Walking down the streets of Paris hand in hand with your S/O, and a warm baguette in the other hand. Or sitting in a quaint cafe with some scones in London while you sip tea, people watching.
This might be your dream holiday – till the realisation hits that flights to these destinations will empty your wallet so much you’ll have to live on grass for the next 47,349 years.
But not all hope is lost. There are months where the air tickets are significantly cheaper than others. A flight to London in October is 18% cheaper than in December! Here are some of the cheapest times to travel to your favourite European cities to keep your wallet happy.
Image credit: Travelstart
London is immensely popular with Singaporeans, and for good reason too. It’s one of the places where you can randomly point a camera anywhere, and the photo will ALWAYS look amazing – think landmarks like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the Buckingham Palace. You can also visit the sprawling Camden Market for local craft, fashion and food.
Bonus: You can also check out these cool, less touristy places we found on our trip there.
Cheapest time to travel: 2 Oct 2018 – 12 Oct 2018
Airline: Norwegian Air
Sin → London Gatwick Airport (14h)
London Gatwick Airport → Sin (12h 45 min)
Price: $582
Image credit: solosophie
Ah, the City of Love. Known for being the place for lovey-dovey couples and its bankside cafes, Paris is ranked pretty high on our travel bucket list. Visit the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum, and don’t forget to snap a shot in front of Louvre’s iconic triangular structure. Just watch out for the armies of pigeons ready to attack at any moment.
Cheapest time to travel: 8 May 2018 – 15 May 2018
Airline: Turkish Air
Sin → Istanbul → Paris Charles de Gaulle
(layover time 1h 30mins, 1st leg 10h 50min, 2nd leg 3h 40min)
Paris Charles de Gaulle → Istanbul → Sin
(layover time 1h 50mins, 1st leg 3h 30min, 2nd leg 10h 50min)
Price: $823
Image credit: GreekBoston
We’ve seen enough of Instagram posts and stories of the whitewashed architecture and blue domes of Santorini, and it’s about them we see them IRL for ourselves. Countless bloggers rave about how it’s one of the most beautiful places they’ve been to – and the sunset is to die for.
While Oia village indeed has one of the best views of the sunset, be prepared to squeeze with hordes of tourists for a shot. Alternatively, you’ll get pretty breathtaking views at the Orthodox Cathedral in Fira too.
Cheapest time to travel: 6 Oct 2018 – 20 Oct 2018
Airline: Norwegian Air
Sin → London Gatwick → Santorini
(layover time 1h 15mins, 1st leg 13h 55mins, 2nd leg 3h 55mins)
Santorini → London Gatwick → Sin
(layover time 8h 40mins, 1st leg 3h 52mins, 2nd leg 12h 45mins)
Price: $717
Image credit: @bourgeoise
If you’ve ever been gripped by Anne’s courage in The Diary of Anne Frank, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is a place you’d definitely want to visit. Visit the hiding place of where Anne and her family hid during World War 2 – this place is a lasting reminder of the atrocities of war and the importance of peace.
Amsterdam is also the city to be if you’re aiming to shed some kilos, with cycling as a way of life there. It’s no wonder Amsterdam is ranked one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world.
Cheapest time to travel: 20 April 2018 – 29 April 2018
Airline: Finnair
Sin → Helsinki → Amsterdam
(layover time 1h 45min, 1st leg 11h 50mins, 2nd leg 2h 30mins)
Amsterdam → Helsinki → Sin
(layover time 1h 45mins, 1st leg 2h 20mins, 2nd leg 11h 35mins)
Price: $761
The first thing that comes to mind to many people when they hear “Barcelona” is probably Barcelona FC playing in Camp Nou, with thousands of fans cheering at the top of their lungs. But while this beautiful city is undoubtedly home to one of the best football clubs in the world, it has much more to offer.
Marvel at the works of Spain’s most revered architect – Antoni Gaudi, where every building looks straight out of a fairytale! And if you love the bar Chupitos in Singapore, you won’t want to miss the nightlife in Spain. It’s not uncommon to find more than 150 different types of shots on the menu.
Cheapest time to travel: 12 May 2018 – 22 May 2018
Airline: Norwegian Air
Sin → London Gatwick → Barcelona
(layover time 3h 15mins, 1st leg 13h 55min, 2nd leg 2h)
Barcelona → London Gatwick → Sin
(layover time 15h 50 mins, 1st leg 2h 15min, 2nd leg 12h 45min)
Price: $734
Nyhavn. Image credit: @loswenmar
We’ve all heard the stories of Hans Christian Andersen such as “The Little Mermaid” or “The Ugly Duckling” at least once in our lives. #Throwback to your childhood at the Hans Christian Andersen Fairy-Tale Museum in Nyhavn, Copenhagen, where he lived in the colourful houses.
Fun fact: Some of the houses here date back to 1681, and the design hasn’t changed one bit! Chill by the quayside at Nyhavns Færgekro for some yummy traditional Danish food, too.
Cheapest time to travel: 4 Oct 2018 – 16 Oct 2018
Airline: Norwegian Air
Sin → London Gatwick → Copenhagen
(layover time 4h 35min, 1st leg 14h, 2nd leg 1h 50mins)
Copenhagen → London Gatwick → Sin
(layover time 11h 50min, 1st leg 1h 55min, 2nd leg 12h45mins)
Price: $632
Image credit: @nomadichee
It’s not a trip to Rome if you haven’t been to the Colosseum. You’ll be transported to the epic scenes of Gladiator while you marvel at one of the largest and most well-preserved ruins from the Roman Empire.
