Perusing the market stalls for gifts and indulging in mulled wine, hot chocolate, bratwurst and gingerbread is a long-cherished tradition on the continent but is starting to become a staple of the festive season in this country too.
Prices at the most popular Christmas markets can be on the steep side, and flights to those destinations in the run up to Christmas aren’t cheap either – but there are also bargains out there if you know where to look. The great news is there are still lots of incredible Christmas markets you can reach with a direct flight from Manchester Airport for under £80pp* return – thanks to the hub’s enviable network of more than 200 destinations worldwide.
Here we run the rule over some seasonal escapes that won’t break the bank.
1. Milan
Fly with Ryanair from £27pp return Brussels Christmas market runs from 28 November – 4 January The Belgian capital’s Christmas markets centre on Grand Place, but are spread across a number of locations including the Marché aux Poissons, with over 200 stalls, and the Place de Brouckère, which offers an ice rink and funfair rides. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to sample Belgium’s world-famous beers, chocolates and fries. | AFP via Getty Images
2. Gdansk
Fly with Ryanair from £30pp return* Gdansk Christmas market runs from 21 November – 23 December Gdansk’s Christmas markets are big on spectacle, with stunning displays of Christmas lights and street performances punctuating the rows of stalls in the picturesque Old Town. Better still, it’s great value for money, with a beer typically setting you back under £3 and a serving of Polish treats like Pierogi dumplings even less than that. Perhaps that’s why Gdansk was voted Europe’s best Christmas market last year. | Sean Gallup/Getty Images
3. Oslo
Fly with Ryanair from £30pp return* Gdansk Christmas market runs from 21 November – 23 December Gdansk’s Christmas markets are big on spectacle, with stunning displays of Christmas lights and street performances punctuating the rows of stalls in the picturesque Old Town. Better still, it’s great value for money, with a beer typically setting you back under £3 and a serving of Polish treats like Pierogi dumplings even less than that. Perhaps that’s why Gdansk was voted Europe’s best Christmas market last year. Photo: Pixabay
4. Riga
Fly with Ryanair from £37pp return* Riga Christmas market runs from 29 November – 1 January Another city with a burgeoning reputation for an authentic but affordable Christmas market experience is the Latvian capital of Riga. Located in Dome Square at the heart of the city, the market is known for having a musical touch to it, with live performances programmed throughout December, from folk bands to Christmas choirs, and even DJ sets on Friday and Saturday evenings. It’s also renowned for eschewing the mass-produced Christmas nicknacks you’ll see at bigger markets elsewhere on the continent, with a small but varied range of artisanal stands selling local handmade products. | AFP via Getty Images Photo: Getty
5. Bratislava
Fly with Ryanair from £38pp return Bratislava Christmas market runs from 27 November – 6 January One of the fastest growing Christmas markets in Europe, Bratislava is becoming an increasingly popular option due to its affordability and authenticity. The city’s Old Town boasts some incredible Viennese-inspired architecture dating to its days under Austrian rule, and this offers a beautiful backdrop to dozens of stalls selling gifts, food and drink, from classic Christmas market options like bratwurst, to local favourites such as langos (a filled savoury bread) and lokshe (a potato pancake). There is also a medieval-themed market at the grounds of Bratislava Castle. Photo: SAMUEL KUBANI
6. Bucharest
Fly with Ryanair from £45pp return Bucharest Christmas market runs from 29 November – 28 December Bucharest’s festivities take place on Constitution Square, one of the city’s biggest plazas, in front of the Romanian Parliament – and they’re about far more than just shopping, although there’s plenty of that too. More than 130 stands sell handmade toys and decorations, along with Romanian and international food and drink at a very reasonable price. You can ride a carousel or a ferris wheel, and check out traditional musical and dance performances on a main stage at one side of the square. It even boasts a Santa’s Grotto complete with a ‘story-telling experience’ where children can meet elves and reindeer as well as Santa himself. | AFP via Getty Images