"Fairytale city" Tallinn by TheWanderingCamel

Tallinn Travel Guide: 1,739 reviews and 4,694 photos

Tallinn in December?
Short days; long nights;
thick snow on the ground;
the Town Square filled with the jolly painted huts and bright wares of the Christmas market and stalls selling hot spiced cider;
warmly bundled toddlers being pulled along on sleds over the icy cobbled streets;
the pointed red roofs on the city wall towers standing out brightly against the grey sky .
All the charm of another time and place when Christmas didn't mean rush and crowds and money, money, money....

....and was that Santa we saw disappearing around the corner?

With stout stone walls punctuated by red-roofed towers encircling its wonderfully intact mediaeval heart, Tallinn is the very model of a fairytake city. Hugely popular as a stopping point for summer-season Baltic cruise ships, the Old Town squares and twisting streets heave with visitors then, but when we went, in the middle of December, we found an enchanting small city going about its business with hardly another tourist in sight.

leyle

Last visit to Tallinn: Dec 2004
Intro Updated Apr 3, 2006
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Reviews (29)

Winter warmer Restaurants (4)

This cosy little chocolate-cum-coffee shop was just the place to chase away the winter chills. With its warm spills of... more travel advice

Rataskaevu - and the Cat's Well - Tallinn

Grandma's Place Restaurants (4)

As the name implies (Grandmas's Place is the English translation of Vanaema Juures) the food served at this Old Town... more travel advice

Good food, weird names Restaurants (4)

Don't let the weird names they give their dishes here put you off. The food itself is good, despite being lumbered with... more travel advice

Buy a Tallinn Card Things to Do (13)

Even if you only have a few hours to spend in Tallinn (from a cruise ship for instance), you might want to consider... more travel advice

Shopping (2)
See All Christmas crafts
Off The Beaten Path (3)
See All In Memorium
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Comments (15)

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MikeBird Apr 25, 2010 at 10:03 AM

Leyle, As ever your tips make each of the places you visit sound so enticing. We've been considering Tallinn for some time and you've helped us to make up our minds. Thank you for sharing. Mike
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MalenaN Mar 22, 2010 at 11:18 AM

Sounds nice to visit Tallin in December! I will visit for the first time next month and Im sure April will be good too!
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BillNJ Feb 14, 2010 at 2:11 PM

Thanks for visiting my Tallinn page. Looks like you had a very nice visit in December. Your tips are most informative -- and your photos are grand. Well done! I especially like your descriptions of your meals. Yes, the food is delicious in Tallinn.
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MITNIC May 11, 2009 at 11:06 PM

thanks. nice page about Tallinn, next travel will be at Baltic, soon :-)
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JLBG Jun 1, 2008 at 1:56 PM

After Sweden, I would love to visit other Hanseatic League towns such as Tallin. The city looks stunning and is high on my wish list! The oldest pharmacy is fascinating!
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angiebabe Nov 11, 2007 at 4:00 PM

Hi, youve convinced me to book a ticket for a mid Dec winter and xmas market visit thanks for that! lovely photos thanks. it certainly is a photogenic place and i enjoyed taking far too man photos in July for a summer visit.
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HORSCHECK Oct 14, 2007 at 8:05 AM

Fabulous page about this Baltic gem. Your page brings back memories of my visit about 5 years ago. I missed the memorial at Kadriorg, so another reason to return. :-)
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TheTravelSlut Jun 24, 2007 at 9:13 AM

Great job on the Tallinn photos and tips. Thanks. They will be helpful on my trip later this summer. Ann, The Travel Slut
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Pete.Gibson Jan 11, 2006 at 11:32 AM

Hi I must be cracking up just been reading your Tallin Pages after about Ten!!! I realized i.ve read them before....But hey I enjoyed then just as much!! hope you are well ..Pete
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willy_wonka Nov 28, 2005 at 7:27 PM

leyle, this has been a fantastic read! i feel enchanted by the photos of the beautiful buildings, along with your great descriptions and infos. great work mrs L!