Christmas Market season is nearly upon us, and if you haven’t got anything booked yet then don’t worry – there’s still time!
To help you out, I’ve found deals for five amazing Christmas Markets, all for under £250pp.
And don’t worry, whilst the cheapest deals are from London, I’ve made sure to find an option from somewhere else in the UK too…
Let’s get looking!
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Cologne, Germany
Cathedral market: Monday 17 November – Tuesday 23 December 2025
Heinzels Wintermärchen: Monday 17 November – Sunday 4 January 2026
Cologne is my favourite Christmas Market, and I love that it’s affordable for travel and accommodation too.
I actually scored it top marks in my epic Christmas Market Crawl a couple of years ago, when I visited 7 Christmas Markets in 7 days, as chosen by you!
There are 11 Christmas Markets in Cologne, and it’s popular for good reason – so I wouldn’t leave it much longer to book.
Right let’s see what deals I could find…
Flying from London
Dates: Sunday 14 – Mon 15 December
Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Flights: London Stansted to Cologne – £85pp
Hotel: art’otel Cologne – £102 a night
Total: £136pp (shared between 2)
The best way to maximise costs for your Christmas market trip? Fly in early on day 1 and leave late on day 2!
After arriving at 8.30am, my first stop would be to drop bags off at the art’otel Cologne before going in search of breakfast. The markets start to open from 10am.
Now, some may call it a rogue move, but at 3pm I’d be back to the hotel for a nap. With your early start, you’re gonna need all the energy for enjoying the markets late into the evening! Just remember to set that alarm!
As for the next day, your flight home isn’t until 11:10pm so you have plenty of time to properly explore before heading back to the airport, which is just a 15 minute S-Bahn train away.
Flying from Manchester
Dates: Thursday 11 – Saturday 13 December
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Flights: Manchester to Cologne – £99pp
Hotel: Motel One Cologne-Altstadt – £267 for 2 nights
Total: £232.50 each (shared between 2)
Before you baulk at the price increase, do note that this trip includes a 2 night stay rather than just 1, so you’ll be more rested with more time to explore with this deal!
Flying from Manchester with Ryanair, you’ll arrive in Cologne at 9:10pm on the Thursday evening but don’t worry, you’ve got plenty of time to enjoy the markets the next day.
You’ll be checking into Motel One Cologne-Altstadt. This is one of my favourite chains – they’re clean, comfy and my top tip is if you sign up for their free membership, you’ll get free breakfast on your first booking with them!
Whilst you’re not bang in the centre, Cologne is pretty compact – you’re just an 11 minute walk from my favourite market, Heinzels Wintermarchen. And it’s only another 5 minutes to the main market at the cathedral. There’s a tram system for whipping you around the city as well.
Gdansk, Poland
Friday 21 November – Tuesday 23 December 2025
You might not have heard of Gdansk, but it keeps winning accolades for its Christmas Markets – last year it won a competition for the best one in Europe! Plus it’s a lovely port city that makes for a short break at any time of year.
Gdansk is firmly on my list of the cheapest Christmas Market city breaks in Europe, as in Poland everything is generally priced lower than in countries like Germany and Austria – from hotels to drinks and meals.
Let’s look at some deals!
Flying from London
Dates: Tuesday 9 – Wednesday 10 December
Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Flights: London Luton to Gdansk – £48pp
Hotel: Forrest Apartments – £42 a night
Total: £69 each (shared between 2)
I’ve found some great flights with WizzAir from Luton, that come in at less than £50 each – and yes, that’s for a return.
For this weeknight stay, there’s lots of options for accommodation and the rooms at Forrest Apartments in the Old Town are absolutely everything you need.
However, it would be remiss of me to not share a couple of my fave hotels that don’t cost that much more. First is the Craft Beer Central Hotel for £80 a night, which I stayed in a few years ago. And if you fancy something special, there’s an affordable suite you can nab at PURO Gdansk Stare Miasto which costs £183 a night.
All together, these are some of the lowest prices I have seen for a Christmas Market deal this year.
Gdansk Christmas Market is spread across town, centred around the Coal Market (Targ Węglowy) and the nearby streets Tkacka, Przedbramie and Bogusławskiego. Plus there’s a dedicated craft market for picking up unique festive souvenirs.
