Why Latvia offers the best deal on the Christmas market: Capital Riga tops the list for best bargain breaks for festive shoppers along with other Eastern European cities
- Britons looking to visit a Christmas market aboard have plenty of options
- Travelling further east to Riga, Latvia could save holidaymakers hundreds
- Zagreb, Croatia, and Krakow, Poland, are other cheap options this winter
If you’re hoping to visit a Christmas market this year, then you may want to try further east.
For Latvia is the best value for money for a winter shopping trip, the Post Office has found.
Capital city, Riga, topped the list of bargain destinations, costing around £507 for a two-night break.
Zagreb in Croatia was the runner-up, while Krakow in Poland came third.
Budget-conscious Britons can potentially save hundreds of pounds by picking a city like Riga in Latvia (pictured) to visit a Christmas market
Meanwhile Vienna in Austria was found to be the priciest city in the survey, costing more than £920 for just two nights away.
The Christmas Markets Barometer compared costs in 12 European cities, looking at expenses such as return flights, food and accommodation.
Nick Boden, of the Post Office, said short breaks are a ‘practical way to holiday abroad’ for less.
He added: ‘Budget-conscious Britons who do their holiday homework can potentially save hundreds of pounds by picking a city like Riga.’
Michael Budge, the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s head of Atol, said: ‘Anyone looking to kickstart their festive season by visiting a European Christmas market should check their trip is Atol protected.
‘If they book a flight and accommodation as part of a package, they can enjoy peace of mind knowing they will get a refund if their travel operator goes bust, or if they are already abroad, they will be flown home at no extra cost. When booking a holiday, UK consumers should look for the Atol logo in their travel company’s brochures, adverts and websites.’
Christmas lights in a park in Zagreb, Croatia, the second cheapest option for a winter market abroad
Here are the typical costs of a two-night break visiting Christmas markets, according to research from the Post Office:
1. Riga, Latvia, £507.19
2. Zagreb, Croatia, £541.19
3. Krakow, Poland, £648.83
4. Tallinn, Estonia, £683.73
5. Lille, France, £724.82
6. Prague, Czech Republic, £732.55
7. Stockholm, Sweden, £740.60
8. Budapest, Hungary, £744.73
9. Salzburg, Austria, £775.43
10. Berlin, Germany, £797.10
11. Copenhagen, Denmark, £881.07
12. Vienna, Austria, £920.92