A little-known Christmas market that’s reportedly the best one in Europe, and that “you’ve never heard of”, could be accessible to Brits for as little as £21. The recommendation came from globetrotting Canadian vloggers Dave and Tracey Mani, who post footage of their exploits on a travel-themed YouTube channel that features everywhere from Poland to Cambodia.

In a recent festive adventure, the intrepid couple visited the Bratislava Christmas Markets in the Slovakian capital. As self-confessed “Christmas foodies”, Dave and Tracey were quick to hunt down the local offerings. Running from November 27, 2025, to January 6, 2026 (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), the markets are split between two areas: the Hlavné (Hlavné námestie) and Hviezdoslavov Squares (Hviezdoslavovo námestie), but are only a short five-minute walk apart. Opening each day at 10am and closing at 10pm, the markets, according to the official website, promise a “warm and joyful atmosphere”, craft stands, local and international food, and a range of tasty drinks, including grog, mead, fruit wines and beer.

It seems that for Dave and Tracey, however, the food takes centre stage on such outings. Beginning their visit in Hlavné námestie, Tracey opened the video by proclaiming this is what Christmas markets “are all about”.

She further commented on the music and the smell of food, as a smiling Dave noted that it was “packed” and that he’d “never seen that many food kiosks” in any Christmas market they’d visited previously.

One local delicacy that Tracey viewed as a “must” was a cabbage soup served with bread, which she said looked a little like goulash. Having sampled the dish, she declared that she wanted it “all day”.

Dave was similarly impressed, saying the broth was “so good” and that the dish, which cost €7.90 (about £6.90), was “so full of flavour”. Next up was Lokša, a type of potato pancake that Dave called “insane”.

Other dishes the couple tried included a potato pancake topped with cabbage and smoked meat, and a strudel. Dave and Tracey then visited the second section of the markets at Hviezdoslavovo námestie, where they tried what Dave dubbed “some of the best ham” he’d ever tried.

Overall, their impression of the markets was positive, with Dave noting how they’d be “hard to beat” and Tracey describing the food as “incredible”. Indeed, they elaborated even further in the description.

Below their video, titled Europe’s Best Christmas Market You’ve Never Heard Of, they revealed: “As Christmas foodies, this is one of our favourite European Christmas Market of all times.

“Of course they had arts and crafts and different items that make perfect Christmas gifts but food was truly the star everywhere you looked.”

A quick search for a one-way flight to Bratislava (from Manchester) for one adult in December using Skyscanner.com revealed that the cheapest option was Sunday, December 14, for £21 and, if you opt to fly back the following day, it rises to £68. 

However, it’s worth noting that depending on when you travel in December, prices can vary significantly, so it’s advisable to research your trip to ensure you get the best possible price.