A month-by-month guide to the cheapest flights to international destinations
Quick summary
Airfare prices change regularly throughout the year, but if you know where to look, it's possible to find a bargain to even the most popular destinations — especially if you're able to be flexible with your travel dates.
TPG reached out to Skyscanner to trawl through their vast amount of airfare data and give you a comprehensive look at the destinations around the world that typically cost less to fly to. Whether you're looking to depart from the United States or from the United Kingdom, plenty of sweet spots can be found.
Below are destinations that are consistently priced low throughout the year and destinations that regularly pop up with cheaper airfares during specific months.
*All pricing taken from economy class, round-trip bookings made on Skyscanner for travel in 2022.
Related: Best credit cards for booking airfare
Which destinations are the cheapest to fly to year-round?
| Destinations departing from the U.K. | Average return flight in economy | Destinations departing from the U.S. | Average return flight in economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodez, France | 25 British pounds | Toronto, Canada | $264.16 |
| Maastricht, the Netherlands | 36 British pounds | San Juan, Puerto Rico | $274.32 |
| Nimes, France | 42 British pounds | Nassau, Bahamas | $288.29 |
| Santander, Spain | 46 British pounds | Vancouver, Canada | $311.15 |
| Cork, Ireland | 52 British pounds | Guadalarajara, Mexico | $313.69 |
| Terceira Lajes, Portugal | 53 British pounds | Montreal, Canada | $325.12 |
| La Rochelle, France | 54 British pounds | Cancun, Mexico | $328.93 |
| Billund, Denmark | 55 British pounds | Medellin, Colombia | $339.09 |
| Trapani, Sicily | 58 British pounds | Bogota, Colombia | $354.33 |
| Eindhoven, the Netherlands | 59 British pounds | Mexico City, Mexico | $354.33 |
While certain destinations can be cheaper on average throughout the whole year, others fluctuate, and not always in the ways you might think.
For example, if you're based in the U.S. and dream of flying to Europe for your next vacation, the best prices for most European locations were in April, May and June, according to Skyscanner's data on the average cost of a return economy flight. This is true, according to that data, even though this time is normally considered a peak travel time for the region and coincides with the U.K. school holidays.
However, while you may be able to pick up cheaper airfare during this time, prices for hotels and attractions may be higher during these periods.
Meanwhile, the average return flights to London were at their lowest at the beginning of the year, between January and March. Note this can be a notoriously drizzly and cold time to visit the U.K. capital (though, let's face it, England isn't really known for its great weather at the best of times).
The next cheapest period to visit London from the U.S. was perhaps surprisingly between October and December. Again, this is during the colder months, but still great news for those looking for a potential Christmas escape to take advantage of some of the Thanksgiving and fall breaks in the U.S.
For travelers based in the U.K., we found airfares to destinations in Italy to be consistently among the top 10 cheapest throughout the year. Despite its popularity among British travelers, Greece didn't break the top 10 once for the cheapest average airfares.
Related: These are the best times to book airfare
Cheapest places to fly from January through March
| Destinations departing from the U.K. | Average return flight in economy | Destinations departing from the U.S. | Average return flight in economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eindhoven, the Netherlands | 23 British pounds | San Juan, Puerto Rico | $254 |
| Palermo, Sicily | 31 British pounds | Mexico City, Mexico | $294.64 |
| Milan, Italy | 33 British pounds | Cancun, Mexico | $318.77 |
| Riga, Latvia | 35 British pounds | San Jose, Philippines | $318.77 |
| Naples, Italy | 36 British pounds | Lima, Peru | $419.10 |
| Pisa, Italy | 39 British pounds | Madrid, Spain | $556.26 |
| Palma, Spain | 40 British pounds | Paris, France | $614.68 |
| Krakow, Poland | 43 British pounds | London, U.K. | $688.34 |
| Cork, Ireland | 44 British pounds | Manila, Philippines | $1,197.61 |
| Venice, Italy | 44 British pounds | New Delhi, India | $1,022.35 |
Traveling from the US
January through March saw the lowest average prices of the year for flights departing the U.S. to London and Paris, with the French capital coming in a smidgen cheaper to get to. If you take advantage of the convenient Eurostar links between these two European cities, you could easily hit both of these destinations during this period for less than you'd pay any other time.
Related: The best hotels in London
If you decide to do both, we suggest returning to the U.S. from Paris to avoid the U.K.'s notoriously high fees and taxes on airfares.
