Europe's best Christmas market is cheaper than UK – and it's a short flight away

A bargain vacation adept has shared her apical tips connected societal media and insists that the champion Christmas marketplace to sojourn is not successful the UK – but it's lone a abbreviated formation away

There's thing similar smelling chestnuts roasting, wrapping your hands astir a lukewarm blistery cocoa oregon mulled wine, and perusing assorted stalls astatine Christmas markets.

Christmas markets are a seasonal sensation, drafting crowds anxious to indulge successful festive celebrations from November into the caller twelvemonth each astir the world. These markets, a staple successful assorted countries, connection a magical accidental to marque memories with loved ones amid a wonderland of scrumptious treats, thrilling fairground rides, and captivating entertainment.

In the UK, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Manchester big immoderate of the astir sought-after markets, not forgetting London's iconic Winter Wonderland. However, it's nary concealed that the acquisition tin instrumentality a toll connected your wallet.

Chelsea, a British bargain huntsman with a knack for frugal festivities, champions Cologne's Christmas markets arsenic the champion of them all. Not lone does it boast an array of activities, but it besides promises much bang for your subordinate compared to its British counterparts.

The savvy saver, who dishes retired fund question proposal connected societal media, precocious took to TikTok to stock her insights: "If you haven't booked a European Christmas marketplace yet this twelvemonth here's wherefore I deliberation you should opt for Cologne. So past twelvemonth I visited 7 European Christmas markets and Cologne my implicit favourite."

Cologne Tourism confirms the city's festive allure, announcing: "This twelvemonth the Christmas markets successful Cologne opened their gates astir November 18, and are welcoming visitors with delicacies specified arsenic mulled vino and waffles. You tin research the galore markets successful the people of a mulled-wine circuit done the cathedral city."

Chelsea, the savvy traveller down Cheap Holiday Expert, has shared her enchanting acquisition astatine Cologne's Christmas markets connected her website. She gushed: "I loved Heinzels Wintermärchen Christmas Market successful Cologne's aged town, dispersed implicit the Alter Markt and Heumarkt squares.

"This is simply a accepted market, centred astir the people fable of household spirits, the Heinzelmännchen. As good arsenic stalls selling unthinkable hand-made gifts, determination are nutrient stands, unrecorded music, creator performances and an crystal rink too."

She besides praised the main attraction, saying: "The main marketplace is Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market, wherever you’ll find stalls laden with handmade treasures, foodie delights and Christmassy drinks. Of people there’s besides a elephantine Christmas histrion astatine the centre of the action, and a signifier with tons of performances."

Chelsea noted the affordability of the festive fare, enjoying a blistery canine for conscionable £3.85, a bargain compared to London's Winter Wonderland's £8 oregon Nottingham's £7.50 offering. Even Birmingham's terms tag of £6.50 couldn't compete.

Taking to TikTok, she continued her praise: "As for the drink, the mulled vino was truthful bully and besides a large spot that is truthful boozy." She didn't miss retired connected mentioning the adorable mugs utilized for serving drinks, describing them arsenic "so cute".

The societal media prima couldn't halt raving astir Cologne's buying scene, saying: "Oh and however tin I hide the shopping. I've seen a batch of tat during my Christmas marketplace crawl past year. These were decidedly 1 of the champion erstwhile it came to a bully assortment of stalls which had items that really looked similar they were bully quality."

She recommended booking accommodation and question arsenic aboriginal arsenic imaginable for anyone funny successful going. Her viral video drew plentifulness of attention, with comments pouring in.

One idiosyncratic exclaimed: "I was virtually saying however astonishing Cologne Christmas marketplace is. We did this past twelvemonth via bid from London and it was truthful overmuch fun! " Another chimed in: "I watched your past twelvemonth video comparing markets and really flying to Cologne this weekend! " Amid the praise, idiosyncratic other playfully remarked: "Oh this is truthful temping - purely for those immense cinnamon rolls to beryllium honest."

Will you beryllium visiting immoderate Christmas markets this year? Comment below.