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Is it expensive to go to Europe in the summer?

Pick an Off-Peak Season The summer season, which runs from late May or early June through the end of August, is when many families are available to travel. As a result, it's the most expensive time to visit Europe.



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Summer is a great time to travel — except for the crowds and high temperatures. Sunny weather, long days, and exuberant nightlife turn Europe into a powerful magnet.

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The late fall and winter months—from mid to late October through mid-to-late March—are often the cheapest time to fly to Europe (though fares can spike in December).

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The US has far fewer airlines than Europe. Less competition = higher fares. On routes where there is more competition (such as between Chicago and New York) flights tend to be cheaper, while on routes to smaller airports, especially those served by a single airline, airfares can be much higher.

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  1. Flexibility is your friend. ...
  2. Fly into a major hub. ...
  3. Avoid Weekend flights. ...
  4. Make “mix it up” your mantra. ...
  5. Late summer saves money in Europe. ...
  6. Take a break from the big cities for a cheap Europe vacation. ...
  7. Go Deeper in one country rather than shallow across many. ...
  8. Be thoughtful about dining options.


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It's often much cheaper to travel from May to early June and September through mid-October. The weather is still relatively warm during the shoulder season, and you'll beat the crazy summer crowds. This is when we find the best international flight deals!

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Jul 1 July is the most expensive month to travel to Europe for Americans. If you have your heart set on a European vacation in July, do yourself a favor and fly mid-week.

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The Cheapest Airports to Fly Into in Europe
  • Dublin Airport (DUB), Ireland.
  • Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO), Italy.
  • Barcelona El-Prat Airport (BCN), Spain.
  • Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), the Netherlands.
  • Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), France.


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From the US, regular prices for a flight to Europe range from $700–$1,000+ in low season and $900–$1,500 in high season.

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I usually allow between $1000 and $1500 per week to cover meals, groceries, fuel, road tolls/vignettes, sightseeing, souvenirs, etc. On my recent trip, the amount budgeted of $1250 per week was more than enough to cover all our daily expenses including a few fancy dinners.

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While it is definitely possible to do a month-long Europe trip on a tight budget, it isn't exactly cheap – unless you do hostels, don't take taxis/ubers, and don't eat out. Even then, it'll still most likely be over $1,000 USD and closer to $2,000 USD.

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Although Europe is a year-round travel destination, the best time to visit Europe is during the summer months of June to September. This is the time when the sun is high, the beaches are warm and the weather is sunny.

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The best time to visit Europe is from late March to early June (spring), or between September and November (fall). You'll avoid the busy summer period and see your money go further.

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Don't try to see everything in one go. With so much to see and do in Europe, the biggest challenge is trying to narrow down your options and map out an itinerary. If you want to cover a lot of ground, one month gives you enough time to spend at least two or three nights in each destination.

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Book at least 4 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price. High season is considered to be June and July. The cheapest month to fly from the United States is February. Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Europe flight deals.

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Reykjavik, Iceland For most people in the US, this is the cheapest European city to fly to. Depending on the time of year and where you're flying from, you can expect to pay anywhere between $260-$565 roundtrip on Icelandair. You can also save even more money with airlines like Wizz Air Malta and Play.

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More demand for fewer seats is the classic formula for increasing prices. Inflation of all kinds is also at play here. Higher fuel and labor costs are also incentivizing airlines to try to raise prices where they can. Eventually, the higher prices will take a bite out of demand.

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Book a summer trip. Expedia data shows that August is the cheapest warm-weather month to fly, with average ticket prices nearly 10% lower compared with July. Tickets are also cheaper in August than during the December rush. For the lowest fares on domestic flights, travel in January or February.

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For domestic flights in March and April, Google said, prices are typically lowest 23 to 59 days before departure, hitting their lowest price 38 days out. Summer vacation. For domestic flights in July or August, prices are typically lower 14 to 44 days out, hitting rock bottom 21 days before takeoff.

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Plateauing Demand Demand may be high throughout the warmest months, but even then travelers with flexibility and an eagle eye may be able to find pockets of lower prices before Labor Day. “There are too many people that want to fly this summer for the number of seats,” says Sumers.

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Most expensive months seem to be September, October, late November-Christmas (although the days right after Christmas can be cheaper), then anytime including New Year's Eve. March-May, and June-August can also be higher, the first because weather is nice, and the second because it's the US summer season.

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