Finding real last-minute flight deals to Europe in December isn’t about luck. It comes from years on the road, constantly testing tools, and knowing where the patterns hide. After 70+ countries and a decade of watching airfare like a hawk, I’ve learned that December always has openings if you scan the right routes at the right time.
For this roundup, I pulled fares from five major flight-tracking tools and cross-checked everything for real availability. I focused on the big East Coast hubs where prices move fastest: JFK, EWR, BOS, IAD, and PHL. When you average them out, a true “great deal” to Europe in December usually lands in the $550–650 range, which lined up perfectly with what I found.
Timing matters too. For December 2025, the sweet spot for cheap departures is December 17–19, right before the pre-holiday surge. Returns dipping into early January can drop prices even more. Midweek flights often beat weekend searches, and Saturday departures still surprise me with solid finds.
The tool that consistently surfaced the best December deals? Going.com. It’s been my secret weapon for years, and it’s the first place I check when I’m planning a last-minute winter escape. If you want the same edge, sign up for Going for free here and start catching the fares most travelers never see. And then, upgrade to the premium version to see all the best flight deals to your favorite European destinations. Below are the best last-minute flight deals to Europe for December 2025!
1. London, UK (starting from $430 roundtrip)
London is still the classic last minute hop across the pond. In my experience, it’s often the easiest to grab for under $500 from the East Coast if you are a bit flexible with dates. Recent searches for early December 2025 show round trips from New York to London starting in the mid to high $300s on routes like JFK to Gatwick. I’ve even found many returns in the $370 to $450 range.
From Boston, I am seeing economy fares around the low to mid $400s for December dates, with sale fares occasionally dipping just below that. Chicago to London is usually a bit higher, but December 2025 sample dates are still starting a little over $600 round trip with United and American. From Los Angeles, think roughly $500 to $700 round trip when you avoid the Christmas and New Year peak. This is all based on recent Google Flights and Expedia pulls.
From the East Coast, you are spoiled for choice. New York and Boston have nonstop flights on big names like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American, Delta, United and JetBlue, plus partners like Iberia, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa and TAP. Chicago gives you daily nonstops on United, American and British Airways among others, while Los Angeles has direct links with BA, Virgin and several alliance carriers. When I am hunting deals, I plug in 5 to 7 night trips in the first half of December or the very end of the month after Christmas. From there, I toggle between different London airports to see what drops.
London in December
December is where London really over delivers. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland runs from mid November through New Year, with a giant Christmas market, rides and the biggest outdoor ice rink in the UK. I love pairing that with an evening at Christmas at Kew, where the gardens turn into a huge light trail between November 14 and January 4, 2026. On the South Bank, you can wander the Winter Market and Winter Festival for street food, mulled wine and riverfront lights, which run through most of the festive season.
If you want classic Christmas market energy without leaving the city, you have a whole circuit in central London. Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, London Bridge and Greenwich all run markets into late December or early January, so you can easily stitch two or three into a single night. My usual move on a last minute London trip is simple: land in the morning, drop my bags, chase Christmas lights and markets all afternoon. Then, I’ll warm up in a pub somewhere around Covent Garden or Soho and pretend I am a Londoner for a weekend.
- Read also: My Favorite Things to Do in London After Dark
- You May Also Like: Top Airlines to Fly to London Right Now
2. Oslo, Norway (starting from $455 roundtrip)
Oslo is the move if you want proper winter vibes without flying all the way to the Arctic. On recent searches for early to mid December 2025, I’m seeing New York to Oslo in the low to mid $400s roundtrip. I’m even seeing some EWR and JFK routes dipping just above $400 on carriers like United, SAS, and Icelandair when you avoid the Christmas crush. From Boston and Chicago, expect most sale fares to land in the mid $400s to low $500s if you are flexible on weekdays and connect through hubs like Reykjavik, Copenhagen, or London. West Coast readers will usually pay more. But I still see Los Angeles to Oslo in December 2025 in the high $600s on American and partners.
