Tallinn in Winter: Best places to visit

I recently visited Tallinn, Estonia in December 2021 with a friend. We were looking for a quick festive getaway and that is exactly what we found!

First thing to note is the weather, be prepared to be hit by sub-zero temperatures and make sure you pack for it. Thermals, layers of jumpers, boots and a thick coat is what kept us toasty on our trip.

The first thing I noticed when we left the airport was how easy it is to get around. Right outside the airport is a tram (number 4) that takes you straight into the city centre, all you need to do is pay with contactless on the machines at the front of the tram. The majority of places we visited during our trip expected card payments but were also happy to accept cash if needed (local currency is euros). We quickly settled into a cosy Airbnb in the old town, within walking distance of everything we visited during our trip. Everyone we spoke to was extremely friendly and spoke to us in perfect English, although we did learn a few useful words in Estonian from the locals e.g. Tere (Hello) and Aitäh (Thank you).

Here is a summary of my favourite spots to visit in Tallinn in winter:

Explore the old town
The first thing we did on our trip was explore the old town. It consisted of beautiful narrow streets, old city walls and historic buildings. The history of Tallinn was something that intrigued us and we sought to find out as much as we could about it. Our walk through the old town taught us all about the decades of communist rule in Estonia with the eventual independence in 1991.

Climb to the viewpoints
One of the hidden gems of Tallinn are the viewpoints above the old town. As you wander up to Toompea, you are likely to stumble across one of the multiple vantage points of the city. This is a beautiful spot for photos, with stunning views of the old town. I’d recommend making your way back down via ‘The Short Leg’, a winding street connecting Toompea to the lower town.

Warm up in a coffee shop
We quickly discovered that it was far too cold for us Londoners to stay outside for lengthy periods of time, so we made use of the many cafes that Tallinn has to offer. There are a number of beautiful independent coffee shops scattered throughout the streets of the old town, perfect for sitting back, relaxing and warming up. For those in need of a quick coffee pit stop, there is a chain of coffee shops called ‘Caffeine’, with lovely staff and delicious coffee.

Visit the Christmas market
Town hall square (Raekoja plats) is arguably the most picturesque part of Tallinn over the Christmas period. This is where you will find the Tallinn Christmas Market. The square is filled with a range of market stalls, selling gifts, mulled wine, delicious treats and much more. After taking an obligatory photo by the Christmas tree, I’d recommend trying the mulled wine, with a dash of Vana Tallinn (a local liqueur) if you’re feeling brave! There is also plenty of delicious smelling food, from sausages, potatoes and sauerkraut, to waffles and mini pancakes. If you’re not already feeling festive, then this will certainly do the trick!

Ice skate on Harju street
Ice skating is one of my favourite festive activities. A street down from the Christmas market you will find an ice rink, which is open only in the winter months. The rink is large and in a central location in the old town. As Tallinn gets dark early in the winter months (around 3pm), I would recommend ice skating in the afternoon, when the city is lit up in twinkling Christmas lights.

Try Estonian food
Something I always make sure to do on my travels is to try the local cuisine. We visited an Estonian restaurant right on town hall square, called ‘Old Estonia’. Estonian food consists of a lot of meat, potatoes and stews. I had pork escalopes in a mushroom sauce, which was delicious. The food is hearty and warm, perfect in the cold winter months!

Visit Telliskivi Creative City
Telliskivi Creative City is one of the most intriguing areas in Tallinn and was my favourite stop of the whole trip. It is an area dedicated to artwork and culture – there are buildings painted in bright colours, art galleries, decorated buses, cars and train carriages and so much more to explore (see my upcoming post all about it!). On the way back, we wandered through Toompark and were in awe of the beautiful frozen lake. This is a stunning spot for photos in winter when the lake is frozen over.

In summary, Tallinn is a beautiful, compact city, with plenty to explore in the winter months. I left feeling festive, fulfilled and excited to visit again!