Is there anything quite as festive as a Christmas market? The twinkly lights, the little wooden huts selling decorations, gloved hands wrapped around hot drinks for warmth – it’s no wonder people travel far and wide to visit them each year to get in the spirit.
But while you might typically think of hot-footing it to Germany to glug mulled wine and get festive, you might want to consider other destinations this year – Toulouse has been named the cheapest Christmas market destination.
Known “La Ville Rose” for its terracotta pink buildings, the city in the south of France offers the best value with a two-night break costing just £112 per person, including return flights from the UK and accommodation, according to research from Travel Supermarket.
Its festive market, which takes place in a gorgeous square called Place du Capitole, boasts around 120 stalls selling everything from kids’ games to crafts and jewellery. Delightful.
Nice ranked second for a cheap Christmas market breaks at £116, followed by Dusseldorf (£127), Florence (£128) and Sofia (£128). If you’re keen to maximise your festive shopping, Dusseldorf hosts the most Christmas markets, with more than five around its city centre.
The travel comparison site ranked costs to 35 short-haul cities with Christmas markets, along with the cost of eating out in each city, to identify the best deals.
The most expensive break outside of the UK is to Copenhagen at £247 per person. The second most expensive was Vienna at £236, while third place was Salzburg at £229.
If you want to take advantage of any of these deals, visit Travel Supermarket.