loaded:/images/placeholder.png
loaded:/images/placeholder.png
loaded:/images/placeholder.png
loaded:/images/placeholder.png
loaded:/images/placeholder.png
What to do in Tallinn during our dark and cosy season
When the air gets crisp and the nights turn long, Tallinn becomes a cosy oasis. Although the days are short, there’s an abundance of things to see and do in Tallinn, even when its already dark outside.
Embrace the sweater weather in a cosy café
There is probably nothing more indulgent on a crisp winter day than enjoying a warm drink and maybe even a fresh pastry in a picturesque café. Now imagine that café lay inside a beautiful old city with centuries worth of history and memories. Well, in Tallinn you won’t have to imagine. However you imagine the perfect café, you’ll find it here – from elegant to industrial, bohemian to cottagecore, you’ll find a coffee shop in Tallinn for any vibe.
Enjoy a tasty meal in some of Tallinn’s finest restaurants
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.
Zone out in a relaxing spa
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.
Stay active and enjoy a snowy winter day
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.
Let your hair down and have a night out
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 night clubs with varied music styles from EDM to rock music.
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.
