Since the invention of air travel, people have been looking for the cheapest place to fly into Europe. This is because there are a lot of factors that go into determining what will be the best deal for you.

 

For instance, do you want an airport with plenty of direct flights or one that’s cheaper? How many connections are ideal for a shorter flight? Is it worth spending more on a flight that has extra perks like priority boarding and luggage allowances? Here are some of the cheapest European airports where you can find great deals!

Why Getting to Europe Cheaply is a game changer

Traditionally a flight to Europe was a flight to Europe. No matter where you went you were spending approximately the same amount of money. Now, with low-cost carriers (LCCs) like EasyJet and Ryanair spreading their wings, there are now a ton of places to fly into Europe that might be even cheaper than where you live.

 

Once you get to Europe it is much cheaper to take some low cost European airlines to hop to your next destination. Some of the airlines include: Ryanair, easyjet and Norwegian Airlines.

 

That allows you to get to cities like Rome, Nice, Edinburgh, and Stockholm without paying an arm and a leg.

 

If you don’t mind making a few connections (and an extra layover is sometimes part of the price), then it’s often worth your time to search for the cheapest place to fly into Europe. To help you, we’ve found twelve of the cheapest places to fly into Europe and listed them below.

Why are these European airports cheaper?

The cost of flights to and from any international destination can be directly influenced by many factors, but the biggest are: the number of direct flights available; fees charged per passenger, and competition by other airlines.

 

Another thing to keep in mind is that certain times of year may affect if an airport is cheaper. For instance, popular summer holiday destinations attract a lot of tourists and pricing is typically higher than off-season times. During the winter months you’ll often find cheaper airfares as demand is lower, this means that prices will be likely to drop on flights into Europe.

 

Iceland, Turkey, and Lisbon offer cheap flights with layovers to encourage tourism dollars to their country. If you don’t mind a layover (we have done some amazing layovers in Dublin) these are excellent options.

 

Now that we’ve got a good idea of what makes a destination cheap, here are 13 Cheapest places to fly into Europe.

 

1. Rekijavik International Airport (REK)

Low-Cost Carrier: Wow Air, Icelandair

Rekjavik International Airport is unique in that it’s the only airport in Europe that has a duty free shop for travelers. The airport itself is located 20 minutes from downtown Rekjavik but there are buses and taxis available to get you there quickly.

You can often take Wow air to mainland Europe for less than $200 per flight. This is a great option if you’re looking to head over and back in one trip but don’t want to spend too much money.

 

2. Dublin, Ireland (DUB)

Low-Cost Carrier: Ryanair, Aer Lingus

Dublin International Airport is the most popular airport in all of Ireland. It’s also one of the largest and busiest airports in all of Europe! Unlike some other European low cost carriers, Ryanair allows you to carry on a lot more than just a purse or laptop but you also won’t be carrying a big bag.

Prices to mainland Europe through Ryanair are generally not much more than $100.

 

3. Shannon, Ireland (SNN)

Low-Cost Carrier: Ryanair, Aer Lingus

If you’re looking for the cheapest place to fly into Europe, Shannon is it! We said that Dublin was the most popular airport in all of Ireland but that title actually goes to Shannon. This small landlocked airport serves as both an international and national hub for flights going in and out of Ireland.  You can get from any part of Ireland or mainland Europe here without making too many connections (if any).  Flights are also very reasonably priced with typical prices in the $100 range.

 

4  Cork, Ireland (ORK)

Low-Cost Carrier: Ryanair, Aer Lingus

Cork Airport is another good option for flights into Europe if you’re on a budget. Cork’s airport is located less than 6 miles from the city center and features plenty of shops and restaurants to help pass the time before your flight. You can also catch a bus into Dublin and be there in under 3 hours. There is also a train that runs from Cork to Dublin.

 

5.  Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)

This is another large, busy airport that offers cheap flights to Europe, plus you can get anywhere in Europe very easily from here.

When you fly into Amsterdam, one of the cheapest places to fly into Europe, you’ll find that getting around is easy and affordable as well! You can get anywhere in the city via public transportation, which is all very cheap and accessible. If you want to rent a car or take a taxi, those are also options to get to other major cities in Europe.

