It’s filled with charming, colourful homes decorating the streets and a lively cultural scene – and it’s perfect for a festive winter break that won’t break the bank
Amy Jones Senior Travel Journalist and Milo Boyd Digital Travel Editor and Commercial Content Lead
14:36, 15 Nov 2025
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreThe Riga Christmas market has stalls packed with gift inspiration(Image: Getty Images)
Strolling through a Christmas market, enveloped by the scent of spiced mulled wine and wooden huts brimming with unique gifts, is part of what makes the festive season so enchanting. And there’s one in Europe that’s been hailed as the most affordable for a winter escape.
Riga delivers the magic of Christmas without breaking the bank. The Latvian is linked to Leeds via direct flights starting from just £25 this November. The city, famed for its pedestrian-only medieval Old Town and Art Nouveau architecture, provides everything you could desire for a festive winter getaway.
The biggest draw during this time of year is their quaint and traditional Riga Christmas Market in Dome Square, teeming with stalls and a bustling food scene featuring wintry street-food dishes and Latvian cuisine. Warming mulled wines are also on offer, along with festive cocktails, while visitors peruse the stalls of local Latvian artisans.
The market runs from November 28(Image: Altug Galip via Getty Images)
The Riga Christmas Market, running from 28 November to 4 January, might just be the perfect spot for some festive shopping inspiration. With a selection of handcrafted gifts on offer, including beeswax candles, gingerbread, socks, wool gloves, and creative kits for making wreaths, wall decor and acrylic dishes, it’s a treasure trove of unique finds, reports the Mirror.
Adding to the enchantment, there will be a DJ spinning tunes every Friday, choirs and music ensembles performing on Saturdays, and folk music filling the air on Sundays.
Riga, known as the ‘Art Nouveau capital of Europe’, is a city that captivates with its charming, colourful homes lining the streets and a vibrant cultural scene. It’s packed with shops and cosy restaurants offering a traditional taste of Latvia, and Livu Square, brimming with bars and nightclubs, adds to the city’s lively atmosphere.
One of the most appealing aspects of this European city is its affordability. The annual Post Office Christmas Markets Barometer has found that Riga is one of the most cost-effective European destinations for a two-night weekend Christmas market experience, in contrast to Copenhagen and Vienna, which are ranked among the priciest.
The Post Office has provided an estimate of how much you’re likely to spend in Riga during a two-night break for two during the Christmas market season, and it certainly offers good value for money. They revealed the following prices:.
Moreover, the Post Office discovered that a two-night stay in a B&B in Riga, including direct flights or Eurostar for two, would total £377.00. With all expenses accounted for, this weekend trip for two to Riga would amount to £555.50 overall, or £277.75 per person.
This is a stark contrast to Copenhagen in Denmark, where the same amenities were estimated to cost two people a staggering £1,056.55. Or a hefty £926.41 for an identical two-night trip to Vienna in Austria.
Direct return weekend flights from London Stansted to Riga start from approximately £87 per person, while mid-week return flights can be found from around £45. Additionally, flights from Leeds to Riga can be secured for as little as £20, with returns costing about £42.
Riga was named the cheapest European destination for a Christmas market break(Image: Anton Petrus via Getty Images)
Furthermore, direct flights from Manchester begin at roughly £25, or £45 for a return flight. Flights are also available from East Midlands Airport (EMA), near Nottingham, starting from £22 to Riga, or around £45 for a direct return.
Laura Plunkett, head of Travel Money at Post Office, commented: “A short break to one of Europe’s colourful Christmas Markets is an attractive holiday option at this time of year. However, sterling’s drop in value is an important factor for travellers to consider before booking a trip, as it varies between currencies. The pound’s fall against the euro is smaller than against other European currencies – five per cent compared with 10.6 per cent against the Hungarian forint and 10.9 per cent against the Swedish kronor.
“The cost of flights and accommodation will also have a significant impact on overall costs so it is doubly important for holidaymakers planning a trip to do their homework to factor in how sterling’s value, flight and hotel capacity and meal costs will affect overall costs. Budget-conscious travellers stand to save hundreds of pounds if they choose carefully.”
