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The Tallinn Christmas Market runs from Friday 20 November 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027 on Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats) in Tallinn’s medieval Old Town. It is open every day from 10:00 to 20:00, entry is free, and 2026 is its 26th edition. The market is built around the Christmas tree that Tallinn says has stood on Town Hall Square since 1441, and it is one of the few European Christmas markets that stays open into January, until Epiphany.
When is the Tallinn Christmas Market in 2026?
The Tallinn Christmas Market opens on Friday 20 November 2026 and closes on the evening of Wednesday 6 January 2027, according to the market’s organiser (christmasmarket.ee). The opening hours are listed below.
| What | Hours |
|---|---|
| Market stalls, every day | 10:00-20:00 |
| Hot drinks, Sunday to Thursday | until 22:00 |
| Hot drinks, Friday and Saturday | until 23:00 |
The market opens at 18:00 on 20 November with the switching on of the Christmas tree lights. On the first Sunday of Advent, 29 November 2026, the Mayor of Tallinn and the Dean of Tallinn Cathedral light the Advent candle on the square, and Santa’s house opens the same day, welcoming children daily from 12:00 to 18:00.
Where is the Tallinn Christmas Market?
The Tallinn Christmas Market is on Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats), the central square of Tallinn’s Old Town, in front of the Gothic Town Hall. Town Hall Square is pedestrianised and sits inside the medieval city walls, so you reach it on foot from any Old Town hotel. Entry is free.
Does Tallinn have the first Christmas tree?
Tallinn claims the first public Christmas tree in Europe, raised on Town Hall Square in 1441 by the Brotherhood of Blackheads, the guild of unmarried merchants. Visit Estonia describes the Town Hall Square tree as the most important Christmas tree in Estonia and the first ever put on display in Europe. Riga, Latvia’s capital, disputes the claim and points to its own decorated tree of 1510, marked with a plaque on its Town Hall Square. Historians on both sides say the surviving records are too thin to settle the question, so read 1441 as Tallinn’s claim rather than an established fact. The other side of the story is in our guide to the Riga Christmas market.
Is the Tallinn Christmas Market open on Christmas Day?
Yes, the Tallinn Christmas Market is open on Christmas Day, because the organiser lists it as open every day from 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. That makes it one of the few Christmas markets in Europe open over Christmas, New Year and the first week of January. Check the market’s own site for any changed holiday hours on 24, 25 and 31 December before you plan around a late evening.
What food and drink can you try at the Tallinn Christmas Market?
The Tallinn Christmas Market serves Estonian Christmas food cooked on the square, and its organiser says it offers the widest selection of glögi (glögg) in Europe. Listed below are the dishes and drinks to look for.
- Glögi. Glögi is the Estonian mulled drink, served in dozens of varieties with or without alcohol, including cranberry-cherry, a Setomaa raspberry-blackcurrant version and pumpkin glögi.
- Blood sausage. Blood sausage (verivorst) is the Estonian Christmas staple, served sizzling hot from the grill.
- Sauerkraut. Sauerkraut (hapukapsas) is the sour cabbage that goes with blood sausage and Christmas roasts.
- Christmas roasts. Christmas roasts, such as slow-cooked pork belly, are carved on site, alongside elk sausages, lamb chops and duck confit.
- Gingerbread. Gingerbread (piparkoogid) is sold hand-decorated at the market’s Sweet House and other huts.
- Cinnamon and cardamom buns. Cinnamon and cardamom buns are baked fresh at the Sweet House.
- Spiced wine. Spiced wine made to a medieval recipe is served alongside the glögi.
The market uses reusable tableware with a €2 (about $2, £2) deposit, refunded in full when you return it to the collection point.
What can you buy at the Tallinn Christmas Market?
The Tallinn Christmas Market sells handicrafts and Estonian design, with a focus on local artists and craftspeople in 2026. Listed below are the typical buys.
- Wool socks. Wool socks, including pairs made from dog and alpaca wool, are a market speciality.