Oh, and make sure you toss a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder into Trevi Fountain. Legend has it that doing so will ensure a return to Rome.
Cheapest time to travel: 4 May 2018 – 12 May 2018
Airline: Finnair
Sin → Helsinki → Rome
(layover time 1h 25 mins, 1st leg 11h 50mins, 2nd leg 3h 25mins)
Rome → Helsinki → Sin
(layover time 23h 50mins, 1st leg 3h 20mins, 2nd leg 11h 35mins)
Price: $754
Image credit: @barbdrasnarova
If even the plate of 20 meatballs at Ikea is not enough for you – Stockholm is totally the place to be. Try some of the best at Meatballs for the People where you can choose from a selection of veal, pork, beef, elk, deer, wild boar and even bear meat for lunch.
Image credit: everycastle
And if you’ve ever wanted to know how it feels like to live like a king, visit the Royal Palace – the largest palace in Europe with over 600 rooms and 5 museums! If you’re lucky, you might even catch the King of Sweden, since it’s his official residence.
Cheapest time to travel: 5 May 2018 – 13 May 2018
Airline: Norwegian Air
Sin → London Gatwick → Stockholm
(layover time 15h 55mins, 1st leg 13h 55mins, 2nd leg 2h 20mins)
Stockholm → London Gatwick → Sin
(layover time 11h 25mins, 1st leg 2h 35mins, 2nd leg 12h 45mins)
Price: $765
Image credit: Visit Reykjavik
Seeing the Northern Lights is definitely on my bucket list, and it should be on yours too. Watch the Northern Lights dance above you at Grotta Lighthouse, just 5 minutes from the center of Reykjavik. The magnificent ice caves such as the Skaftafell Ice Cave is also a must visit. The lack of air in the ice allows it to absorb almost all visible light, giving it a stunning blue hue.
Cheapest time to travel: 10 May 2018 – 17 May 2018
Airline: Norwegian Air + WOW Air
Sin → London Gatwick → Iceland
(layover time 4h 40mins, 1st leg 14h, 2nd leg 3h 20min)
Iceland → London Gatwick → Sin
(layover time 14h 40 min, 1st leg 3h 20min, 2nd leg 12h 45min)
Price: $910
Image credit: Oceanair Travels
Istanbul is the only city in the world that lies in two continents. The result, a beautiful melting pot of cultures. You’d find buildings with an amalgamation of Asian and European elements such as the Hagia Sophia – a mosque turned church and now, a museum.
Also, check out the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest and oldest covered markets. There are over 5000 shops where you can buy jewelry, handicraft, spices and souvenirs.
Cheapest time to travel: 21 Dec 2018 – 1 Jan 2018
Airline: Saudia Air
Sin → Jeddah → Istanbul
(layover time 9h 15mins, 1st leg 9h 15mins, 2nd leg 3h 55mins)
Istanbul → Jeddah → Sin
(layover time 6h 45mins, 1st leg 4h 50mins, 2nd leg 8h 55mins)
Price: $652
Image credit: @globetrottersfave
The streets of Zurich are ones that you would be happy to get lost in. Explore cafes, quirky shops and historic monuments dating back to the medieval times. In the summer, you may even catch concerts and festivals at Lindenhof Hill – Zurich’s highest point.
Cheapest time to travel: 23 May 2018 – 29 May 2019
Airline: British Airways
Sin → London Heathrow → Zurich
(layover time 1h, 1st leg 13h 35mins, 2nd leg 1h 45mins)
Zurich → London Heathrow → Sin
(layover time 1h 45mins, 1st leg 1h 50mins, 13h 10mins)
Price: $882
Good news – besides booking flights at strategic times, we know a way to make your travels even cheaper.
All you’ve to do is pay using your snazzy, new DBS Live Fresh Card! So instead of $582, your return flight to London will cost you just about $523*. Wew.
Existing members and new card members – you’re not forgotten. You’ll enjoy 5% cashback on online shopping and Visa payWave purchases, as well as 0.3% for all other spends.
Don’t have the card? Sign up for the DBS Live Fresh card, and get up to a $200 cash gift**!
*10% cashback on online spend and Visa payWave purchases is only applicable for DBS Live Fresh Card accounts opened between 8 Jan – 31 Mar 2018, and valid for 180 days from account opening date.
**Applicable to all New DBS Live Fresh Cardmembers from 1 April 2018
***Valid till 30 June 2018.
Image credit: DBS
The perks don’t end there – DBS Live Fresh is the Official Ultra Singapore Card. That means you can save approx. 10% on General Admission tickets + get a FREE upgrade to Premium General Admission (first 500) + 1 FREE drink (first 2000). Get tickets here.
Marvel fans, you won’t want to miss this infinitely good deal. Every S$50 spend gets you a chance to win a Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War – Adventure to New York City and Comic Con tickets for 2!* Register for this promotion here.
And last but not least – you could win a pair of SIA Suites tickets to New York, London, Paris, Sydney or Shanghai! Find out more here.
*Terms & conditions apply.
This post was brought to you by DBS.
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