10 Cheapest European Cities to Fly to From the U.S. in 2027
We compared return fares from New York, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles to find ten European cities that currently offer some of the cheapest ways across the Atlantic.
By Manyflights
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Fare snapshot: Return economy fares for February 2027 from New York, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles, researched in September 2026.
A cheap flight to Europe depends almost as much on where you leave the U.S. as where you land. New York produced several sub-$400 fares in our research, while Dallas was often hundreds of dollars more expensive for the same city. The useful question is not simply which European destination has the lowest advertised fare.
We compared the same destinations from four major U.S. origins instead. Barcelona was particularly strong across the board, while cities such as Madrid, Dublin and Prague became dramatically cheaper from specific airports. That difference can matter more than choosing between neighbouring destinations in Europe.
Cheapest European cities to fly to from the U.S.
Return economy fares in USD from New York, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles
Destination
New York
Chicago
Dallas
Los Angeles
Barcelona, Spain
$295
$415
$598
$542
Madrid, Spain
$298
$493
$591
$541
Dublin, Ireland
$403
$462
$527
$535
Prague, Czech Republic
$390
$502
$605
$479
Zurich, Switzerland
$445
$491
$550
$472
Milan, Italy
$455
$479
$571
$476
Paris, France
$442
$468
$609
$477
London, United Kingdom
$392
$477
$663
$494
Copenhagen, Denmark
$471
$457
$616
$469
Rome, Italy
$419
$426
$593
$580
Barcelona and Madrid produced the lowest individual fares in the entire comparison, both dropping below $300 from New York. But Spain was not equally cheap from everywhere. Dallas fares were roughly twice as high.
The western U.S. did better than expected on several northern European routes. Los Angeles came close to New York and Chicago for Zurich, Copenhagen and Milan, despite the much longer transatlantic journey.
Dallas was consistently the most expensive origin in this snapshot. That does not mean Texans should ignore Europe deals, but it does mean the cheapest gateway from New York may not be the smartest destination to search from Dallas.
1. Barcelona, Spain
From New York$295
From Chicago$415
From Dallas$598
From Los Angeles$542
Barcelona produced the lowest fare in the entire dataset, with New York dipping below $300 return. Chicago was also unusually competitive at $415, while Los Angeles and Dallas were noticeably higher.
The city works especially well as a cheap European gateway because arriving in Barcelona does not lock you into a Barcelona-only trip. Madrid is connected by high-speed rail, southern France is within reach, and the Mediterranean coast gives you plenty of options without another transatlantic-style airport day.
The trade-off is accommodation. Barcelona can be expensive during busy periods, so a remarkably cheap flight can still lead to an ordinary-priced holiday once hotels are added.
Best for: Spain and Mediterranean trips that start with the lowest possible transatlantic fare.
2. Madrid, Spain
From New York$298
From Chicago$493
From Dallas$591
From Los Angeles$541
Madrid came within three dollars of Barcelona from New York. At that point, airfare should probably not decide which Spanish city you choose.
The difference becomes larger elsewhere. Chicago was just under $500, while Dallas and Los Angeles moved into the mid-$500 range. Madrid is still competitive, but the extraordinary value is concentrated on the East Coast.
Once there, Spain's high-speed rail network makes Madrid an unusually practical starting point. Seville, Córdoba, Valencia and Barcelona can all fit into a wider itinerary without adding internal flights.
Best for: travellers who want Spain to be the centre of the trip rather than simply the arrival point.
3. Dublin, Ireland
From New York$403
From Chicago$462
From Dallas$527
From Los Angeles$535
Dublin was one of the most consistent cities in the research. All four origins stayed within a relatively narrow range, from $403 in New York to $535 in Los Angeles.
That matters because some destinations on this list are cheap only if you happen to live near the right airport. Dublin looks more broadly accessible.
Ireland itself can fill an entire trip, but Dublin also works if Britain is next. The limitation is onward travel into continental Europe. Unlike Paris, Milan or Zurich, continuing east usually means another flight rather than simply getting on a train.
Accommodation is the other caveat. Dublin hotel prices can turn an inexpensive airfare into a much less inexpensive weekend.
Best for: Ireland trips and travellers who want a relatively consistent fare from different parts of the U.S.
4. Prague, Czech Republic
From New York$390
From Chicago$502
From Dallas$605
From Los Angeles$479
Prague is one of the more interesting gateways because the airfare and the cost after landing can both work in your favour.
New York dropped to around $390 return, and Los Angeles was still below $500. Chicago was roughly $100 higher than New York, while Dallas again had the weakest fare.
Prague also puts you in a useful part of Europe. Vienna, Dresden, Berlin and other Central European cities can fit naturally into a rail itinerary. Compared with gateways such as Zurich or Amsterdam, accommodation and eating out can also be easier on the budget.
This is one of the few cities where a cheap flight has a reasonable chance of turning into a genuinely cheaper European trip.
Best for: travellers who want Central Europe without Western European ground costs.
5. Zurich, Switzerland
From New York$445
From Chicago$491
From Dallas$550
From Los Angeles$472
Zurich is the warning label for the phrase "cheap trip."
The airfare itself was excellent. Every origin in the comparison stayed at $550 or below, and Los Angeles came in at just $472. That makes Zurich one of the most consistently affordable airports in the dataset.
Switzerland after landing is another matter. Hotels, restaurants and everyday travel can be significantly more expensive than in Spain, Italy or Central Europe.
The reason Zurich still belongs here is connectivity. It can work as a starting point for Switzerland, northern Italy, eastern France or southern Germany. A cheap flight to an expensive city can still be useful when the city is a gateway rather than the entire holiday.
