Cheap flights to Europe

Peak season

Europe’s climate varies drastically from the north of the continent to the south, and each country has it’s own particular peak tourist seasons. But as a general rule, the long summer holiday months of June through to August see many European’s on the move across the continent during their annual holidays. You can expect crowds at many of the major tourist sights, as well as inflated hotel and flight ticket prices.

There is another sharp peak in tourist numbers and accommodation prices over the Christmas/New Year period as travellers from across Europe soak up the festive atmosphere in neighbouring countries.

Off season

Apart from Christmas and New Year, the cold, rainy winter months of December through to February see far fewer tourist numbers across Europe. While some attractions and tourist sights close down for the season, you will benefit from some good hotel and flight deals if you are willing to brave the chilly conditions.

Spring and autumn are both favourable times to visit Europe, with milder weather and the majority of other tourists still at work. If you can time your travel for either May or September, these are both ideal months across much of Europe, with warm temperatures, relatively little rain, and some reduced accommodation and flight deals.

Which airlines operate flights to Europe?

The most direct route for flights to Europe from Auckland is with Air New Zealand, connecting in either Houston or Vancouver, then continuing on with Air France, British Airways or KLM, depending on your destination. From Christchurch, the best deals on flights to Europe are via Singapore with Singapore Airlines or via Guangzhou with China Southern. If you are looking for flight tickets from other New Zealand cities to Europe, then your best option is to connect through either Auckland or Christchurch first. Alternatively, there are sometimes good deals available if you fly to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane first, then connect through to Abu Dhabi with Etihad or Emirates.

How to get from the airport to the city centre?

Europe’s main international airports include London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Istanbul Ataturk and Amsterdam Schiphol. All of these airports offer a range of ground transportation options to get you to your city accommodation.

Most offer fast and efficient rail services that will whisk you from the airport into the inner city, avoiding the traffic-clogged streets. While you may have to connect onto other trains or buses to get to your final destination, this is usually one of the cheapest means of ground transportation.

Shuttle bus services are another economical way to get from your European airport to downtown accommodation. Some of these are door-to-door services while others will drop you at designated city destinations. But they all generally offer good luggage stowage and guaranteed seats, something that the public transport options don’t always provide.

The most hassle-free, but expensive, means of getting from most European airports into the city centre is with a metered taxi, which usually wait in designated ranks just outside the airport terminal buildings.

If you are planning to self-drive, all of the major European airports offer rental car services, with the best deals available if you book online prior to arrival.

What is the best way to travel around Europe?

When you find your cheap flights to Europe, you may want to consider the best way to get around. If you are spending time in Copenhagen or Amsterdam, hiring a pushbike is an excellent option for getting around the cities and countries, as cycling networks are very advanced and well connected in all regions. Railway services are also very good, affordable and will connect you to all other major European cities. You can also take advantage of cheap budget airline fares when flying to Europe as intercontinental flights are well served by airlines such as Ryanair, Wizz air and EasyJet which will get you there faster.

What are some things to do in Europe?

If you are visiting Portugal, make sure to visit the capital Lisbon and nearby Sintra, which is a World Heritage Cultural site due to its historic palaces, or take a tram ride through Lisbon’s old, cobbled streets. Try a visit to the Silver Coast near to Lisbon which is ideal for water sports and hosts beautiful beaches. In Denmark, take a cycle ride around the city of Copenhagen and view the picturesque harbour of Nyhavn with its colourful houses or take a trip over the Oresund Bridge to neighbouring Malmo in Sweden. Amsterdam is also a must visit for its beautiful canals, bridges and famous art museums.

Europe insider information

• While the name Sarajevo still resonates for some with the war that ripped through the city in the 1990s, the capital of Bosnia is emerging as one of Eastern Europe’s hippest, with an intriguing ancient past and a progressive contemporary culture.
• If you’re heading to France and want to prepare yourself for some of the culinary delights on offer, then check out our list of “8 quirky French foods” for a taste of the more unusual.
• Berlin is one of those European cities that you just have to experience, overflowing with culture, history and artistry. Our guide to “48 hours in Berlin” gives you a glimpse of what awaits.
• Istanbul is a feast for the senses and from enticing drinks to vibrant bazaars and even squat toilets, here’s our pick of “10 Turkish delights in Istanbul”.
• Globe trotters get ready for the ultimate test with our “25 unmissable travel experiences: have you done them all?”, including European destinations such as Italy, Norway, France, the UK and Greece.

How long is the flight to Europe?

Before you start your journey, it is a good idea to compare flights to Europe to find the best deal or flight duration. For example, you can book flights to Europe from Auckland Airport (AKL), New Zealand to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) in the Netherlands with Emirates or Singapore Airlines for a flight duration of around 26-30h. You can choose flights to Europe via Amsterdam either with one stopover in Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) with Singapore Airlines or a stopover in Dubai Airport with Emirates. You can also find cheap flights to Europe via Copenhagen (CPH) and Lisbon (LIS) airports from Auckland Airport with an average flight duration between 26-30h and stopovers in Singapore and Dubai airports, respectively. Flights to Europe are also available from Christchurch (CHC) and Wellington (WLG) Airports to Copenhagen Kastrup Airport between 29-33h, both with two stopovers in Auckland and Singapore airports.

What do I need to do before my flight to Europe?

When you book flights to Europe, a visa is not necessary for stays of up to 90 days. However, a travel authorisation (ETIAS) will be required shortly to enter all countries in the Schengen Zone. This can be applied for online with a valid passport and can be used for up to three years for stays of up to 90 days each visit in a 180-day time frame. If you are going to be doing a lot of rail travel, the OMIO app is very useful for updated timetables and ticket purchases. Equally, the Skyscanner app is also very useful to find budget airfares for Europe flight deals. You may find an international bank card useful which can exchange to Euros for low commission rates.