Best Christmas Markets of Europe: Bucharest to Budapest — Self-Launched
15 days · Romania, Germany, Austria, Slovakia & Hungary
Travel Talk charges £2,355
No-markup version: ~£903 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 15-day self-launched run through five countries at the best time of year: Bucharest's Old Town Christmas market, Transylvania's Saxon towns and castles (Sibiu, Sighisoara, Brasov, Bran, Peles), then a cheap flight to Munich, and onward by train through Salzburg, Vienna and Bratislava to Budapest. You book your own hostel/guesthouse beds, use Romanian and Austrian/Hungarian trains plus one low-cost flight, and join walk-up city tours or cheap GetYourGuide options instead of a coach-and-guide package. Expect cold weather, cobblestones and early dark — and mulled wine. All costs are approximate backpacker/budget estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Bucharest — Old Town and first market
Bucharest, Romania
Land at Otopeni (Henri Coanda) and take the 783 express bus to Piata Unirii (~£1, buy a card at the kiosk) or a ride-hail app for ~£8. Check into a central hostel or budget guesthouse in the Old Town/Cismigiu area. Wander Lipscani and the Christmas market in Piata Constitutiei, buy a hot covrig and mulled wine, and orient yourself. Cash: Romania uses lei — withdraw from a bank ATM, avoid Euronet.
🚌Airport express bus 783 ~£1, or ride-hail ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Old Town/Cismigiu (~£15-20/night)
- →Self-guided Old Town walk (Lipscani)
- →Bucharest Christmas market
- →Evening food crawl: ciorba, mici, papanasi
Bucharest: Parliament, Village Museum, markets
Bucharest, Romania
Book the Palace of the Parliament guided tour online in advance (~£10-12, passport required). Walk or take the metro to Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum (~£3), then loop back through Cismigiu Park to the Old Town market. Free walking tours leave from Piata Unirii most mornings — tip-based, ~£5-8 tip.
🚌Metro/bus day pass ~£2
🛏Same hostel/guesthouse (~£15-20)
- →Palace of the Parliament guided tour (~£11, book direct)
- →Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum (~£3)
- →Free walking tour of Bucharest (tip-based)
- →Old Town Christmas market
Bucharest to Sibiu via Cozia Monastery and the Olt Valley
Sibiu, Romania
Take a morning train or intercity bus from Bucharest to Sibiu (~5-6 hrs, £9-14). To see Cozia Monastery en route, get off at Calimanesti and take a short taxi (~£4) to the monastery, then continue by local bus/train to Sibiu — or simply hire a shared day transfer through your guesthouse. Arrive in Sibiu's gorgeous Piata Mare, check in and hit the Christmas market in the Large and Small Squares.
🚌Bucharest–Sibiu train/bus ~£11; optional taxi to Cozia ~£4
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Sibiu old town (~£16-22)
- →Cozia Monastery stop (Olt Valley)
- →Sibiu Christmas market
- →Evening walk over the Bridge of Lies
Sibiu: Saxon old town and Astra Museum
Sibiu, Romania
Slow day. Climb the Council Tower (~£1.50) for rooftop views, visit the Lutheran Cathedral, and walk the old walls. Optional: bus/taxi to the open-air Astra Museum of Traditional Folk Civilisation (~£4 entry) — magical in snow. Back for the market in the evening; try kürtőskalács and vin fiert.
🚌Walking; local bus to Astra ~£1
🛏Same Sibiu guesthouse/hostel (~£16-22)
- →Council Tower and old town walls
- →Lutheran Cathedral
- →Astra Museum of Traditional Folk Civilisation (optional, ~£4)
- →Sibiu Christmas market
Sibiu to Brasov via Sighisoara
Brasov, Romania
Take the morning train Sibiu–Sighisoara (~2.5 hrs, ~£6) and store your bag at the station. Walk into the walled citadel, climb the Clock Tower (~£3) and the Scholars' Staircase, and eat lunch in the lower town. Then catch an afternoon train Sighisoara–Brasov (~2.5 hrs, ~£6), check into Brasov and wander the Council Square Christmas market under Mount Tampa.
