I still remember the first time I booked a Ryanair flight for less than the price of lunch. It felt like a trick…surely there had to be hidden fees or a catch. But no, I actually flew across Europe for under $20, and I’ve been chasing those kinds of deals ever since. In 2025, Ryanair is still rolling out amazingly affordable fares that make weekend trips and spontaneous getaways possible on the tightest of budgets.
I’ve combed through the current schedules and sales to find the cheapest routes you can actually book right now…flights that cost less than a train ticket between two neighboring cities. Whether you’re craving tapas in Spain, canals in Italy, or a night out in Eastern Europe, these routes prove you don’t need a big budget to explore big.
Top Ryanair Flight Deals Under $20 (At a Glance)
If you’re itching for a budget European getaway, these Ryanair deals are the real deal. Here’s a quick snapshot of the most epic routes under $20. Tap any route below to skip ahead in the guide.
- Best Pub & History Escape: London to Dublin
- Most Stylish City Break: London to Milan
- Coolest Mediterranean Swap: Rome to Barcelona
- Best Hidden Gem Adventure: Milan to Bucharest
- Quick Music & Nightlife Fix: Dublin to Manchester
- Most Romantic Canal Getaway: Bratislava to Venice
- Best Medieval City Escape: Berlin to Krakow
- Most Underrated Capital Adventure: London to Sofia
Here’s how I’d do it: snag one of the London routes for a weekend, pair it with a cultural deep dive like Bucharest or Krakow, and save Venice for a dreamy add-on. Keep scrolling for my full breakdown of what to see, eat, and do in each city.
1. London to Dublin
Book a flight from London to Dublin and you’re honestly looking at one of Europe’s best travel bargains – I’ve seen these tickets go for as low as £14.99 ($17) when you book ahead. The 1 hour 25 minute flight from Stansted gets you into Dublin’s vibrant pub scene before you can even finish your pre-flight coffee.
Dublin isn’t cheap once you’re there (accommodation can be brutal), but you can definitely make this work on a budget if you plan smart. I always tell people to hit Temple Bar first – yeah, it’s touristy, but the energy is infectious and you’ll understand why everyone talks about Irish hospitality. The Guinness Storehouse is actually worth the hype, especially that Gravity Bar on the 7th floor where you get 360-degree views of the city with your included pint.
St. Stephen’s Green is perfect for a free afternoon stroll, and if you’re into history, Kilmainham Gaol will give you serious chills learning about Ireland’s fight for independence. The best part? You can walk between most of these attractions. Pro tip: January is the cheapest month to fly this route, with prices dropping to around £17, while December hits £39 average.
2. London to Milan
For under $20, you can swap London’s grey skies for Milan’s fashion-forward streets – I’ve spotted deals as low as £14.99 on this route. Milan isn’t just about designer shopping (though Via Montenapoleone will drain your bank account if you’re not careful), it’s got serious culture game too.
The Duomo di Milano absolutely blew me away when I first saw those Gothic spires up close. You can actually go up on the roof for killer Instagram shots, but honestly, just standing in the piazza looking up is pretty spectacular. La Scala is obvious if you’re into opera, but even if you’re not, the building itself is stunning. I always end up in the Navigli district for dinner – those canal-side restaurants have this perfect Italian vibe without feeling too pretentious.
Brera Gallery has some seriously good art if you need a culture fix, and the Sforza Castle area is great for an afternoon wander. The food scene here is insane – forget tourist traps and hit up local trattorias where they actually know how to make proper risotto. Milan feels way more manageable than Rome, and you can see the highlights in a long weekend.
3. Milan to Bucharest
This route regularly hits €14.99 (around $16), making Bucharest one of Europe’s most underrated bargain destinations. I call it “Little Paris” but honestly, it’s got its own character that’s way more interesting than just copying France.
The Palace of the Parliament is absolutely massive – like, stupidly big. It’s one of those communist-era buildings that makes you feel tiny, but the tours are actually fascinating if you’re into that kind of history. The Old Town has this great mix of crumbling charm and hipster bars that somehow works perfectly together. I’ve spent entire evenings just bar-hopping through those cobblestone streets.