Average airfare prices to Puerto Rico from the U.S. were among the cheapest during these months in 2022. January is also an ideal time to visit Puerto Rico, thanks to the dryer winter months with moderate temperatures and far less rainfall than you'll see during other times in the year.
Closer to home, this period is also a great time to visit Mexico, where you can enjoy much dryer and cooler temperatures.
Traveling from the UK
If you don't mind wrapping up to stay warm, you can bag plenty of great deals to Europe departing the U.K., but be warned that some places can be chilly during the winter months.
For example, Eindhoven, the Netherlands, can see temperatures dropping as low as 34 Fahrenheit (1.3 Celsius) in January and only just peaking over 50 Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) in March.
Riga, Latvia, sees even lower temperatures, regularly plummetting to around 24 Fahrenheit (-5 Celsius) between January and February and peaking at around 33 Fahrenheit (1 Celsius) in March.
If you're looking for sun, Palma, Mallorca, is your best bet. The first months of the year generally still see days filled with sunshine. It won't necessarily be hot enough to top up your tan and enjoy a beach break, though — temperatures mainly float around the 61 Fahrenheit (16 Celsius) mark.
Cheapest places to fly from April through June
| Destinations departing from the U.K. | Average return flight in economy | Destinations departing from the U.S. | Average return flight in economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodez, France | 12 British pounds | Toronto, Canada | $270.51 |
| Trapani, Sicily | 32 British pounds | San Juan, Puerto Rico | $284.48 |
| Santander, Spain | 36 British pounds | Mexico City, Mexico | $307.34 |
| Pescara, Italy | 44 British pounds | Cancun, Mexico | $334.01 |
| Billund, Denmark | 44 British pounds | Barcelona, Spain | $664.21 |
| Cork, Ireland | 52 British pounds | Lisbon, Portugal | $688.34 |
| Eindhoven, The Netherlands | 52 British pounds | Paris, France | $768.35 |
| Genoa, Italy | 57 British pounds | Tokyo, Japan | $829.31 |
| Milan, Italy | 59 British pounds | Madrid, Spain | $840.74 |
| Zadar, Croatia | 62 British pounds | London, U.K. | $887.73 |
Traveling from the US
If you're considering a European vacation, these months pulled up cheaper airfares than any other, according to Skyscanner data, with good average prices for Spain, France, Portugal and the U.K. While each of these locations will begin seeing sunnier weather throughout June, you can still expect blues skies and bouts of sunshine during April too.
It is, however, worth doing some research before you book — U.K. schools break for Easter in the first half of April and again at the beginning of June for the summer half-term break. During these times, you can expect many European locations to be busy with family vacations and often see soaring accommodation prices. If you can, we'd recommend booking outside of these weeks to save on both money and time spent queuing due to increased numbers of other tourists.
Looking for something more far-flung? Tokyo has great average airfare prices during the spring, and if you time it properly, you could also witness Japan's beautiful cherry blossom season, which typically peaks in early April.
Traveling from the UK
This is one of the prime times to visit Italy and take in the sights before its summer hits full throttle in July, bringing with it almost prohibitively high temperatures. Visits between April and June are perfect for soaking up the sun, alfresco dining and diving into this country's rich history.
Sicily, in particular, is excellent at this time of the year. However, note that it might get a little too hot for some as June approaches, especially if this year's wildfires and extreme weather are anything to go by.
If Dubrovnik, Croatia, has been on your list for some time but now feels a little too in vogue and expensive, you could also get good prices on flights to Zadar. This charming seaside city is situated on the Dalmatian Coast and is known for its fantastic restaurant and dining scene, with an array of stunning nearby national parks.
Related: 13 of the most beautiful villages and towns in Sicily
Cheapest places to fly from July through September
| Destinations departing from the U.K. | Average return flight in economy | Destinations departing from the U.S. | Average return flight in economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodez, France | 31 British pounds | Toronto, Canada | $267.97 |
| Cork, Ireland | 55 British pounds | San Juan, Puerto Rico | $309.88 |
| Billund, Denmark | 67 British pounds | Mexico City, Mexico | $339.09 |
| Dublin, Ireland | 67 British pounds | Bogota, Colombia | $345.44 |
| Knock, Ireland | 68 British pounds | Cancun, Mexico | $354.33 |
| Eindhoven, The Netherlands | 68 British pounds | Lima, Peru | $556.26 |
| Trapani, Sicily | 80 British pounds | Barcelona, Spain | $717.55 |
| Shannon, Ireland | 82 British pounds | Sao Paulo, Brazil | $744.22 |
| Milan, Italy | 85 British pounds | Milan, Italy | $786.13 |
| Bremen, Germany | 87 British pounds | Madrid, Spain | $824.23 |
Traveling from the US
For those yearning to visit Canada outside of its harsh winter periods, July through September can be an ideal time to enjoy a summer vacation. Toronto bursts to life during the Toronto Jazz Festival and Toronto Fringe Festival in July — perfect for culture vultures.
