Leisure travel to Europe has recovered from pandemic-era lows. 2024 was a record year, with 53 million more nights spent at tourist accommodations compared to 2023. That's according to Eurostat, which counted nearly three billion nights spent in tourist accommodations during the year. Luxembourg and Malta, in particular, saw double-digit growth.

That's all very well, but more travelers mean higher costs, such as for airfare. Here are five ways to keep the costs down.

1. Pick an Off-Peak Season

When it comes to finding a cheap flight, the seasoℱn matters.

As an example, a search on Travelocity.com🗹 for round-trip, mid-week, non-stop, economy-class tickets from New York to London for Tuesday, June 10 to🌄 Tuesday, June 17, 2025, turns up options starting at $679 per person. In mid-February, the fares are lower, starting at $450.

Like most leisure travel destinations, Europe has peak travel seasons when airfare༒s are at their highest, and off-p𒁃eak ones when it’s possible to find a better deal on airfare and on your other vacation expenses as well.

The summer season, which runs from late May or early June through the end of August, is when many American families can travel. As a result, it's the most expensive time to visit Europe.

The late fall and winter months—from mid to late October through middle-to-late March—are often the cheapest time to fly. Cold weather, of course, is partly to blame, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:but a winter vacation to Europe ha🎀s its beneไfits. In addition to cheaper airfare, Europe has some of the best sk🥃i and snowboard resorts in the world (Méribel, Zermatt, and St. Anton am Arlberg, to name a few).

Leave the ski resorts, and you can 🔜exܫperience Europe’s other top attractions with far smaller crowds.

Late December through the New Year is the exception. Families are reuniting or traveling together for the holidays, so you can expect to pay a premium for flights at that time of year. If you're budget-conscious, you also might avoid cities like Cologne and Salzburg, where Christmas festivals are a big draw.

2. Don't Fly Direct

The busiest air travel route between tꦓhe United States and Eu♌rope is from New York to London.

More than 30 airlines fly to London out of three major New York airports. That's plenty of competition and plenty of choice for travelers.

That means it can be most economical for Americans headed to other cities in Europe to fly from the U.S. to London and then take a discount flight to your destination city. Note that the major airlines are frequently matching the discounters like Ryanair and easy༺Jet, so you should have a wide number of flight options.

There are ground travel options from London, including buses, ferries, and train services, but they're not necessarily cheaper depending on how far you're going.

3. Price Shop and Compare

It's important to keep in mind that airfares fluctuate constantly. It's a good idea to price shop every day for several days in a row to land a good deal. A couple of days of flexibility also helps.

Consider signing up for price alerts that send email or text updates for routes that you specify. Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Kayak are among the sites that have them.

4. Pick the Right Day

Trying to save money by traveling on a certain day of the week can be hit-or-miss with flights to Europe. It’s often cheaper to fly mid-week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in particular, but sometimes you can get the same fare on a Saturday.

The length of your stay can make a big diffe⛄rence in price. Plan on a Saturday nig🥂ht stay-over to get the best fares and better hotel rates as well.

If you can be flexible, you may be able to save money by adjusting your departure and return dates. Google Flights, as well as some other online airfare aggregators, such as K🅰ayak and Travelocity, have flexible travel date searches, so you can compare fares for a specific date and the surrounding dates.

5. Book a Few Weeks to a Few Months Out

It doesn't necessarily pay to book too far in advance.

Unless there is extreme demand due to an event like the Olympics, the good deals can show up from a few weeks to a couple of months before departure. At the very last minute, you'll probably face high prices and limited choices.

The Bottom Line

You will probably pay the most if you fly to Europe duri🅷ng the summer when everybody else wants to go. You can find cheaper rates by flying during the winter (except for December) and by having flexible dates.

Flights to London can be among the lowest fa🎃res tไo Europe with the most choice of airlines and times.

Once you cross the Atlantic, you can book a cheap flight from London to hop to another city. If your vacation time is less restricted, consider a Eurail pass, good for travel to 33 countries, or travel by bus.

At the end of the day, though, if you're planning a trip to Europe and are worried about the cost, make sure to choose your travel dates carefully. Getting a good deal is all about timing.