Winter in Tallinn: A Guide to the Charming Estonian Capital

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Delicate twinkling lights hang from medieval buildings along narrow, winding cobble-stone streets. It’s a touch colder than might be reasonably comfortable being outside for so long. But there’s still more to explore, and you can’t seem to help yourself peeking around just one corner. Even winter in Tallinn won’t stop curious travelers squeezing every drop out of their visit to Estonia’s captivating capital.

Where is Tallinn?

Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia, one of the Baltic States and former Soviet country which still borders Russia today. Until 1991, Estonia was part of the old Soviet Union. Now the city has become one of the top places in Europe to visit around the holidays due to its popular Christmas Market.

Tallinn has an international airport serving many destinations in Europe. It’s therefore easy to get here from the western European countries you may live in or already be visiting. However its proximity to neighboring countries makes it an ideal stop on a multi-nation trip.

From Riga, Latvia there are frequent buses connecting the two cities. In only a few hours you can comfortably travel between the two via Lux Express – and add another fantastic destination to your travel itinerary.

Tallinn is also separated from Helsinki, Finland by a narrow gulf in the Baltic Sea. Combine a trip to Helsinki which is another great place to visit. Ferries operate multiple times each day in both directions and only take a couple of hours.

Winter In Tallinn – Why You’ll Want To Visit

While some stereotypical Soviet architecture, often devoid of excess character, still exists, Old Town Tallinn has retained its charm and is a wonderful place to get lost within the city walls. Even in winter.

I’m sure you can imagine some of the beautiful old buildings it may have, or nice churches and cathedrals. But there are so many other unique things to do in Tallinn you’ll definitely want to add it to your European travel list.

Winter in Tallinn might be cold, but the festive fun will surely take your mind off it. Estonia is still a cheaper place to visit than a lot of Western Europe. Even if Tallinn prices have been raised along with its popularity, you can still enjoy a relatively budget off-season trip.

Winter In Tallinn: Top Things To See & Do

Winter in Tallinn is a magical time of year. But don’t just take my word for it, see for yourself some of the enchanting festive activities and unique attractions that make this city such the must-visit destination it has become.

WANDER THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS

2019 named Tallinn as the best Christmas market in Europe. For all the different markets there are in so many cities across Europe, that has to mean something. Especially for Christmas market fans.

The Tallinn Christmas market is held in the central town square, next to the old town hall. There are dozens of stalls selling delicious food and drinks, warm clothing and Christmas decorations and gifts. All centered around a gigantic decorated Christmas tree.

There’s a stage front and center where performances and entertainment are often held during the festive season. Keep a listen out for Christmas carol singers to really get you in the holiday spirit.

Tallinn is a very busy Christmas market so make sure to experience earlier in the day when it’s a little quieter as well as during the evenings when the festivities really come alive.

Forego restaurant dining for at least one meal and sample some of the delights of the market including roast potatoes and pork, Estonian blood sausage, hot soups with rye bread and gingerbread treats to end your meal.

ENJOY SOME OUTDOOR ICE SKATING

It wouldn’t be winter in Tallinn without donning your skates and hitting up the open air ice rink on Harju Street. Not far from the main town square, skate between morning and evening in the shadow of the beautiful St. Nicholas Church.

The skate park is open daily from mid-November to late March from 10am to 10pm. Entry is about 7 EUR a ticket for an hour and skate rental is from 3 EUR.

The skating rink is huge and there are rails to hang onto if you’re a bit of a novice skater. You’ll soon get the hang of it though – just remember to dress warmly in case you slip (guilty!).

EAT AT ONE OF THE MANY VEGAN RESTAURANTS

As a vegetarian I was honestly worried about finding some good food options in Eastern Europe. Expecting more meat & potatoes type restaurants I was pleasantly surprised to discover a large number of vegan restaurants. Perhaps more than I’ve seen in a lot of places, especially for the size of the old town.

The vegan and vegetarian restaurants all have really great options – so much so you might have trouble deciding where to go first. There were also really good vegan and vegetarian options on many of the menus in regular restaurants.

Vegan Restoran V was one of my favorites in the Old Town area. I’d definitely go back there again. The best place though? Karu Talu Šokolaad, a vegan chocolate shop in the center of Tallinn.