 

6.  Lisbon, Portugal (LIS)

Low-Cost Carrier: Ryanair, easyJet, TAP Portugal

Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal and Lisboa Airport (also known as Portela Airport), which serves the city, is one of the cheapest places to fly into in Europe. It’s also one of the busiest airports in all of Europe which makes fares stay low and connections super easy. TAP Portugal generally offers a free 1 day layover!

 

7. Barcelona, Spain (BCN)

Low-Cost Carrier: Vueling Airlines, Ryanair

Barcelona International Airport is a relatively small airport compared to other European airports. This means that there are fewer flights and less congestion. It’s also one of the easiest airports in Europe to get through! Generally the process from your layover until fly on to your final destination is very easy. This is particularly helpful if you’re looking to book a cheap flight from Barcelona and then move on somewhere else.

 

8. Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH)

Low-Cost Carrier: Norwegian Air Shuttle, Ryanair

Copenhagen Airport is a great place to fly into if you’ve got a layover between two other destinations. Copenhagen has become one of the cheapest airports in Europe over the past few years and is also a great place to spend a layover. It’s one of the cheapest places to fly into Europe if your final destination is anywhere nearby.

 

9. Istanbul, Turkey (IST)

Low-Cost Carrier: Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines

Istanbul Ataturk Airport is another great place to fly into. It’s the largest airport in all of Europe and located close by most major attractions and cities. Istanbul is also a good destination for anyone looking to take an internal flight within Europe as it’s cost effective, but you can also use the airport to fly to the Middle East and Asia.

 

10.  Brussels, Belgium (BRU)

Low-Cost Carrier: Ryanair

Brussels Airport serves as a great way to get into other parts of Europe such as Germany, France and the Netherlands.

According to the Airport Council International Ranking of Airports , Brussels International is the busiest airport in Belgium. It also has a lot of unique amenities such as duty free shopping, cafes and restaurants! In addition to being easy to get around it’s also very affordable meaning that you can fly into Brussels for less than $100 from pretty much anywhere!

 

11. Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH)

Low-Cost Carrier : Swiss International Airlines

The main reason that Zürich Airport can offer low price s is because they don’t charge extra fees for luggage or other extras like some airports do. This means that you will most likely pay $200 at the absolute most no matter where you are heading from Zurich.

 

12. Milan, Italy (MXP)

Low-Cost Carrier: Blue Air, Ryanair

Milan Linate Airport is located just 15 minutes outside of the city center. This makes it an ideal airport for those who want to save money on their flight by avoiding a hotel and instead taking the train into town. The train runs about every 30 minutes.

 

13. Krakow, Poland (KRK)

Low-Cost Carrier: WizzAir

Krakow John Paul II Airport is named after the Polish pope and has been servicing travelers since 1919! It’s currently ranked as one of the best airports in Europe with over 17 million passengers in 2012 alone.  It also boasts fast connections and easy accessibility to historic sites like Auschwitz .

 

Tips for  Getting the Absolutely Cheapest Flights at the Cheapest Airports

   Booking in advance is key

Always book at least two weeks ahead of time. You can usually find some amazing deals if you look far enough in advance for your travel dates and destinations. That being said, waiting too long to book can mean you’ll pay a ridiculous amount because the flight will fill up fast! Use this website as a starting point to finding cheap flights.

Flying into Secondary Airports

 Flying into secondary airports can be cheaper than major ones like Charles De Gaulle or Heathrow Airport . Look instead at Orly or Stanstead airports to see if you can find a cheaper flight.

1. Be aware that most low cost airlines in Europe will limit your carry on luggage and/or have you pay high fees to check luggage. So if you are planning on getting to Europe and using Ryanair you need to pack light! Check out how to pack for 10 days in a carry on.
2. If you are traveling with more than one person, it may be worth your while to pay a little extra for a flight that has the option of sitting together.  Since most low cost European airlines don’t have assigned seating , it can be hard to sit with friends and family.

 

If you’re looking for affordable flights to Europe, these tips will help you find the cheapest ways.  We’ve covered the best airports in Europe that are cheap and also have great amenities like duty free shopping and restaurants. Choosing one of these destinations will save you money on your flight without compromising comfort or convenience!

You can make your family vacation dreams come true for much less money by using these budget tips. Don’t forget to download your free printable packing list too!