- Knitted sweaters and hats. Knitted sweaters and hats in Estonian patterns are the classic Tallinn souvenir.
- Candles. Candles in unusual shapes come from local makers.
- Christmas decorations. Christmas decorations, from traditional to contemporary, are on most huts.
- Handmade truffles and gingerbread. Handmade truffles and gingerbread make the easiest edible gifts to take home.
How do you get to the Tallinn Christmas Market?
You reach the Tallinn Christmas Market on foot once you are in the Old Town, and most visitors arrive by air, by ferry from Helsinki or by coach from Riga. Listed below are the routes.
- By air. Tallinn Airport is connected to the city centre by trams T2 and T4, which run every 10 minutes. From the centre it is a short walk into the Old Town.
- By ferry from Helsinki. Ferries cross from Helsinki to Tallinn in about 2 hours on the fastest services, which makes Tallinn an easy addition to a Finland trip.
- By coach from Riga. Lux Express coaches run between Riga and Tallinn in about 4 to 4.5 hours, which suits a combined Baltic Christmas market trip.
For coach and ferry connections across the Baltics, compare routes and fares on Omio before you book.
Where to stay near the Tallinn Christmas Market?
The most convenient base is Tallinn’s Old Town, inside the city walls, where Town Hall Square is a few minutes’ walk from almost every hotel. Old Town rooms fill up on December weekends, so compare hotels in Tallinn on Trip.com early, or look at a Vrbo apartment if you want a kitchen for a longer Christmas stay.
Tours to book during the Tallinn Christmas season
A guided walk through the Old Town or a day trip from Helsinki is the easiest way to see more of Tallinn around the market, and the tours below update live with current prices and availability.
Tallinn pairs naturally with Riga on a Baltic Christmas market trip, since both markets run into January: see our guides to the Riga Christmas market, things to do in Riga and what to pack for Riga, which covers the same Baltic winter weather.
Tallinn Christmas market FAQ
When does the Tallinn Christmas Market open in 2026?
The Tallinn Christmas Market opens on Friday 20 November 2026 at 18:00 and runs every day until 6 January 2027. The stalls are open from 10:00 to 20:00, and hot drinks are served until 22:00, or 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Is the Tallinn Christmas Market worth it?
The Tallinn Christmas Market is worth it for its setting on a medieval square, its Estonian food and its long season into January. It is smaller than the big German markets, so it suits a Tallinn city break or a combined trip with Riga or Helsinki.
Is Tallinn worth visiting in December?
Tallinn is worth visiting in December if you want a Christmas market in a walled medieval old town. The market runs all month, including Christmas Day, and the Advent programme brings concerts and folk dance on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Is 2 days enough for Tallinn?
Two days is enough for Tallinn’s Old Town and the Christmas market, since the walled centre is compact and walkable. A third day leaves time for a trip across the water to Helsinki or for the districts outside the walls.
Is the Tallinn Christmas Market free?
Yes, entry to the Tallinn Christmas Market is free. You pay for food, drink and gifts, plus a €2 deposit on the reusable cups and plates, which you get back when you return them.
WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips
The 4 tips below come from the organiser’s 2026-2027 announcement, and each one covers a detail that changes how you plan the visit.
- Arrive for 18:00 on Friday 20 November. The market opens with the switching on of the Town Hall Square Christmas tree lights, which is the one moment of the season built around the tree itself.
- Come back after 20:00 for a hot drink. The stalls close at 20:00, but hot drinks run until 22:00, or 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, so the square stays lively after the craft huts shut.
- Keep your cup and plate. The market’s reusable tableware carries a €2 deposit, refunded in full at the collection point, so return it before you leave the square.
- Use the January days. The market stays open until the evening of 6 January 2027, so a trip over New Year or in the first week of January still finds it open when most European markets have gone.
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About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the team covers the Baltic capitals for independent travellers, from Tallinn to Riga and its Christmas market, including the markets, hotels and tours worth booking, and updates this page when dates, hours and prices change.