Flying from Leeds
Dates: Wednesday 3 – Friday 5 December
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Flights: Leeds to Gdansk – £82pp
Hotel: Forrest Apartments – £82 for 2 nights
Total: £123 each (shared between 2)
For these dates, you can score a two-night stay at the lush Forrest Apartments for just £82 for 2 nights – which still brings your whole trip in at an affordable price.
Flying from Belfast
Dates Saturday 6 – Sunday 7 December
Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Flights Belfast to Gdansk – £63pp
Hotel Ibis Gdansk Stare Miasto – £126pp a night
Total £126 each (shared between 2)
Now this deal includes a Saturday night – typically more expensive for a hotel stay – but I’ve found this double room at the Ibis Gdansk Stare Miasto for £63pp.
Stare Miasto means old town – so you’re well-located, with just a 10 minute walk to the Coal Market.
Brno, Czechia
Friday 21 November – Wednesday 31 December 2025
Czechia’s capital Prague is a go-to when it comes to Christmas Markets but with it comes the cost.
So instead, why not opt for their second city – Brno – which has its own, albeit smaller, Christmas Market and much cheaper prices.
Also, if you really are desperate to tick off Prague, it’s only a 2.5 hour train ride away.
Flying from London
Dates Saturday 13 – Monday 15 December
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Flights London Stansted to Brno – £73pp
Hotel Cosmopolitan Bobycentrum – £128 for 2 nights
Total £137 each (shared between 2)
Arriving in Brno from London Stansted at 2.40pm on the Saturday means jumping on a 20 minute bus to the city centre, checking in at your hotel and being at the Christmas Markets in time for the evening.
As for your accommodation, Hostel John Galt is a good shout for solo travellers at £18 a night and Cosmopolitan Bobycentrum is a steal at £64 a night as you also get free spa and fitness access. However, it is a 35-minute walk or a tram ride away from the action.
If you want to be a bit more central and treat yourself, check out the 5 star Grandezza Hotel Luxury Palace for £143 a night which is literally IN the Christmas Market!
Sadly, there are no other cities that fly direct to Brno from the UK but I’ve got a couple of other less-known markets that may tickle your fancy.
For all of these, make sure to look into the markets and check you’re happy with what you’re gonna get. Basically, don’t expect all the bells and whistles of a top Christmas market for all of them!
These are an excuse to visit a new city and inject a bit of Christmas fun into the mix as well – all whilst not having to spend a fortune.
Bucharest, Romania
Saturday 29 November – Sunday 28 December 2025
Bucharest is Romania’s biggest Christmas market. What’s more, you could always tack on a trip to the famous Bucharest Terme Spa whilst you’re there!
Flying from Bristol
Dates Thursday 4 – Saturday 6 December
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Flights Bristol to Bucharest – £37pp
Hotel Vilacrosse Boutique Inn – £136 for 2 nights
Total £105 each (shared between 2)
I’ve found these super-cheap flights from Bristol, and accommodation-wise, Vilacrosse Boutique Inn is cheap and cheerful.
Or you could save even more on your trip by staying in apartments.
Vienna & Bratislava
Vienna: Friday 14 November – Friday 26 December 2025
Bratislava: Thursday 27 November 2025 – Tuesday 6 January 2026
For this trip, you’ll fly into Vienna – and whilst this city is amazing for markets, it’s booked and busy for the season. That’s why instead you’ll hop on a cheap coach to the capital of Slovakia instead, for a more lowkey vibe with affordable accommodation prices.
Flying from Edinburgh
Dates Thursday 27 – Saturday 29 November
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Flights Edinburgh to Vienna – £79pp
Hotel Apartamentoos – £172 for 2 nights
Total £165 each (shared between 2)
My advice would be to pack super-light – so you can enjoy a full day and night at Bratislava market on the Friday.
Then on Saturday morning, you can travel to Vienna to enjoy the markets there, before catching your flight home.
Book Your Christmas Market Deal Right Away
So there you have it, my handpicked deals for an affordable Christmas Market break this year.
Whether you choose one of these or just use it for inspiration, I hope you have a fab festive adventure! Merry Christmas (too early?!)!
