Ready to take off to Europe for a fraction of the cost? You’re in luck! As we progress through 2025, the budget travel options keep changing and Europe has never been more accessible. The countless number of airlines, possible destinations and strategies for booking a low-cost flight can feel overwhelming.
In this guide, we will help provide you with the methods to achieve these amazing deals. We will discover a number of the new budget airlines, including tips on when to buy and the best travel times. We will provide budget flight routes that you probably never knew existed and some additional tips and tricks to enjoy even more savings.
So, buckle up, get prepared to travel in Europe for much less than you thought, and realise you are one cheap flight away from your next adventure!
Why Low-Cost European Flights Are Trending
Surge in post-pandemic travel among millennials and Gen Z
You may have seen a shift in travel patterns. In particular, millennials and Gen Z are taking the lead and travelling more domestically after the pandemic, along with European destinations.
The latest wave of new trips is fueled by your desire for new experiences and accumulated travel dreams from the government restrictions on travel for years. Low-cost European flights are well-positioned to deliver for you. Low-cost carriers will take you to cheap destinations across Europe without breaking the bank!
Demand for short-haul budget escapes
By considering short-haul budget escapes, you are not alone in thinking about weekend trips. That is popular nowadays, as low-cost European flights will be very inexpensive and you’ll be able to travel from one country to another easily.
Maybe you’re off for a city break in Paris or a sunshine beach holiday in Greece, these budget-friendly options make it possible to satisfy your travel wishes without committing to long, expensive journeys.
Sustainability and price-conscious choices
Your awareness of environmental concerns and desire to make sustainable travel choices are now shaping your choices of flights. To seize upon this demand, low-cost carriers are investing in fuel-efficient planes and putting forward more green policies and practices.
Simultaneously, however, you’re becoming more price sensitive, wanting to get the most out of the dollar you budget to travel. This mix of sustainability considerations and price-sensitive choices makes low-cost European flights forecast to be an easy choice for your travel plans for 2025.
Top Airlines Offering the Cheapest European Flights
Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Vueling
Four key airlines come to mind when looking to incur the cheapest flights to Europe in 2025 these are Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air and Vueling. These budget-friendly carriers have transformed the way we travel across Europe, offering more accessibility and overall affordability than ever before to budget-minded travellers.
The budget airline sector is as strong as ever and Ryanair still drives the ultra-low-cost offerings. You will see their signature blue and yellow planes flying you to over 240 destinations, often from smaller, secondary airports that keep both their costs and your travel costs low.
EasyJet still here and is a good budget option with a slightly higher level of service. They are perfect if you are traveling to main European business capitals when you do not want the effort of traveling to and from outlying airports.
In 2025 Wizz Air has improved its offer with a broader range of flights, with many routes to Eastern Europe which no one else travels to. You’ll be happy they finally took delivery of new A321XLR aircraft which are going to leverage improved fuel economy and a guaranteed lower fare rate to pass the pricing savings to you.
Vueling has owned the Mediterranean leisure destination niche in Europe. They have expanded partnership routes with Iberia and last minute booking connectivity to their flights to Spain or Southern France would make that more easy.
Comparisons on routes, hidden fees and perks
While these airlines all fall under the “budget” category, the airlines have strengths and weaknesses as they market and communicate their routes. When you compare air carriers, you need to be familiar with the addition of hidden costs.
Be smart about baggage weight allowances, fees for seat selections and snacks. Some airlines now offer bundled fares that include these extras, which can be more cost-effective for longer trips.
You need to be mindful of these extra costs! A €9.99 Ryanair flight can turn out to be a fast €80+ to cover a cabin bag, seat selection and priority boarding. EasyJet base fares tend to be slightly more expensive, but their fare structure appears to be less complicated and detailed at the final payment point.
What travellers are loving (and avoiding) in 2025 reviews
What have other travellers loved or dislikes in their reviews from their flights? It appears that travelers have enjoyed both improvements in mobile apps from these budget carriers which made booking and check-in duties easier to manage.
You will also see favourable reviews about the rising availability of direct flights which shortens the overall time of travel while eliminating connection hassles.
Travellers remains skeptical of potential last-minute scheduling changes or flight delay, this comes particularly from reviews of Ryanair and Wizz air. EasyJet is being recognized for the improved customer service, while Vueling sites are winning reviews on improved spaciousness of seat selection possibility alongside shorter flight times.
