Europe's ‘most festive’ Christmas market is less than a £40 flight from Manchester Airport

It’s hard to resist the charm of a Christmas market: tiny cabins selling tasty treats, steaming mugs of mulled wine and twinkling lights. Whether you’re visiting one in the UK or are jetting off abroad, a visit to a Christmas market is always magical.

Now a new study has revealed the most festive Christmas markets in Europe - and the top one is less than a £40 flight away from Manchester Airport. Krakow Christmas Market in Poland ranked in first place in the list, beating markets in Austria and Germany, both known for their Christmas celebrations.

The study, conducted by travel insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk, analysed various factors to find the most festive markets, including average temperature and snowfall in December, the number of stalls, how long the market runs for and its distance from Lapland. Krakow’s Christmas market bagged the number one spot, offering visitors a wintery atmosphere with lots of snow, and a chilly 0.2 degrees on average in December.

READ MORE: The last-minute Christmas holidays from Manchester Airport starting from £42

Krakow’s beautiful old town provides a fairytale setting for the market, which is home to dozens of wooden stalls selling traditional Polish delights and handmade crafts. The market is on until January 1 and Skyscanner shows tickets from Manchester Airport to Krakow from £34 one way on December 16, so there’s still time for a last-minute trip.

The Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market in Budapest, Hungary, came in second on the list, with 120 stalls which remain open until New Year’s Eve. Rounding off the top three is the Rathauspark market in Vienna, set against the spectacular backdrop of Vienna’s Town Hall.

Only one Christmas market from the UK made the top ten list,