‘Magical’ Christmas market sells 86p mulled wine and £32 UK flights | Europe | Travel

Many would argue that there’s no better way to embrace the festive spirit than with a hot cup of mulled wine as you peruse a European Christmas market. However, these events can often be quite pricey.

For instance, a cup of mulled wine at the Berlin Christmas market costs five euros, and you’ll need to pay an additional three if you want to keep the mug as a keepsake.

Staying closer to home doesn’t necessarily mean saving money, either. It’s well known that UK Christmas markets are among the priciest in Europe.

For example, a visit to the Manchester Christmas markets this year could see you shelling out around £25 for a beer and a bratwurst.

If you’re eager to plan a festive trip but don’t want to break the bank, some of the ‘lesser known’ European Christmas markets offer much more reasonable prices. Plus, they tend to be less crowded than their UK counterparts, reports the Daily Record.

If you’re looking for ideas, the team at Eurochange has done some research into the best alternative Christmas markets across Europe. They’ve also calculated the cheapest flights from the UK and the average cost of a hotel. On top of that, they’ve examined the cities with the most favourable exchange rates.

Laura Evans-Fisk, head of digital and engagement at Eurochange, said: “Our research shows the Christmas market in Wroclaw, Poland, is one of the best in Europe if you’re looking for excellent value for money and a truly authentic experience.

“Two nights of accommodation for two adults costs just £47, and food and drinks are very affordable. Sibiu in Romania is a close second when it comes to the cheapest Christmas markets in Europe. Here, you can get a mulled wine for just 86p.”

Sibiu, Romania

• Cheapest direct return UK flights (per person): £32 from Birmingham, £49 from London Luton
• Cheapest accommodation price: £35 for two nights based on two adults sharing
• Christmas market entry: Free
• Currency and exchange rate: Romanian leu (£1 = 5.84 leu)
• Total trip cost (based on the cheapest options for two nights) for two people: £129

Laura explains that Sibiu stands as Romania’s premier Christmas market destination, surpassing even the capital, Bucharest, in popularity. Romanians travel in droves to experience this Transylvanian winter celebration, dubbed ‘The Fair In Sibiu’, which runs from November 14, 2025, through to January 4, 2026.

Sibiu boasts a distinctive blend of Hungarian, Romanian and German influences, creating the town’s extraordinarily rich cultural tapestry – unmatched anywhere else throughout Transylvania, Laura notes. Nestled within the historic old town at Piața Mare, these markets are “beautifully decorated with thousands of fairy lights and festive trinkets”, she added.

She emphasises its exceptional affordability. A cup of mulled wine ranges between five and 10 leu (merely £0.86). Be certain to sample the delicious regional delicacies as well, featuring Kürtőskalács (spit cakes) and cozonac (sweet bread).

Wroclaw, Poland

• Cheapest direct return UK flights (per person): £38 from Liverpool, £40 from London Stansted, £40 from Nottingham, £41 from Bristol
• Cheapest accommodation price: £47 for two nights based on two adults sharing
• Christmas market entry: Free
• Currency and exchange rate: Polish zloty (£1 = 4.87 zloty)
• Total trip cost (based on the cheapest options for two nights): £123

Wroclaw is considered amongst the finest and most stunning Christmas markets in Poland, according to Laura. “It is an idyllic, real life winter wonderland, scattered across the city”, she said.

Situated in the Rynek Marquet Square, Place Solny, Świdnicka Street and Oławska Street, there are numerous stalls to explore. Laura explains that many of them offer handcrafted goods and delicacies, largely from independent traders.

The pricing is extremely affordable as well, Laura notes, with mulled wine costing merely 15 PLN (£3.08) plus a 15 PLN deposit for the mug. However, if the mug doesn’t appeal to you, there are numerous restaurants and bars surrounding the markets, where you can discover a warming cup of mulled wine for just 9 PLN (£1.85).

Innsbruck, Austria

• Cheapest direct return UK flights to Vienna (per person): £54 from London Gatwick, £73 from Liverpool, £83 from Manchester.
• Vienna to Innsbruck train: From £21 (per person)
• Cheapest accommodation price: £67 for two nights based on two adults sharing
• Christmas market entry: Free
• Currency and exchange rate: euro (£1 = €1.15)
• Total trip cost (based on the cheapest options for two nights) for two people: £196

Laura said: “Nothing will give you the ‘festive feels’ like roaming the streets of Innsbruck in the run-up to Christmas. The aroma of freshly made Kiachln (piping hot doughnuts laced with Sauerkraut) and the sound of Christmas carols are guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit.

“Fairy lights give the medieval alleys a magical glow, and in front of the city’s famous ‘Golden Roof’, you will find the Christmas markets. Visitors can also wander across to Innsbruck’s main shopping street, Maria-Theresien Straße, where there are even more chalets offering tasty snacks and handmade crafts.”

Tallinn, Estonia

• Cheapest direct return UK flights (per person): £48 from London Luton, £203 from Edinburgh, £207 from Birmingham
• Cheapest accommodation price: £45 for two nights based on two adults sharing
• Christmas market entry: Free
• Currency and exchange rate: euro (£1 = €1.15)
• Total trip cost (based on the cheapest options for two nights) for two people: £141

“Tallinn Christmas market is a real-life fairytale in the heart of Estonia’s capital”, Laura says. Visitors can taste regional specialities, including black pudding, sour cabbage, gingerbread and warming festive tipples from 1-2 euros, making it one of the most affordable and most genuine Christmas markets in Europe.

She said: “The real star of the show is the incredible market Christmas tree, which has been set up every year in the Town Hall Square since 1441, making it the first ever Christmas tree to be put on display in Europe.”

Zagreb, Croatia

• Cheapest direct UK flights (per person): £54 return from London Stansted (per person)
• Cheapest accommodation price: £55 for two nights based on two adults sharing
• Christmas market entry: Free
• Currency and exchange rate: euro (£1 = €1.15)
• Total trip cost (based on the cheapest options for two nights) for two people: £163

Croatia is perhaps not the first country that springs to mind when we think of a ‘festive’ destination, but Zagreb’s Christmas market should not be overlooked, Laura maintains.

Also known as ‘Advent Zagreb’, the city “truly comes to life” during the festive season with an epic Christmas market and a rich programme of music and art exhibitions, plus an impressive ice-skating rink in King Tromislav Square.

Strasbourg, France 

• Cheapest direct return UK flights (per person): £67 from Manchester, £90 from London Gatwick 
• Cheapest accommodation: £124 for two nights based on two adults sharing
• Christmas market entry: Free 
• Currency and exchange rate: euro (£1 = €1.15)  
• Total trip cost (based on the cheapest options for two nights) for two people: £258

Laura says: “A wonderful hybrid of French and German cultures, Strasbourg is a quaint city that truly comes to life over the festive period. Known to the French as the ‘capital of Christmas’, Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik is France’s oldest Christmas market, and has now been running for four centuries. 

“The town’s streets are scattered with over 300 adorable chalets and twinkling lights, offering tasty local Alsatian delicacies such as Bredele (traditional Christmas biscuits) and Berawecka, a traditional Christmas fruit cake.”

Flight rates are based on Skyscanner data as of October 24, 2025, looking at the cheapest available direct flights in December. Hotel rates are also based on Booking.com data as of October 24, 2025, when filtering prices from ‘low to high’ for two nights, for two people sharing one room. Exchange rates are all based on the market rate on October 24, 2025.