Romanian food is seriously underrated. Try sarmale (cabbage rolls) and mămăligă at a traditional restaurant – it’s hearty comfort food that won’t cost you much. Herăstrău Park is perfect if you need to escape the city vibe for a few hours. The best part about Bucharest? Everything is crazy affordable once you’re there. A nice dinner costs what you’d pay for appetizers in Milan.
4. Rome to Barcelona
I’ve found flights as low as $18 on this route, and honestly, going from Roman ruins to Gaudí’s wild architecture in under $20 is kind of ridiculous. Barcelona hits different – it’s got this Mediterranean energy that just makes you want to stay longer than planned.
Las Ramblas gets a bad rap for being touristy, but I still love walking it, especially for people-watching. The Gothic Quarter is where the real magic happens though – those narrow medieval streets are perfect for getting completely lost. Park Güell obviously, but get there early or you’ll be fighting crowds for photos.
Barceloneta Beach is right in the city, which still seems crazy to me coming from landlocked places. The tapas scene is no joke – forget sit-down restaurants and just hop between bars. Each place does a few things really well, and you’ll eat better that way. Sagrada Família is obviously a must, but book ahead because those lines are brutal.
- Read next: Top Hostels in Barcelona for Young Travelers
5. Dublin to Manchester
For under $20, you can swap Dublin’s traditional charm for Manchester‘s industrial-cool vibe. These cities couldn’t be more different, but both know how to show you a good time.
Manchester’s Northern Quarter is where I always end up – it’s got this creative energy with vintage shops, record stores, and some of the best street art I’ve seen. If you’re into football, Old Trafford or Etihad Stadium are basically pilgrimages, even if you’re not a fan. The city takes its football seriously.
The music scene here is legendary for good reason. Hit up live venues in the evening, but during the day, explore the Manchester Art Gallery or just wander around checking out the Victorian architecture mixed with modern developments. The food scene has gotten seriously good too – way beyond the stereotypical British pub grub.
6. Berlin to Krakow
This route hits around $40-42 usually, but I’ve caught deals closer to $32 when booking smart. Krakow is one of those cities that just gets everything right – history, nightlife, affordable everything, and that medieval atmosphere that feels like a movie set.
Main Market Square is Europe’s largest medieval square, and trust me, you’ll feel it. St. Mary’s Basilica and the Cloth Hall are right there, so you can knock out the major sights pretty efficiently. But honestly, just wandering the Old Town cobblestone streets is the best part. Every corner reveals something cool.
Wawel Castle has great views and interesting royal history, but if you want something heavier, Auschwitz-Birkenau is about an hour away and absolutely worth the day trip – it’s powerful and important. The nightlife scene is fantastic too. Alchemia has this cool vintage vibe with live music, and Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa is perfect for cheap drinks and meeting locals.
7. Bratislava to Venice
I’ve seen this route for as low as €19.99, making Venice surprisingly accessible from Slovakia. Yeah, Venice is touristy and expensive, but experiencing those canals firsthand is still pretty magical.
Skip the gondola rides (they’re crazy expensive) and just walk everywhere – Venice is small enough that you’ll see everything anyway. St. Mark’s Square and St. Mark’s Basilica are obvious stops, but the Rialto Market is where you’ll find actual Venetians buying fresh produce and hanging out like normal people.
Cicchetti bars are your friend here – these small plates paired with prosecco are way more affordable than sit-down restaurants and taste better too. Rialto Bridge gets packed, but the views are worth fighting the crowds. Get lost in those narrow alleys on purpose – you’ll stumble onto quiet courtyards and hidden churches that feel like secrets.
- Read next: Hidden Gems in Venice
8. London to Sofia
Sofia flights can hit as low as £14.25, making Bulgaria’s capital one of Europe’s best-kept budget secrets. Sofia has this interesting mix of Eastern Orthodox churches, communist monuments, and hipster neighborhoods that somehow works.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is stunning – one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world and it dominates the skyline. The Serdica ruins right in the city center are pretty cool for history nerds. Vitosha Boulevard is the main pedestrian street with good shopping and people-watching.
The food scene is seriously underrated. Try banitsa (pastry) and kebapche at Shtastliveca – it’s this cozy local place that does traditional Bulgarian food right. For nightlife, start at Bar FlipFlop for laid-back drinks, then hit Hambara (it’s this hidden candlelit bar that feels like a secret), and end at Terminal 1 if you want to dance. Everything here costs a fraction of Western European prices.
