Over the years, I’ve embarked on several Christmas Market challenges as a way to find out which is the best and cheapest Christmas Market in Europe – and this year I’m playing Christmas Market Bingo!
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What Christmas Market challenges have I done in the past?
This Christmas Market fascination started in 2023 when I did a Christmas Market Crawl around Europe, where my followers on Instagram chose which markets I visited for 7 whole days!
As for 2024, I stuck to the UK as I attempted to do 7 Christmas Markets in one day but the catch was – I could only use the UK train network. Let’s just say that one didn’t go quite to plan!
And all of this has culminated in lots of reviews and videos that we’ve made about the best Christmas Markets out there.
Visit our Christmas Markets page for my top picks of the best value, most festive spots in Europe this Christmas.
My Christmas Market Bingo Itinerary
In 2025, I decided to do something a little different for my Christmas Market challenge by making up my own game of Christmas Market Bingo!
The rules are pretty simple, I’ve got 5 days and £500 to get a full house on my festive Bingo Card.
But there is a twist.
Each and every day I have to roll a dice and if I roll a 5, I have to give £50 of my budget to a total stranger.
Watch me play Christmas Market Bingo over on YouTube!
My Christmas Market Bingo Card
Let’s have a look at this Bingo Card then! It’s split into 5 different categories and I can only tick off one from each per market.
Line 1 - Christmas Markets
Quite simply, the first category is ‘Christmas Market’ and I must tick off 5 to complete my bingo challenge.
Line 2 - Food and drink
It’s not a Christmas Market without sampling a mulled wine and some form of sausage, and it gives me a chance to report back on how expensive everything is!
Line 3 - Transport
To make it a bit more fun, I also have to use a variety of different transport modes to get from market to market. On the list is boat, bus, train and upgraded seat. Why only four? Well. I only have to travel four times to go to 5 markets!
Line 4 - Accommodation
It would be cheapest for me to stay four nights in a hostel, but where’s the fun in that? So instead, I have to tick off 3 star, 4 star and 5 star accommodation, as well as sleep-whilst-you-travel and a unique stay.
Line 5 - Wildcard
And finally, at each market, I have to tick off a wildcard! Which includes visit santa, a present for James, a festive pudding, a shot with a local and also some ice skating.
Free Space - The £50 Forfeit
As for the middle space, I can only tick that off once I’ve completed my 5 daily rolls of the dice as part of the £50 forfeit.
Follow My Christmas Market Bingo Challenge
I’m posting a YouTube video and a written review for all 5 markets and as they go up, I’ll keep you updated on here as well.
But first off, let’s check in with where I’ve been so far.
Day 1 - Hamburg
Day 1 kicked off in Hamburg, Germany but what items will I manage to tick off my Christmas Market Bingo card, and how much will it cost me?!
Hamburg Christmas Market Review
I’ve written up and taken loads of pictures of my visit to Hamburg Christmas Market, which you can read below!
Hotel
I chose to stay at CAB20 Hotel in Hamburg; it’s close to the main train station so super-easy for getting around.
Other options to check out:
Budget: Meininger Hotel Hamburg City
Mid-range: Moxy Hamburg City | smartments Hamburg Aussenalster
Treat: 25hours Hotel Altes Hafenmart | Tortue Hamburg
Transport
I took the sleeper train from Hamburg to Stockholm. I booked a couchette (a bunk) which cost £85. It’s not a steal, but it is your acommodation and transport combined.
If you’re on a strict budget, there are usually seats you can book – although the service I travelled on added the cars with seats half way through the journey!
If you want to fly, try SAS, Norwegian or Eurowings.
Budget
Day 1 spend: £93.10
Budget left: £406.90
Day 2 - Stockholm
The Christmas Market for Day 2 was Stockholm. Let’s see how my bingo card and I get on in the Swedish capital.
Stockholm Christmas Market Review
I’ve done a written review and put a load of my photos up for my trip to Stockholm Christmas Market – check it out below!
Hotel
I arrived in Stockholm on the overnight train so I didn’t neeed a hotel. However these were top of my list:
Budget: City Backpackers | Skanstulls Boutique Hostel
Mid-range: CityBox Stockholm | Mälardrottningen Yacht Hotel
Treat: Radisson Collection Strand Hotel | Nobis Hotel Stockholm
Transport
I took an overnight ferry from Stockholm to Tallinn. I booked a standard inside cabin, which happened to have a promo running for Singles Day, so I a paid £83. Again this is your transport and accommodation combined.
You can catch a ferry in the daytime as well; if you want to catch one over night, know that they don’t run every night so you’ll need to plan ahead.
If you want to fly, try SAS, Malta Air or KLM.
Budget
Day 2 spend: £95.76
Budget left: £311.14
Day 3 - Tallinn
Day 3 of Christmas Market Bingo brought me to Tallinn. But how did my game go?
Tallinn Christmas Market Review
You can also check out my review of Tallinn Christmas Market for details of where I stayed and prices.
Hotel
I stayed at CityBox Tallinn, which was a bargain for a modern 3 star hotel at £32 per night. Or you could try…
Budget: Metropol Hotel, Tallinn
Mid-range: Iglupark Tallinn | Movenpic Hotel Tallinn
Treat: Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn | Schlössle Hotel
Transport
I took a Flixbus from Tallinn to Riga. It cost £8 and took about 4h 30.
Budget
Day 3 spend: £71.09
Budget left: £240.05
Day 4 - Riga
On Day 4 I arrived in Riga, and it’s safe to say, my game of Christmas Market Bingo went up a notch.
Riga Christmas Market Review
Read my review of Riga Christmas Market – and why it’s my new favourite – to get all the details on opening times, accommodation and more.
I stayed at the 4-star Hestia Hotel Draugi in the city centre, just a 10 minute walk from the market. Alternatively you can check out…
Budget: Aparthotel Amella
Mid-range: Opera Hotel | Radisson Hotel Old Town Riga
Treat: Grand Palace Hotel | A22 Hotel
I took a luxury coach from from Riga to Vilnius. I upgraded my seat (it was on my bingo card – I had to!) which meant my ticket cost £20. The journey was about 4h 10.
Budget
Day 4 spend: £136.24
Budget left: £103.81
Day 5 - Vilnius
On Day 5 – with a slight sore head – I arrived in the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius for my final day of Christmas Market Bingo.
Vilnius Christmas Market Review
Read my review of Vilnius Christmas Market to get all the details on opening times, accommodation and more.
Hotel
I stayed in the lush Stikliai Hotel which has 5 stars – and yes this is the night that James decided to join me. Other hotels to consider are…
Budget: Artis Centrum Hotel | Moon Garden Old Town Hotel
Mid-range: Hotel Vilnia | St Palace Hotel
Treat: Narutis Hotel
Transport
Vilnius was where my bingo challenge ended – so we hoped on a flight back to London with LOT.
Budget
Day 5 spend: £93.14
Budget left: £10.67
And… that’s a wrap on Christmas Market Bingo! I had so much fun exploring the 5 Christmas markets – and making the videos about them. I can’t wait to come up with a new Christmas Market challenge next year!!
