Dreaming of a European Christmas Market Adventure? Here's What It Actually Costs to visit Switzerland, France, and Germany during the Holidays. We get asked all the time about budgeting for the magical experiences - you know, the twinkling lights, the aroma of mulled wine and gingerbread, the carols echoing through cobblestone squares – a European Christmas market trip is the stuff of holiday dreams. But let's be honest, those dreams can cost a pretty penny. So, we’ve crunched the numbers from one of our 10-night Christmas market hopping adventures, and we're pulling back the curtain and sharing exactly what we spent. No secrets, no fluff, just a realistic look at the cost of a mid-range European Christmas market trip.

Basel Street with Christmas Lights — Basel, Switzerland

We've all been there: pouring over travel blogs and seeing influencer girlies in twirly velvet dresses showing off the dreamiest Christmas vibes. But it’s nearly impossible to try to decipher vague budget estimates from these picture-perfect Christmas market vacation posts. That's why we're committed to providing honest, transparent travel information for other couples and other travelers looking to experience the magic of European Christmas markets on various budgets. We believe in realistic itineraries and budgets, and we want to empower you to make informed decisions about your own Christmas market adventure.

This trip-budget breakdown is from a trip that took us through some of the most memorable markets in Europe: Basel, Switzerland; Colmar and Strasbourg, France; Frankfurt and Cologne, Germany; and finally, back to Zurich, Switzerland, for our departure. Ten nights, six cities, and a whole lot of Christmas cheer and train travel. But how much did it all cost?

Cologne Dom Market Stalls — Cologne, Germany

Before we dive into the numbers, let's clarify what we mean by "mid-range." We opted for comfortable, well-rated hotels and Airbnbs (mostly 3.5-4 stars). We consider ourselves “sort of” foodies, but we primarily love the experience of grazing and sharing treats and meals at the Christmas markets themselves rather than long and lavish meals. Think plenty of mulled wine, delicious market snacks, and the occasional sit-down meal at a cozy restaurant. We also factored in transportation between cities (mostly trains), local transport (Ubers), shopping for souvenirs and gifts, and a few fun extras like ice skating and a light show. We also want to emphasize that these prices are in USD.

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Here's the cost breakdown of our 10-night Christmas market trip through Basel, Colmar, Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Zurich:

Frankfurt Christmas Market Wood Stalls and colorful timber buildings — Frankfurt, Germany

How Much Does a Christmas Market Trip Cost?

Our 10-Night Christmas Market Trip Grand Total Cost us $5,500 for two people. This includes everything: flights, accommodation, transportation, food and drinks, shopping, and entertainment. Keep in mind that this is a per couple cost.

Let's break it down by category:

Flights Costs for Our Europe Trip: $1550

We found a great deal on flights by booking in advance and being flexible with our travel dates. We flew Roundtrip from DFW to Zurich during the last two weeks of November. This cost is a significant portion of the overall budget, so finding a good deal on flights is always a win.

Trains Between Cities: $567

This includes all train journeys between the cities on our itinerary: Zurich Airport to Basel, Basel to Colmar, Colmar to Strasbourg, Strasbourg to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Cologne, and Cologne back to Zurich. Train travel in Europe can be quite scenic, but it's important to factor in the cost. We used the Trainline app to book all of the trains we take across Europe. We know there’s many apps and options out there to book train travel, but we are partial to the ease and convenience of this app. We’ve used it for years and will continue to do so!

Here’s the train cost breakdown (Prices are for two tickets in USD):

Zurich airport to Zurich’s Central station: $15
Zurich to Basel - Second class tickets: $76
Basel to Colmar - Local train tickets: $33
Colmar to Strasbourg - Local train tickets: $33
Strasbourg to Frankfurt - Second class tickets: $130
Frankfurt to Cologne - First class tickets: $140
Cologne to Zurich - First class tickets: $140

Cost of Ubers & Local Transport: $158

Ubers were taken mostly to and from train stations and hotels in each city. Within the Christmas market areas, we mostly walked, which is a great way to soak up the atmosphere, see more of each destination, and walk off some of the treats we consumed.

The average cost of going from a central train station to a centrally located hotel in Europe is about $10-$15. The average price of taking an Uber from a centrally located hotel to the airport is about $35, but depends on time of day.

Accommodation Costs for Christmas Markets: $2025

Our hotels and Airbnbs averaged around $200 per night for ten nights. It’s important to note that weekend hotel nights are more expensive than week day nights. We prioritized locations that were convenient to the Christmas markets and other attractions rather than strictly based on budget accommodations or places with amazing views.

