Tallinn Christmas Market 2022
This page contains affiliate links. Clicking them is free but we may receive a small commission. Please read our advertising policy to understand how the partners have been chosen.
Covered in the Article
Christmas Markets in Tallinn
We live in Helsinki but we must admit that our neighbour capital, the Baltic beautiful city of Tallinn, has a more traditional Christmas Market than Helsinki. There is a simple reason for that. Tallinn has an extremely beautiful medieval Old Town that is missing in Helsinki. Hence, creating a Christmas atmosphere around medieval Old Tallinn is much easier than doing the same in Helsinki.
Quality beats quantity - this applies well when speaking of the Christmas market in Tallinn. The city is small and it has only one primary traditional Christmas market in Old Town but the Christmas market itself is a great reason to visit this enchanting city.
The lively city of Tallinn has also other Christmas events so the town won't leave you empty after seeing the town's Christmas Market. In addition to traditional winter events, Tallinn offers a lot of interesting all-year-round activities.
Tallinn Christmas Market - Tallinna Jõuluturg
Tallinn Christmas Market is in the middle of Old Town next to Tallinn Town Hall. The building is the oldest surviving town hall in the Baltic countries and Scandinavia. In Estonian, the historic square next to Town Hall is called Raekoja Plats which is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and boutique stores. Many people consider that the Christmas Market in Raekoja Plats is the most beautiful in Europe. We have visited it multiple times ourselves and we strongly agree - the market has a special winter atmosphere even though there isn't usually snow.
Try tasty gingerbread cookies together with mulled wine in Tallinn Chrismas Market.
Tallinn Christmas Market is built in German style having outdoor stalls surrounded by a Christmas tree. The stalls offer Christmas goods and festive flavours which won't leave you disappointed. Naturally, you can also buy traditional souvenirs and local handicrafts.
Holiday events fill the square and nearby cobblestone streets. Old Town has a wide range of wintertime activities for people of different ages. While older people are drinking Glögi and listening to diverse Christmas programmes, younger guests can enjoy merry-go-rounds.
In winter 2022 - 2023, the Christmas Market in Tallinn is open from the 25th of November until the 8th of January 2023. The Christmas market opens at noon and is open until 5 pm. After that, it is still possible to buy hot drinks until late evening. So every day, there is plenty of time to experience the warm Christmas atmosphere of Tallinn's medieval Old Town. We recommend visiting Tallinn Old Town both in the daytime and also when the darkness has set in to experience its special atmosphere illuminated by warm Christmas lights.
A big Christmas tree next to the Tallinn Town Hall is also worth seeing. It is said that a similar tree has been staying there already since 1441. This is proof that the market has a truly long history that many other Christmas Markets in Europe are missing.
Estonian Hospitality
Estonians are regarded for their friendliness in nature. Some Estonians may have similar facial features as Eastern Europeans though there is quite a difference between them in terms of personalities. Like Finns, Estonians love saunas and they don't talk much unless they have something important to say. Don't take it as unfriendly, because it is just a part of their social culture. Travellers might find it at first rude but once you befriend a local then you will realize, they are very nice.
While visiting Tallinn Christmas Market, you will get fast and efficient customer service. People love travellers and want to serve them well in a local way. Young Estonians speak good English. With older people, you may need to communicate in Estonian, Finnish or Russian.
Weather in Tallinn
In winter, the weather in Tallinn is cold. And one thing is sure, the sun rises late and sets early. The temperature in December is from 0 to -7C but it may even get colder. While there is snow, the Tallinn Christmas experience will even become more magical as the beautiful Old Town will become a wonderful Winterland. There are countless cosy cafes and restaurants in Tallinn Old Town where you can enjoy Estonian food and hot drinks perfect for the cold weather.
Prices
Tallinn Christmas Market is a free event but services and shopping costs.
The general price level in Tallinn Christmas Market is way cheaper than in Helsinki. Especially, food and drinks are more affordable. Souvenirs may be more expensive but we do not recommend travellers buy any unnecessary items. Spending money on services is more environmentally friendly than buying material things. After all, the experience itself is what matters most during a trip.
Where to Stay near Christmas Market?
There are numerous cosy hotels in Old Town near Christmas Market. The hotels inside Old Town are not as modern as other hotels in the city centre. Check out the hotel selection in Old Town on Booking.com.
Many sources recommend a historic Hotel Telegraaf, which is only a 2-minute walk away from Christmas Market. Staying outside Old Town in a modern hotel is also a good choice. You get even better quality but Old Town is still near. We have a few hotel recommendations for quality-contend travellers:
Original Sokos Hotel Viru is a Finnish 4-star hotel in the centre. It was known as the KGB base during Cold War but now the hotel offers excellent 4-star hotel services in a central location 5 minutes walk away from Christmas Market.
