Christmas Market at the Town Hall Square in Tallinn, 22 November – 27 December 2024

The traditional Tallinn Christmas Market is back, this year running from 22 November to 27 December. Step into a winter wonderland with a diverse program, a Christmas tree shining with lights, unique handicrafts, and delicious treats!

This year, Tallinn Christmas Market has some exciting news: Forbes magazine included it in its list of the top 10 Christmas markets in Europe to visit in 2024!

This year the market begins a week earlier than last year, a decision warmly welcomed by locals and Scandinavian tourists who embrace the Christmas spirit as early as November and want to enjoy this festive fairytale as soon as possible.

This time, the capital’s oldest square is decorated with a nearly 16-meter-tall spruce tree, which arrived here from Saku. The Christmas tree is decorated with thousands of lights. The tree’s warm and cool glowing lights illuminate the elf-house-style stalls below.

As always, local producers are prioritized, many of whom are already familiar to visitors. Here Santas have a rare opportunity to fill their bag with unique presents that can’t be found in regular stores. You can interact with artisans, discover a wide range of Christmas ornaments, or find handcrafted items of new designs and patterns. Those who appreciate self-made gifts can craft a beautiful Christmas wreath under the guidance of designer Kärt Põldmann. There’s also a broad selection of alpaca wool products—ideal gifts for anyone who values luxury, sustainability, and Estonian design. Local designers and entertainers showcase their work at the Culture Kiosk.

Good news for those who have been eagerly awaiting Tallinn Christmas Market’s famous handcrafted truffles for the past ten months: they are back this year, and exclusively available here! For the first time, Võido Farm from Põlva County will offer homemade jams, Christmas pumpkin preserves, and other holiday treats. Returning favourites include the Sweet House, easily located by its enticing aroma of freshly baked cinnamon-cardamom rolls. You will also find éclairs, macarons, cakes, cookies, and other delights to satisfy your sweet tooth.

For those seeking heartier meals, the market offers a wide selection of Christmas and blood sausages, holiday roasts, sauerkraut, and various potato dishes, along with such favourites of recent years like lamb cutlets and elk sausages. For gourmets, there are new dishes to try, including slow-cooked duck confit, spiced grilled beef, venison-onion skewers, smoked pork neck, ciabatta with raclette, and much more.

Our northern neighbours, the Finns, bring Nordic flavours with dishes like smoked reindeer cheese soup, reindeer pies, and game sausages, as well as vegetarian pies with vegan bratwurst. Newcomers this year include Asian-style bao sourdough buns, which will delight fans of both plant-based and meat-based food.

As is fitting for the season, the market boasts a rich selection of hot drinks. The Finns contribute hot chocolate spiced with Bailey’s and peppermint, along with Finnish-style mulled wine available with or without alcohol. The mulled wine selection expands yearly with surprising flavour combinations like cranberry-cherry, limoncello glögg, organic raspberry-blackcurrant glögg from Setomaa, sea buckthorn-mandarin punch, and more. Tallinn Christmas Market proudly offers one of the most extensive mulled wine selections in Europe!

For the second year already, the Christmas market emphasizes an environmentally sustainable way of thinking – this time reusable dishes with the Tallinn Christmas Market logo are being used, with a two-euro deposit. These can be returned to a collection point, and the deposit will be returned to you.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the Christmas Market stage comes alive with music and dance, featuring both local and international performers.

On the First Advent Sunday, 1 December, the first Advent candle will be lit in a special ceremony. Tallinn Mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski and Provost Jaak Aus will speak, accompanied by beautiful Christmas carols sung by choirs from the Tallinn congregations of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church. After the candle-lighting, all are invited to enjoy light shows which take place alternately in the Lower Town and on Toompea. More information is available in the program.

Santa Claus will also arrive on the First Sunday of Advent and will remain in his cozy house until the end of the Christmas market, ready to welcome children reciting poems. Gift wishes can be dropped into Santa’s mailbox on his house wall. Little ones can enjoy the carousels – there are three in total, including one brand-new ride! Create joyful memories with family and friends and capture the moment in the Photo House, where you’ll receive your pictures instantly.

The Christmas Market will close its stage, stalls, and symbolic gates on 27 December, only to reopen next year.

Come to the Tallinn Christmas Market and experience the magic of the season! Bring your friends and family!