Some of the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Europe include TAP Air Portugal one‑stop fares from about US$329 to Frankfurt, and round-trip flights to Paris starting around US$420. Prices vary by route, airline, and dates; check flexible dates for best deals.
✈️ Cheapest European Gateway Cities from San Francisco
When flying from San Francisco (SFO) to Europe, certain major hubs consistently offer more competitive prices due to higher traffic and increased airline competition. Targeting these cities as your initial entry point can significantly reduce costs.
- London (LHR/LGW), United Kingdom: A primary transatlantic hub with numerous airlines flying direct or with single stops.
- Dublin (DUB), Ireland: Often a strong contender for budget flights, especially with carriers like Aer Lingus.
- Paris (CDG), France: Another major European capital with extensive flight connections.
- Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands: A well-connected hub known for competitive pricing.
- Oslo (OSL), Norway: As a key destination in Europe, Oslo can sometimes offer surprisingly affordable fares, particularly with airlines focusing on Nordic routes.
- Copenhagen (CPH), Denmark: Similar to Oslo, a Nordic hub with good connections.
- Lisbon (LIS), Portugal & Madrid (MAD), Spain: Southern European gateways that can offer good value, especially with national carriers like TAP Air Portugal or Iberia.
From these major hubs, you can often find cheap connecting flights on budget European airlines to your final destination across the continent.
🌍 Airlines Offering Competitive Fares from San Francisco to Europe
Several airlines consistently offer competitive pricing for flights from SFO to various European destinations. These include a mix of full-service carriers and more budget-focused options.
- Full-Service Carriers (often with sales or specific routes):
- United Airlines: Operates direct flights to major European cities like London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Munich.
- Lufthansa: Strong network to Germany and beyond.
- Air France: Extensive routes to Paris and connections throughout Europe.
- British Airways: Key connections to London.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: Routes to Amsterdam and beyond.
- SAS (Scandinavian Airlines): Excellent for Nordic destinations, including Oslo, Norway, and Copenhagen.
- Aer Lingus: Often provides good value, especially for flights to Dublin.
- TAP Air Portugal: Competitive fares to Lisbon and onward.
- Icelandair / PLAY Airlines: Often offer lower fares by routing through Reykjavik, Iceland, with a stopover.
- Turkish Airlines: Known for competitive prices to Istanbul and extensive connections across Europe and Asia.
- LOT Polish Airlines: Good options for Eastern European destinations and connections.
- Budget-Focused or Hybrid Carriers (often with layovers or specific routes):
- LEVEL: Offers direct flights to Barcelona from SFO.
- Norse Atlantic Airways: (Check current routes) Has offered low-cost transatlantic flights to destinations like London (Gatwick) and Oslo.
- Condor: German leisure airline that can offer good deals to Frankfurt.
💡 Strategies for Finding the Absolute Cheapest Flights
Securing the best deal requires a combination of smart searching and flexibility.
- Book in Advance: For international flights from SFO to Europe, booking 2-4 months ahead generally yields the best prices. Prices tend to rise significantly closer to departure.
- Be Flexible with Dates: Flying mid-week (Tuesday, Wednesday) or during off-peak seasons (late fall, winter - excluding holidays, early spring) is usually cheaper than weekends or peak summer.
- Consider Different Departure/Arrival Airports:
- While SFO is the primary airport, occasionally Oakland (OAK) might offer different or cheaper options, especially for connecting flights.
- For Europe, be open to flying into a slightly less central airport (e.g., London Gatwick instead of Heathrow) if it offers significant savings.
- Utilize Trip.com's Price Alerts: Set up price alerts for your desired routes. Trip.com will notify you when prices drop, allowing you to book at the optimal time.
- Embrace Layovers: Direct flights are convenient but often more expensive. Flights with one or even two layovers (especially if the layovers are strategic, like via Iceland or Dublin) can be significantly cheaper.
- "Open-Jaw" Tickets: Sometimes flying into one European city and out of another can save money and allow you to explore more. For example, fly SFO to Paris, then travel overland and fly back from London to SFO.
- Check Different Airlines: Don't stick to just one airline. Compare prices across various carriers, including those with layovers.
Data was updated on December 22, 2025; please refer to real-time search for specific details.