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Europe: Data from revenue management software company PriceLabs shows that demand for short-term rentals near Europe’s leading Christmas markets has increased across all 15 analysed cities, with December bookings ahead of the same period last year.
Budapest and Frankfurt recorded the strongest rises, with booked nights up 39 per cent and 35 per cent respectively. Basel (up 26 per cent), Prague (up 24 per cent) and Kraków (up 24 per cent) followed.
PriceLabs’ analysis also indicates a fall in available short-term rental supply in ten of the 15 destinations compared to 2024, driven in part by tighter regulations and rising operating costs.
Strasbourg and Colmar, two of France’s most prominent Christmas market cities, are experiencing some of the highest occupancy levels. For 1-20 December, occupancy in Strasbourg has already reached 73 per cent, with Colmar close behind at 70 per cent.
Average daily rates have risen across all destinations. Budapest recorded the sharpest year-on-year increase at 27 per cent, followed by Vienna (up 25 per cent) and Innsbruck (up 24 per cent).
Despite the uplift, Budapest remains the most affordable of the analysed cities, with an average nightly rate of €81. Metz (€83) and Kraków (€87) also sit at the lower end of the price range.
Strasbourg (€249), Colmar (€248) and Vienna (€231) are currently the most expensive, reflecting their strong reputations as major festive destinations.
Overview:
Selected demand growth and average daily rates:
- Basel, Switzerland: demand up 26 per cent, ADR €167
- Brussels, Belgium: up 3 per cent, €140
- Budapest, Hungary: up 39 per cent, €81
- Colmar, France: up 2 per cent, €247
- Cologne, Germany: up 7 per cent, €156
- Copenhagen, Denmark: 0 per cent, €191
- Frankfurt, Germany: up 35 per cent, €105
- Innsbruck, Austria: up 10 per cent, €161
- Kraków, Poland: up 24 per cent, €87
- Metz, France: up 9 per cent, €83
- Nuremberg, Germany: up 16 per cent, €159
- Prague, Czechia: up 24 per cent, €106
- Salzburg, Austria: up 16 per cent, €193
- Strasbourg, France: up 11 per cent, €249
- Vienna, Austria: up 9 per cent, €231
Richie Khandelwal, co-founder of PriceLabs, said: “European Christmas markets have always held a unique charm, but this year travellers are booking earlier and in greater numbers. Visitors are also rethinking their destinations and increasingly looking beyond the most well-known cities, which is providing a welcome boost for smaller towns.”
Highlights:
Holiday rental demand near Europe’s Christmas markets is up across all 15 major cities, according to new data from PriceLabs.
Budapest and Frankfurt saw the strongest rises in booked nights, up 39 per cent and 35 per cent year-on-year.
Short-term rental supply has tightened in ten out of 15 destinations, partly due to stricter regulations and rising operating costs.
Strasbourg and Colmar are seeing high pre-Christmas occupancy, reaching 73 per cent and 70 per cent for early December.
Average daily rates have increased across all markets, with Budapest (up 27 per cent) and Vienna (up 25 per cent) showing the largest jumps.
Budapest, Metz and Kraków remain the most affordable Christmas market destinations for holiday rentals, starting from €81 per night.
Strasbourg, Colmar and Vienna are the most expensive Christmas market cities, with nightly rates above €230.
Travellers are booking Christmas market stays earlier, mirroring wider European travel trends toward early planning and smaller-city destinations.