Radission Blu Hotel Olümpia is a tall 4-star hotel within 15 minutes walking distance from the Old Town. Ask for an upper-floor room and enjoy the best views in Tallinn!
Kalev Spa is an affordable newly renovated Estonian hotel with a nice spa, saunas and pools. The hotel is in Old Town which even makes the Christmas Market so accessible on foot.
If only the best is enough, just head to a 5-star Swissotel. Tallinn is perhaps the best place to stay in a 5-star hotel because the prices are affordable despite the excellent quality.
How to Book a Hotel Room?
For succesful hotel bookings, follow our simple checklist:
- Compare hotels and their room prices on Booking.com.
- Think about the hotel's location. A good location costs more but you will save time and public transportation costs.
- Check the basic things about the room: size, bedding configuration, amenities and photos.
- Calculate the value of included meals. A complimentary breakfast is a good way to start a new day.
- Read previous customers' reviews. If the hotel has many bad reviews, skip it and choose a hotel with a better rating.
- Double check all the details CAREFULLY before paying the room.
- Pay the booking with a credit card to get extra protection.
Our Trip to Tallinn Christmas Market
We visit Tallinn a few times a year and especially, we made it a tradition to pay a yearly Christmas visit. The city has its charm in every season.
Our trip to Tallinn from Helsinki was rewarding, fast and very affordable as always. On our last visit, we reached Tallinn from Helsinki with Tallink Megastar while on our way return trip, we took a modern ferryViking XPRS, one of the newest ferries of Viking Line. The crossing of the Baltic Sea took only 2,5 hours oneway. Normally, we take a day trip from Helsinki to Tallinn but this time was an exception where we stayed overnight for a longer visit.
We had time to visit Tallinn Old Town and went to a spa. We enjoyed the spirit of Christmas Market but we had also time to climb up to Toompea hill to enjoy the scenic winter view over the city. And of course, we enjoyed a delicious lunch in the Old Town not forgetting to have our glass of local beer.
Ways to Travel to Tallinn
Tallinn lies in Northern Estonia below the Gulf of Finland. The location is not central from the European perspective but reaching Tallinn is still easy and fast.
Ferry
The most comfortable way to reach Tallinn is by ferry. There is a daily ferry connection from Stockholm to Tallinn and many daily connections from Helsinki. Why not to visit Helsinki Christmas Markets first and then continue to Tallinn?
Low-cost Airline
The fastest and cheapest way to reach Tallinn is to have a direct flight by a low-cost airline. EasyJet and Ryanair have flights to Tallinn from many countries. More connections you will find on Skyscanner.
Tallinn Airport is small but modern. It is close to the city centre and it takes only 15 minutes to reach the central hotel from the airport by taxi. Try a local taxi application, Bolt.
Traditional Airline
If you are reaching Tallinn outside Europe or coming from a destination from where there are no direct flights to Tallinn, we recommend flying via Helsinki Airport. Finnair has a global network with many connections to Helsinki and the airline operates also a route between Helsinki and Tallinn multiple times a day. It could also be a nice idea to have a stopover in Helsinki.
Other Transportation Options
You can reach Tallinn also by bus via the Baltic countries. However, the journey time would be long and riding a bus will easily become uncomfortable. For example, there are buses from Berlin to Tallinn and the whole journey takes more than 24 hours.
Common Questions
- Are there many Christmas markets in Tallinn?
- No, there is only one, the main Tallinn Christmas Market.
- Where is Tallinn Christmas Market located?
- Tallinn Christmas Market is in Old Town next to the Tallinn Town Hall.
- Is it cold in Tallinn in winter?
- Yes, the temperature will be around 0 degrees.
- Is Tallinn Christmas Market expensive?
- No, drinks and snacks are affordable. Souvenirs may cost more.
- Do Estonians serve mulled wine?
- Yes, you can buy mulled wine with snacks.
- How to reach Tallinn?
- You can come by plane, ferry or bus. Compare flight prices on Skyscanner.
Bottom Line
We bet you will love Tallinn Christmas Market. The market is beautifully unique in the whole of Europe. Tallinn has also many other things to see and to do so spending a few days in the city is recommended. And the best part is that the city has many charms to offer yet it is affordable.
Tallinn lies close to Helsinki, so combining a journey to Helsinki and Tallinn is simple. A ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki or vice versa takes less than 2 hours. And from Helsinki, it is easy to continue to Stockholm. Another option is to take a bus to Riga and see the Latvian capital's idyllic Christmas Market.
Have you visited Tallinn Christmas Market? What did you like the most?
Add Comment
Comments