Holiday accommodation: Craiova beats Vienna, Prague and Budapest on prices, with rates double and even triple those of the big capitals with Christmas markets

Ranked among the most beautiful Christmas Markets on the old continent by European Best Destinations, Craiova offers tourists a negative example regarding accommodation before the winter holidays, compared to much better known markets and with a longer tradition in the great capitals of the world, such as Vienna, Budapest and Prague.

A simple search on the Booking platform for the period from December 17 to 22, for example, is enough to discourage anyone, instead of encouraging them to enjoy the magic of the winter holidays in Banie.

If in Craiova the prices on Booking start from 525 euros (for five nights, two people), for an accommodation with negative reviews (note 5), in the center of Vienna the accommodation starts from 465 euros, in the center of Budapest from 105 euros at hostels, and in Brussels from 324 euros. On the other hand, in the central area of ​​Bucharest the prices start from 105 euros, and in Sibiu from 151 euros, with excellent reviews of over 9.

We decided to present the accommodation rates in Euros, including for Romania, to make it easier to compare with prices from other Christmas fairs.

The most expensive tourist city in Romania

In recent years, Craiova has gained notoriety as the host city of one of the most spectacular Christmas fairs, a title awarded by the European Best Destinations platform.

European Best Destinations (EBD) plays a key role in promoting the most attractive and interesting destinations in Europe, contributing significantly to the growth of tourism in the cities and regions concerned. Through annual competitions and careful selection of destinations, EBD helps travelers discover special places and supports cities to increase their visibility internationally, attracting tourists from around the world.

Taking advantage of this international momentum, local tourism representatives and owners who rent out their apartments or houses through platforms like Airbnb have increased accommodation rates to record highs during the winter holidays, thus turning the city in the south of the country into the most expensive tourist spot in Romania.

Craiova even managed to surpass the great capitals of the world in terms of prices, in a very short time. Although this phenomenon seems to be bringing immediate results, with accommodation almost sold out despite the inflated prices, in the long term it could represent a costly lesson about the greed of those who want to get rich quick, without considering the impact on the image and sustainability of local tourism .

What are the prices for accommodation in Craiova?

A simple search on Booking for accommodation before the holidays, during the week, the cheapest offer was 525 euros. The offer had a score of 5 in reviews, and 97% of the accommodation was already booked, on December 16, 2024 when we analyzed the market.

In contrast, for an apartment with excellent reviews (over 9), the price for the same period was 642 euros. At rates up to 700 euros, with good reviews, but few in number, I found availability only in apartments and studios (studios). The most expensive option available on Booking was also an apartment – ​​a 31 sq m studio apartment priced at €1,643, compared to another 90 sq m apartment that was rented for €1,286.

On Airbnb, the prices were a bit more affordable, the most cost-effective option being about 60 euros per night, at a reduced price, for a location located about 10 km from Craiova. However, it should be noted that, in the case of accommodation on Airbnb, in addition to the displayed price, various taxes and additional services are added, so that the final price exceeded 300 euros. Also, for an apartment located near the Promenada Mall, the offer for five nights was around 500 euros.

What rates apply in the Romanian capital, but also in other popular Christmas destinations

Here are also the rates applied in other well-known cities in our country, including the capital, which host popular Christmas markets.

For Sibiu, we found accommodations on Airbnb that started from less than 40 euros per night for the specified period, and prices went up to about 70 euros per night. There are also cheaper options, but not for the entire period. On Booking, prices vary between 151 and 239 euros for five nights, with an occupancy rate of 74%. Also, in the surroundings of Sibiu there are even more affordable options.

In Bucharest, on Booking, the rates start from 101 euros (reduced price) for the respective period and reach up to 4,242 euros for a studio located in Sector 3. It should be noted that, in this case, we did not encounter sold-out offers.

In Cluj, accommodation offers start from 141 euros for five nights and can reach up to 8,141 euros for an apartment located in a residential area. In Brașov, prices range from 128 euros to 10,131 euros for an eight-room villa located more than 5 km from the city center.

How expensive are the most famous Christmas markets in Europe

After seeing the incredible prices charged by Romanian cities during the winter holidays, here are the rates applied to accommodation in the great capitals of the old continent.

Vienna, which for years has been considered the pearl of Christmas markets and remains one of the most visited cities in the world during this period, offers accommodation starting from 456 euros (reduced price) and reaching up to 10,690 euros for a hotel famous five-star hotel in the center of the Austrian capital.

In central Budapest, prices for accommodation start from 105 euros in a hostel or private accommodation, or from over 200 euros for an apartment or hotel room, for the mentioned period of five nights, and can go up to 25,870 of euros.

In Prague, hostels start at 150 euros, apartments start at 326 euros, and hotels from 415 euros for five nights. The most expensive accommodation in the Czech capital reaches 26,518 euros.

In Brussels, rates for accommodation in the city center range from €328 to €9,021.

We also compared the price list with the offers of other cities which, although not capitals, host extremely popular Christmas markets. For example, in Metz (France), prices vary between 187 and 923 euros, in Dresden (Germany) between 216 and 2,215 euros, and in Strasbourg (France) they range between 1,047 and 2,702 euros.