Europe’s cheapest city for a cosy Christmas market break

Bratislava has emerged as the most affordable European city for a Christmas market break.

Research has revealed that Slovakia’s capital offers low prices for food, drink, public transport and accommodation – indeed, a two-night stay in Bratislava (£510 for two people) is almost half the price of two nights in Copenhagen (£989), the most expensive city.

The Post Office Travel Money Christmas Markets Barometer’s ranking of the best-value festive breaks included Bratislava, Vilnius (Lithuania) and Gdansk (Poland) for the first time; all ranked highly among the 14 cities surveyed.

The barometer included the cost of return flights or Eurostar for two, two nights’ three- or four-star accommodation, bus or train airport transfers, two evening meals with wine, coffees, plus mulled wine or punch and cake or gingerbread at the Christmas market.

Bargain breaks

Many affordable options were in Central and Eastern Europe. Vilnius was only marginally more expensive than Bratislava, and was the cheapest for meals, drinks and airport transfers.

Latvia’s capital, Riga, dropped to third place after five years as the best-value city. Although prices rose 8 per cent in the last year to £546, it is still a good-value option for travellers.

Gdansk is also affordable (£596) and prices are 12 per cent lower than in another Polish city, Krakow. Prague, Budapest and Zagreb all came in at less than £650, while Stockholm and Tallinn were both less than £750.

Berlin, Lille and Vienna were on the list of places most likely to stretch your budget, with a bill of around £900.

Despite the strength of sterling against the currencies of the cities features in the report, prices for a two-night Christmas market break have fallen in only three of the 11 cities that were also surveyed in 2023.

The cities where prices have fallen year-on-year include Krakow (down 12 per cent), Budapest (10.4 per cent lower) and Prague (5.3 per cent).

Rising flights and accommodation costs account for higher prices in some cities, with airfares having increased because of a scarcity of plane seats for many cities.

“Sterling has risen in value against European currencies, which means that holidaymakers visiting a Christmas market will have more cash to spend.”

Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at the Post Office, said: “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.”

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Why to visit Bratislava this Christmas

On average, return flights and two nights’ B&B accommodation in Bratislava is among the most affordable in Europe, at just £333 for two.

However, there are cheaper options available for those who can be flexible. At the time of writing, one-way flights from Stansted to Bratislava with ­Ryanair and from Bratislava to Luton with Wizz Air were available for £39pp.

Good-value accommodation includes Hotel Antares, a 10-minute walk from the old town, where B&B doubles cost as little as £118 for two nights in December.

Christmas markets can be overpriced, but Bratislava’s popular options, in the central Main Square and Hviezdoslavovo Square, buck this trend.

The research found that a glass of mulled wine, punch or glühwein costs around £2.56, while a piece of cake, gingerbread or stollen will set you back an average of £3.41.

Bratislava is an affordable, appealing city break year-round. Set on the Danube River, close to the border with Austria and Hungary, it is surrounded by vineyards and the Little Carpathian Mountains, with hiking and biking trails, when the weather allows. The ­pedestrianised, 18th-century old town has plenty of affordable bars and cafés.

Attractions include the Church of St Elizabeth of Hungary. Known as “The Little Blue Church”, due to the striking colour of its façade, mosaics and blue-glazed roof, it contrasts with the nearby, 80-metre high Slovak Radio building. This pyramid-shaped structure – a cult favourite among fans of “ugly” buildings – is today home to the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, which puts on regular concerts.

The most recognisable attraction is the hilltop Bratislava Castle (entry £11.70), which overlooks the old town and the Danube – and on a clear day, you can see as far as Austria and Hungary. For more, see visitbratislava.com.