December in Tallinn is my favorite month out of all the winter and autumn months here. It’s that time when you actually want to be in the city… to walk around, go to different events, and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. And it’s not limited to just a couple of days before Christmas Eve.
This festive feeling starts much earlier – already from the fourth week of November. You can feel it in the air, and days get filled with different events that genuinely make this time interesting.
Below I’m sharing my favorite things to do in Tallinn in December during the Christmas season. If you are planning a trip for a weekend or maybe you are already here, these tips and activities will definitely come in handy! Also, if you want to see a bit of the country, you can check my favorite weekend escapes in Estonia in winter, all from Tallinn.
Where to Stay in Tallinn in December & for Christmas
Choosing the right area to stay in Tallinn during the Christmas season makes a big difference. The city itself isn’t large, but the feeling changes a lot depending on where you sleep.
If you want to wake up to church bells and step straight into the market, stay inside the Old Town. For something quieter and more local, Kalamaja, Maakri, or Kadriorg are perfect – close enough to walk everywhere but away from the crowds.
Here are great examples (if you have questions about another area, feel free to ask in the comments):
- Tallinn City Apartment – directly overlooking the Main Square & Christmas market (festive, best view, quiet at night)
- Hotel Telegraaf – a few steps from the main Christmas market, beautifully decorated inside with a real tree and pine garlands, and has beautiful spa (luxurious feel)
- Von Stackelberg Hotel – you get a festive dinner built in and a real December feel, not just a regular stay dressed up for Christmas.
- Kreutzwald Hotel Tallinn – offers a direct “Christmas holiday package” with festive dinner and spa bath. Perfect for making the trip feel a bit more special on a mid-budget
- Hestia Hotel Europa – during the season they run special Christmas buffet evenings and live music events, giving you more than just a room (great for lower budgets)
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What Is Tallinn Like During the Christmas Season – A Quick Overview
First thing to know is that the Christmas season in Tallinn actually starts quite early on November 21st (this is when the main Christmas Market on the Town Hall Square opens this year). Different events and festivities start taking place around the city, all tied to Christmas (more on them below), so the festive atmosphere can really be felt everywhere.
In fact, I’m writing this post now at the beginning of November, when there’s still no real Christmas feeling in the air yet, but you can sense that it’s slowly approaching.
Yesterday I went for a long walk around the city (through the Old Town and outside the center through neighborhoods around it) and I started noticing small things unfolding. A few places are already putting up lights, some cafes have changed their window displays, and in a couple of districts people are preparing Christmas trees.
What I like is that Tallinn doesn’t only decorate the main square – trees and lights start appearing in different neighborhoods too, so a bigger part of the city feels festive. Even very residential districts, like lush Nomme, which I love so much, is dressing up in lights and decorations.
Of course, it’s not going to be as over-the-top festive as some big cities in Europe (after all Estonia’s capital is much smaller), but it is so pretty and truly fairytale-like.
What I also noticed while living in Tallin is that the city council always puts in real effort to decorate the streets, light up the squares, and bring in different events like small concerts, theater performances, and various programs. So it is really interesting to be here during the darkest time of the year once you know what to do.
Will It Snow in Tallinn in December or at Least During Christmas?
This is one of the most common questions I get… both from people who follow me on Instagram and TikTok and those planning to visit Tallinn in December. Everyone wants to know: “Will it snow in the first part of December or later around the actual Christmas week?”
Well, the truth is, nobody can give you a certain answer. Winters have become unpredictable (just like everywhere), and anyone who says “yes, definitely” is lying because even locals never know.
Based on the past few years, December snow is more of a lucky bonus than a guarantee. Last year, for example, we had light snow here and there, and then it fell right before Christmas (but melted during the Eve) – not heavy, but enough to cover the roofs and streets with a soft white layer. Temperature stayed below zero, so it didn’t melt immediately, and Tallinn looked beautiful for some time.
But on other days it was just wet snow that disappeared quickly because of the humidity and slightly warmer weather.
If you want the full snowy fairytale, it usually arrives in January (but also not for too long). But honestly, even without much snow, Tallinn still feels magical during Christmas. Lights, music, smell of glögi in the air, events, sauna time with decorations… yes, it feels festive and special.
NOTE FROM ME: Meteorologists say that this winter of 2025–2026 is expected to be quite cold. Cold doesn’t necessarily mean snowy, but we still hope for it. So far, temperatures have been higher than they were at the same time last year.
Most Interesting Christmas Markets in Tallinn in 2025
Yes, you read it right – Christmas markets, not just one but quite a few. The one on the Town Hall Square is the heart of it all, but wander a bit farther, and you’ll find small pockets of Christmas energy scattered around the city.