Other notable budget carriers and their unique offerings
Outside the big four, there are other budget airlines to consider in 2025. Norwegian Air has rebounded, providing affordable fares for long-haul flights to the Americas. Transavia, owned by Air France–KLM, appears to be focusing on leisure and family markets while expanding travel options in Western European countries.
For Scandinavian travel to consider, take note of Flyr – a new entrant that is gaining traction with a fully inclusive pricing model. In Eastern Europe, Sky Express is carving out a niche with its expanding network of Greek island routes.
If you plan to travel in and between Scandinavian countries, do keep an eye on Flyr, a new entry and a growing popularity that may have a comfort benefits through their all inclusive price offering. In Eastern Europe, Sky Express is interested in their expanding routes of ferry service to the Greek islands.
Budget-Friendly Routes You Can’t Miss
Trending cheap city pairings
Are you looking to explore Europe on a budget? You are in luck! As we begin to consider the cheapest routes, you will discover some great and incredibly affordable city pairings that you cannot miss!
The Berlin–Porto route is one of the most in-demand cheap flights in Europe. You can easily hop from the history-rich streets of Berlin to the picturesque, port wine-soaked cobblestones of Porto, for way less than you would think.
The Budapest–Barcelona route is also a common offering, as it allows you to check out the thermal baths of Hungary, then head to the beach in Catalonia for a leisurely holiday, without straining your finances too heavily.
Underrated but affordable spots
As tourists pour themselves into Paris and Rome, you can be smarter (and heck, buy yourself something nice) by checking out some of the lesser-known destinations in Europe. By joining the other tourists in Albania, you can enjoy beautiful beaches, ruins, and a unique history, while still enjoying a traditional travel experience.
Alternatively, you can swoop into Slovakia and indulge in stunning mountains and medieval castles for a far cheaper price than you might have imagined. And, do not overlook Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country of rivers, mountains, and history rich in Muslim presence, at an incredible price below France or Italy, for example!
Direct flights to Amsterdam, London, and Dublin: Popular cities with competitive fares
Just because you are on a budget does not mean you have to skip the big names! With airlines continuing to compete against each other, there are just as many great flight deals heading into the popular EU cities of Amsterdam, London, and Dublin. For example, stroll the canals of Amsterdam, pick your favourite royal in London, and knee slide into any pub after Red Bull or vodka jam sessions in Dublin, and it won’t cost you a fortune, especially if you nabbed yourself a cheap airfare during one of their flash sales or off-peak periods.
Reykjavik: The cheapest gateway to Europe
For North Americans, Reykjavik could be your cheapest state to enter Europe. Many airlines, for example IcelandAir, regard Iceland as a cheap stopover, and will provide the lowest and more competitive fare for you to freely travel through the more affordable solutions that Europe has to offer. What you choose to do after Reykjavik is up to you; you can hop on a cheap flight to explore its otherworldly landscapes yourself or fly on cheaply and far into mainland Europe. Either way we can see how much fun the EU really could offer you for fun and on budget!
Weekend getaway flight deals under €50
Believe it or not, you can get away for the weekend for less than €50. Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air (just to name a few) often have incredibly cheap rates for flights from one European city to another. You could literally spend Saturday morning in Paris and be back home Sunday night for less than an expensive dinner. These fantastic deals are great for spontaneous short-hauls trips or for fitting in some additional travel between longer stretches abroad.
Best Time to Book Low-Cost European Flights
Cheapest months and seasonal trends for travel in 2025
If you’re figuring out your plans for your Europe adventure in 2025, it would help to be aware of seasonal trends so you can snag a bargain. Generally speaking, you’ll find the cheapest flights to Europe during the shoulder seasons (April to mid-June) and in fall (September and October). These are great times to visit since they typically offer good weather, as well as the benefit of lower prices before the summer or holiday rush.
Winter is also relatively inexpensive (excluding the holiday season). January and February often have low fares if you’re looking to have some snowy adventures, or simply to escape to a city for some warmth and comfort while also being on a budget. Summer is the most expensive time to fly, but if you must travel over the summer, consider waiting until the back end of August when prices tend to dip after the summer holidays.
How to use flight fare tools
Strengthen your position on the best low-cost European flights by harnessing the power of fare comparison tools. Google Flights is an unbelievable tool for checking flexible dates and destinations, and it’s perfect for any spontaneous traveler. You can also set up price alerts for specific routes and be notified right when fares drop. Hopper’s prediction algorithm can help you determine whether you should book now or wait for a better deal on your trip, especially if you are planning your trip months in advance. If you have a flexible destination, try using Skyscanner‘s ‘Everywhere’ search function to help you find the cheapest cities in Europe to fly to.
