A European vacation got pricier this year — but where you land makes all the difference.
The U.S.-Israel war on Iran, which began in late February, roughly doubled jet fuel prices and pushed airlines to cut transatlantic routes and raise fares. Peak-summer round-trip economy fares to marquee capitals like Paris, Rome, Barcelona and London are now running about $1,700 to $2,100, according to airfare deals site Dollar Flight Club.
But the increases haven't hit everywhere evenly. Secondary cities like Stockholm, Sweden; Dublin, Ireland and Porto, Portugal still have summer round-trip fares starting under $570, and in a few cases as low as $350. For budget travelers, the move this summer is to skip the headline cities and fly into the places where geography and competition are keeping fares low.
The cheapest European cities to fly to this summer
Dollar Flight Club tracked summer round-trip economy fares (June through August 2026) across more than 65 U.S. departure airports on June 2. These are the lowest fares it found to each destination (of course, yours will depend on your home airport and travel dates) but they show where the deals are clustering.
| Destination | Airport | Starting roundtrip fare |
|---|---|---|
| Stockholm, Sweden. | ARN. | $350. |
| Dublin, Ireland. | DUB. | $390. |
| Porto, Portugal. | OPO. | $426. |
| Bergen, Norway. | BGO. | $441. |
| Krakow, Poland. | KRK. | $494. |
| Budapest, Hungary. | BUD. | $500. |
| Bologna, Italy. | BLQ. | $506. |
| Venice, Italy. | VCE. | $519. |
| Nice, France. | NCE. | $534. |
| Seville, Spain. | SVQ. | $570. |
Half the list sits in Northern or Eastern Europe, and the rest are second-tier Italian and Iberian gateways rather than the big-name capitals.
Cheaper fares tend to follow shorter flying distances, strong low-cost-carrier competition and lower search demand — the opposite of what's happening at Paris and Rome, where everyone is looking and airlines know it.
How 2026 fares compare to last year
Transatlantic airfare is up sharply. Jet fuel prices have roughly doubled since the war began, and because fuel runs 20% to 30% of an airline's operating costs, carriers have responded by cutting routes, adding surcharges and raising fares. Delta, Air Canada and other carriers have trimmed schedules. Spirit Airlines, squeezed by the same fuel costs, shut down entirely on May 2 — the first major U.S. carrier to fold in 25 years — pulling a major source of low-fare competition out of the market.
These welcome offers could cover your next trip
Annual fee
$95.
$795.
$895.
$325.
Welcome offer
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Terms apply.
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. Terms Apply.
Still not sure?
By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Tricks for traveling cheaply in Europe in 2026
Book at the right time
International flights often have the best prices around 60–90 days out. Avoid peak travel days like Fridays and Sundays, and aim for lower-demand days like Tuesdays or Wednesdays to save.
Be open-minded to long layovers, stopovers and multi-city trips
You don’t necessarily have to spend your European vacation at the city where your transatlantic flight arrives or departs. Those cities might simply be starting and ending points for your trip.
Georgia Fowkes, travel consultant with Altezza Travel and self-described "flight deal hunter" says she once flew from her home in Pittsburgh to São Miguel Island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. A day-long stopover in Boston helped her get there for less money.
“It was a well-planned route with a built-in side trip to Boston,” she says. “I was able to squeeze in a mini-reunion with an old high-school pal… and eat clam chowder.”
She paid $387 for the round-trip flight. Had she not been willing to spend a day in Boston, her flight would have cost nearly $700.
Expand your airport search
Checking nearby departure airports can unlock significantly cheaper fares. For example, flights from Baltimore (BWI) are often cheaper than Washington Dulles (IAD) for travelers in the D.C. area.
Go during shoulder season
Summer is generally a busy time to go to Europe because kids are out of school. Shoulder season, which is the period between the high season and offseason, can offer the best of both worlds, with mild weather and seasonal activities still open.
Consider a late spring or early fall trip to Europe if you're looking for lower prices — and smaller crowds.
Travel by train through Europe
Besides being a bit unconventional with your lodging, transit doesn’t need to be simply traveling by air. Train travel within Europe is more accessible than it is within the U.S. For example, it takes less than two hours to go from Munich to Salzburg, Austria, and you can often find fares for less than $20. You can also ride in sleeper cars, for overnight trips, which could trim your hotel costs.
To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Explore more on
