Tallinn’s Christmas Market is straight out of a postcard, with a huge shimmering tree, stalls festooned with twinkly lights and behind it all the romantic backdrop of the town hall square.
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In this Tallinn Christmas Market Review, I’m checking out what they’re putting down, from sausages and mulled wine to trinkets and entertainment.
Coming up in this review
Everything You Need to Know About Tallinn Christmas Markets
The city of Tallinn – Estonia’s capital – has been celebrating around a giant Christmas tree in the town square since the 1400s.
More recently, they’ve established a lively Christmas Market here so you can get festive, Baltic style.
My Christmas Market Bingo Challenge
I’m here in Tallinn as part of my Christmas Market Bingo challenge.
The rules are pretty simple: I’ve got 5 days and £500 to get a full house on my festive Bingo Card.
Tallinn is the third Christmas Market I’m visiting, after Hamburg and Stockholm.
How Many Christmas Markets are there in Tallinn?
You might find a few markets dotted across the city, but the main event is Tallinn Christmas Market in the medieval old town, in the Town Hall Square (Raekoja Platsil).
Each year the city sources an enormous tree to stand in the centre of the festivities – we’re talking 14 metres! Then there are the traditional-style market stalls scattered around it.
Here you can shop souvenirs, sweets, decorations and gifts – and taste plenty of local delicacies like sauerkraut, roasted meats and spiced wine.
During market season there’s also a programme of cultural events happening each Friday – Sunday, with traditional dancing, choirs and music performances. You can find all the details on the official Tallinn Christmas Market website.
When does Tallinn Christmas Market Open in 2025?
Tallinn Christmas Market opens in the second half of November, and stays open till just before Christmas.
Tallinn Christmas Market opening times
- Friday 21 November – Sunday 28 December 2025
- Sun-Thu: 10am-8pm; Fri & Sat 10am-11pm
Is Tallinn a Good Destination for Christmas Markets?
Tallinn has all the usual Christmas Market trappings – fairy lights, giant tree, steaming mulled wine and tasty warming food. But there’s not a huge amount of choice on offer when it comes to shopping – and what is here is quite pricey – including food and drink.
It’s a nice thing to do of an evening if you’re here on a short break – or you could combine it with trips to the Christmas Markets in Riga and Vilnius, like I did.
How Expensive Is Tallinn Christmas Market?
Tallinn is more on the expensive side as far as Christmas Markets go. I paid €15 for my bratwurst – although it came with chips and sauerkraut and could probably be shared between two.
What Are The Best Tallinn Christmas Market Hotels?
Here are some of my recommendations to stay at in Tallinn – keep it simple in the Old Town or get a sea views on the rejuvenated water front.
My Review of Tallinn Christmas Market
First Impressions
Set in Raekoja Plats – Town Hall Square – the whole market is centred around a huge Christmas tree glistening with gold lights. Towering above is the town hall itself, as well as other stunning traditional buildings, so it really is a beauty!!
Food
If you’re in the market (literally) for a cheap and cheerful bratwurst and bun, this is not the place to come!
In fact, they don’t even sell it, instead serving up huge sausages with plates of sauerkraut and chips. And the price may surprise you, with meals starting at €15.
If you’re on a budget, you can just ask for the sausage for €7 but that is all you’ll get!
What I will say is that as far as a plate of food goes at a market, it’s really delicious and worth the treat. That, or share it between two as you get a huge portion – I struggled to finish mine.
- Bratwurst - €7 (£6.15)
- Bratwurst meal - from €15 (£13.20)
There are some other meats on offer, and I spotted some potato cakes too but otherwise, there aren’t many other food options.
Veggies and vegans may struggle for food in the market itself.
Drinks
If you’re after mulled wine, Tallinn has loads of it – though it goes by ‘Glogg’ here.
Costing €7 for a standard cup with an alcohol percentage of around 13%, it’s boozy at least! Plus, for a euro more you can get it with a shot of the local liquor, which bumps it to 21%!
- Mulled wine - €7 (£6.15)
Shopping
There’s a good 30-40 stalls here selling hats, ornaments, slippers and sweet treats, though there is a LOT of duplication. I must have counted at least 10 stalls selling knitwear!
There’s also a few where it felt like they’d bought items in, though these were mostly filled with items for kids, such as pikachu hats and labubu keyrings.
Overall, it had less of an ‘artisan’ feel compared to other markets I’ve been to.
Activites
There’s a carousel and two other small rides for €5 a ride for the kids, and one fairground style game in the market itself. Also in front of the tree, there’s a huge stage which I’m sure is full of entertainment come the weekend! However, as I visited on a Thursday, there wasn’t anything going on.
Overall, this market is more about the food, drink, shopping and taking in the general ambience!
Where I stayed at Tallinn Christmas Market
I stayed a 15 minute walk away in Citybox Tallinn which at £32 for a modern 3 star hotel is such a bargain! It was also perfectly placed – just a 5 minute walk from the ferry which I arrived on from Stockholm.
Citybox Tallinn is in the harbourside area of the city, about 10 minutes’ walk from the Old Town.
The rooms are smart and simple, furnished in shades of white and grey. They have double and twin rooms as well as singles, family rooms and suites too.
Is Tallinn Christmas Market Worth Visiting?
My overall thoughts
Tallinn Christmas Market is really cute, and set in the town square it really feels magical with all the lights aglow! Just don’t expect to do lots of shopping or to find a bargain when it comes to food and drink.
For me, it’s one that I’d spend the evening at before exploring the rest of the city – or perhaps making it a mega Christmas Market trip by adding on to Riga by bus, or Helsinki or Stockholm by ferry!
Other European Christmas Markets to Visit
Countries across Europe put on a great show every year when it comes to Christmas Markets.
If you’re after a classic German market, check out Hamburg, Cologne or Berlin. If you’re scandi fan, then suss out Stockholm. Or you might be tempted by an Austrian adventure, in which case Vienna is waiting for you!
Check out our Christmas Markets page for the lowdown on all things festive in Europe this Christmas.
Watch my Christmas Market Bingo Trip on YouTube
As well as writing about Tallinn Christmas Market for you here, I also made a whole video about it over on my YouTube channel!
