A winter of short getaways: Flights to Europe for less than $200

The months of January and February are no longer considered part of the “stay at home” season. In line with recent years’ trends, this winter is also shaping up as peak season for short trips, mainly those that don’t require more than a long weekend, proving that a long vacation or a large budget isn’t necessary to get a break. Updated data from lastminute.co.il indicates a strong wave of city breaks in Europe, with surprising flight prices - some of which haven’t been seen in a long time.

Flights to Athens for less than $100, Rome at a low three-digit price, and even Vienna, Budapest, and Sofia offer particularly tempting starting prices. At the same time, Israelis are not giving up on warm destinations - even when prices are higher - with Dubai continuing to lead the demand chart, and Bangkok making a prominent entry into the list of popular winter destinations.

European capitals offer a winning combination in winter: Fewer tourists, a wintery atmosphere, culture, food, and shopping - and next year, especially low flight prices. Athens leads with a starting price of only around $91, followed by Rome at about $100, Budapest at approximately $110, and Vienna and Sofia slightly higher.

Even destinations usually considered more expensive, such as London, Paris, and Prague, fall into the “under $200” category, making a short city break a realistic option even for last-minute planners. The differences between destinations create a clear window of opportunity - especially for those willing to be flexible with dates and forgo checked baggage.

Alongside starting prices, actual booking data shows that Israelis don’t choose a destination based solely on cost. Dubai, with flights starting around $300, is at the top of the winter demand list, followed by Athens, Budapest, Rome, and Tbilisi. Even Bangkok, with a significantly higher price, makes the list of preferred destinations - evidence that when it comes to sun, beaches, and a true winter escape, price becomes a secondary consideration.

This trend is also reflected in another interesting figure: Demand for warm destinations is about 35% higher than for ski destinations, demonstrating that Israelis prefer mild temperatures over snow and heavy coats.

Beyond flights alone, more and more travelers are choosing to book dynamic packages in winter that include both flight and hotel - mainly for short city breaks. Such packages, for four days and three nights in a four-star hotel, are offered at starting prices of around $300 per person for Athens, about $360 for Rome, approximately $540 for London, and even Bangkok at a total price of about $840.

The advantage is clear: Potential financial savings, less logistical hassle, and a clear understanding of the budget in advance.

Assaf Greenberg, Marketing VP at lastminute, explains: “In January and February, we see a market that generates a wide variety of opportunities: Both short city breaks in Europe with low flight prices and warm destinations with stable demand. For the consumer, the right decision is not to focus only on the ticket but to calculate the total cost of the vacation and compare it to a combined dynamic package solution (flight + hotel), which in some cases can generate savings of up to 15%, meaning tens or even hundreds of dollars compared to separate purchases.”

So where are people flying? This coming winter paints a clear picture of two parallel trends: On one hand, short and affordable city breaks in Europe, perfect for a quick escape without taking extended leave; on the other hand, continued migration to warm and distant destinations that offer sun, detachment, and the feeling of a full vacation - even at a higher cost. Bottom line: Winter offers more options, more flexibility, and far fewer reasons to stay at home.