Tallinn's Old Town Christmas market in Estonia has been described as the most beautiful ever experienced, offering a fairy tale setting with Europe's first Christmas tree and a medieval atmosphere that rivals more famous markets.
In a change from the usual British festive markets, a visit to this lesser-travelled European destination revealed a market that is modest in size compared to rivals in Vienna, Cologne, or Salzburg, yet it makes up for its lack of international fame with its enchanting setting, cosy atmosphere and magical charm.
The Market's Historic Heart
The Christmas market is contained in Town Hall Square, with the Christmas tree at its centre. This tree is the most important in Estonia and has been set up in the square since 1441, making it the first Christmas tree ever to be put on display in Europe.
The Old Town offers so much in terms of history, culture and cuisine that there's not really a reason to explore elsewhere, especially when the festive season comes into full swing.
Getting to Tallinn and Top Attractions
There are no direct flights to Tallinn from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, so travellers must go to Manchester for the next best departure, with a stop off in either Copenhagen or Helsinki. The flight time between Manchester and Tallinn, including layovers, is approximately four hours and 20 minutes, with a two hour time zone change.
A tried and tested insider tip is to double the trip with a stop in Helsinki and catch the ferry across, making for two cosy holidays in one.
The most obvious attraction is the medieval Old Town, where visitors can find handcrafted trinkets, sweet treats like chocolate and toffee, tree decorations and woolly hats, and scarves and gloves for the season. Cobbled roads leading uphill direct visitors to Tallinn's Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, an Eastern Orthodox masterpiece where visitors can peek inside at its stunning interior.
What to See and Experience
The UNESCO World Heritage site boasts a variety of gems, such as Maiasmokk, the oldest café in Tallinn dating back to 1864, and Pierre Chocolaterie in the hidden Masters' Courtyard. Most of Tallinn's attractions are nearby, including St Olaf's Church, the Town Gall, St Catherine's Passage and various picturesque viewpoints along the way.
Tallinn is great for tourists, with English widely spoken in key tourist areas and among younger people. English menus and signs are readily available, especially around the Old Town. The city is fairly affordable, and hotel prices won't burn a hole in your bank account. All of the hotspots are within walking distance from the city centre, with the airport or ferry terminal still a measly 10 minutes away by car.
The Town Square is relatively small, but the abundance of stalls, live musical entertainment and delicious food on offer can easily fill more than an hour. Authentic Estonian food such as verivorst (blood sausage) is available right in the square, along with a huge selection of truffles, gingerbread and candy. Snow gently began to fall and build on the ground throughout the day, with the warm glow of lights strung across the square feeling cosy in an otherwise wintery wonderland, with the 15th-century Town Hall Tower taking up space in the backdrop of every photo.
After several laps of the market, the allocated sideline benches offered a spot to enjoy a warm cup of glögg, the Estonian name for mulled wine. A stage was set up toward the front of the square where children performed and music filled the afternoon, adding to an already Christmassy setting.
Tallinn didn't offer a vast quantity in terms of nightlife or adventure, but it was overflowing in charm and medieval setting. Even if you visit just for the day as part of the double holiday linked to Helsinki, it'll be a city you won't ever forget.
