Which is the cheapest Christmas market in Europe for a weekend break for two?

Rudolph is rouging his nose, TV producers are dusting off copies of It’s A Wonderful Life... and Europe’s Christmas markets are ready to provide some colourful festive fun.
But where will you find the best value for a seasonal shopping sortie?
According to a study released yesterday, your best bet is Tallinn, the delightful capital of Baltic nation Estonia.
As the countdown to Christmas gets under way on the continent, researchers for Post Office Travel Money have weighed up the cost of a two-night city break for two in 11 popular city next month.

The Christmas market at Vienna, Austria

Their Christmas Markets Barometer adds up the cost of flights or Eurostar for two on December 1 or 2, B&B, airport transfers, two evening meals for two with wine, coffee, plus festive drinks and snacks at the stalls.
At £538, Tallinn was a third cheaper than in Sweden’s elegant capital Stockholm (£801), the most expensive in the survey.


Although sterling is worth 18 per cent less year-on-year against the euro, tourists visiting Tallinn will find local prices have fallen 10 per cent since 2015.
Runner-up Riga, capital of Estonia’s neighbour Latvia, is another good-value option for shoppers, with a barometer total of £547. Also claiming a podium finish is the ever-popular Czech capital Prague (£582), which scored well for its low cost of eating out.
 

Germany’s markets are deservedly famous and at £609 Munich emerged as best value in Western Europe, and a hefty £142 lower than Vienna in neighbouring Austria (£751).
A Post Office Travel Money spokesman said: “The great value available in these two Baltic capitals helps to dispel the idea that UK tourists will be seriously out of pocket wherever they travel abroad after sterling’s slump in value.


“Of course, this is not the case everywhere in Europe so the challenge will be finding the best combination of good value package prices and low costs for meals and drinks.”