Here are the most obvious ones:
1. Christmas Market on Town Hall Square
📅 Nov 21 – Dec 28, 2025
📍Raekoja plats, Tallinn Old Town
The main one and the heart of Christmas in Tallinn. Classic wooden stalls, music, lights, and that famous tree that locals wait for every year.
2. Christmas Market at Balti Jaam Market
📅 Nov 28 – Dec 28, 2025
📍Balti Jaama Turg, Kopli 1, Tallinn
Smaller and more local in spirit, where you can find street food, crafts, clothing, and various trinkets.
3. Christmas at Niguliste Museum
📅 Nov 30, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026
📍Niguliste 3, Tallinn
Not really a Christmas market in a traditional sense. It’s actually a museum inside a historic church that is going to offer Christmas-related activities, on some days concerts, and beautiful Christmas tree set inside the church hall.
4. Food & Street Christmas Market in Kadriorg
📅 Dec 6–7, 2025 | 12:00–20:00
📍Kadriorg Park, Tallinn
Tallinn’s most delicious Christmas event! It is an open-air market that gathers top local food producers and creative street-food stalls. Expect a mix of classic and innovative Christmas flavors, handmade crafts, and live music. Plus, it is set in one of Tallinn’s prettiest parks.
5. Põhjala Tehas Christmas Market
📅 Dec 7, 2025 | 14:00–19:00
📍Marati 5, Kopli, Tallinn
Held inside industrial factory halls, this is one of Tallinn’s most atmospheric markets. The theme is “Northern Christmas” which is about cozy gatherings, handmade crafts, design goods, gingerbread stalls, and even a Christmas disco.
There will also be open workshops, kids’ markets, and guided tours of studios. A must-visit for design lovers and creative travelers.
👉 Find all market dates and descriptions in my full guide to all Tallinn Christmas Markets
Other Festive Things to Do in December
If you’re spending a few days in Tallinn before the Christmas season, there’s honestly more to do than just walk around markets. December feels slower here, but it’s full of small moments.
Here are a few things that I love to do in Tallinn during the holiday season:
❥ Ice skating under the city walls. During this month, it feels particularly special, I think. The main rink is located on Harju Street and feels quite cinematic once night comes. You can see their schedule and prices here.
❥ Visit “Christmas Village” at the Estonian Open Air Museum. It takes place on 13-14 December and is a big themed fair where the whole open-air village turns into a living showcase of how Estonians celebrated Christmas in different centuries, what their folklore, music, crafts, and holiday spirit was. Details here.
❥ Try a gingerbread-making workshop in the Old Town. If you want something indoors, there’s a small workshop where you bake and decorate your own gingerbread cookies right in the historic center, which is the right type of activity for Christmas time! I was on this tour last year and loooved it (still have to write about it too). It will be great for artistic, thoughtful, and detail-loving personalities.
❥ Spend a lazy afternoon in a spa. Spa culture is a big thing in Tallinn; locals often go, especially in winter. There are plenty to choose from. In the city center, I personally like Tallink Spa and Telegraaf Spa (both are part of the hotel). But I know many people prefer Kalev Spa (if you stay in their Waterpark Hotel, access to the spa will be free).
❥ Go skiing or snowshoeing (if there’s snow). If Tallinn gets proper snow during the time you visit, there is a chance to join a guided snowshoe walk in the forests just outside the city. It’s an easy few-hour trip (no experience needed, just warm clothes) where the guide picks you up and takes you to quiet pine woods where it actually feels like real winter.
I could recommend this snowshoing tour from a company I’ve traveled with before and was really happy with. They’ve just started offering this new tour.
❥ Go to Iglupark area & visit their sauna. This place is very special during the Christmas season. Right by the sea in Noblessner, Iglupark has small wooden igloo saunas with glass walls.
They even set up their own little Christmas market where you can grab glögi or something sweet and just walk around by the sea enjoying the atmosphere. Going in the morning is more cost-effective, since they offer the cheapest rate. Details here.
❥ Curl up in one of the cozy cafes perfect for cold days. Tallinn does winter cafes really well… warm lights, windows fogged from the steam, mix of coffee and cinnamon smell… I have a whole post with my favorite spots for the best cinnamon buns in Tallinn or atmospheric breakfast spots – they are the ones that feel extra good when it’s dark and cold outside. Take advantage of that and enjoy Tallinn cafes!
❥ Buy Christmas ornaments in one of the prettiest shops. If you love interiors, stop by Shishi in Noblessner. It’s a Tallinn-based design store that turns into a full-on Christmas wonderland in winter – glittering glass ornaments, Scandinavian colors, and everything smelling faintly of pine. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s hard to leave without feeling festive. Location is here.
