Professional Documents
Culture Documents
About FAQ
AFRICA
AUSTRALIA/PACIFIC
CARIBBEAN
CENTRAL AMERICA
ASIA
EUROPE
MIDDLE EAST
NORTH AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
19 Cheapest overwater
bungalow resorts in
the world
Cheapest Caribbean
Islands: 32 destinations
by price in 2014
30 Asian cities by
price: Backpacker
Index for 2014
51 European cities by
price: Backpacker
Index for 2014
Like
Comments (13)
Add a comment
So many of us starting in the US or Canada will be visiting multiple cities when we tour Europe that we have the luxury of flying
into several different destinations. But with the airline business changing so rapidly, how do we know which are the cheapest
cities to fly into?
Not too many years ago the cheapest flights into Europe were almost always into the largest and busiest airports, which are in
London, Frankfurt, Paris, and Amsterdam, but times have changed. Several of the busiest airports have also raised passenger
fees way up so now they are actually among the most expensive. I wanted to find out for myself, so I tested fares at all major
8.
9.
10.
11.
Paris: $888
Brussels: $888
Milan: $888
Oslo: $888 (tie)
1 Moscow, Russia
City code: MOW
Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO)
Domodedovo International Airport (DME)
Russias national airline Aeroflot is one of the cheapest in Europe, and many of the cheapest fares to cities below change
planes in Moscow.
New York City: $542/$857 $700
Chicago: $941/$996 $969
Los Angeles: $827/$1,011 $919
Houston: $829/$1,041 $935
Atlanta: $995/$1,239 $1,117
Toronto: $791/$969 $880
Index average: $920
2 Dublin/Shannon, Ireland
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Shannon Airport (SNN)
Dublin and Shannon airports are on opposite sides of Ireland, and both are busy hubs of Aer Lingus, which offers cheap flights
including those that then go onto other continental destinations. Both are similar in airfare price (with Dublin usually being just
a bit cheaper) so they are combined here. Basically, if you want to start your Ireland visit in Dublin, fly into Dublin, and if you
want to start your visit elsewhere, fly into Shannon.
New York City: $697/$997 $847
Chicago: $847/$1,092 $970
Los Angeles: $823/$1,304 $1,064
Houston: $786/$1,247 $1,017
Atlanta: $893/$1,257 $1,075
Toronto: $671/$807 $739
Index average: $952
3 Oslo, Norway
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL)
The good news for anyone flying from the US or Canada to Norway is that flights into Oslo are strangely cheap from major
North American cities. The bad news, of course, is that everything else once you are there is jaw-droppingly expensive.
New York City: $785/$967 $876
Chicago: $843/$1,075 $959
Los Angeles: $910/$1,246 $1,078
Houston: $801/$1,023 $912
Atlanta: $982/$1,256 $1,119
Toronto: $777/$999 $888
Index average: $972
4 Stockholm, Sweden
City code: STO
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)
Stockholm Bromma Airport (BMA)
Scandinavian Airlines operates its second busiest hub out of Arlanda Airport so fares there are usually cheapest, but Bromma
Airport is closer to the city center and its fares are usually only a bit higher.
New York City: $803/$986 $895
Chicago: $884/$1,076 $980
Los Angeles: $805/$1,245 $1,025
Houston: $816/$1,014 $915
Atlanta: $1,001/$1,299 $1,150
Toronto: $757/$1,002 $880
Index average: $974
5 Milan, Italy
City code: MIL
Malpensa Airport (MXP)
Linate Airport (LIN)
The smaller of the two main hubs of Alitalia, Milans main airport has similar passenger numbers to Rome, and usually similar
prices as well so its best to fly into the one you prefer. Strangely, Alitalia never seems to have the best fares. In 2014 the city
appears to have become more affordable for incoming flights, but mostly because Emirates is crossing the Atlantic with cheap
fares from some cities.
New York City: $630/$875 $753
Chicago: $1,002/$1,243 $1,123
Los Angeles: $943/$1,275 $1,109
Houston: $830/$1,042 $936
Atlanta: $863/$1,259 $1,061
Toronto: $767/$1,009 $888
Index average: $978
6 Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
Scandinavian Airlines (also known as SAS) operates the largest of its three hubs in Copenhagen, and that leads to surprisingly
low airfares, especially on its non-stop flights from New York, Chicago, and Toronto.