You can get good prices on flights to Mexico between July and September. While these months bring slightly cooler and more comfortable temperatures, they also mark Mexico's rainy season, typically from late August to September.
Conversely, if you've always had Peru on your bucket list, this can be a great time to visit.
It's the country's driest season — fantastic conditions if you plan to hike to Machu Picchu. According to Skyscanner's data, you can typically find good prices on flights to Peru during these months. However, note that if you plan to travel to Machu Picchu from Lima, you must either get a connecting flight to Cusco or take a long bus ride.
Traveling from the UK
September can be one of the best periods to visit Ireland during its shoulder season. Along with good deals on airfare, you'll also typically see cheaper accommodation costs and fewer crowds. The weather can also be fairly mild during these months with good dry spells, though it likely won't be shorts and T-shirt weather.
Mid-August through to September also sees much milder weather in Italy and can be a preferable month to visit than July and August, which are the hottest months of the year and the most crowded with tourists.
Elsewhere in Europe, July onward is a great time to take advantage of good weather in France.
According to Skyscanner data, Rodez, France, is one of the cheapest places on average to fly to from the U.K. during these months. It also sees high temperatures and lots of sunshine. The mercury is typically around 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius) in July and August before dropping off to a more manageable 69.8 Fahrenheit (21 Celsius) average in September.
Cheapest places to fly from October through December
| Destinations departing from the U.K. | Average return flight in economy | Destinations departing from the U.S. | Average return flight in economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eindhoven, the Netherlands | 23 British pounds | Toronto, Canada | $262.89 |
| Palermo, Sicily | 31 British pounds | San Juan, Puerto Rico | $321.31 |
| Milan, Italy | 33 British pounds | Reykjavik, Iceland | $383.54 |
| Riga, Latvia | 35 British pounds | Cancun, Mexico | $387.35 |
| Naples, Italy | 36 British pounds | Guadalajara, Mexico | $419.10 |
| Pisa, Italy | 39 British pounds | Bogota, Colombia | $426.72 |
| Palma, Spain | 40 British pounds | Mexico City, Mexico | $437.71 |
| Krakow, Poland | 43 British pounds | Barcelona, Spain | $676.91 |
| Cork, Ireland | 44 British pounds | London, U.K. | $791.21 |
| Venice, Italy | 44 British pounds | Sao Paulo, Brazil | $817.88 |
Traveling from the US
There are great prices on airfares to Mexico from October through December, and these months are also a particularly intriguing time to visit.
Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations typically take place Nov. 1-2. The festival is an opportunity to honor deceased family members, and there is a wide array of celebrations throughout Mexico, making this a memorable and enlightening time to visit and learn about Mexican traditions.
If you keep your eyes peeled, it's also possible to get low-priced airfares to Iceland, allowing for a festive visit to Reykavik to take in the snow alongside a healthy jolt of Christmas spirit.
Visit London to see the city decorated for the festivities as it gears up for the holidays and New Year celebrations. Sure, it'll be cold and the weather occasionally unwieldy, but it's a magical time to visit the U.K. capital.
Related: These are the best Christmas markets in Europe
Traveling from the UK
For U.K. travelers looking for an affordable winter getaway, cast your eyes toward Italy, where the weather, though much milder than in the earlier months of the year, is still quite the contrast to the climate at home if you pick the right destination.
For example, Sicily will feel much closer to the U.K. spring weather. Other areas, such as Milan or Venice, won't be quite as warm but still make for great locations for romantic winter getaways on the continent.
Bottom line
While airfare prices fluctuate, they don't always follow the expected patterns you might guess. Based on Skyscanner's data from last year, you might be surprised by how much cheaper certain destinations in some months compared to others — especially airfares to Europe from the United States during summer when one might expect higher costs.
Similarly, from the U.K., Italy is generally fairly cheap to fly to if you look in the right places. By looking further afield to places like Rodez, France, or Zadar in Croatia, you might even visit somewhere that's commonly overlooked by other tourists wishing to visit better-known cities such as Paris or Dubrovnik.
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- The 18 best places to travel in 2023
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- 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
- 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without