Airfare prices for summer 2026 are shaping a new landscape in travel: where the cheapest seaside destinations are, which Greek cities stand out, and on which routes prices are dropping dramatically according to KAYAK.
As travelers are already beginning their search for cheap flights for summer 2026, new analysis by KAYAK in the German market highlights the most affordable options, the biggest price drops compared to 2025, and the destinations where increases are expected.
At the center of interest for German travelers are Athens and Thessaloniki, two Greek destinations that stand out both for their low airfares and for the spectacular reductions recorded compared to last year.
Specifically, regarding the average price of a round-trip economy-class ticket for travel between June and September 2026, Athens, confirming its status as a value-for-money summer choice, is among the most affordable destinations with a cost of 197 euros, placing it in the elite group of the 10 cheapest European options for Germans.
The cheapest destination in Europe right now for summer holidays with sun, sand and dolce vita is Venice. Round-trip flights cost an average of 176 euros. Pisa and Zadar are slightly more expensive options, with flights currently averaging 177 euros.
Germans will also be able to fly affordably to Barcelona (179 euros) and Tirana (194 euros), while the top ten cheapest destinations are completed by Dubrovnik (203 euros), Nice (204 euros), Naples (209 euros) and Olbia (212 euros).
Thessaloniki: Spectacular 17 percent drop in ticket prices
Even more impressive are the figures for Thessaloniki, which records a 17 percent decrease in airfare prices compared to 2025, with the average round-trip economy fare standing at 232 euros. The city ranks among the top three in Europe with the largest reductions in airfare costs, together with Milan (minus 18 percent, at 115 euros) and Sardinia (minus 16 percent, at 220 euros). Thus, Makedonia Airport becomes one of the most cost-effective summer choices of the year for German travelers.
KAYAKs research was based on the KAYAK.de platform and on searches conducted on it and on partner brands between June 1, 2025 and November 15, 2025, for flights departing between June 1, 2026 and September 15, 2026, departing from any German airport.
These were compared with searches conducted between June 1, 2024 and November 15, 2024, for travel between June 1, 2025 and September 15, 2025. All prices are average round-trip economy-class fares.
