Europe is home to over 1,500 world-famous markets, including some of the oldest, with people travelling from all over just to taste a steaming mug of Glühwein or mulled wine and taste a Bratwurst.
While Germany is the undisputed champion of Christmas markets, with Cologne bringing in four million people alone, there are some hidden, more affordable gems around Europe – some closer to home than you may think.
To reveal the city with the cheapest Christmas Markets in Europe, UK Debt Expert analysed ten affordability metrics like market prices, hotel affordability, transport costs, and drink costs across 35 cities, including some cities within the UK and Ireland. Each metric was weighted equally to give a final expense score.
Quick summary from the Christmas Market Index:
- Gdansk, Poland is Europe’s cheapest Christmas market, driven by the most affordable transport in the research and ice skating costing just £8.56.[Text Wrapping Break]
- In the UK, Leeds houses the cheapest Christmas market, outranking neighbouring cities like York and Manchester.[Text Wrapping Break]
- Ice skating in the UK could set you back on average 64% more than in continental Europe.[Text Wrapping Break]
- London’s Winter Wonderland is the most expensive market, with ice skating setting you back £17.05 and mulled wine £7.40.
How affordable are Christmas markets across Europe?
The countdown to Christmas is on, and with so many markets around, we’ve removed the heavy lifting for those wondering which ones to go to and put together a list of the most affordable markets.
Where are the cheapest Christmas markets in Europe?
Gdansk, Poland, which was named the best Christmas market last year, has now also earned the title of Europe's cheapest Christmas market. Boasting Europe's cheapest transport costs, with taxis costing just 76p per km and a return fare for local transport costing £1.84, the city’s wide choice of affordable hotels makes it a perfect place for a festive getaway.
Known for taking on a fairy-tale-like atmosphere during the festive season, the city’s twinkling lights and towering Christmas tree in the Long Market are the perfect backdrop for Christmas markets. Once you get to the market, mulled wine costs £4.19, a bratwurst £5.71 and ice skating, including skate hire, costs £8.56 – some of the most affordable prices in Europe.
Ranking second is Prague, Czechia, driven by the cheapest pints (£2.39), bratwursts (£2.94), and mulled wine (£2.31) – all less than half the European average.
For keen ice skaters, the cost of skate rental and skating is under £10 and around 30% less expensive than the European average. However, for those looking for a festive holiday, there are just 32 hotels available for under £200 per night, which could push up the price of your winter break.
Krakow, Poland ranks third cheapest, thanks to its cheap hot chocolate (£3.83) and affordable transport links, tied with Berlin, thanks to its cheap ice rink (£6.71) and vast affordable hotels.
Table to show the most affordable Christmas markets in Europe
| City | Ice skating cost (£) | Mulled wine cost (£) | Hotel value availability – under £100 | Taxi per km price (£) | Expense Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gdansk, Poland | 8.56 | 4.19 | 24 | 0.76 | 25 |
| Prague, Czechia | 9.64 | 2.31 | 4 | 1.21 | 26 |
| Krakow, Poland | 9.32 | 3.42 | 23 | 0.77 | 29 |
| Berlin, Germany | 6.71 | 3.36 | 120 | 2.35 | 29 |
| Budapest, Hungary | 17.11 | 4.11 | 21 | 1.01 | 39 |
| Helsinki, Finland | 5.87 | 5.02 | 29 | 0.95 | 42 |
| Strasbourg, France | 5.03 | 4.18 | 0 | 1.56 | 43 |
| Dresden, Germany | 10.91 | 2.51 | 2 | 2.02 | 44 |
| Cologne, Germany | 15.08 | 3.77 | 5 | 2.02 | 45 |
| Bruges, Belgium | 9.00 | 4.20 | 0 | 1.85 | 46 |
Where are the most expensive Christmas markets in Europe?
Unfortunately for Brits, the top ten most expensive Christmas markets are overwhelmingly based in the UK.
London’s infamous Winter Wonderland claims the title of most expensive Christmas market, with people needing to fork out roughly £17.05 to ice skate, on top of being one of the only markets you need to pay entry for (£5.50). Additionally, the market has the most expensive mulled wine at £7.40, while a bratwurst costs around £8.
Christmas markets at Trafalgar Square are the second most expensive, with the nearby ice rink costing £27 – 437% more than the least expensive Strasbourg, which costs just £5.03.
Ranking third are Leicester Square’s markets, home to the most expensive Bratwursts behind Budapest, costing £11, and the second most expensive mulled wine at £6.90.
For people travelling to the capital for any of these markets, there’s next to no affordable accommodation, with no hotels available for under £100 in the local vicinity of the market and only a handful under £200, and a pint could cost £7 – the most expensive behind Helsinki.
| City | Ice skating cost (£) | Mulled wine cost (£) | Hotel value availability – under £100 | Taxi per km price (£) | Expense Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London – Winter Wonderland | 17.05 | 7.40 | 0 | 2.48 | 80 |
| London – Trafalgar Square | 27.00 | 6.50 | 0 | 2.48 | 74 |
| London – Leicester Square | 19.00 | 6.90 | 0 | 2.48 | 71 |
| Basel, Switzerland | 7.27 | 5.36 | 0 | 3.44 | 70 |
| York, UK | 18.09 | 6.50 | 0 | 2.00 | 60 |
| Cambridge, UK | 16.50 | 6.00 | 9 | 2.00 | 60 |
| Edinburgh, UK | 15.00 | 6.50 | 0 | 1.40 | 58 |
| Bath, UK | 16.50 | 5.00 | 0 | 1.25 | 56 |
| Birmingham, UK | 14.00 | 6.50 | 17 | 1.80 | 56 |
| Cardiff, UK | 20.00 | 6.00 | 1 | 1.28 | 55 |
How affordable are Christmas markets in the UK and Ireland?