🚌Trains Sibiu–Sighisoara–Brasov ~£12 total
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Brasov old town (~£15-20)
- →Sighisoara citadel walking route (self-guided)
- →Clock Tower Museum (~£3)
- →Brasov Council Square Christmas market
Brasov: Bran Castle and Rasnov
Brasov, Romania
Take bus 20 or a minibus from Brasov's Livada Postei to Bran (~1 hr, ~£1.50) and tour Bran Castle (~£9, buy on arrival or online — quieter midweek). Continue by local bus to Rasnov citadel (~£3.50) or head back. Evening: walk up to the Brasov sign viewpoint or warm up with a beer at a cellar bar.
🚌Local buses Brasov–Bran–Rasnov ~£4
🛏Same Brasov hostel/guesthouse (~£15-20)
- →Bran Castle (~£9)
- →Rasnov Citadel (optional, ~£3.50)
- →Tampa viewpoint walk
Brasov to Bucharest via Sinaia's Peles Castle
Bucharest, Romania
Morning train Brasov–Sinaia (~1 hr, ~£3). Walk 25 mins (or take a taxi ~£3) uphill to Peles Castle; note it's closed Mondays/Tuesdays in winter, so check first — the exterior and grounds are still superb. Continue Sinaia–Bucharest by train (~2 hrs, ~£6). Evening back in the Old Town with dinner and the market.
🚌Trains Brasov–Sinaia–Bucharest ~£9
🛏Bucharest hostel/guesthouse (~£15-20)
- →Peles Castle and grounds (~£8 entry if open)
- →Sinaia town stroll
- →Bucharest Old Town evening
Fly to Munich — city tour and markets
Munich, Germany
Fly Bucharest–Munich on a low-cost carrier (Wizz Air/Ryanair, hand luggage only, book ahead — ~£35-55). Take the S-Bahn S8/S1 from the airport to the centre (~£10 all-zone day ticket, or cheaper single). Check into a hostel near Hauptbahnhof. Free walking tour of the old town (Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt) and first mulled wine at the Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt, which dates to the 14th century.
🚌Flight ~£45; S-Bahn from airport ~£10
🛏Munich hostel dorm near Hauptbahnhof (~£30-38)
- →Self-guided or free walking tour: Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt, Englischer Garten
- →Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt
- →Rathaus-Glockenspiel
Munich markets: Wittelsbacherplatz, Schwabing, Tollwood
Munich, Germany
Do the market circuit on foot and by U-Bahn: medieval-themed Wittelsbacherplatz, the pink gay-friendly Pink Christmas at Stephansplatz, and the huge Tollwood Winter Festival on the Theresienwiese (free entry). Stroll Schwabing and the Englischer Garten. Optional Bavarian dinner at a brewery — pick a local beer hall rather than the famous tourist one for similar food at lower cost (~£20-25).
🚌U-Bahn day pass ~£7
🛏Same Munich hostel (~£30-38)
- →Wittelsbacherplatz medieval market
- →Pink Christmas at Stephansplatz
- →Tollwood Winter Festival
- →Schwabing and Englischer Garten walk
Train Munich to Salzburg — fortress and markets
Salzburg, Austria
Regional or Railjet train Munich–Salzburg (~1.5 hrs, book on bahn.de, ~£12-22 with a Bayern ticket if you travel after 9am). Check into a hostel/guesthouse near the old town. Walk the Getreidegasse, take the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress (~£13.50 combined), and explore the Cathedral Square Christmas market with its giant advent calendar facade.
🚌Train Munich–Salzburg ~£15
🛏Salzburg hostel or guesthouse (~£25-35)
- →Hohensalzburg Fortress funicular (~£13.50)
- →Cathedral Square Christmas market
- →Getreidegasse and Mozart's birthplace exterior (museum ~£12 optional)
Salzburg markets and Berchtesgaden salt mine
Salzburg, Austria
Book the Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden salt mine online (~£38 incl. mine train and tour; bus 840 from Salzburg Hbf ~£7 return) — a great cold-weather activity. Back in town, visit Mirabell Gardens and the Pegasus Fountain, and cross to Hellbrunn Palace if time allows. Evening: Stern advent market and Christkindlmarkt at the Residenzplatz.