Initially drawn in by the window display, I ended up buying a lot of delicious chocolate truffle bars. While paying I saw a sign about vegan chocolate and just thought they were saying they also carried some vegan options. But no, they are 100% plant based. Try the “snickers” bar, you won’t be disappointed.

TRY SOME LOCAL ESTONIAN WINE

in the upper part of old town Tallinn, Toompea, you will find the Museum of Estonian Drinks Culture. It is focused on the history of one of Estonia’s most popular old wineries that was also responsible for importing much international liquor back in the day.

Learn about the family that started it, what happened to them, and check out the old wine cellar yourself. Plus, don’t forget to upgrade your ticket to include the samples of local wine. It’s worth the extra few Euros. This place was such a unique activity during my winter in Tallinn getaway, that I had to write a separate post all about it.

BUY UNIQUE GIFTS AND CRAFTS

Slip out of the cold and into the warmth of a few of Tallinn’s unique stores. There you’ll find some of the many local treasures you can buy for yourself or as gifts for friends while visiting Estonia.

In fact, cold weather or not, one of my favorite things to do during my winter in Tallinn break was spend an afternoon wandering in and out of the lovely little craft shops I would find in the winding back streets of the old town.

Estonians seem to really like their wooden products and while some of the souvenirs start to get a bit repetitive, overall the crafts were interesting to peruse. I found a lot of juniper wood products, which were so beautiful and some of my favorite things that I saw.

I also enjoyed finding some unique local food items, like jams and mustards. One of the most delicious things I sampled was Cloudberry jam. To try it is to love it.

GET A BIRDSEYE VIEW OF THE TOWN

There’s no arguing that Old Town Tallinn is gorgeous. Walking through some of the older medieval streets and past the delightfully ornate buildings was a treat.

But to get a real good view of the city, you have to get a little big higher up. While that unfortunately means a big hill or a lot of steps, it’ll be worth the effort, I promise.

Follow the old cobble stone streets to Toompea, the hill where the old castle and a couple of the cathedrals stand. From there you’ll find a couple of really stunning viewpoints to see over the town.

On a nice day you can see out to the Baltic sea. The sea of red roofs and houses below congregate into the small area that is the old town. The old city walls and defensive towers stick out as the keepers of the medieval city.

LISTEN TO AN ORGAN RECITAL

Winter in Tallinn means finding a church for a little organ recital or festive musical concert. Old Town Tallinn has a couple of cathedrals, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and St. Mary’s Cathedral. There are also a lot of pretty churches around.

Head inside to see some of the beautiful old buildings up close. The Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky cathedral is at the top of the hill, and St. Mary’s cathedral is just around the corner.

Although the former is a lot more impressive from the outside than the latter, both are worth seeing inside. The interiors are stunning. St. Mary’s has lots of decorative ornaments and shields adorning the walls.

If, like me, you luck out on timing (or better yet, plan ahead), you might be able to catch a lunch hour organ recital or similar event. I attended a concert with two of Estonia’s celebrated organists who played through 5 musical pieces. It’s a lovely way to spend a half hour during winter in Tallinn on a cold, cloudy day. Not to mention a bargain as concerts often start from around 10 EUR.

BRUSH UP ON SOME KGB HISTORY

Much like Riga and its KGB history, Tallinn has a similar past. Both Latvia and Estonia were part of the Soviet Union for many years, so this probably won’t be too much of a surprise. But what is unique is that Tallinn has turned what were essentially underground cells into a museum.

The Museum of Occupations & Freedom and the KGB Prison Cells are two of the most unique things to do in Tallinn, and filled with history. While the former covers the history of Nazi and Soviet occupations, and the subsequent independence gained by Estonia, the KGP Prison Cells are the real thing.

Step down into the prison cells within the Old Town where people were held during the occupation. Absorb stories of the people who were captured and locked up there, tortured and made to give up information to the KGB in occupied Estonia.

It’s a dark history, but a really interesting one to learn about. Tickets for the Museum of Occupations & Freedom are 14 EUR, and the KGB Prison Cells will cost you 9 EUR. Visit only one if you wish, or both for a combined 20 EUR ticket.

