Christmas is drawing closer and closer with many starting to get into the festive spirit and there’s nowhere better than a Christmas market to start getting excited for the season.

New research has revealed the cheapest Christmas markets in Europe which are perfect for a weekend away.

According to Saxo, the cheapest destination has been revealed as the Polish city of Poznan and in second place is Sarende in Albania.

Craiova in Romania and Budapest secured places within the top four locations.

The research concluded the cheapest locations based on prices of flights from London, a bottle of beer at the market, a bottle of wine, a meal for two and the cost of a one-night stay in a hotel.

Poznan is home to an annual market which can be found in the Old Market Square. You can fly to Poznan from London for as little as £28, and the average cost of a hotel stay for one night will only set you back £31.33. A beer is a steal too at just 79p, while wine is just £4.87 per bottle.

In second place is Sarende in Albania, with flights from just £29 and hotels at £42 it’s a cheap Christmas destination but it’s still just as exciting. If you want to grab a beer at the market, it will cost you just £1.08 and for a bottle of wine it’s £4.63.

An unexpected Chirstmas market in Madeira in Portugal, also makes the list for one of the most affordable. This warmer destination has an average temperature around 18°C – experiencing a Christmas market in the sun is not what you might typically have in mind but it offers a unique option for something different.

A beer at the market costs just 83p and a bottle of wine is just £3.55. A flight from London to Madeira is £132, while the average cost for a hotel stay for one night is £65.71.

By comparison, the average price of wine at a market in London is £10 per bottle, which is more than double the cost in Poznan and Sarende. An average hotel stay is almost £100 for one night, while a meal for two will set you back £80.

Dan Squires, from Saxo said: “The relative strength of the Pound recently will benefit UK travellers visiting European Christmas markets this winter, with those countries outside of the Eurozone being even better value for money.”

“However, surprise destinations, such as Portugal, France, Italy, and even Scotland, should not be disregarded by Christmas tourists looking for a deal. Savvy shoppers will still be able to grab a bargain as tourist hotspots continue to recover from the COVID slowdowns and want to tempt more all-round tourism where possible.”

If you’re looking for a festive winter getaway, these European cities could make a perfect weekend away while still having an affordable price tag.