Christmas Market Trip Food & Drink Expenses: $910

This food and drink price is for 10 days for two people. This includes everything from market snacks and mulled wine to restaurant meals. We often shared food and drinks at the markets and cafes, which is both a great way to save money and try a wider variety of different treats.

Shopping (Souvenirs & Gifts): $240

We allocated a reasonable amount for those must-have Christmas market treasures. It's easy to get carried away with shopping at the markets, so setting a budget beforehand is a good idea. We spent about $100 on ourselves and $140 on gifts for family and friends.

Entertainment in and outside of Christmas Markets: $100

This covered a few extra activities beyond the markets themselves. We enjoyed ice skating at the Gnome Market in Cologne and also saw a beautiful light show at the Illuminarium in Zurich.

Want a Cost Breakdown Per City?

Hand holding up christmas market mug in front of a Christmas pyramid at dusk — **Basel for 2 Nights: $612**

Hotel: $440, Food & Drink: $150, Uber to & from train station: $22
Basel was a charming city with beautiful markets near the Rhine. We especially enjoyed the festive atmosphere and the delicious Swiss chocolate!
**Hotel:** The Passage
**Watch the Vlog:** https://youtu.be/YaCEADDaWds
**Basel Travel Guide:** https://andrewandkait.com/blogs/basel-christmas-markets

Looking for unforgettable things to do in Basel? Check out these experiences to see much of the city quickly!

Colmar, France Pink and purple buildings decorated with christmas decorations at dawn — **Colmar for 2 Nights: $580**

Airbnb: $450, Food & Drink: $130
Colmar was like stepping into a fairytale with its colorful half-timbered houses and picturesque canals. The Christmas markets here were smaller but incredibly charming.
**Airbnb:** https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/12066189
**Watch the Vlog:** https://youtu.be/P7y7ekM-0IU
**Colmar Travel Guide:** https://andrewandkait.com/blogs/colmar-christmas-guide

Where do you stay in the small city of Colmar? Use our favorite and most reliable Booking search engine below!

Strasbourg Cathedral Christmas market with angels illuminated and hanging above the street — **Strasbourg for 1 Night: $527**

Hotel: $330, Food & Drink: $170, Uber to & from train station: $27
Strasbourg is known as the "Capital of Christmas" and for good reason. The markets here were extensive and incredibly festive. We loved exploring the city's historic center and enjoying the amazing market dishes!
**Hotel:** Hotel Cour du Corbeau Strasbourg - MGallery
**Watch the Vlog:** https://youtu.be/G4YufQjB7tE
**Strasbourg Guide:** https://andrewandkait.com/blogs/strasbourg-christmas-guide

Check out these top tours in Strasbourg to enjoy while you’re there!

People walking through wooden market stalls and colorful buildings at the Frankfurt Christmas markets at Dusk — **Frankfurt for 1 Night: $296**

Hotel: $175, Food & Drink: $90, Uber to & from train station: $31
Frankfurt's Christmas market were full of lots of handcrafted goods and delicious German food. While not worth going out of your way to visit, it’s the perfect place to spend one night to start or end your trip as it’s a major airline hub.
**Hotel:** Moxy Frankfurt City Center
**Watch the Vlog:** https://youtu.be/JWJp0Xt2dg8
**Frankfurt Guide:** https://andrewandkait.com/blogs/what-to-know-before-visiting-frankfurt-christmas-markets

Wooden market stall with ornaments in Cologne's Gnome Market — **Cologne for 2 Nights: $614**

Hotel: $340, Food & Drink: $180, Uber to & from train station: $44; Entertainment: $50
Cologne's Christmas market was set against the backdrop of the stunning Cologne Cathedral, which made for a truly magical experience. We also enjoyed the city's vibrant atmosphere.
**Hotel:** 25hours Hotel The Circle
**Watch the Vlog:** https://youtu.be/c91IKOBGEm0
**Cologne Guide:** https://andrewandkait.com/blogs/cologne-christmas-markets-travel-guide

Enormous Christmas tree with streets of lights in the center of the Zurich Christmas Market — **Zurich for 2 Nights: $565**

Hotel: $290, Food & Drink: $190, Uber to airport: $35; Entertainment: $50
Zurich was our final stop, and we enjoyed exploring the city's Christmas markets and its beautiful lakefront. It was a perfect way to end our trip.
**Hotel:** ibis Styles Zurich City Center
**Watch the Vlog:** https://youtu.be/dLq9qrrb8Zc
**Zurich Guide:** https://andrewandkait.com/blogs/zurich-christmas-markets-travel-guide

Where do you stay on a budget in such a pricey city? Use our favorite and most reliable Booking search engine below!

