Three of the Cheapest Gateways to Europe from Canada

Europe can feel expensive before you even leave the house.

Transatlantic flights have a reputation for being a big-ticket item, and for some routes, that reputation is earned. But if you know which cities to target, flying from Canada to Europe doesn't have to break the bank.

A handful of European destinations keep showing up in our flight deal research at prices that genuinely surprise people, and three of them stand out above the rest: Reykjavík, Dublin, and Lisbon.

Here's why these three cities consistently offer some of the most affordable entry points into Europe from Canada, and what kind of prices you can realistically expect.

Note that the deals linked below reflect pricing at the time of writing, and prices may have changed by the time you're reading this.

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Reykjavík, Iceland

Reykjavík, Iceland might seem like an unusual pick for a "cheap gateway," but it has become one of the most affordable transatlantic destinations for Canadians, thanks largely to WestJet's direct routes. WestJet flies direct to Reykjavík from Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg, and those routes produce some of the most reliably low prices we see all year.

Calgary to Reykjavík has been the standout. Over the past several months, we've seen this route priced anywhere from $508 to $695 CAD round trip on WestJet directly, with third-party prices occasionally dipping even lower. Edmonton has seen deals as low as $533 CAD round trip direct. And Winnipeg has been showing up at incredible prices lately, including $554 CAD round trip direct in this week's newsletter, which is $103 less than just last week.

From Toronto and Vancouver, Reykjavík tends to be a bit pricier, but when deals surface with Icelandair, it becomes much more affordable.

Beyond the price, Reykjavík is one of the best gateway cities in Europe. Iceland itself is a bucket-list destination for many Canadians, and Reykjavík also serves as a natural layover hub if you want to continue on to mainland Europe at a lower upfront cost. Note that staying in Iceland is expensive though (albeit, totally worth it if you have the budget).

As a current example from this week's deals (June 1st to 4th, 2026):

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Dublin, Ireland

If Reykjavík is the most surprising entry on this list, Dublin, Ireland is the most consistent.

No destination shows up in our flight deal research more often than Dublin, and the deals tend to be genuinely strong rather than just passable.

Toronto to Dublin is the anchor of this story. WestJet flies direct from Toronto to Dublin, and we have tracked that route at prices ranging from $412 to $599 CAD round trip over many months of monitoring. The $412 deal was the cheapest we've seen, booked through United and Aer Lingus, but WestJet has repeatedly delivered direct prices in the $456 to $559 range, which is excellent for a transatlantic fare.

Halifax is also worth highlighting here. WestJet's direct Halifax to Dublin route is one of the best deals in Atlantic Canada. This week it's showing from $450 CAD round trip direct for select dates in August and September 2026, which is $74 less than just a few days ago. For Haligonians, that's a remarkable price for a direct transatlantic flight.

Calgary to Dublin has also produced solid deals, showing up in recent newsletters as low as $620 CAD round trip direct on WestJet.

Ireland is an obvious draw for Canadians with Irish heritage, but Dublin also works extremely well as an entry point for the UK and Western Europe, especially with the number of Ryanair flights that originate from it. The city itself is worth spending some days in, and transatlantic direct routes make the journey genuinely painless.

As a current example from this week's deals (June 1st to 4th, 2026):

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Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal rounds out this list as one of the most underrated value destinations in Europe for Canadians. Portugal has surged in popularity over the past few years, and yet the flight prices to Lisbon remain surprisingly competitive, particularly from Halifax and on certain Air Transat routes.

Halifax to Lisbon is the headline deal right now. WestJet flies direct from Halifax to Lisbon, and this week that route is available from $489 CAD round trip direct. To fly direct from Canada to Europe for under $500 is an outstanding deal, and we've been tracking this one closely.

From Toronto and Montreal, Air Transat has been a reliable source of Lisbon deals. We've seen Toronto to Lisbon as low as $543 CAD round trip, and the route has appeared consistently in our newsletters over the past few months.

Lisbon is a fantastic city in its own right, and Portugal's relatively low cost of living once you arrive makes it an even more appealing destination for Canadians who want their travel dollar to go further. It's also an excellent base for exploring southern and western Europe.

As a current example from this week's deals (June 1st to 4th, 2026):

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The Bottom Line

All three of these destinations benefit from direct routes from various Canadian cities, which is a big part of why they price so competitively. Direct flights mean less complexity for airlines to price in, and the competition on these routes helps keep fares honest.

If you're flexible on dates and willing to check deals regularly, Reykjavík, Dublin, and Lisbon are three cities where a great deal is never far away.

Our weekly Econo newsletter tracks these routes consistently, so if you're not subscribed yet, that's a good place to start.

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