Month guide · Tallinn · Estonia
Tallinn in January
What January is really like in Tallinn: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rene Seeman, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of -1°C (30°F), lows of -6°C (21°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 6.8 hours of daylight. Cold and dark, often with snow on the Old Town roofs; quiet after the New Year holidays and good for low hotel prices.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- -1°C (30°F) / -6°C (21°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 6.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 2°C (36°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Tallinn: days average -1°C (30°F) against a yearly average high of 10°C (50°F), and nights fall to about -6°C (21°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with December (1°C (34°F)), January is cooler; by February highs stay near -1°C (30°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 09:04
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 15:56
- Daylight
- About 6.8 hours
- Sea
- 2°C (36°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, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Christmas market on Town Hall Square continues into early January
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Toompea
Kiek in de Kök and the Bastion Tunnels
Book the tunnel tour, which runs at set times, and combine it with the Maiden Tower café on the walls next door.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Gallery · Kadriorg
Kumu Art Museum
Estonia's national art museum opened in 2006 in a curved limestone and copper building cut into the Lasnamäe bank above Kadriorg park, and was named European Museum of the Year in 2008.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- History
Museum · Kalamaja
Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam)
Combine it with a seaside walk to Noblessner for lunch, and allow extra time with children for the simulators and play areas.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Market · Kalamaja
Balti Jaama market
Rebuilt in 2017 beside the Baltic Station, this market combines fresh produce, meat and smoked fish counters with a food hall of street-food stalls, while the upper floor sells antiques, Soviet-era memorabilia and secondhand clothes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near -1°C, lows near -6°C and 11 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Tallinn?
A quieter month with trade-offs, 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 January a good time to visit Tallinn?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and dark, often with snow on the Old Town roofs; quiet after the New Year holidays and good for low hotel prices.
+How warm is Tallinn in January?
Average highs are around -1°C (30°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Tallinn in January?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.