UK Unites Poland, Romania, and Brussels with New Christmas Offers Await on December 25, 2025!

Published on December 9, 2025

The 25th of December is a special day for people travelling to see family and friends in Europe. Across Poland, the United Kingdom, Romania and Brussels there are transport concessions and free services that help ease the cost of travelling on the holiday. The discounts summarized here come from official sources and apply specifically on Christmas Day 2025. Travellers should check timetables because many services run limited schedules.

Poland

In Poland, national rail operator PKP Intercity has several fare discounts that apply on Christmas Day, although they are available throughout the year. These promotions help families and groups save money on long‑distance rail journeys.

Family Ticket (Bilet Rodzinny)

Families travelling by PKP Intercity can purchase a Family Ticket, which gives a 30 % discount on the base fare for groups of two to five people that include at least one child under 16. The offer covers economy and first‑class travel on Intercity services and is valid on domestic journeys; children under four travel free. Because the discount is based on group size rather than a special holiday promotion, it can be used on 25 December so long as the group meets the family criteria[1].

Large Family Card (Karta Dużej Rodziny)

Holders of Poland’s national Big Family Card benefit from another 30 % reduction on Intercity train tickets for groups of at least two people. This concession applies to parents and their children across all classes of train, and it can be combined with statutory concessions such as student discounts. Children under four ride free[2]. Families planning Christmas Day travel should make sure they have their card available when purchasing tickets.

Taniej z Bliskimi (Cheaper with Relatives)

For extended families and groups without children, PKP Intercity offers “Cheaper with Relatives” tickets. Groups of two to six people travelling together on the same train can get 30 % off the base fare provided they purchase tickets between 30 and 1 day before departure[3]. This means travellers wanting to use the discount for a 25 December journey must buy their tickets no later than 24 December. The discount can be combined with statutory concessions[4], making it a useful option for multi‑generation groups.

United Kingdom

Public transport in Britain mostly shuts down on Christmas Day, but there are several official concessions and special services that help people travel by road or coach.

London: Congestion Charge and ULEZ suspension

Transport for London suspends the Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) fees on Christmas Day. Drivers entering central London do not have to pay the daily congestion charge, and the ULEZ does not operate[5]. In addition, the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels in east London are normally tolled through the Blackwall Tunnel charge, but this charge is not applied on Christmas Day[5]. Travellers should note that most public transport services do not run and only a small number of bus routes operate; cycle hire remains available.

Free crossings in south‑west England

At the Cornwall–Devon border, the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry waive tolls for 24 hours on Christmas Day. An announcement by the Tamar Crossings joint committee states that tolls for both the bridge and ferry will be suspended from 00:00 until 23:59 on 25 December 2025[6]. The bridge remains open throughout the festive period, and the ferry runs a half‑hourly service using a single vessel[7]. Drivers are asked to drive cautiously through the toll plazas because staff may be crossing the lanes[8].

Mersey tunnels and free bus services

In the Liverpool City Region, the two Mersey road tunnels (Kingsway and Queensway) stay open and are toll‑free from 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve until 6 a.m. on Boxing Day[9]. This toll suspension covers the whole of Christmas Day, allowing motorists to cross the River Mersey at no cost. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has also arranged free bus services on Christmas Day. A special timetable produced by Merseytravel shows that Stagecoach operates several routes on 25 December for free, including services between Liverpool and St Helens, Formby, Crosby and hospital destinations[10]. The guide emphasises that these are the only bus routes running on the holiday[10], so travellers should plan trips carefully.

National Express Christmas Day services

The rail network shuts down on Christmas Day, but coach operator National Express expands its network. According to the company’s announcement, it will operate 355 journeys on Christmas Day across 96 towns, cities and airports[11]. Although this is not a price reduction, it provides an important travel option for people who would otherwise be stranded by the rail shutdown.

