The 10 Cheapest Flights from San Francisco to Europe

California's second busiest airport and a veritable hub for bargain flight routes reaching across the great Atlantic, San Francisco International is a real gift for Bay Area locals eager to explore the distant climes of Europe on a budget. Among the wealth of departures currently jetting off from its runways are affordable flights to the artsy reaches of Barcelona, the pretty cities of the Swiss Alps, the cool and happening design capitals of Scandinavia and the Eternal City of Rome, to name just a few.

For the full lowdown on the 10 cheapest flight options to Europe from SFO, check out the comprehensive list below. It's been formulated using Hopper's big data research method, with an eye to keeping the adventure factor high and the price tag low. Enjoy!

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10. Fly from San Francisco to Barcelona, Spain, for as low as $980 round trip

Have a permanent marker at the ready for this one, because the tenth cheapest connection for locals departing out of SFO this year means oodles of chances to check off those bucket list-topping European attractions, from the mind-boggling architectural rises of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia to the shimmering beaches of the Costa del Sol. The best part, though: Round-trip tickets into town should only cost around $980, flying indirect on Turkish Airlines for the cheapest seats going.

9. Fly from San Francisco to Madrid, Spain, for as low as $959 round trip

Of the four airlines currently connecting San Francisco International to the Spanish capital across the pond with indirect flights, it's Turkish Airlines who offer the best deals, touting an attractive round-trip price tag that's well below the overall average fare for the route. That means Cali locals can expect to save plenty of euros on their ride into the Adolfo Suarez Barajas Airport, which should come in handy when the Madrileno tapas joints and lively downtown flamenco bars of Puerto del Sol and Arguelles start calling!

8. Fly from San Francisco to Zurich, Switzerland, for as low as $953 round trip

Sitting at a respectable number eight are these air connections between San Francisco International Airport and the mountain-shrouded Swiss cityscape of Zurich. With a round-trip price tag of approximately just $953, they are the perfect choice for travelers eager to check out the chic bars and banker haunts along the River Limmat, or to hop aboard the Snow'n'Rail train to the pistes of St Moritz, Flumserberg and Blatten-Belalp. For the cheapest tickets, be sure to check out the indirect offerings from Air France and Turkish Airlines.

7. Fly from San Francisco to Rome, Italy, for as low as $951 round trip

Crowned by the mighty Colosseum, peppered with ancient archways and mysterious temples, and endowed with all the opulence of the Vatican Museum, Rome is unquestionably one of the most alluring destinations on offer to San Francisco locals. (And that's not to mention the majestic beauty of surrounding Lazio and Tuscany, where rolling vineyards abut medieval hill towns and rustic pizza breads are washed down with full-bodied Montepulciano reds.) What's more, seats on indirect flights into Fiumicino Airport will only set travelers back around $951!

6. Fly from San Francisco to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for as low as $948 round trip

While there are currently two separate carriers (KLM and Delta) offering travelers out of SFO nonstop connections to the Dutch capital, the cheapest seats overall are on routes with Turkish Airlines, going indirect via Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. These seats offer ticket prices well below the average for the route at just $753 round trip, which should mean plenty more euros in the bank for exploring Van Gogh's masterpieces, the wonders of the Rijksmuseum and those legendary coffee shops everybody's talking about!

5. Fly from San Francisco to Athens, Greece, for as low as $946 round trip

This year, don't miss an opportunity to scale the legendary Athenian Acropolis, weave between the colossal columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, or explore the secluded beaches of the Peloponnese and the crumbling tombs of nearby Mycenae. Yep, all that and more is on offer to fliers out of SFO, and for an average price tag of just $946 round trip on flag carrier Turkish Airlines via Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.

4. Fly from San Francisco to Milan, Italy, for as low as $930 round trip

High Alpine mountains, high fashion, high Gothic towers and low prices are the current offerings from these connections into Italian Milan, which sees travelers transported to the majestic Piazza del Duomo and Pinacoteca di Brera museum rooms for as little as $930 round trip! The best bargains available are with Turkish Airlines going indirect into the city's Malpensa Airport, while the Nordic flag-carrying Scandinavian Airlines System also has some excellent deals on the route.

3. Fly from San Francisco to Copenhagen, Denmark, for as low as $864 round trip

While there is a whole host of airlines currently offering bargain tickets at or under the average mark of $864 on indirect routes connecting San Francisco with Copenhagen, fliers may be better off dishing out just a couple more dollars for their ride into town and going nonstop with Scandinavian Airlines System. Just think: once on the ground, those extra hours could be spent surveying the towering structures of Rundetarn or sampling a smorgasbord of famous Danish brunch in the cozy eateries of Nyhavn!

2. Fly from San Francisco to Dublin, Ireland, for as low as $827 round trip

The second cheapest European destination beckoning fliers out of San Francisco International this year offers a gateway to the wonders of the Emerald Isle. That means the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, the mythical bulwarks of the Blarney Castle and the taste bud-tingling fermentation rooms of the Guinness Storehouse, all for an average price tag of just $827 round trip! For the cheapest tickets, be sure to check out the indirect offering from Air France, who fly via New York's JFK.

1. Fly from San Francisco to Stockholm, Sweden, for as low as $769 round trip

San Francisco locals used to the majestic beauty of spots like Monterey Bay, Bolinas Beach and the rugged coastal stretches of Northern Cali are bound to love the top pick on this list, which connects SFO with the Scandinavian capital city of Sweden. Not only can travelers expect to pay just $769 for their tickets on the route when flying indirect with Swiss International or Air France, but they can also enjoy the wealth of wild and windswept Baltic islands that form the greater Stockholm archipelago, including the rustic fishing towns of Moja, the rolling dunes of Sandon, and the secluded coves of Grinda.

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