Dave and Tracey Mani paid a visit to a lesser-known Christmas market with “incredible” food and claimed it’s the best one on the continent that “you’ve never heard of”
A hidden gem of a Christmas market, reportedly the best in Europe that “you’ve never heard of,” could be within reach of Brits for as little as £21. The recommendation comes from Canadian travel vloggers Dave and Tracey Mani, whose YouTube channel chronicles their adventures across the globe, from Poland to Cambodia.
During their festive escapade, the adventurous duo explored the Bratislava Christmas Markets in Slovakia’s capital. As self-proclaimed “Christmas foodies”, Dave and Tracey wasted no time sampling the regional delicacies on offer.
Running from 27 November 2025 to 6 January 2026 (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), the markets are divided between two locations: Hlavné Square (Hlavné námestie) and Hviezdoslavov Square (Hviezdoslavovo námestie), conveniently just a five-minute stroll apart.
Open daily from 10am to 10pm, the markets promise a “warm and joyful atmosphere,” according to the official website, featuring craft stalls, local and international cuisine, and an array of tempting beverages including grog, mead, fruit wines, and beer.
For Dave and Tracey, though, it’s clearly the food that steals the show at such events. Kicking off their visit at Hlavné námestie, Tracey declared in the video that this is what Christmas markets “are all about.”
She went on to spotlight the festive music and the enticing aromas wafting through the air, while a beaming Dave noted it was “packed” and that he’d “never seen that many food kiosks” at any Christmas market they’d previously visited.
One regional speciality that Tracey deemed essential was a cabbage soup served with bread, which she said resembled goulash. After tasting it, she announced she wanted it “all day.”
Dave was equally impressed, describing the broth as “so good” and noting the dish priced at €7.90 (roughly £6.90), was “so full of flavour.” Their next discovery was Lokša, a traditional potato pancake that Dave called “insane.”
The pair also sampled other treats, including a potato pancake topped with cabbage and smoked meat, as well as a strudel.
Dave and Tracey then headed to the second area of the markets at Hviezdoslavovo námestie, where Dave tasted what he proclaimed to be “some of the best ham” he’d ever encountered.
Their overall verdict on the markets was glowing, with Dave suggesting they’d be “hard to beat” and Tracey branding the food “incredible.” They expanded on their enthusiasm further in the video description.
Beneath their clip, titled Europe’s Best Christmas Market You’ve Never Heard Of, they wrote: “As Christmas foodies, this is one of our favourite European Christmas markets of all time.
“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 on Skyscanner.com for a one-way ticket from Manchester to Bratislava for an adult in December showed the cheapest option was Sunday, 14 December, at £21, with a return the next day increasing the price to £68.
However, it’s worth noting that prices can fluctuate considerably depending on travel dates in December, so it’s recommended to plan ahead to secure the best possible deal.