🚌Bus 840 Salzburg–Berchtesgaden ~£7 return
🛏Same Salzburg hostel/guesthouse (~£25-35)
- →Berchtesgaden salt mine tour (~£38)
- →Mirabell Gardens and Pegasus Fountain (free)
- →Residenzplatz and Stern advent markets
Train Salzburg to Vienna — imperial city and Rathaus market
Vienna, Austria
Railjet Salzburg–Vienna (~2.5 hrs, ~£25-35 if booked ahead; cheaper with a Sparschiene ticket). Check in near a U-Bahn stop. Do a self-guided Ringstrasse loop — Hofburg, Rathaus, Burgtheater, Opera — and hit the Christkindlmarkt in front of the Rathaus after dark, the biggest and most photogenic in Europe.
🚌Railjet Salzburg–Vienna ~£30
🛏Vienna hostel dorm or budget hotel (~£28-38)
- →Ringstrasse self-guided walk
- →Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt
- →Hofburg exterior
Vienna: Schonbrunn, Prater, market crawl
Vienna, Austria
U4 to Schonbrunn for the palace gardens (free) and the courtyard Christmas market — the Imperial Tour is ~£35 if you want inside. Alternatively, Leopold Museum (~£16) or the Prater Ferris Wheel (~£12). In the evening, work your way through the Spittelberg, Maria-Theresien-Platz and Stephansplatz markets.
🚌U-Bahn 24hr/72hr pass ~£15
🛏Same Vienna hostel/hotel (~£28-38)
- →Schonbrunn gardens and Christmas market (free)
- →Schonbrunn Imperial Tour (optional ~£35)
- →Prater Ferris Wheel (optional ~£12)
- →Spittelberg and Maria-Theresien-Platz markets
Vienna to Budapest via Bratislava
Budapest, Hungary
Take the train Vienna–Bratislava (~1 hr, ~£8) and leave bags at the station lockers (~£3). Circuit the old town, climb Bratislava Castle (free grounds, cheap museum), and wander the Danube promenade and the small Christmas market. Mid-afternoon, catch a bus or train Bratislava–Budapest (~2.5 hrs, ~£8-10). Arrive Budapest, check in, and do an evening orientation walk across the Chain Bridge.
🚌Train Vienna–Bratislava ~£8; bus Bratislava–Budapest ~£9
🛏Budapest hostel or budget apartment (~£18-28)
- →Bratislava old town and castle
- →Bratislava Christmas market
- →Danube promenade walk
- →Chain Bridge and Pest embankment by night
Budapest: Vörösmarty Square markets and farewell
Budapest, Hungary
Spend the day on the Pest side: climb St Stephen's Basilica dome (~£5) for city views, explore the Basilica and Vörösmarty Square Christmas markets (the largest in Hungary), and check out the Craftsman market. Optional: Fisherman's Bastion in Buda (free walk-up) and the Hungarian National Museum (~£5). Finish with a thermal bath (~£15-20) or a ruin-bar crawl.
🚌Tram/metro day pass ~£5
🛏Same Budapest hostel/apartment (~£18-28)
- →St Stephen's Basilica and dome (~£5)
- →Vörösmarty Square Christmas market
- →Fisherman's Bastion (free exterior)
- →Szechenyi Baths (optional ~£18)
- →Ruin-bar evening
Self-launched vs. Travel Talk
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Talk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£903 | £2,355 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,452 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Talk-style trips? Check them out here.~£903
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Best Christmas Markets of Europe: Bucharest to Budapest — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £903 per person for 15 days in Romania, Germany, Austria, Slovakia & Hungary. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Travel Talk?+
Yes — Travel Talk charges around £2,355 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £903 — a saving of roughly £1,452 (62%) per person.
How long is the Romania, Germany, Austria, Slovakia & Hungary trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Romania, Germany, Austria, Slovakia & Hungary.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, festivals, city-breaks trip through Romania, Germany, Austria, Slovakia & Hungary, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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