Edinburgh Christmas Market 2025 prices: Do you have to buy tickets? Cost of food, drinks and big wheel
A family of four wishing to experience most of what Edinburgh’s Christmas market has to offer in 2025 could expect to spend an eyewatering £120 in just a couple of hours.
It’s no secret that Christmas is a time of year that puts a strain on the bank balance - especially for parents - and one visit to Edinburgh’s famous market is another thing that may need factored into the budget.
We did the sums based on the assumption that a family of four - two parents and two children - would want to take a shot on some of the market’s rides, have some warm drinks and a bite to eat while visiting the Princes Street Gardens attraction.
When it comes to activities, it would cost a family of four £38.40 to ride the big wheel, the cost of a family ticket, and if the little ones fancied a shot on the Helter Skelter, that would add an extra £4 each.
So the total cost of the rides, not including the carousel (£6 per person) or the Stargazer (£13.50 per person), would come out to £46.40. This would of course be cheaper if the family showed an EH post code, which would give them a 20 per cent discount.
No visit to the Edinburgh Christmas market is complete without a mulled wine, so we calculated that the adults would spent £6.50 each on a winter warmer. And assuming the children would also want something to help warm them up, we added on two basic hot chocolates at £5.20 each. If the children wanted something a little more luxury, their parents could be looking at spending a whopping £7.20 per cup.
So the total cost of drinks, not including any second rounds or soft drinks, comes out to £23.40.
If spending the day at the market, a family would of course also want to sample the many tasty food offerings that are on offer at various stalls.
We calculated that two adults might opt for a delicious Bratwurst each with a topping of onions or cheese, which would cost £11 per person (£9.50 for Bratwurst and an extra £1.50 for a topping). We added in a portion of chips for £5 which they could share.
And we thought two young children may share a portion of mac n cheese (£9.50) and some chips (£5), before being treated to something a little sweeter, such as mini pancakes with Nutella, which come in at £7.
Based on those calculations and the assumption that youngsters would be happy to share their meal and dessert, this family would spend a huge £48.50 on food.
All in all, this family’s spending total comes out to £118.30, not including any extras spent at the many market stalls.
Visitors to the market can obviously spend as much or as little as they want, but this is what we calculated a family of four might do.
Here’s a run-down on some more of the prices at Edinburgh Christmas Market 2025.
Rides
The helter skelter costs £4 a time - card payments only - and the carousel costs £6 a turn.
Prices for a spin on the Big Wheel are £12 for and adult and £9.60 for concessions, while a family ticket - with a maximum of two adults - costs £38.40 - again card payments only.
And it costs from £13.50 per person for a ride on the 80 metres high Starflyer.
For all the rides, there is a 20 per cent discount for local residents with an EH post code as long as they have proof of address.
Rides on these attractions can also be booked in advance at https://edwinterfest.com/
Drinks
There are various stalls selling all sorts of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks.
A Christmas market favourite, mulled wine and cider costs £6.50, and visitors can also warm up with a Hot Toddy which costs £7.50.
Cocktails from the Whitebox Cocktails phonebox cost £9 or £9.50, and pints of draught beer and cider cost around £7.
If you’re looking for something that isn’t alcoholic, there are hot chocolates available, prices of which range from £4 at some stalls to £7.20 for luxury flavoured hot chocolates. Coffees are also available for around £4 or £5.
Food
If all the excitement makes you hungry, there is plenty on offer whether you’re craving something sweet or savoury.
Bratwursts cost around £9 or £9.50, with extra toppings available for £1 or £1.50. For something smaller, a hot dog costs £6 and anyone wanting just a portion of chips can pay around £5-5.50.
Salmon sandwiches cost £11.50, while salmon with potato salad or macaroni cheese cost £15 and £16.50 respectively.
Macaroni cheese with crispy onions cost £9.50, and extra toppings are available for £1.50, £2 or £2.50 each.
For something sweet, mini pancakes cost £7, and crepes cost £7 with toppings coming at an extra cost.
Fresh doughnuts are available for £7, with loaded doughnuts also on offer for £11. Crumbles and chocolate covered strawberries also both cost around £9.50.
The Christmas market is open until January 4.