What to do in Tallinn during our dark and cosy season

One of the best discoveries that visitors will make in Tallinn is just how good the food is here. We’re happy to let the secret out – our restaurant scene is amazing. An excellent quality in ingredients, creative chefs and seasonally changing menus are a staple in most restaurants you’ll find in Tallinn, regardless of cuisine or price range.

Every holiday should include a rest and relaxation day when you just take time off and do nothing. And there’s no better place to do nothing than at a spa – you can simply enjoy the peace and quiet or indulge in a massage or beauty treatment. Fortunately, there are plenty of spas and sauna centres in Tallinn, waiting to welcome weary travellers. Many larger hotels have their own spas with a pool and some saunas. Some standalone spa centres in Tallinn can boast 10 or even 20 different saunas on their premises! What can we say? We love our saunas.

Alternatively, you can embrace the cold and engage in wintery fun. We recommend ice skating in the Old Town, surrounded by medieval architecture – in the evenings, the lights above the rink make the experience truly magical. Several other outdoor ice rinks, as well as skiing and snowboarding tracks are also opened during the winter season. If you’re looking for an even more extreme challenge, try winter swimming in the sea by Noblessner – Estonians believe it enhances your immunity and keeps you young.

Sometimes the shimmering lights of a new city are all we need to feel rejuvenated. Just because it gets dark early during the winter, doesn’t mean that the city dies out after 3 p.m. Quite the contrary – in the evenings Tallinn plays host to concerts, comedy shows, opera and ballet performances, and much more. And if you’re just looking to dance the night away, we’ve got you covered there too. We have pubs and bars for every aesthetic and numerous nightclubs with varied music styles from EDM to rock music.

The best way to get to know the story of Tallinn is to pop into one of our many excellent museums. Whether you’re interested in history, art or simply experiencing the “Best of” in Tallinn, you can be sure there’s a museum for you. Step into a medieval tower or old seaplane hangar and immerse yourself in the rich legacy that has shaped Tallinn into its current form. The easiest way to find museums and attractions that suit your interests is to use the Tallinn Card app. You’ll get personalised recommendations, timely notifications about the sights, and the navigation feature will help you find your way to the places that interest you. 

A few more things to keep in mind when visiting Tallinn in the winter:

• Make sure you’re dressed for the weather! When visiting Tallinn in the winter, it’s best to be prepared for sub zero temperatures and gushes of wind. Make sure you bring warm shoes  and plenty of layers.
• If you're not used to sub-zero weather, expect the colder climate to wear you out a bit faster than usual, because your body burns a lot of energy to keep warm. So make sure to take some cosy breaks like getting a warm drink at a café. 
• Wearing a reflector is compulsory during the winter months! Bring an outer layer with a reflective surface or buy an attachable reflector from a handicraft or design shop.
• Shops are open relatively late and every day of the week. Some shops even stay open 24 hours a day. You’ll find two 24H shops in the Old Town: Prisma on Aia street and Kolmjalg on the corner of Rataskaevu and Pikk street.