New York City: $701/$988 $845
Chicago: $836/$1,078 $957
Los Angeles: $923/$1,313 $1,118
Houston: $824/$1,036 $930
Atlanta: $1,035/$1,259 $1,147
Toronto: $793/$1,063 $928
Index average: $987
7 Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul Atatrk Airport (IST)
In spite of the greater distance, Istanbul can offer some reasonable trans-Atlantic airfares so its worth considering if its part of
your itinerary anyway. There is another airport in the Asian suburbs (SAW) but its cheap flights tend to be from nearby.
New York City: $788/$805 $797
Chicago: $762/$1,299 $1,031
Los Angeles: $901/$1,226 $1,064
Houston: $696/$1,111 $904
Atlanta: $1,027/$1,148 $1,088
Toronto: $963/$1,196 $1,080
Index average: $994
8 Warsaw, Poland
Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)
Warsaw is home to LOT Polish Airlines, but that one is rarely cheapest for trans-Atlantic flights. Again, the competition here
combined with lower taxes and operating costs has turned into relatively cheap incoming flights.
9 Paris, France
City code: PAR
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Orly Airport (ORY)
Charles de Gaulle Airport is another of Europes largest and best connected, plus the main hub of Air France. In our 2014 tests
we found some very competitive flights starting from some cities, but very expensive from others (Atlanta, in particular). Things
are looking better than last year so heres hoping that Paris will carry on as a good incoming option to Europe.
New York City: $858/$986 $922
Chicago: $947/$1,251 $1,099
Los Angeles: $980/$1,292 $1,136
Houston: $984/$1,077 $986
Atlanta: $1,145/$1,327 $1,236
Toronto: $759/$1,016 $888
Index average: $1,044
10 London, England
City code: LON
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Luton Airport (LTN)
London has 4 major airports (plus London City Airport for short-haul flights) and the cheapest trans-Atlantic fares could be into
any one of them. Heathrow is the busiest, but Gatwick is often the cheapest by a little.
New York City: $782/$1,057 $920
Chicago: $990/$1,271 $1,131
Los Angeles: $1,108/$1,409 $1,259
Houston: $755/$1,117 $936
Atlanta: $1,003/$1,318 $1,161
Toronto: $787/$1,022 $905
Index average: $1,052
11 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels Airport (BRU)
The home of Brussels Airlines, which flies nonstop to New York-JFK, this airport is also served by most of Europes majors so
fares are competitive.
New York City: $845/$1,130 $988
Chicago: $950/$1,257 $1,104
Los Angeles: $946/$1,333 $1,140
Houston: $860/$1,060 $960
Atlanta: $1,024/$1,533 $1,279
Toronto: $819/$956 $888
Index average: $1,059
12 Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS)
The city of Lisbon is quite a good travel bargain once you get there, and fortunately there are some affordable inbound flights as
13 Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Frankfurt Airport is the 3rd busiest in all of Europe, making it easily the busiest in Germany, and its also home to Lufthansa
which covers the world. But these days its trans-Atlantic flights are trending more expensive than those to Berlin, and the city
itself isnt much of a tourist hub so think twice before flying here.
New York City: $891/$1,093 $992
Chicago: $977/$1,266 $1,122
Los Angeles: $1,013/$1,400 $1,207
Houston: $900/$1,112 $1,006
Atlanta: $1,075/$1,421 $1,248
Toronto: $884/$850 $867
Index average: $1,074
14 Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Zurich Airport is the primary hub of Swiss International Air Lines (aka SWISS), and its quite surprising that they offer fairly
competitive fares on incoming flights, including to many destinations in Germany as well. Beware that everything else in Zurich
is incredibly expensive once you are through security.
New York City: $839/$1,138 $989
Chicago: $980/$1,227 $1,104
Los Angeles: $945/$1,332 $1,139
Houston: $833/$1,045 $939
Atlanta: $1,145/$1,486 $1,316
Toronto: $907/$1,050 $979
Index average: $1,077
15 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Europes 4th busiest airport has nonstop connections to destinations around the world as the main hub of KLM, but an
increase of taxes and landing fees has translated into higher fares, so its rarely a bargain anymore.
