The cheapest time to fly to Europe

The cheapest months, ranked

Roughly cheapest to priciest for transatlantic fares:

• Cheapest: mid-January, February, early March, and November to mid-December.
• Sweet spot (value + weather): April, May, late September, October.
• Most expensive: June, July, August, and the Christmas/New Year window.

Flying in February instead of July can cut a transatlantic round-trip by hundreds of dollars on the same route. The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics tracks average international airfares if you want a route's ballpark.

Shoulder season is the real sweet spot

If winter feels too cold, the shoulder months are where savvy travelers live. Late April through May and September into October give you mild weather, thinner crowds at the big sights, and fares well below the summer peak. You get most of the summer experience for off-season money.

It varies by city

Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece) stays warmer later, so its shoulder deals stretch into October and November. Northern Europe (London, Amsterdam, the Nordics) goes cheap earlier as the weather turns. Either way, check entry requirements for your passport on the State Department's international travel pages before you commit.

What our live fares show

We track the cheapest fares from the USA to Europe every day across 497 routes, so you can see the off-season dip happen in real time rather than taking our word for it. The cheapest “month” is really the day a specific route drops below its normal range — watch for it on our live board and book when it does.

How to lock in the lowest Europe fare

• Travel off-peak or shoulder — the single biggest lever.
• Stay flexible on the city — fly into the cheapest European hub and take a cheap train or budget flight onward.
• Book in the 2–5 month window for off-peak Europe trips.
• Track the route so you recognize a genuine drop.

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

• The Flight Deal Guide
• The cheapest day to book flights
• When to book international flights