This detailed breakdown should give you a much clearer picture of what a mid-range European Christmas market trip actually costs. Remember, these are our specific expenses, and your own budget may vary depending on your travel style and preferences. However, we hope this provides a helpful starting point for planning your own exciting Christmas market adventure. We also encourage you to do your own research and compare prices for flights, accommodation, and transportation to find the best deals for your trip.

A massive christmas tree, people shopping, and several market booths inside a train station in Zurich — Zurich Hauptbahnhof Train Station market in Zurich, Switzerland

Christmas Markets Trips Budget Lessons

Price Per Night, Strasbourg, Cologne, and Zurich Emerged as the Most Expensive: Accommodation costs certainly played a role, as did other factors like dining, transportation, and entertainment. Both Swiss cities of Basel and Zurich came in close runners-up for the priciest stops, though. They’re known to be pricey destinations, and well, they live up to the hype! We spent more money than expected in Cologne because each of the half-dozen Christmas markets were so different, we wanted to get a taste and a sample of everything. Strasbourg made for a very close third as it is such a popular Christmas market destination that we found almost nowhere that cost under $250 a night during a weekend during this peak season within walking distance of the markets. Colmar is no budget destination either. There were too many great things to taste in the Alsace region. We spent more on food here than in most places!
Frankfurt Was Surprisingly Budget-Friendly: This city offered a great balance of festive atmosphere and reasonable prices. It’s also not the most riveting market city, and frankly lacks the Christmasy charm that some of the smaller destinations have to offer. But as Frankfurt is a major airline hub, if you’re flying into or out of Frankfurt, it’s definitely worth a stop for one night.
There Are No “Cheap Hotels” in Zurich: Unless you want to go the hostel route, the cheapest 3 star you’ll find is about $150 and is still quite a walk from the biggest Christmas markets in Zurich. The ibis was fine, but a bit lower-end and further away from what we normally book
Train Travel Adds Up: The cost of train tickets between cities is a significant portion of the overall budget. It's crucial to factor this in when planning your itinerary, especially if you're traveling between multiple countries. Researching train prices in advance and booking tickets early can sometimes save you money.
Food and Drink Costs Can Be Managed: Our approach of sharing and grazing at markets helped us keep our food expenses in check without sacrificing the culinary experience. This allowed us to try a variety of different foods without overspending. If you want a unique restaurant experience, make lunch rather than dinner reservations to save a bit of money and still have an elevated experience. Unless you adore fine dining or hate sharing, we’d recommend a budget of about $50 per person per day for food if you’re on a strict or mid-range budget.

Ice Skating Rink and a building with playful gnomes on top in Cologne, Germany. People are ice skating. — Gnome Market in Cologne, Germany

What We Would Do Differently

While Cologne is our absolute favorite market, (click here to find our full list of favorites!) we wouldn’t pair it with an Alsace and Switzerland trip. It makes more sense to go to Cologne with more German destinations or a combo trip to The Netherlands or Belgium. We also wouldn’t go back to Frankfurt unless we were flying into or out of the city. Zurich is also a great destination to fly into and out of, but we wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to visit it. If you want to visit the Alsace area (like Strasbourg and Colmar) for their iconic Christmas markets, we recommend flying into or out of Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Basel, or even Paris.

We would also spend more time in Strasbourg! While one night and two days in the destination scratched that itch, it wasn’t nearly enough. There is SO much to do in Strasbourg that we highly recommend spending 2-4 nights there - especially if you want to move around less. It also makes for a great destination to stay in and take day trips from if you’re visitng more places like Freiburg, Offenburg, Colmar, and Basel.

Snow on top of wooden chalets at the riga christmas market — **Which Christmas Market is Our Favorite?**

We’ve ranked every Christmas market destination we’ve visited to share which ones are the most fun, charming, and delicious! Click **here** to see the full list!

Christmas pyramid and blue skies at the Basel Christmas Market — Christmas market in Basel, Switzerland

Want more insider tips and travel inspiration? Join our Europe Christmas Market Facebook group! We'd love to connect with you and help you plan your dream trip. For more information on each destination, be sure to check out our other blog posts for more Christmas market travel tips. And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, Andrew & Kait, for videos showcasing each of these incredible Christmas market destinations.

What We Spent: Realistic Budget for a 10-Night Christmas Market Trip to Switzerland, France, & Germany