New York City: $808/$1,053 $931
Chicago: $959/$1,160 $1,060
Los Angeles: $948/$1,260 $1,104
Houston: $862/$1,045 $954
Atlanta: $1,295/$1,748 $1,522
Toronto: $821/$991 $906
Index average: $1,079
16 Rome, Italy
City code: ROM
Leonardo da VinciFiumicino Airport (FCO)
Italys largest airport and the home of Alitalia isnt known for cheap trans-Atlantic flights, though its still a good choice for
anyone starting in Rome and heading north on a larger tour of Europe.
New York City: $846/$924 $885
Chicago: $1,024/$1,265 $1,145
17 Budapest, Hungary
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
The cheapest fares into Budapest are often those that change planes in Moscow or Helsinki, but SWISS isnt much more
expensive for a change in Zurich and much less elapsed time. Fares during our 2014 tests are quite a bit higher than in 2013,
unfortunately.
New York City: $860/$1,098 $979
Chicago: $832/$1,380 $1,106
Los Angeles: $958/$1,256 $1,107
Houston: $812/$1,442 $1,127
Atlanta: $1,080/$1,462 $1,271
Toronto: $772/$1,064 $918
Index average: $1,085
18 Berlin, Germany
City code: BER
Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL)
Berlin Schnefeld Airport (SXF)
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) opening 2015 or later
With the rise of Air Berlin and greater popularity of the city itself, its now similar in fares to flying into Frankfurt, which is
particularly helpful due to Frankfurt not really being a tourist city. Tegel Airport is usually cheapest for trans-Atlantic flights, and
in 2015 or 2016 Brandenburg Airport will open to replace both of the current two.
New York City: $903/$1,039 $971
Chicago: $917/$1,142 $1,030
Los Angeles: $984/$1,211 $1,098
Houston: $878/$1,161 $1,020
Atlanta: $1,124/$1,628 $1,376
Toronto: $941/$1,093 $1,017
Index average: $1,085
19 Madrid, Spain
MadridBarajas Airport (MAD)
This is Spains busiest airport and Europes 4th busiest, but being home to Iberia Airline doesnt mean itll always have cheap
non-stop trans-Atlantic flights.
New York City: $921/$1,034 $978
Chicago: $964/$1,284 $1,124
Los Angeles: $970/$1,439 $1,205
Houston: $902/$1,085 $994
Atlanta: $1,142/$1,551 $1,347
Toronto: $884/$894 $869
Index average: $1,086
20 Barcelona, Spain
BarcelonaEl Prat Airport
A bit smaller and quieter than Madrid, the Barcelona Airport has a few trans-Atlantic flights of its own, and its served by all of
Europes majors, so fares are similar to those into Madrid.
New York City: $866/$1,037 $952
Chicago: $1,012/$1,285 $1,149
Los Angeles: $1,009/$1,478 $1,244
22 Munich, Germany
Munich Airport (MUC)
Munichs airport is busier than the one in Berlin, so its actually Germanys #2 for flights. Fares tend to be a bit more expensive
than the other German airports as well, but it can still make the most sense if Munich is part of your itinerary.
New York City: $892/$1,024 $958
Chicago: $967/$1,218 $1,093
Los Angeles: $997/$1,384 $1,191
Houston: $885/$1,083 $984
Atlanta: $1,146/$1,635 $1,391
Toronto: $938/$1,043 $991
Index average: $1,101
23 Athens, Greece
Athens International Airport (ATH)
This airport is naturally the hub of both Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air, and prices for hotels have come down a bit, but
incoming flights are rarely bargains. If you will be touring Greece along with some other European countries, its probably better
to first land somewhere else and hop over to Greece later in the trip.
New York City: $1,000/$1,214 $1,107
Chicago: $1,128/$1,390 $1,259
Los Angeles: $1,080/$1,384 $1,232
Houston: $949/$1,383 $1,166
Atlanta: $1,139/$1,547 $1,343
Toronto: $894/$1,088 $991
Index average: $1,183
NOTE: This post was originally published in May, 2013 with 2013 data. Its been totally updated in March, 2014 with 2014
airfares.
