✈️ What Is the Cheapest European City to Fly Into from the USA?
The cheapest European city to fly into from the United States depends on season, departure airport, and airline competition. However, based on long-term airfare trends and historical deal data, a few cities consistently rank as the lowest-cost entry points to Europe.
💰 #1 Cheapest Overall: Reykjavík, Iceland (KEF)
Reykjavík (KEF) is frequently the cheapest transatlantic destination from the U.S., especially from East Coast airports.
- Roundtrip fares often start at $199–$349
- Shorter flight distance compared to mainland Europe
- Strong competition from budget-friendly transatlantic carriers
Airfare search tools like Google Flights and Skyscanner frequently show KEF as the lowest-priced European destination.
💶 Cheapest Major European Cities
🇮🇪 Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
- Common roundtrip fares: $399–$599
- Heavy competition from U.S. and European airlines
- Excellent hub for onward budget flights across Europe
🇪🇸 Madrid, Spain (MAD)
- Typical fares: $449–$599
- Large airport with high flight volume
- Good connections to Southern Europe
🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain (BCN)
- Average fares: $479–$629
- Strong competition from transatlantic and EU carriers
🇵🇹 Lisbon, Portugal (LIS)
- Common fares: $459–$619
- Often cheaper than Paris or Rome
- Great hub for Iberia and Western Europe
📅 Best Time to Find the Cheapest Europe Flights
- Cheapest months: January, February, late October, November
- Best booking window: 2–4 months in advance
- Best days to fly: Tuesday–Wednesday departures
🧠 Airline & Booking Hacks
- Search one-way fares separately for better combinations
- Check nearby U.S. departure airports for price differences
- Fly into a cheap hub city, then continue with low-cost European airlines
- Set price alerts on KAYAK
💡 Bottom Line
Reykjavík (KEF) is usually the absolute cheapest European city to fly into from the USA. For travelers who want a major European capital with strong onward connections, Dublin (DUB), Madrid (MAD), Barcelona (BCN), and Lisbon (LIS) offer the best balance of low airfare and accessibility.