Season guide · Tallinn · Estonia
Tallinn in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Anosmia/Jennifer Boyer, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Snow-covered Old Town and the Christmas market in December; very cold, quiet and inexpensive after New Year. Expect highs up to 1°C (34°F) and lows around -7°C (19°F), with about 32 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -7°C (19°F) to 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 32
- Sea
- 1°C (34°F) to 3°C (37°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C (30°F) | -6°C (21°F) | 11 | 6.8 h | 2/5 |
| February | -1°C (30°F) | -7°C (19°F) | 9 | 9.1 h | 1/5 |
| December | 1°C (34°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 12 | 6.1 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 0°C (32°F) against a yearly 10°C (50°F), and 32 of the year's roughly 114 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Christmas market on Town Hall Square continues into early January
- February: Independence Day — parade and celebrations (24 February)
- December: Christmas market on Town Hall Square (December)
Good choices for winter
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
Museum · Toompea
Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom
Visit early in a trip; it gives useful context for the Song Festival Grounds and the TV Tower.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- Keila-Joa (About 45 minutes by bus) — A waterfall about 6 metres high on the Keila river, with a restored 19th-century neo-Gothic manor, riverside parkland and suspension footbridges.
- Haapsalu (About 1 hour 30 minutes by bus) — A small seaside resort with a ruined episcopal castle, a wooden promenade along the shallow bay and a long-platformed former railway station that now holds a railway museum.
What to pack
- 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
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Tallinn?
It is a trade-off: Snow-covered Old Town and the Christmas market in December; very cold, quiet and inexpensive after New Year. The best months overall are May–September.
+What is the weather like in Tallinn in winter?
Highs of up to 1°C (34°F) and lows around -7°C (19°F), with about 32 rainy days over the season.