From the U.S., your most straightforward options are SAS, United, American, Delta, and their alliance buddies. SAS runs a seasonal nonstop JFK to Oslo route, and even when that is not operating, you can connect via Copenhagen or Stockholm on the same ticket. United and American typically get you there with one stop through hubs like Newark, Heathrow, or another European gateway. I usually plug in 5 to 7 night trips in the first half of December, fly out Sunday to Tuesday, and let Google Flights show me the cheapest combo across NYC, Boston, and Chicago.
What to do in Oslo in December
December in Oslo feels like walking through a minimalist Nordic snow globe. In the city center, Winter Wonderland at Spikersuppa runs from 8 November 2025 through 4 January 2026, with a Christmas market, rides, and an ice rink right by the National Theatre. The Norwegian Folk Museum hosts a traditional Christmas market the first two weekends of December. I love the historic houses, folk costumes, and stalls selling local crafts and treats. Between markets, you can warm up in floating saunas on Oslo Fjord, wander Vigeland Park, climb the roof of the Opera House. Or, you can hide out with a hot chocolate at Deichman Bjørvika while the snow falls outside.
If you are chasing a last minute December trip that feels properly wintry, Oslo gives you Christmas markets, fjord views, and Nordic cozy without insane flight times or prices.
- Read also: The Absolute Best Winter Destinations to Visit
- You may also like: My Norway Bucket List Guide
- For further reading: Unique Travel Bucket List Ideas in 2026
3. Amsterdam, The Netherlands (starting from $483 roundtrip)
Amsterdam is one of those places where a last-minute December trip still feels doable if you play it smart. Recent pulls for early–mid December 2025 show New York to Amsterdam in the low–mid $500s roundtrip on full-service airlines. I’m seeing United listing EWR–AMS from about $542 and KLM/Air France hovering in a similar band. JetBlue is advertising December one-way fares as low as $243 from JFK and $189 from Boston, which means sub-$500 roundtrips are on the table when sales hit. From Chicago and other hubs, December economy deals tend to land in the $500–$700 range. West Coast cities like LA and San Francisco usually sit a bit higher but often dip when KLM and partners run promos.
From the U.S., Amsterdam is ridiculously well connected. You’ve got nonstop options on Delta, KLM and United from major gateways like New York, Boston, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Chicago, DC, Seattle, LA and San Francisco, plus plenty of one-stop routings through European hubs. My move for a last-minute run is to plug flexible 5–7 night dates into Google Flights for early December, compare JFK vs Newark vs Boston, and let the calendar show me which days drop into that mid-$400s to low-$500s sweet spot. If you’re on the West Coast, it’s often cheaper to grab a deal to the East Coast firs. Then, jump on a separate transatlantic fare to AMS.
Why visit Amsterdam in December?
December in Amsterdam is pure cozy-canal energy. The Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 27 November 2025 to 18 January 2026, turning the canals into an open-air gallery of light installations every evening. On Museumplein, the Ice*Amsterdam rink is set up from 15 November 2025 to 6 February 2026, with the big Christmas market on the square running from 4 to 28 December. On top of that, Christmas markets pop up all over the city from mid November to early January. And 2025 is extra special with Amsterdam celebrating its 750th birthday, so expect even more events layered on top of the usual canals, cafes and museums.
- Read also: The Prettiest Places to See in Amsterdam
- You may also: Top-Rated Airlines that Fly to Amsterdam in 2026
- Read Also: Top Airlines to Fly to Amsterdam (Right Now)
4. Dublin, Ireland (starting from $389 roundtrip)
Dublin is one of the easiest “yes” trips for December 2025 if you’re flying from the East Coast. Recent searches show New York to Dublin roundtrips dipping into the mid-$300s, with cheapest fares around $344 for late November into early December. Boston is in the same ballpark, with sample roundtrips starting around the mid-$300s, so a ~$389 headline fare is very realistic if you catch a sale. From Chicago, December 2025 economy fares show up from the high $300s to mid-$400s on United and Aer Lingus. I’m even seeing some listings around $462–$518.
