Best time to visit · Tallinn · Estonia
The best time to visit Tallinn
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Abrget47j, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Tallinn is May to September, when days are long, terraces are open and the sea is warm enough for a swim in July and August. June has the longest evenings and Midsummer festivities. December is a popular second season for the Christmas market on Town Hall Square, while January to March is cold but quiet and good value.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–September
- Shoulder season
- April, October and December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 22°C (72°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high -1°C (30°F))
- Rainiest month
- October (~12 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and October–November
Seasons
Tallinn has cold, snowy winters with short days and mild summers with very long evenings. The Baltic keeps summer heat moderate, and autumn and early winter are the wettest and greyest months.
March–May
Spring
Wintry in March, then a fast thaw; May is bright, often dry and quieter than summer.
June–August
Summer
White nights, Midsummer bonfires, beaches and festivals; the busiest season, with cruise passengers filling the Old Town by day.
September–November
Autumn
Mild September, colourful parks in early October, then grey, rainy and dark into November.
December–February
Winter
Snow-covered Old Town and the Christmas market in December; very cold, quiet and inexpensive after New Year.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C | -6°C | 11 | 2°C | 6.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | -1°C | -7°C | 9 | 1°C | 9.1 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 3°C | -4°C | 8 | 1°C | 11.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 9°C | 1°C | 7 | 3°C | 14.4 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 15°C | 6°C | 6 | 8°C | 17 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 19°C | 10°C | 8 | 14°C | 18.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 22°C | 13°C | 9 | 18°C | 17.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 21°C | 12°C | 10 | 18°C | 15.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 16°C | 8°C | 10 | 14°C | 12.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 10°C | 4°C | 12 | 10°C | 10 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| November | 4°C | 0°C | 12 | 6°C | 7.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 1°C | -4°C | 12 | 3°C | 6.1 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Christmas market on Town Hall Square continues into early January |
| February | Independence Day — parade and celebrations (24 February) |
| April | Jazzkaar — international jazz festival (usually April) |
| June | Old Town Days — street festival in the Old Town (usually late May or early June); Victory Day and Midsummer Eve bonfires, including at the Open Air Museum (23–24 June) |
| August | Birgitta Festival — music and opera in the Pirita Convent ruins (usually August); Day of Restoration of Independence (20 August) |
| September | Tallinn Marathon (usually September) |
| November | Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) (usually November); Christmas market opens on Town Hall Square (usually late November) |
| December | Christmas market on Town Hall Square (December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–March and October–November, and the sights are quietest in February.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Tallinn?
The best time to visit Tallinn is May to September, when days are long, terraces are open and the sea is warm enough for a swim in July and August. June has the longest evenings and Midsummer festivities. December is a popular second season for the Christmas market on Town Hall Square, while January to March is cold but quiet and good value.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Tallinn?
Usually in January–March and October–November. Cold and dark, often with snow on the Old Town roofs; quiet after the New Year holidays and good for low hotel prices.
+What is the rainiest month in Tallinn?
October, with about 12 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Tallinn get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 22°C (72°F) and lows of 13°C (55°F).