Best for: travellers who find a low fare and plan to explore Switzerland or neighbouring countries.
6. Milan, Italy
From New York$455
From Chicago$479
From Dallas$571
From Los Angeles$476
Milan was remarkably stable across three of the four origins. New York, Chicago and Los Angeles were separated by only $24, all below $480 return. Dallas was higher, but still below $600.
That makes Milan more interesting than a destination with one spectacular fare and three mediocre ones.
The bigger advantage is northern Italy. Lake Como, Turin, Bologna and Verona are straightforward additions, while Florence and Venice are easy enough to incorporate into a longer trip.
Milan itself does not have to be the reason you book the ticket. Sometimes the cheapest flight to Italy is useful precisely because you can leave the arrival city by train.
Best for: northern Italy and multi-city Italian itineraries.
7. Paris, France
From New York$442
From Chicago$468
From Dallas$609
From Los Angeles$477
Paris is one of the few cities on this list where you do not have to choose between a cheap gateway and a major destination.
New York, Chicago and Los Angeles all came in below $480 return. Dallas was considerably more expensive at $609, continuing the pattern we saw across much of the comparison.
Paris also gives the airfare extra value if you plan to move on. Belgium, London, the Netherlands and other parts of France are all realistic additions by rail.
The catch will surprise nobody: Paris itself is not cheap. Accommodation can easily cost more than the airfare if the dates are wrong.
Best for: first-time Europe trips where the arrival city needs to be a major destination too.
8. London, United Kingdom
From New York$392
From Chicago$477
From Dallas$663
From Los Angeles$494
London dropped below $400 return from New York, making it one of the cheapest individual transatlantic fares in the research. Chicago and Los Angeles were also below $500.
Dallas was the exception at $663. That $271 difference from New York is a useful reminder that a headline fare is not a national fare.
London has enormous practical value once you arrive. It can anchor a full UK trip, or you can continue to Paris, Brussels and beyond without another long-haul flight.
The expensive part begins after immigration. Hotels, transport and meals can quickly overwhelm a cheap ticket, so London is better described as cheap to reach than cheap to visit.
Best for: UK trips and travellers prioritising connectivity over low daily costs.
9. Copenhagen, Denmark
From New York$471
From Chicago$457
From Dallas$616
From Los Angeles$469
Copenhagen breaks one pattern in the table: New York was not the cheapest origin.
Chicago led at $457, while Los Angeles and New York were only slightly higher. Dallas again sat well above the other three.
For travellers interested in Scandinavia, Copenhagen is particularly useful because Denmark is only part of the story. Malmö is just across the water in Sweden, and rail connections can take the trip farther north without another flight.
Like Zurich, Copenhagen comes with a ground-cost warning. The airfare may be cheap, but Denmark is not where you go to make every restaurant bill disappear.
Best for: Scandinavia trips where the flight price matters more than low daily spending.
10. Rome, Italy
From New York$419
From Chicago$426
From Dallas$593
From Los Angeles$580
Rome was particularly strong from the eastern half of the country. New York and Chicago were almost identical at $419 and $426 return.
Los Angeles and Dallas were much higher, both close to $600. For West Coast travellers, Milan was clearly the more attractive Italian gateway in this snapshot.
But Milan and Rome solve different problems. If the trip is centred on Rome, Naples or southern Italy, saving money by landing in Milan can create extra travel cost and wasted time later.
The cheapest flight is not always the cheapest itinerary.
Best for: Rome, Naples and trips focused on central or southern Italy.
Which European city should you fly to from the U.S.?
For the lowest fare we found: Barcelona or Madrid from New York.
From New York: Barcelona, Madrid, Prague and London were particularly strong.
From Chicago: Barcelona and Rome stood out, with Copenhagen also surprisingly competitive.
From Dallas: Dublin and Zurich were among the better options in a generally more expensive market.
From Los Angeles: Copenhagen, Zurich, Milan, Paris and Prague all came in below $500.
For Spain: Barcelona for the Mediterranean side, Madrid for a wider rail itinerary.
For Italy: Milan is stronger for northern Italy, Rome for central and southern Italy.
For Central Europe: Prague combines competitive airfare with lower costs after landing.
For maximum rail flexibility: Paris, Milan and Zurich.
For a cheap flight but expensive stay: Zurich, Copenhagen and London need extra budget discipline.
The table makes one thing clear: there is no universal cheapest city in Europe for every American airport.
Sometimes the difference between New York and Dallas is larger than the difference between two European destinations. Before choosing where to go, it is worth comparing several European gateways from your own airport rather than relying on a national headline fare.
The cheapest flight should open up the trip, not dictate it.
Quick answers
In our February 2027 fare snapshot, Barcelona had the lowest individual fare at around $295 return from New York, followed by Madrid at around $298. The cheapest destination changes significantly depending on the U.S. departure city and travel dates.
Barcelona and Madrid were the two cheapest cities in our New York comparison, at roughly $295 and $298 return. Prague and London also appeared below $400.
Barcelona had the lowest Chicago fare in our selected destinations at around $415 return, followed closely by Rome at $426. Oslo and Stockholm also produced low fares during the broader research, although they were not included in the final ten.
Dublin was the lowest of the ten selected destinations from Dallas at around $527 return, followed by Zurich at $550 and Milan at $571. Dallas was generally the most expensive of the four U.S. origins in this snapshot.
Copenhagen was the lowest fare among our selected cities at around $469 return. Zurich, Milan, Paris and Prague were all below $480 or very close to it.
It can be. Cities such as Milan, Paris, Zurich and Prague offer useful rail connections to other destinations. But a cheaper airfare is only worthwhile if the onward train, additional hotel nights and travel time do not erase the saving.
