Tallinn, Budapest and Prague are the cheapest European shopping breaks, says the Post Office. The cities came top in the PO’s Travel Money’s Christmas Markets Barometer launched to help families save money this festive holiday.
At £370.68 for a two-night break for two, Tallinn (above), the capital of Estonia, was cheapest by far of 10 cities surveyed – 45 per cent less than Vienna in Austria or Denmark’s Copenhagen. The barometer included two evening meals with wine, coffee and beer, festive drinks and snacks, two nights’ accommodation, return flights and transfers between the airport and city centre. Like all 10 cities, Tallinn will be cheaper this year because the pound is worth 5.6 per cent more against the euro than a year ago.
Runner-up Budapest in Hungary is another bargain option. Meals, drinks and accommodation have always been cheap with a barometer total of £469.49 for two. That’s £200 less than for a Christmas market break in Bruges, Belgium, Vienna and Copenhagen. However, visitors to the Danish capital will also be quids in with over eight per cent more kroner for their pounds than last year.
Third place Prague (£476.29), where the pound in a Christmas shopper’s pocket will stretch 6.8 per cent further than last year. Just pipped to the post for second place in the overall barometer by Budapest, the Czech capital was cheapest of the 10 cities surveyed for meals, drinks and Christmas snacks (£63.73). By contrast, five other cities (Trento in Italy’s Southern Tyrol, Berlin in Germany, Bruges, Vienna and Copenhagen) cost over twice as much for similar items.
While the survey found well-known European Christmas markets like those in Berlin, Bruges, Vienna and Copenhagen significantly more expensive than Eastern European ones, lesser-known Trento in the Italian Southern Tyrol emerged as a value option (£501.99 for two), mainly because of low cost flights. And, with its easy Eurostar link, France’s Lille is a good choice closer to home, with a barometer total of £538.02 for two. Riga in Latvia came fifth.
Andrew Brown, Post Office Head of Travel Money, said: “Budget-conscious tourists who are planning a European shopping trip can save themselves hard-earned cash by picking a city where costs are low and its currency is weak against the UK pound. We know Christmas can be hectic and stressful so we want to help people plan ahead for a perfect festive season. Our barometer recommends the cities where they can get those extra special gifts at the best possible price.”
Visit www.postoffice.co.uk/christmasmarkets to see the barometer.
