Flights to Cancun — What to Expect
Cancun Internacional Airport (CUN) is one of the busiest airports in Latin America, and for good reason — it handles direct flights from dozens of European and North American cities year-round. From the UK, you're looking at direct flights from London Gatwick and Manchester with TUI and Virgin Atlantic, while most other European travelers will connect through Madrid with Iberia, Amsterdam with KLM, or Frankfurt with Lufthansa. Transatlantic flight time from London runs roughly 10 to 10.5 hours direct; from mainland Europe, expect 11 to 13 hours with a connection. Flights from [origin] to Cancun are well-served and genuinely competitive, especially if you book early or travel outside peak winter.
On price, cheap flights to Cancun from Europe typically fall in the €500–€750 range if you book two to four months out and avoid Christmas and February half-term. Peak winter fares (December–January) and spring break (March–April) can push Cancun flight deals toward €900–€1,200 return, especially from Northern Europe. Budget-conscious travelers should compare departure cities — flying from London versus a regional UK airport or a smaller European hub can swing prices by €150 or more. Set fare alerts on Google Flights or Skyscanner, and keep an eye on charter operators like TUI and Jet2 if you're open to a package deal, which often undercut seat-only fares significantly.
Best Time to Visit Cancun
Cancun operates on two distinct seasons: dry (November through April) and wet (May through October). The sweet spot for most travelers is February through April — you get reliable sunshine, sea temperatures hovering around 27–28°C, and daytime highs of 84–89°F (29–32°C) without the oppressive humidity of summer. January is excellent too, though flights and hotels spike sharply around Christmas and New Year. March and April bring spring break crowds, particularly in the Hotel Zone, so if you want the good weather without the party chaos, aim for late February or the first two weeks of March.
May through July is a genuinely underrated window — it's hotter and more humid, with 8 to 10 rainy days per month, but those tend to be short afternoon downpours rather than all-day washouts. Prices drop noticeably and the beaches are quieter. August through October is hurricane season proper, with September and October carrying the highest risk — not necessarily a dealbreaker, but you'd want flexible cancellation terms on everything you book. November marks the return of dry conditions without the December price surge, making it one of the better-value months for a Cancun trip.
Getting Around Cancun
The airport sits about 16 km south of the Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera) and around 20 km from downtown Cancun (El Centro). Your cheapest legitimate option is the ADO bus, which runs directly from the airport to the Hotel Zone and downtown for around 85–100 MXN (roughly €4–5). Shared shuttles cost around $12–18 USD per person and are booked just outside arrivals — fine, but slower if you're the last drop-off. Taxis from the official airport taxi desk run $30–45 USD to the Hotel Zone depending on your exact hotel; avoid anyone who approaches you before you reach the official desk. Uber operates in Cancun but cannot legally pick up from the airport — it works fine for getting back and for moving around once you're settled.
Within the Hotel Zone, the R-1 public bus runs the full length of Boulevard Kukulcán for just 12 MXN (under €1) and is perfectly usable for most sightseeing. For day trips to Tulum, Chichén Itzá, or Playa del Carmen, ADO coaches are comfortable, affordable, and reliable — book tickets at the bus terminal or online in advance for popular routes.
Where to Stay in Cancun
The Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera) is the long sandbar strip where almost every all-inclusive resort sits — this is where you want to be for beach access, but it's expensive and feels detached from real Mexico. Budget travelers and anyone wanting a more authentic experience should look at El Centro (downtown Cancun), where decent guesthouses and mid-range hotels run €40–80 per night and you're walking distance from local restaurants, markets, and the ADO bus station. Puerto Cancun, north of the Hotel Zone, is a newer marina district with upscale condos and boutique hotels — quieter and less resort-y, good for couples. For premium stays in the Hotel Zone itself, names like Nizuc, Le Blanc, and The Ritz-Carlton deliver on the luxury end (€300–600+ per night), while mid-range all-inclusives like Riu and Iberostar offer solid value in the €150–250 per night bracket.
Top Things to Do in Cancun
- Chichén Itzá day trip: Two hours by ADO bus, and genuinely one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the Americas. Go early — it gets crowded and hot by midday. Budget around €25–35 for the site entry plus transport.
- Isla Mujeres: A 20-minute ferry from Puerto Juárez (not the Hotel Zone — get that right before you go). The island has calm turquoise water, decent snorkeling at MUSA underwater museum, and a pace that makes the Hotel Zone feel absurd by comparison.
- Cenote swimming: The Yucatán Peninsula sits on a network of freshwater sinkholes. Cenote Ik Kil near Chichén Itzá and the cenotes around Tulum are the most accessible. Water is clear, cold, and spectacular.
- Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya: 45 minutes south by bus, Playa del Carmen has a walkable beach strip (Quinta Avenida), better independent restaurants, and a younger backpacker-meets-boutique-hotel crowd. Worth a day trip or a night or two.
- Snorkeling and diving in Mesoamerican Reef: The second-largest coral reef system in the world runs right along this coastline. Day trips from Cancun or Playa del Carmen cover multiple reef sites for around €50–80 including gear.
- Mercado 28 in El Centro: Skip the Hotel Zone souvenir shops and come here for embroidered textiles, hammocks, spices, and better-priced local food. Bargaining is expected and half the fun.
Practical Travel Tips
Visas: EU and UK citizens do not need a visa to enter Mexico for tourist stays up to 180 days. You'll complete a digital entry form (the old paper FMM tourist card has been phased out for air arrivals — check the current INM process before you travel as this has been updated). Currency: The Mexican Peso (MXN) is your friend — use it. While the Hotel Zone widely accepts USD and cards, you'll pay worse rates and miss out at local spots. Withdraw pesos from airport ATMs or in-city bank ATMs (avoid standalone airport exchange kiosks). Tipping: Standard practice is 10–15% in restaurants; hotel maids appreciate 20–50 MXN per night. All-inclusive doesn't mean no tipping — most staff rely on it. Safety: The Hotel Zone and tourist areas of Cancun are generally safe for visitors. El Centro requires normal big-city awareness after dark — stick to lit streets, use Uber rather than hailing random cabs at night, and don't flash expensive gear. Tap water is not safe to drink; use purified water throughout your stay.
FAQ — Flights to Cancun
How much do flights to Cancun cost?
Return flights to Cancun from Europe generally run €500–€750 if you book two to four months ahead during shoulder periods. Peak season (Christmas, February half-term, spring break) pushes prices to €900–€1,200 from most European hubs. Charter packages through TUI or Jet2 from the UK frequently undercut these figures — worth checking if your dates are flexible.
Which airlines fly to Cancun?
Direct services from the UK are operated by TUI (from Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham) and Virgin Atlantic (Heathrow). From mainland Europe, Iberia flies direct from Madrid, while KLM (Amsterdam), Lufthansa (Frankfurt), and Air France (Paris) offer one-stop connections with solid schedules. Aeromexico connects via Mexico City if you want a Mexican carrier for the full journey.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Cancun?
May and September typically offer the lowest fares from Europe — demand drops sharply as the wet season begins and hurricane risk peaks. If you're comfortable with the weather trade-off, May is the better of the two: hurricane risk is low, the sea is warm, and you'll find Cancun flight deals that are hard to match at any other time of year.
How long is the flight to Cancun from London?
Direct flights from London Gatwick or Heathrow to Cancun run approximately 10 to 10.5 hours. From other European cities, one-stop itineraries via Madrid, Amsterdam, or Paris typically add 3 to 5 hours to total travel time depending on the layover. Flying via a US hub (Miami, Atlanta, Houston) is also an option but rarely saves money from European origins.