Europe’s cheapest Christmas market is just €50 flight from Ireland

Book yourself a bargain

That's right, folks, the countdown to Christmas is well and truly underway.

One of the best things about the festive season is the opportunity to visit Christmas markets.

There's always something for everyone at the Christmas markets, with the twinkling lights, yummy bratwursts and tasty crepes.

However, they can get pretty expensive.

Thankfully, Post Office Travel Money have done some calculations on where is cheapest to visit, if you're looking to go abroad to get your festive fix.

Their report investigated how much it would cost for two people to fly there and back with two night's accommodation, as well as airport transfers.

In terms of the fun stuff, they included the cost how much it would cost for two evening meals and drinks and snacks at the Christmas markets themselves.

Coming in fourth place was Gdansk in Poland, where it's estimated to cost £596 (€713) for a two-night stay, coming in 12 per cent cheaper than Krakow.

Third place went to Riga in Latvia. A festive trip here is thought to cost £546 (€653).

Second cheapest is Lithuanian city Vilnius. For those who fancy a trip here, it's thought to set you back £511 (€611) in total.

However, those who are looking to grab the biggest bargain possible will be pleased to know that the cheapest European city break for Christmas market season is in fact Bratislava in Slovakia.

Coming in just under Vilnius, Bratislava is estimated to cost £510 (€610) for two people for two nights, with flights available from Dublin for just €50, per Skyscanner.

“Sterling has risen in value against European currencies, which means you will have more cash to spend while away," Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at the Post Office, said.

"However, the price variations revealed by the latest barometer show just how important it is to check prices and factor in all the costs."

She added: “While emerging cities such as Bratislava and Vilnius offer outstanding value, Prague and Budapest are also great options for bargain hunters because of the price falls we found in these more established favourites.”

The most expensive break for the Christmas markets is Copenhagen in Denmark, which is estimated to cost a whopping £989 (€1183) for two nights - nearly double that of Bratislava!