Related posts:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Reply
Reply
Sugar says:
August 21, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Im travelling from South Africa to Spain. I intend going to barcelona in the middle of my stay so w ould like to arrive and depart
from 2 different cities. What w ould you suggest?
Reply
Reply
Davey says:
December 3, 2013 at 6:34 am
how did you not include or consider atlanta?
Reply
Reply
Davey says:
December 31, 2013 at 1:00 am
hey RogerAtlanta may not be in the top ten for city size but it is Deltas headquarters (biggest airline in the w orld) and
the largest and busiest airport in the w orld. also, they have had some of the best deals I have come across,
certainly not the best, but also not the w orst. I travel a lot out of ATL to Europe and w as hoping to find the best places to fly in to
from here. Thank you for the research though! Much more than Ive done
Reply
Kelly says:
January 30, 2014 at 2:55 am
Davey, I must recommend you fly out of Charlotte rather than ATL- the price difference can be
staggering. Youll have connecting flights rather than direct flights, but as delta has no competition in
atl they charge w hatever they please, so its w orth it financially.
Reply
Whitney says:
December 27, 2013 at 6:44 pm
I may have missed it in the article but are these round trip fares?
Also, are you considering adding Seattle as a starting point on your next update?
Reply
Reply
Keith says:
February 28, 2014 at 5:48 pm
Roger, thank you for the research. I realize it is a lot of w ork but I w ould have to agree w ith some other commenters about
including Atlanta (possibly knock out Houston). Great w ork. Your articles are very informative.
Reply
Reply
Alaina says:
March 10, 2014 at 3:09 pm
Im traveling to Budapest in August for a w edding, but Im from Miami! I w as hoping Id find some useful information about
flying out from MIA to a cheaper European airport, but nothing! I do find it hard to believe that MIA isnt on this list, especially
since I flew out of MIA to Florence,IT in 2011 for MUCH cheaper price than an NYC flight.
Anyw ay, help w ould be great though! Im looking to fly in & out of different cities (I love trains, so Im very open to those budget cuts).
Thanks!
Reply
Leave a Comment
Name (required)
Mail (w ill not be published) (required)
Website
Submit Comment
Flight + Hote l
HOTEL
Flight + Hote l + C ar
C AR
Flight + C ar
C R UISE
Hote l + C ar
De stination C ity
c ity name
C he ck -In Date
C he ck -O ut Date
mm/dd/yyyy
mm/dd/yyyy
YES
No. R oom s
1
POPULAR CITIES
Amsterdam prices
Bangkok prices
Barcelona prices
Beijing prices
Berlin prices
Bruges prices
Budapest prices
Cusco prices
Dublin prices
Goa prices
Istanbul prices
London prices
Madrid prices
Melbourne prices
Moscow prices
Paris prices
Prague prices
Rome prices
Singapore prices
Sydney prices
Tokyo prices
Toronto prices
Venice prices
FEATURED ARTICLES
visit?
Cheap
around
expensive:
month
Backpacker
destinations
the
world
by
LATEST DEALS
Groupons localized travel offers
are very impressive
EUROPE RESOURCES
Europe
3-Star
Traveler
51
European
price:
Backpacker
expensive
2014
cities by
European
Index
for
for
budget
travelers
ASIA RESOURCES
Backpacker
is
Index
for
2014
much
Europe
better
for
than
budget
travelers
12
best-value
cities in
TRANSPORT RESOURCES
Flights
are
usually
Finding
the
cheapest
cheapest 3 to 7 weeks
international
before
departure:
airfare
in
to decide
Usually
no,
these cases
World taxi prices: What a
3-kilometer ride costs in
72 big cities
13
Mar
2014
except
in
Policy Duration
2 days
Policy Type
single
family
couple
Get a Quote
CATEGORIES
Africa
Asia
Australia/Pacific
Caribbean
Central America
Europe
Global
Middle East
North America
South America
REGIONS
Africa prices
Asia prices
Europe prices
About
Advertise
Contact Us
FAQ
Find cheap flights
Find cheap hotels
Tips
2010 - 2014 PriceofTravel