Europe has one of the most competitive low-cost airline markets in the world, making it genuinely possible to hop from London to Lisbon for under €20 or fly Barcelona to Warsaw for the price of a decent dinner. But not all budget carriers are equal — some nickel-and-dime you with fees that dwarf the base fare, while others offer genuine value if you know how to book smart.
Ryanair: The King of Cheap Fares
Ryanair carries more international passengers than any airline in Europe, and their prices are hard to beat. Routes from Dublin, London Stansted, and dozens of secondary airports hit destinations across Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, and beyond. The catch? Ryanair charges separately for almost everything: checked bags cost €10–€40 depending on the route, priority boarding runs €6–€10, and reserved seats add another €4–€15.
For more on this topic, see our guide on how to use google flights to find cheap last-minute deals.The trick with Ryanair is to travel with only a personal item (40×20×25 cm, must fit under the seat), book directly on ryanair.com to avoid third-party markups, and sign up for their email list to catch flash sales — they regularly run €0.99 promotional fares on select routes.
easyJet: Best Balance of Price and Experience
easyJet strikes a better balance between cost and comfort than Ryanair. They fly to primary airports more often — think London Gatwick instead of Luton, or Amsterdam Schiphol rather than Eindhoven. Their seat pitch averages about 29 inches, which is tight but manageable on a two-hour hop.
easyJet's FLEXI fares are worth considering for trips booked far in advance, since they allow free seat changes and refunds. For budget-focused travel, the standard fare with a free cabin bag (56×45×25 cm) covering most routes is genuinely competitive, typically €25–€60 one-way across Western Europe.
Wizz Air: The Best Value for Eastern Europe
If your destination is anywhere in Central or Eastern Europe — Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, or the Balkans — Wizz Air is frequently the cheapest option on the market. Their network extends from the UK and Western Europe deep into ex-Soviet countries, with fares regularly under £20 on UK routes.
Wizz Air's WIZZ Discount Club (around €40/year) is worth it if you fly them more than twice annually, cutting base fares by up to 40%. Their Wizz Go bundle (cabin bag + checked bag + seat selection) makes sense for trips longer than a long weekend.
Vueling: Best for Spain and Southern Europe
Owned by IAG (the same group as British Airways and Iberia), Vueling punches above its budget-carrier weight. They dominate secondary routes in Spain — particularly from Barcelona El Prat — and connect Southern France, Italy, and Morocco at prices that undercut legacy carriers significantly. A Barcelona–Rome flight typically runs €35–€65 outside peak season.
Transavia: Best for France and the Netherlands
Transavia, the low-cost subsidiary of Air France-KLM, serves over 100 destinations from Paris Orly, Paris CDG, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. Their pricing is transparent — one included cabin bag, no surprise fees for printing boarding passes — and their on-time record is better than most pure budget operators.
How to Find the Cheapest Fares in 2026
- Book Tuesday–Thursday: Budget airlines typically release new sales midweek. Fares are consistently higher on Fridays and Sundays.
- Use Google Flights for route discovery: The "Explore" map lets you see the cheapest destinations from your home airport on any given weekend.
- Set fare alerts: Skyscanner and Hopper both offer price alert notifications — set them at least 6–8 weeks before your planned travel date.
- Fly into secondary airports: London has six commercial airports. Flying into Luton or Southend is almost always cheaper than Heathrow, but factor in the train or bus into the city centre.
- Avoid peak travel weeks: European school holidays — especially late July through August and the two weeks around Christmas — see budget fares triple. Aim for May–June or September–October for the best combination of weather and price.
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
The sticker price is rarely the final price with budget carriers. Before completing a booking, always check: checked baggage fees, cabin bag policies (Ryanair now charges for bags that go in the overhead bin), seat selection charges, online check-in deadlines (missing them can add €40–€55 per person), and airport check-in fees.
A useful rule of thumb: if the base fare is under €30, budget an additional €15–€25 in fees for a standard trip with a small carry-on. If the fare is €50+, the add-on costs become less significant as a percentage.
Bottom Line
For Western European routes, easyJet and Ryanair split the market and between them cover almost every worthwhile city pair. For Eastern Europe, Wizz Air is unbeatable on price. And if you're flying within the Iberian Peninsula or to North Africa, Vueling and Transavia deserve a look before you default to a legacy carrier.
In 2026, a well-planned budget traveler can realistically fly anywhere in Europe for under €100 return, including all fees, with two to three weeks of advance booking. That leaves the real travel budget where it belongs — on experiences at the destination.