Month guide · Tallinn · Estonia
Tallinn in December
What December is really like in Tallinn: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 1°C (34°F), lows of -4°C (25°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 6.1 hours of daylight. Festive and popular, with the Christmas tree and market on Town Hall Square and the Old Town often under snow.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 1°C (34°F) / -4°C (25°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 6.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 3°C (37°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Tallinn: days average 1°C (34°F) against a yearly average high of 10°C (50°F), and nights fall to about -4°C (25°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with November (4°C (39°F)), December is cooler; by January highs drop to around -1°C (30°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 09:13
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 15:20
- Daylight
- About 6.1 hours
- Sea
- 3°C (37°F)
Winter (December–February). Snow-covered Old Town and the Christmas market in December; very cold, quiet and inexpensive after New Year.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Christmas market on Town Hall Square (December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Rocca al Mare
Estonian Open Air Museum
On a wooded shore west of the centre at Rocca al Mare, this open-air museum gathers farmsteads, windmills, a wooden chapel, a village school and a tavern from across Estonia, dating from the 18th to the 20th century.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Historic site · Kadriorg
Song Festival Grounds
Walk up the slope from Narva maantee for a view back over the city, then walk down through Kadriorg park.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
Museum · Toompea
Kiek in de Kök and the Bastion Tunnels
Kiek in de Kök, Low German for 'peek into the kitchen', is a 15th-century artillery tower whose gunners could see into the kitchens below.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Gallery · Kadriorg
Kumu Art Museum
Allow time for the Soviet-era galleries, which show how artists worked under censorship.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- History
What to pack
For highs near 1°C, lows near -4°C and 12 wet days: 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.
Is December a good time to visit Tallinn?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Tallinn in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Tallinn?
It is a shoulder-season month. Festive and popular, with the Christmas tree and market on Town Hall Square and the Old Town often under snow.
+How warm is Tallinn in December?
Average highs are around 1°C (34°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Tallinn in December?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.