Bratislava and Vilnius rank as cheapest Christmas market destinations

Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital city, has been ranked as the cheapest European location for a Christmas market break by the Post Office.

It emerged as the bargain option thanks to a combination of the lowest two-night package and low prices for food and drink compared to 13 other European cities.

According to the Post Office Travel Money’s Christmas Markets Barometer for 2024, Bratislava’s total of £510.09 for two people was calculated by combining the costs of return flights, two nights’ three or four-star accommodation, airport transfers, two evening meals with wine, coffee, festive drinks and snacks at the Christmas market.

In Copenhagen, the most expensive city, visitors can expect to pay almost twice as much – £989 – for the same items.

Eastern European cities offer the best value for bargain hunters, taking nine of the top 10 places in the barometer.

Vilnius was only marginally behind Bratislava in second place, at almost £511. The Lithuanian capital was just 78p more expensive – and was cheapest for meals, drinks and airport transfers.

After five years as the best value city, Riga has dropped to third place, with its total up by 8% to almost £546.

Gdansk in Poland reached a total of £596, 12% lower than in another Polish city, Krakow. However, Krakow’s barometer total of £678 is 20% lower than a year ago, thanks to a combination of lower meal prices and better availability bringing down the cost of flights.

Last year Post Office reported a big increase in package costs as a result of flight scarcity and the latest research brings prices back to 2022’s lower levels.

Prague boasts the lowest meal prices, with two three-course meals for two with wine costing £131.75, compared with £133.82 in Vilnius and £134.07 in Budapest – or twice as much, £263.16, in Copenhagen.

Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, said: “Sterling has risen in value against European currencies, which means that holidaymakers visiting a Christmas market will have more cash to spend.

“However, the price variations revealed by the latest barometer show just how important it is for people planning trips to check prices and factor in all the costs they are likely to incur.

“While emerging cities like Bratislava and Vilnius offer outstanding value, Prague and Budapest are also great options for bargain hunters because of the price falls we found in these more established favourites.”

Rising prices for flights and accommodation account for the increased costs recorded in most cities – with air fares having the greatest impact.

Picture of Bratislava’s Christmas market by Rasto SK/Shutterstock

Christmas Markets Barometer 2024

1 Bratislava £510.09
2 Vilnius £510.87
3 Riga £545.87
4 Gdansk £596.24
5 Prague £606.23
6 Budapest £639.06
7 Zagreb £649.19
8 Krakow £678.47
9 Stockholm £737.12
10 Tallinn £749.38
11 Berlin £884.98
12 Lille £886.11
13 Vienna £949.57
14 Copenhagen £988.60