Paris from Miami are $550 in the high season and only $250 in the off-season! That’s so cheap! That means that all you have to do is get to Miami and then you can be in Paris for only $250.
1. Reykjavík, Iceland
Number one on the list, we have Reykjavík. This stunning island between mainland Europe and America has some of the most breathtaking places you’ll ever see.
Some places you’ll not want to miss are Blue Lagoon, Thingvellir National Park, and Kerid Crater. You can book a tour to these places from the capital city of Reykjavík or you can rent a car and go find them yourself! It only takes about 8 hours to drive across Iceland, so seeing the entire country in one trip is doable.
It’s only about a 6-hour flight from Boston and costs $400-$500 depending on the season. Iceland is the closest city to the US, so it makes sense that it would be the cheapest place on the list. It’s also cheap to fly here from the west coast.
That’s the end of the list! If you haven’t already, you need to start planning your European summer vacation as soon as possible so you can get the best prices to the cheapest European airports to fly into from the US.