❥ Walk through Telliskivi after dark. Not Christmassy in the traditional sense, but all the lights, music, and design shops make it feel like the creative side of the holidays.
❥ Have glögi somewhere unexpected. Not at the main square, but in a random cafe in Kalamaja or inside a bookstore, that’s when Tallinn feels so special.
❥ Have dinner from the Middle Ages at Olde Hansa restaurant. It is one of the most unique things to do in Tallinn at Christmas because it doesn’t just serve food, it recreates medieval life. Here you’ll feel like you are in a place with a winter feast from 500 years ago. Here is the location on Google Maps.
❥ Visit the gingerbread exhibit. It is a seasonal (and rather unique) art exhibition with one rule – everything must be made of gingerbread. Around a hundred Estonian artists take part, including architects, designers, ceramicists, and visual artists. It’s one of the most popular Christmas events in Tallinn. Check it out here.
❥ Go to a Christmas Jazz. This is another lesser-known thing to do in Tallinn during the Christmas season. This year it takes place between 27.11-16.12. Find here the program, dates, and prices.
5 BEST Experiences For December TRIP to Tallin
Food & Drinks During Christmas
At the Christmas market and in most restaurants in December, you’ll find traditional Estonian holiday food:
- Blood sausage (verivorst) served with lingonberry or cranberry jam and roasted potatoes.
- Hapukapsas – warm sauerkraut cooked with pork and barley.
- Seapraad – roast pork, sometimes with mustard or cranberry sauce.
- Jellied meat (sült) – pork meat in aspic, eaten with mustard (you can find it in grocery stores).
- Rosolje – beetroot and herring salad, a common side dish at every Christmas table.
- Piparkoogid – Estonian-style gingerbread cookies, often decorated by hand.
- Vastlakukkel – sweet cream bun that appears in cafes around the holidays.
For drinks:
- Glögi – mulled wine with spices, sometimes mixed with amaretto or rum; you’ll find it everywhere.
- Hot apple punch – non-alcoholic alternative, often sold at the markets.
- Kali – fermented bread drink (cold, non-alcoholic), not Christmas-specific but very local.
You can try most of these directly at the Town Hall Square market or order them as a Christmas set menu in local restaurants during December. LIDO self-service restaurants will have some of these during December too.
Practical Information
- Weather: Expect temperatures around –5°C to +2°C, very short daylight hours, and possible snow (but not guaranteed).
- Clothing: Bring warm boots with good grip, thermal layers, mittens, and something windproof – Tallinn gets strong icy winds from the sea.
- Savings: For very intense short trips, get Tallinn card. It grants free admission to 50+ museums and other attractions, covers all public transport, offers discounts at shops and restaurants, and more.
- Crowds: Weekends before Christmas are busiest. For fewer people, visit markets on weekday evenings. But Fri-Sat is also the time of various events on the square.
- Getting around: Old Town is walkable; use trams, buses, or Bolt for longer distances.
- Cash or card: Card is accepted everywhere, including market stalls. You can easily arrive with NO cash.
- Booking: Reserve hotels and restaurants early. Prices go up in December and many places sell out before mid-month.
What to Pack for a December Trip to Tallinn
Cold in Tallinn feels sharper because of the sea air (winds are very common in December), so warm layers are essential. Bring a thick winter coat, thermal base layers, wool sweater, corduroy pants, scarf, hat, and gloves. Waterproof boots are a must and on snowy days (with temps below zero) it is good to have boots with good grip.
Inside shops and cafes, it’s warm, so dress in layers you can easily remove. A thermos cup is great for hot drinks at the Christmas market, and hand warmers help during long walks around Old Town.
If you plan to take photos outside, pack touchscreen gloves – it’s the one thing people always forget.
Final Thoughts on Planning a Christmas Trip to Tallinn
Tallinn in December isn’t as grand as Austrian or German cities, where Christmas is in full swing, but it’s festive, beautiful, and has more to offer than people expect.
It’s also the best city to visit in the Baltics this time of year. In my experience, it is much more atmospheric than Riga, Vilnius, or even Helsinki.
The main rule is simple – dress properly and bring the right things so you don’t freeze after ten minutes outside.
More Posts About Tallinn and Estonia
- Visiting Tallinn in the Fall – what it’s like during each autumn month
- Tallinn Besides Old Town – areas and places worth exploring
- Cool Things to Do in Estonia – many of them are awesome during December too
- Best Museums in Estonia – based on my own visits
- All Around Estonia – all my posts about life and travels in this country
Similar Posts From the Region
If you plan to travel around the region in December, see my other guides:
- Rovaniemi in December & for Christmas – best things to do & travel tips
- Lapland Winter Itinerary – how to make the most of one week there
- Lapland on a Budget – helpful guide for winter travel
