ZAGREB, 19 Nov (Hina) – Zagreb’s holiday event, Advent Zagreb, has been ranked seventh among 14 selected most affordable and beautiful European Christmas markets this year, according to a study by Condе © Nast Traveller, the global magazine said on Tuesday.
According to the study, Zagreb is in seventh place with a total cost for a two-night trip of ВЈ649.19, with the magazine noting that “prices are naturally inflated around the festive season.”
Bratislava is in first place with a cost of approximately ВЈ510, followed by Vilnius at ВЈ510.87, and Riga at ВЈ545.87.
Gdansk, Prague, and Budapest rank ahead of Zagreb, with two-night stays at Christmas markets priced between ВЈ596.40 and ВЈ639.06. Behind Zagreb are Krakow, Stockholm, Tallinn, Berlin, and Lille in France.
Vienna ranks 13th with a cost of ВЈ949.57, while Copenhagen is the most expensive among the “affordable” options, taking 14th place at ВЈ988.60.
Expensive time of year
The magazine says “Christmas is an expensive time of year” with “presents to buy…В and plenty of food”, but adds that “Christmas markets are a great opportunity” to take “a well-deserved trip” and “spend a weekend soaking up seasonal cheer while you weave through stalls”.
The magazine says the prices were calculated for British tourists, while noting that “magical” Christmas markets can also be found in the UK, from London and Edinburgh to Manchester and Bath.
“But there’s something special about going on a Christmas break abroad “ hopping on a plane or train to find yourself at an enchanting market in a new land. And if you can do it affordably, even better.”
The study takes into account the exchange rates, the cost of eating out, the price of popular tourist attractions and the cost of a cup of coffee, the average cost for a two-night stay, accommodation, airport transfers, mulled wine, sweet treats and two three-course meals for two (including a bottle of wine) to achieve the final tally.
“This year, Eastern European cities are the clear winners. Nine of the 10 top places were taken up by countries in the region, including many newcomers to the list. Cities in Latvia, Slovakia, and Poland were all featured as new entries, shifting popular Christmas market destinations further down the list. Famous festive destinations such as Copenhagen, Vienna, and Berlin are all still featured, but the prices are significantly higher than those of the top five cheapest markets.”