Brussels and Belgium

Free public transport in Bruges

The Flemish city of Bruges hosts Winter Glow, a seasonal festival. As part of the event, the city offers free bus transport on specific days, including Thursday 25 December 2025. The festival’s mobility page explains that bus travel is free on Christmas Day, with services running according to the Sunday timetable and the last departure around 22:10[12]. Travellers can also use park‑and‑ride sites on the outskirts of Bruges, with free buses connecting them to the city centre until 31 December 2025[13]. This arrangement makes it easier for visitors and residents to reach the historic centre without paying for parking or bus tickets.

Festive tram in Brussels

In Brussels itself, the public transport operator STIB runs a “Santa tram” as part of its holiday celebrations. The festive tram operates on line 92 between 22 and 25 December and offers passengers a seasonal ride through the city. While the tram fare is standard, the programme includes free gift‑wrapping services at Rogier station between 11 and 23 December[14][15]. This adds a cultural flourish to the city’s transport network even though it does not involve a fare discount.

Romania

Romania’s national rail operator CFR Călători does not have a Christmas‑specific fare waiver, but it offers early‑purchase discounts that are valid on Christmas Day.

10 % and 5 % advance purchase discounts

Passengers who buy tickets at least 11 days before travel receive a 10 % discount on Regio, InterRegio and InterCity train fares. Those who purchase tickets six to ten days before travel receive a 5 % discount[16]. The discounts apply to all classes of service and can be obtained online or at station counters; they cannot be combined with other promotions[16]. Travellers aiming to use the 10 % discount for Christmas Day journeys needed to book by 14 December 2025, while the 5 % discount could still be applied for tickets purchased up to 19 December 2025.

Interrail pass promotion (ending before Christmas)

CFR also promoted a 25 % reduction on Interrail Global and One Country Passes for sales between 25 November and 17 December 2025. Because the sale period ends a week before Christmas Day, travellers who bought passes within this window and start using them on 25 December benefit from the discounted price[17]. The offer is targeted at international passengers planning multi‑country rail journeys during the holiday season.

Conclusion

Travelling on Christmas Day can be challenging due to limited services, but a range of official concessions can reduce costs and keep people moving. In Poland, PKP Intercity’s family and group discounts allow families and friends to save 30 % on long‑distance rail journeys provided they purchase tickets early enough. The United Kingdom offers motorists several free crossings: central London’s Congestion Charge and ULEZ are suspended, the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry waive tolls for 24 hours, and the Mersey tunnels are toll‑free from late on Christmas Eve until early on Boxing Day. For those needing to travel by bus, the Liverpool City Region provides free Stagecoach‑operated routes. National Express coaches also provide extensive coverage when the rail network is shut. In Belgium, Bruges offers free bus transport and park‑and‑ride connections as part of its Winter Glow festival, while Brussels decorates its network with a Santa tram. Romanian travellers benefit from CFR Călători’s early‑purchase discounts and, for those who bought tickets before 17 December, a discount on Interrail passes.

These concessions demonstrate how public and private transport providers recognise the importance of family gatherings on Christmas Day. By planning ahead and taking advantage of official discounts, travellers can reduce costs and enjoy smoother journeys during one of the year’s busiest holiday periods.

References

1. Tamar Crossings official announcement of toll suspension and ferry schedule[6].
2. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority statement on free Mersey tunnel tolls[9].
3. Merseytravel’s Christmas Day bus services guide[10].
4. Transport for London information on Congestion Charge and ULEZ suspension[5].
5. CBW report on National Express Christmas Day coach network[11].
6. VisitBruges Winter Glow mobility page describing free bus transport on 25 December 2025 and park‑and‑ride details[12][13].
7. The Bulletin article about Brussels’ Santa tram and free gift‑wrapping[14][15].
8. PKP Intercity description of the Family Ticket offer[1].
9. PKP Intercity description of the Big Family Card discount[2].
10. PKP Intercity regulation on “Cheaper with Relatives” group discount[3][4].
11. CFR Călători advance purchase discount terms[16].
12. CFR Călători press release on Interrail pass discount ending 17 December 2025[17].