Düsseldorf is the best bargain for festive market lovers this year, with visitors spending just £263 on average for their trip. That's according to new research, which looked at what people actually spend on travel, accommodation and spending money.
Verona and Bruges aren't far behind, coming in at £270 and £274 respectively, making them affordable options for a Christmas getaway.
But if you're dreaming of mulled wine by the Seine, it will likely cost you more. Paris tops the list as the priciest destination, setting visitors back an average of £377. Berlin follows at £350, while Prague costs around £276.
Hidden tourist taxes are catching out nearly three-quarters of holidaymakers, with 72 per cent admitting they had no idea about these extra charges until they arrived at their destination, according to the research by Confused.com travel insurance.
Düsseldorf is the most affordable Christmas market, based on tourist taxes
|VISIT DUSSELDORF
The cheapest Christmas markets in Europe
- Düsseldorf (£263)
- Verona (£270)
- Bruges (£274)
- Prague (£276)
- Budapest (£281)
Düsseldorf was named as the biggest bargain Christmas market, with a flight from the UK taking around 1hr 25m.
Hidden tourist taxes are catching out nearly three-quarters of holidaymakers, with 72 per cent admitting they had no idea about these extra charges until they arrived at their destination. These sneaky fees can reach as high as €16 per night in some cities. Paris has the steepest tourist tax, charging up to €15.60 nightly.
WINTER TRAVEL
Amsterdam and Berlin take a different approach, calculating their levies as a percentage of your room rate -12.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively. Nearly a quarter of travellers only discovered the tax when they checked into their hotel, while one in five found out through their holiday provider.
Staying closer to home won't necessarily save you much cash, as the most affordable markets were in Europe. UK Christmas markets are proving nearly as pricey as their European counterparts.
Winchester leads the pack as Britain's most expensive festive market, with visitors spending £227 on average. London comes in at £223, while Edinburgh costs around £220. When you compare that to Paris at £377, there's only a £150 gap between the continent's priciest market and Britain's most expensive one.
From 2026, the UK will introduce its own tourist taxes, which could make domestic festive trips even costlier for those wanting to explore markets beyond their local area.
Verona in Italy is a lesser-known Christmas market spot | EASYJETTravel insurance expert at Confused.com, Alvaro Inturmendi, said: “Christmas markets are a popular way for holidaymakers to enjoy the festive season and explore new cities. But many aren’t aware of the additional taxes they could have to pay on arrival.
“While there’s no fixed cost for tourist tax as this ranges by country and city, it’s important to plan ahead to avoid overspending. By researching the country you’re visiting and factoring in this cost, you can avoid having to dip into your spending money before you've started your trip.
“Another thing to remember is that hotels will usually request the tax to be paid when you arrive, and often in cash. Before you go, you should find out exactly how much you need to pay in taxes to make sure you have the correct money on hand.
“To make your trip easier, we’ve created a tourist tax checker. That way, you can get an estimate of your expected tourist tax before your trip begins and have peace of mind for the duration.”
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