From the U.S., Dublin is crazy well connected for a last-minute hop. New York and Boston have nonstop options on Aer Lingus, JetBlue, Delta, United, American, and a bunch of European partners like KLM, SWISS, and PLAY. Chicago also gets nonstops on Aer Lingus and United. I’ve also noted other carriers routing you through hubs like London, Amsterdam, or Reykjavik. My move is to plug 4–7 night trips into Google Flights for the first half of December, fly out Monday to Wednesday, and let JFK vs Newark vs Boston fight it out on price.
What to see in Dublin in December
December in Dublin feels instantly festive. The classic Henry Street and Mary Street Christmas markets run daily from November 24 through Christmas Eve, with stalls open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. selling gifts, crafts, decorations, and plenty of holiday chaos. TwinkleTown in Smithfield Square brings the full winter-wonderland setup, with an ice rink, Ferris wheel, fairground rides, and a big Christmas market from late November into early January. If you want to escape the city center for a bit, Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park runs Christmas markets and events over the first three weekends of December. So, you can mix in a more local, low-key vibe with your pub nights in Temple Bar. And of course strolls along the Liffey!
- Read also: My Favorite Scenic Destinations in Ireland
- You may also like: Top Photo Spots in Dublin
5. Zurich, Switzerland ($549 roundtrip)
Zurich is the move when you want winter in Europe to feel a little extra polished. Recent pulls for late November and early December 2025 show New York to Zurich roundtrips dipping as low as $330 on Condor and other carriers, with typical deals in the mid $300s to low $500s. That makes a headline like $549 roundtrip very realistic for most dates, especially if you are not chasing ultra specific weekends. From Boston, I am seeing roundtrips starting in the low to mid $400s on Expedia and Kayak, with nonstop SWISS options usually in the high $500s. Chicago tends to run higher. I’ve seen flights in the high $400s at the very low end and more commonly in the $700+ band on SWISS, United, KLM and Aer Lingus.
From the U.S., you have a solid mix of nonstop and one stop options. New York gets direct flights to Zurich on SWISS and United. Plus, plenty of one stop routes on Air France, Condor and others. Boston has nonstop SWISS and United flights, with Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa and American also selling competitive one stop itineraries. Chicago connects through both alliance hubs and direct SWISS and United flights. But prices jump fast around peak holiday dates, so I usually aim for early December or the week right after Christmas if I am flexible.
Why visit Zurich in December?
December in Zurich is basically Christmas market paradise in a compact, walkable city. The main markets run roughly from November 20 to December 23–24, 2025, with a whole circuit you can do on foot. Start at the Christkindlimarkt inside the main station. This is where over 100 stalls and a huge Christmas tree turn the concourse into a full winter scene. Then wander down to the Wienachtsdorf at Sechseläutenplatz in front of the opera house, which runs from November 20 to December 23 with food from around the world, design stalls and a cozy village vibe. In the Old Town, the Dörfli market stretches between Central and Bellevue with around 200 shops and 70 stalls, plus more intimate markets on Münsterhof, Werdmühleplatz and along the Weihnachtsallee.
My ideal last minute Zurich run in December looks simple. Fly in on a midweek deal, drop bags by the lake, then spend your first night just walking market to market with a cup of glühwein, watching the city lights reflect off the Limmat. The next day, ride up to Uetliberg for snowy views over the city or jump on a quick day trip to Lucerne or the nearby mountains if you want that extra Alpine hit. For a relatively short flight and a fair price tag, Zurich gives you proper Swiss winter energy without needing a full ski week.
- Read Also: Top Airlines to Fly to Switzerland (for the Best Flight Deals)
- You may also like: The Most Scenic Spots in Zurich
- For further reading: Switzerland’s Dreamiest Christmas Markets
If you want these Europe deals sent straight to you, grab a free Going.com account. And if you’re serious about finding the cheapest flights in 2025, upgrade to Premium…that’s where the real last-minute steals show up.