According to the research, Christmas markets in continental Europe are more affordable than those in the UK, but once travel and additional spending money are factored in, a festive holiday overseas could add up.
We’ve compiled a list of the cheapest markets in the UK, so you can still get into the Christmas spirit while staying within your budget.
Where are the cheapest Christmas markets in the UK and Ireland?
In the UK and Ireland, Christmas markets in Leeds were the most affordable, offering the joint cheapest mulled wine in the nation at £5, the most inexpensive ice rink after Nottingham at £13, and some of the most affordable hot chocolate at £5.10.
Neighbouring cities like Manchester and York ranked 12th and 17th cheapest in the UK, so locals may want to consider a day out to Leeds to save some pennies.
Southampton followed, again home to the cheapest mulled wine costing just £5, 32% less than Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, where it costs £7.40. A spin on the ice rink costs £15, and if you feel too much like Bambi on ice and decide to watch from the sidelines, Bratwursts cost around £8, and a pint costs, on average, £5.75.
Nottingham claims third spot, leading with the cheapest ice skating (£12) and second cheapest for hot chocolate (£5.10).
| City | Ice skating cost (£) | Mulled wine cost (£) | Hotel value availability – under £100 | Taxi per km price (£) | Expense Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds | 13.00 | 5.00 | 5 | 1.53 | 49 |
| Southampton | 15.00 | 5.00 | 20 | 1.50 | 50 |
| Nottingham | 12.00 | 6.00 | 10 | 1.12 | 51 |
| Glasgow | 14.13 | 6.50 | 5 | 0.88 | 51 |
| Newcastle | 15.75 | 6.50 | 12 | 1.19 | 51 |
| Dublin | 17.83 | 6.69 | 1 | 1.13 | 53 |
| Bournemouth | 16.50 | 6.00 | 23 | 1.78 | 53 |
| Swansea | 15.00 | 5.00 | 4 | 2.00 | 53 |
| Bristol | 14.95 | 6.00 | 5 | 1.25 | 54 |
| Liverpool | 15.50 | 6.50 | 6 | 2.00 | 55 |
How can I budget this Christmas?
Christmas is one of the most expensive times of the year. The average household spends £1,681.12, more than half of the average monthly household income, according to research by MoneySuperMarket.
To cope with this financial strain, one in five UK adults turn to borrowing money. While the majority take on debt to pay for presents, it’s also used for a range of other reasons: roughly a third borrow for festive food and drink, one in five to cover everyday household bills, and one in six to fund holiday socialising and seasonal days out.
To help you enjoy the festive atmosphere, here are three practical tips to help keep your festive budget in check:
● Create a dedicated pot for days out: Between impromptu drinks, festive days out and Christmas parties, spending can quickly escalate. Set up a separate banking pot or withdraw fixed amounts of cash specifically for days out. Giving yourself a spending limit for the markets lets you enjoy the stalls and street food without eating into reserves.
● Opt for more affordable markets: You don’t have to visit the most expensive or viral attractions to soak up the festive atmosphere – comparing the costs of nearby cities can help save some money. If you live between Leeds and York, choosing Leeds delivers the same twinkling lights and artisan stalls, while saving over £5 on ice skating and cutting your mulled wine bill by around 23%.
● Agree on gift price caps: Exchanging presents can quickly add up and should never come at the cost of everyday essentials. Have an open discussion with family and friends ahead of the lead-up to Christmas to set a price limit. For wider friendship circles, suggest Secret Santa so everyone buys and receives one well-thought-out gift.
Arielle Flynn at UK Debt Expert says:
“For many, Christmas markets are the marker of the beginning of the festive season, a place for friends and family to come together and count down to the big day.
“However, our research highlights how much Christmas markets can end up costing and how quickly expenses can start to add up. Between ice skating, festive food and artisan trinkets, a day out can spiral and start to eat into the household Christmas budget.
“A memorable Christmas isn’t defined by how much you spend, but by enjoying quality time with loved ones and soaking up the atmosphere, so it’s worth remembering that most markets are free entry, meaning you can browse at your leisure, take in the lights and enjoy the sights and smells of the season without needing to spend anything.”
Methodology
To find Europe’s most affordable Christmas markets, UK Debt Expert looked across ten core cost pillars: market admission fee, ice skating tickets (including skate hire), food and drink staples (draft beer, bratwurst, mulled wine and hot chocolate), local transport (taxi per km cost and a return ticket for public transport fare), and budget hotel availability under £100 and £200.
Each pillar was equally weighted to give an overall expense score to reveal the most affordable European Christmas market.
