Culture, cuisine, castles. Europe has it all and then some… and it’s never been easier to get there from Australia. Whether you’re planning a modern-day grand tour or heading straight to the major capitals of Paris or London, Europe delivers bucket list architecture, street-side aperitifs, and museums galore. Ski the Alps, sail the Med, or shop in Milan – it’s all a day’s flight away.

Qantas is your only option for a direct trip to Europe from Australia. The Aussie flagship has the rather cool honour of being the only airline to fly direct from Australia to London. Specifically, Perth to London. Full-service perks include meals, entertainment, and checked baggage - and bragging rights.

Direct flights from Perth are only available to London's Heathrow Airport.

Europe is a lot bigger than it looks on the map, and flying from one end to the other takes upwards of 4.5 hours.

If you're flying to destinations in Eastern or South-Eastern Europe, such as Turkey or Greece, expect the journey to take a few hours less than if you're travelling to Paris, London or Dublin. Depending on stopover times, of course.

To give you an idea, here's appoximate flight times from Australian cities to popular European destinations.

More direct routes are planned for the future, including Qantas' non-stop flight Sydney to Europe slated for 2027 –  set to be the world’s longest.

Europe’s a big place with a list of airports as long as the time its residents take for lunch. If you're looking for a one-stop flight, you'll want to fly into a major city that's serviced by carriers including Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

That said, many Aussie travellers touch down in these five key airports:

The cheapest time to fly to Europe from Australia is usually between mid-January and early March. Fares drop after the festive peak period. You’ll find better deals on flights, especially mid-week departures. Think crisp city breaks, skiing in the Alps, and fewer crowds pushing their way to see the Mona Lisa.

A no brainer? Avoiding June to August. It’s then that European summer hits, prices spike, and everything from Mykonos to Malta books out early as travellers from across Europe and beyond flock to the beach. An in between if you like your sunny days and your cheap prices? Shoulder seasons (April–May, Sept–Oct) also offer decent value and milder weather.

Australian passport holders have it pretty easy in Europe. They can enter most Schengen Area countries visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, for tourism or business, with no worries. They just need to make sure they have a passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the stay.

The UK is no longer part of the EU or Schengen. But Aussies can still enter visa-free for up to 6 months. Just know that from the beginning of 2025, a new ETIAS travel authorisation (around AU$12) is required for Schengen entry.

You’ll want to leave plenty of room for error when arriving to the airport for a long-haul to Europe. Aim to get there three hours before departure.