Ideal booking windows for major cities vs. offbeat destinations
Your booking approach will be different based on your chosen destination. If you are intending to travel to larger cities in Europe, such as London, Paris or Rome, you want to be booking 2-5 months in advance to get the best fares, as these popular routes will fill up quickly and booking earlier, usually means cheaper prices.
However, if you are headed somewhere less traveled, or a small city – it may be advantageous to book your flight closer to your traveling dates as these routes may be vacant and are more likely to have last minute deals. Keep an eye out 1-2 months before your planned trip for deals to these hidden gems.
Pro Tips to Save Even More
Travel light: Beat baggage fees with carry-on strategies
When searching for those low cost flights to Europe, don’t forget that baggage fees can easily add up and quickly make your flight not-so-low-cost. To maximise your savings, you must learn to travel light. Start with a quality, lightweight carry on bag, that is allowed by most airlines in size (therefore you can only bring carry ons to avoid checked baggage fees).
Pack items that can be mixed and matched, and have a variety of options to make multiple outfits. Roll your clothes instead of folding to fit more in, and minimise wrinkliness. Utilize packing cubes – to maximize your packing space and keep your belongings organized.
Keep an eye on the specific weight limits of a carry-on bag, as they may differ between low-cost airlines. Some companies are more particular than others. If you are at your carry-on limit, consider wearing your heaviest clothing on the flight in order to keep your bag as light as possible.
Use VPN and incognito mode for price tracking
Experienced travelers exploits that airlines and booking sites use information inside cookies to track searches; they then use this information to decide on the pricing of airfares based on your search behavior. There are some simple hacks to beat their clever system and find low-cost flights across Europe, they are: incognito travel search combined with VPN (Virtual Private Network).
A VPN will allow you to change your virtual location. For example, it will look like you are searching from next country or even cities. And then sometimes you will have different flight prices from different countries for the same flight once you are switched on the VPN. If you switch to more and more remote locations, you may find alternate options to find European flights which are less expensive.
Incognito is generally better when looking for flights. Incognito ensures that search websites cannot collect on your cookies and use your search history to decide on pricing. Like always, once you start your search, each next search on incognito will have an assumption that it is your first time searching for low-cost flights in Europe. This will help ensure that on your very next serach of flights is not affected in price by your search history.
Set price alerts on platforms like Google Flights
To make sure you’re maximizing your chances of getting a great price on low-cost flights in Europe, use price alerts. Many sites like Google Flights allow you to set up price alerts for particular routes and dates. This way, you’ll be alerted when there’s a price drop so you don’t lose the opportunity for a good deal!
When setting up your alerts, be as flexible as you can with dates. Often just shifting your trip by a day or two can make a significant difference in price. Also, don’t be afraid to set alerts for nearby airports. Sometimes the price of flying into or flying out of nearby locations can offer a better price.
Leverage student/youth discount platforms
If you’re a student (or a young traveller!), you’re sitting on a treasure trove of discounts for flights in Europe. StudentUniverse, STA Travel and ISIC (International Student Identity Card) are just three of the platforms showcasing discount flights, accommodation and experiences in Europe.
Even if you’re not a student, some of these platforms will offer youth discounts to travellers under 26 or 30, so always make sure to check for these before booking your low-cost flights in Europe.
As long as you’re keeping these pro tips at your disposal, mixed with your knowledge of low-cost routes and the best time to book, you’ll find a whole lot of cost savings on your European travel experience.
In Summary
Keep in mind that the benefits of low-cost flights throughout Europe aren’t just about saving money, but expanding your options for travel! Combining tips and strategies in this guide about using Wizz Air and Ryanair, or booking in the “Goldilocks Window” – are just some helpful reminders for getting the best deals on flights within Europe, especially in 2025 and beyond!
Be flexible with your dates, set price alerts, don’t be afraid to visit less-touristy places or even use secondary airports! With the support of tools such as Going (Scott’s Cheap Flights) and off-peak travel creative ideas you can make your well-deserved European dream a reality and not bankrupt you.
So pack your bags, enjoy the thrill of travelling on a budget, and go explore all of the amazing places and experiences in Europe, without spending a fortune! Your next adventure awaits you, and it will never be easier to afford it than now!
