Cheapest time to travel to Europe from Australia

Explore cobblestone streets without paying the price (and without the crowds!).

If you’re jealous of all those instagram shots of your friends having the time of their life in the European summer, you probably won’t be so jealous of what they’re paying for it. But, luckily you can still have an incredible sojourn to Europe without emptying your bank account.

Our latest Europe deals so you can get the cheapest trip

When is the cheapest time to travel to Europe?

In general, the European winter months, when it’s the coldest and the days are the shortest, are when you’re most likely to get the best deals to Europe. These fall from November to February. (We know, we know, it does mean missing some of the peak Aussie summer months!)

The exception to this is the few weeks from mid-December to mid-January. There are also plenty of expats flying back to Europe from Australia for Christmas. There’s also the school holidays.

Cheapest time to fly to Europe from Australia

Let’s look at pricing data for a few routes between Australian cities and European ones from flight aggregator Kayak. While the two charts below look super similar, they are in fact different. One displays average prices between Sydney and London, while the other looks at Perth and Paris.

Asides from Christmastime, there’s generally less demand for flights from Australia during the winter months, and prices drop.

While the data above shows average prices found on the aggregator, we wanted to do some research ourselves and went straight to the airlines.

First, we looked at flights to Europe with Qatar Airways

We looked at Qatar flights between Melbourne and Barcelona in July 2024 November 2024. They were mostly the same price in November, about $2,000 return. Then we looked at prices in July. Ouch. Those same flights from Melbourne to Barcelona are now $3,242. That’s more than $1,200 cheaper to fly in November instead of July.

Second, we looked at flights to Europe with Qantas Airways

For Qantas, we looked at flights between Brisbane and Amsterdam in February compared to August. While the price difference isn’t quite as drastic as the Qatar example above, you can still save $250 per person by flying in the off-season.

Third, we looked at flights to Europe with Emirates

This time, we considered flights between Adelaide and Athens. Fares in June ranged from $2,909 to $3,645. Fly in late October instead (when it’s also one of the best times to visit Mediterranean cities like Rome or Athens) and you can pay up to $700 less.

Check flight prices to Europe from your city

Cheapest time for a Europe cruise

While the winter months may not be the most desirable for a cruise, but depending on where you’re going, you may still be treated to weather in the mid- to high teens.

For example, the average high in places like Sicily in Italy or Crete in Greece, which are both in the southern Mediterranean, range between 15-19 degrees Celsius in the winter.

We’ve just done research here on cruises that are seven nights or longer figuring most Australians wouldn’t travel over for ones much shorter than that.

Looking at all the cheap cruises (other than last-minute departures), the cheapest sailings all depart from October to February . Here’s a few examples:

How much will it cost to travel to Europe at this time?

As in the examples above, you can expect to book a cruise for well under $100 per night in the off season. And, there’s multiple itineraries to choose from at that price too.

While Qantas flights are a favourite amongst Australians, they do tend to me more than other airlines. But, you can still see more than a 20% price difference from November to June.

If you’re just looking for some of the cheapest flights around, then you can probably score flights for $1,000-$1,500 return, depending on where in Australia you’re coming from. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to get them even cheaper. We’ve seen flights to Athens with Scoot go for less than $900 return.

When is the worst time to go to Europe?

There’s so much to see and do in Europe that “worst” really is subjective.

Of course, if you want to hit up the beaches of the Mediterranean and plunge into those clear-blue waters then winter may not be the best time to go.

But, if you’re hoping to wander through the streets of idyllic towns, take in some of the world’s best art at renowned galleries and get a reservation at the continent’s best restaurants, going in the off-season is perfect.

Avid skier? Then December to February are the best months to hit the slopes in the Alps.

When is the best-value time to travel to Europe?

You can get the most out of a European holiday — favourable weather and prices that aren’t too high — by travelling during the shoulder season months of April/May and September/October.

Although prices will be a bit higher than the winter months, there’s definitely perks to paying a bit more, while still avoiding summer rates.

Especially if you’re hoping to check out the stunning Mediterranean beaches, these months can still have temperatures high enough that you’ll still want to take a dip in the water.

You’ll also get longer days during these months than during winter. If you’re in northern Europe or the UK, the days in winter can be quite short, so having those few extra hours can be really helpful for squeezing in extra sightseeing..