Holidaymakers are spoilt for choice when booking a Christmassy trip in Europe. Luckily, budget airline easyJet has released a Christmas Market Index that shines a light on some hidden gems across the continent.
Taking the crown is Aosta, a charming Alpine town in Italy where visitors can sip mulled wine for less than £3 whilst enjoying almost certain December snowfall.
The index focuses on destinations that offer a genuine festive atmosphere without the tourist masses, ranking them by UK accessibility, winter charm, and the price of seasonal treats like warming drinks and traditional sausages.
Aosta sits just over an hour from Turin, surrounded by Roman gates, medieval towers and traditional Alpine chalets that create the perfect festive backdrop. The town's annual Marché Vert Noël fills cobbled squares with the aroma of cinnamon, melted cheese and fresh pine.
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Innsbruck in Austria makes a perfect winter escape
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Top 10 lesser-known Christmas markets (flight prices)
- Aosta, Italy – Marché Vert Noël (£23.99)*
- Innsbruck, Austria – Old Town (£35.99)*
- Lübeck, Germany – Hanseatic Markets (£47.99)*
- Salzburg, Austria – Christkindlmarkt (£31.99)*
- Grenoble, France – Place Victor Hugo Market (£29.99)*
- Naples, Italy – Pietrarsa National Railway Museum (£20.99)*
- Ljubljana, Slovenia – Festive December (£54.99)*
- Toulouse, France – Capitole Christmas Market (£26.99)*
- Verona, Italy – Piazza Bra (£23.99)*
- Basel, Switzerland – Barfüsserplatz (£38.99)*
*Flights one way per person including taxes
Austria claims two spots in the top four. Innsbruck secured second place with its stunning mountain views and brass bands playing Christmas carols throughout the old town. Salzburg's baroque architecture provides an enchanting setting for its Christkindlmarkt, where festive stalls nestle between historic landmarks.
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Germany's Lübeck earned third position, with its UNESCO-listed old town offering speciality treats like marzipan punch alongside traditional market fare.
Slovenia's Ljubljana charms visitors with its riverside market where fairy lights dance on the water. The city offers mulled wine (vin kuhan) for roughly £3 and local Kranjska sausages, plus a special 'Granpa Frost' parade featuring Santa in a carriage drawn by genuine Lippizaner horses.
France's entries include Grenoble in fifth place, praised for its authentic, tourist-free feel and reasonable prices. Toulouse's market glows against the pink brick backdrop of Place du Capitole.
Italy dominates the affordability stakes – Naples serves the cheapest mulled wine at £2.50, whilst Verona mixes Italian romance with Alpine tradition. Switzerland's Basel rounds out the list with festive choirs filling the old town.
Visiting France? The research found Toulouse is a fantastic option for a winter getaway
|EASYJET
Verona in Italy is a lesser-known Christmas market spot
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easyJet's UK country manager, Kevin Doyle, said: "Our Christmas Market Index shows that some of Europe's most magical festive experiences aren't necessarily the most famous ones.
"From Aosta's snow-covered square to the riverside glow of Ljubljana, these markets prove you don't have to spend a fortune or battle big-city crowds to feel the true spirit of Christmas.
"With direct easyJet flights and package holidays reaching all 10 destinations, it's never been easier for travellers to swap the high street for a holiday full of sparkle, culture and a steaming cup of mulled wine."
The airline offers flights starting from £20.99 and package holidays from £209 to these festive destinations.
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