Both are great places to get in out of the cold during winter in Tallinn. The KGB Prison Cells are a quicker visit if you’re short on time – the whole thing will take you about 45 minutes to look around in depth.

GRAB A DRINK IN AN UNDERGROUND BAR

Tallinn and Riga hold a number of similarities, but one of the main ones is the number of places that you will find underground. Go down steps into restaurants, through little street lanes to find a second door to somewhere. Or head on into an underground bar out of the cold weather that is winter in Tallinn.

I was drawn to the Scottish flags and name on a sign for the Highlander Scottish Pub. Given I’m from the UK, and at this point was traveling alone, I was looking for a bit of home comfort.

The bar is a little dive bar-esque but a solid spot to get warm and enjoy a cold pint. Tartan, beaten up tables, haphazard seating, and a great beer menu make this place a great place to grab a cold one. Play some darts and make new friends – I met a couple of Brits to hang out with for an hour. That’s often just the social pick-me-up I need as as solo traveler.

LOOK UP AND SPOT SOME WEATHER VANES

In Tallinn, the streets are pretty uneven so you’ll probably spend a bit of time watching where you’re walking. But whatever you do, don’t forget to occasionally look up. You might see something interesting.

Tallinn has a lot of unique weather vanes and it becomes almost a fun game to seek them out. The most famous is the one on top of the old town hall that is nicknamed Old Toomas – named after a beloved former resident.

But that’s not the only one, there are lots to be seen so keep an eye out. In fact, go back to the top of the hill at Toompea and check them all out from a better vantage point.

EAT SOME HEARTY GRUB AT A MEDIEVAL RESTAURANT

With a medieval history on par with Riga, Tallinn has a number of medieval inspired bars and restaurants. Especially around the town hall area as they are a bit of a draw for visiting tourists. For good reason.

There’s the famous Olde Hansa restaurant. Outside is a cart with people dressed up selling hot drinks, and a little shop in a separate area of the building. The vegetarian choices aren’t so great here but it’s a fun experience. And even if you don’t dine here, pay a visit to the shop to buy some medieval inspired wild berry schnapps or funky drinking glass.

Under the town hall is another medieval inspired tavern, III Draakon. They serve snacks and light food items, but it’s the drinks and the atmosphere you queue up for.

Yes there’s always a queue. Be patient, or plan to get there early. The beer is simply “light” or “dark”, and there are other fun drinks like cowberry juice or juniper schnapps. Drinketh up!

ABSORB ALL THE HISTORY AT THE TALLINN CITY MUSEUM

If you really want to get to know the city, then one of the best things to do in Tallinn is visit its museum. While the Tallinn City Life Museum doesn’t look like a big museum from the outside, once inside you just keep going up, floor after floor.

Like me, you might spend a couple of hours in the Tallinn City Life Museum, taking in all the exhibits and learning the history of the city. First go down into the medieval cellar which holds a lot of ancient pottery and artifacts – and even a well.

The other rooms take you through various points in Tallinn’s past – the plague, nautical history, the story of Old Toomas (the weather vane guy himself). Over 800 years of history wrapped up in one museum. Entry is 8 EUR (or FREE on Sundays with advanced reservation). If you’re visiting between October and April note that the museum is closed Mondays and some days have shorter opening hours.

Winter In Tallinn: So Many Unique Things To Do

Of course Tallinn is more than just these 12 things. The historic city has a lot to offer no matter what time of year you visit. There are beautiful parks, interesting museums and great food.

I enjoyed my stay in the city, and I’m sure you will too. There are many things to do in Tallinn that are on the cheaper side. Typically most museums and activities were around the 5-10 EURO mark. I didn’t find as many things that were free unlike Riga, and the food was a little pricier but still more or less reasonable.

Tourism in Tallinn is growing so I’m sure the city will just get busier and eventually catch up with Western European pricing. But I was able to find a good priced hotel at the Swissotel Tallinn, and there were cheaper, more budget options all over the city.

Tallinn is very walkable if you are around the old town. While winter in Tallinn wasn’t as cold as I expected in December, you will need places to get out of the elements every now and again. But when you are outside the Christmas market really is a magical experience to brighten the dark days.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. What were some of your favorite things to do in winter in Tallinn? What was the most unique activity you found?