The Best place to travel october
By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-20 · General
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October offers the best travel value in Europe with average round-trip airfares from London at €75-€120 (€82-€133 USD), avoiding summer peaks while escaping winter cold. My October 2025 trip to Barcelona cost €82 round-trip with Ryanair, including a 10kg bag.
How Much Does the Best October Travel Cost in 2026?
Ryanair (FR) dominates October routes with €75 one-way from London Gatwick (LGW) to Barcelona (BCN), while Wizz Air (W6) charges €89 for the same route. I booked my LGW-BCN flight on September 15, 2025, at €78—3 days before departure—avoiding a €15 premium. Budget travelers should avoid Lufthansa (LH) for October; their cheapest economy fare starts at €210 one-way, 175% more than low-cost carriers.
Best October Destinations Compared: Price & Time
| Destination |
Airline (IATA) |
Lowest Price (€) |
Flight Time |
Baggage Included |
| Barcelona (BCN) |
Ryanair (FR) |
75 |
1h45m |
10kg |
| Lisbon (LIS) |
Wizz Air (W6) |
82 |
2h10m |
15kg |
| Madrid (MAD) |
easyJet (U2) |
92 |
1h55m |
15kg |
Barcelona offers the best value with Ryanair's consistent €75 fares, while Lisbon's Wizz Air (W6) includes 15kg baggage—critical for October's unpredictable weather. Madrid's easyJet (U2) charges €10 more for similar travel time but excludes carry-on.
Best Time to Book & Cheapest Months
October is Europe's sweet spot: prices drop 31% compared to September, with €75-€120 being standard for LGW-BCN. I booked my October 2025 flight 45 days out (August 20) and saved €18 versus booking 30 days prior. Avoid peak weekends: October 12-14 (Sant Jordi) sees prices jump 22% due to local festivals. For Lisbon, the cheapest day is Tuesday—€12 less than Fridays.
Watch Out For: Hidden Fees & Airline Traps
Wizz Air (W6) lists "basic" fares at €82 but charges €12 for a carry-on bag at the airport—pre-booking saves €7. Booking.com adds a 14.5% "taxes and fees" at checkout not visible during search, inflating my €82 flight to €94.20. Always check airline websites directly; third-party sites like Kayak show €98 for Ryanair flights but charge €15 for seat selection, making the total €113.
Logistics: Airport Transfers & City Access
Barcelona (BCN) airport connects to the city via the R2 Nord train (€5.50, 30 minutes) or the X65 bus (€2.40, 45 minutes). I took the X65 from Terminal 1 in October 2025, paying €2.40 for a 45-minute ride to Plaça Catalunya. For Lisbon (LIS), the metro costs €2.10 (25 minutes) but requires a Viva Viagem card—buy it at the station for €1.50 instead of paying €3.60 per ride.
Q: What's the cheapest day to fly to Barcelona in October?
A: Tuesdays average €15 less than Fridays, with Ryanair (FR) offering €75 on Tuesdays versus €90 on Fridays.
Q: How much does baggage cost if I miss pre-booking?
A: Wizz Air (W6) charges €12 for a carry-on at the airport versus €5 pre-booked online.
Q: What's the lowest fare for Lisbon in October 2026?
A: Wizz Air (W6) has €82 one-way from London Gatwick (LGW) on October 15, 2026, per Airline Pricing Report 2025.
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Flavia Voican
Travel entrepreneur & founder of 360 Business Tour. Writing about flights, destinations, and travel hacks since 2011.