Cheap flights to Canada from Europe for backpackers

One question, why are you currently not in Canada?

If you are then you must be one of the luckiest people on the planet because Canada is just pure awesome.

Experience the wonders of Tim Hortons, Poutine, Drive through cash machines, maple flavoured beer and endless amounts of chicken wings. But enough about me trying to sell Canada to you, I’m sure you already have a desire to go, let me tell you how to get there for cheap.

So, how do you find cheap flights to Canada for backpacker friendly prices?

I have a number of different budget options for you to choose from:

Direct with a budget airline

First off Zoom Airways used to be the cheapest option but they sadly went bankrupt back in 2008. This left its competitor Norse Air and Play Airlines running the show and you can fly to Canada from Europe for as little as £99 one way! Now that’s a great deal, However I still have a few more options up my sleeve that’s worth checking out.

Two more newer options from London Gatwick airport is Air Transat and Westjet who both now operate affordable flights to Canada.

Via A stop over

You can Reach Canada on a Stop over Via Iceland from the UK. Last year I booked a one way flight for £278 with a one week stopover in Iceland. If you plan on visiting Iceland then this can be a great Combi trip as flights from mainland Europe To Iceland are still expensive. Combined with a flight to Canada the stop over period is free of charge and you can choose how long you want to stay in Iceland. Combined, you get two amazing countries for one incredible price, not a bad deal. If you plan on staying in Canada long term with a working visa or returning from studying in Europe, one way flights give you a lot of flexibility.

Travelling from NYC with a bus

Third option is the most cheapest and that’s flying To New York City then grabbing a bus to Toronto. London to New York is a very frequent often served flight, which makes it a cost effective route. My recommendation is flying with Norwegian Air and then getting the Greyhound NEON bus. This year Norwegian air had flights from London to New York for £150, you also get free on-board wifi throughout the flight which is rather exciting. They’re a budget airline but I’ve flown with them in the past and enjoyed their service.

The Greyhound NEON bus is a 7 hour trip to Toronto from NYC and costs $33 if you book online in advance. It’s not a normal Greyhound bus, it’s a fancier version with better seats and wifi throughout the journey, You could even stop off in NYC for a couple of days then take the bus to Niagra falls (which is another possible NEON stop) for a few days then onwards to Toronto. I’ve done this route many times in the past and found it both comfortable and an affordable option.

So there you go, many options to find cheap flights to Canada on a backpacker friendly budget.

Remember: London to NYC/Toronto is the most cost effective way from Europe to Canada. Once you’re in Canada and want to travel around to Vancouver you could try WestJet a Canadian Budget airline.

Greyhound also offers many options to Montreal and other Canadian cities from Toronto for low prices.

All the best with your Canadian adventure, have a great trip!