Christmas market in Tallinn time. Tallinn Christmas market. Estonian delicious specialties
A few years ago, the British "The Times" called the Tallinn Christmas market the best in Europe. The traditional holiday market in the capital of Estonia, which we will look at today, then surpassed those in Prague, Berlin and Luxembourg.
Everything was filmed 2 days ago.
1. The fair is traditionally held on Tallinn Town Hall Square in the very center of the old city 
2. Unfortunately, nature has its own plans for the weather on Christmas Day. No snow and winter romance. But even at +7 outside, the fair is magnificent.
Yes, the holiday train is coming towards us, but not leaving, leaving behind a bunch of exhaust) 
3. The aroma of mulled wine is everywhere 
4. I don’t know why exactly, but I really liked the local Town Hall, which is more than 600 years old. She's just amazing 
5. At the fair you can try traditional Christmas dishes. By the way, there are signs in Russian everywhere in the center, there shouldn’t be any problems with it. And not only in the Old Town.
Most likely, they will greet you or ask you something in Estonian at first, but when they hear that you speak Russian, they will switch to it. This happened to me in the supermarket, at the post office when buying stamps for postcards home, in a bookstore, etc. 
6. Homer Simpson's Sweet Dream) 
8. My dinner. Estonian Christmas cuisine: sausages, potatoes, sauerkraut with lingonberry jam. For 8 euros I ate to my fill. An elderly saleswoman, serving me food, told me that she would prepare the same thing for her family on Christmas Eve. 
9. The smell is such that you can’t help but eat) 
10. It’s also a paradise for those with a sweet tooth. Estonia challenges Germany for title of birthplace of marzipan 
11. Gingerbread. Just great with mulled wine 
12. The choice is huge, prices range from 1.5 to 3 euros per piece 
17. It seems that the gnome with glasses doesn’t like being taken off) 
20. To complete the experience, add the aroma of mulled wine and fried food, as well as cool Christmas music. 
21. An Estonian woman in a national costume will sell products made from juniper. Place a hot kettle on such a stand, and soon the aroma of wood will spread throughout the kitchen 
22. Estonian Santa Claus - Jõuluvana (Jõuluvana, emphasis on Y, “Christmas old man”) “lives” at the fair in a separate house and welcomes children. Jõuluvana resembles his Finnish relative Joulupukki, bringing gifts at Christmas. The gnomes help him in this.
Sorry for the quality of the picture, Grandpa froze me and my hands trembled 
24. Grandfather’s house is not for sale, but the choice of ceramic houses is huge 
25. In the center is a copy of the famous Tallinn landmark - “Three Sisters”. In the 14th century these were merchant houses, and now they are a fashionable hotel where the Queen of England stayed during her visit to Tallinn 
26. For some reason I haven’t tried hot beer, I don’t know what it is. Tell us who has ever drunk it 
27. A little without comment
15 November 2015, 11:59If you suddenly decided to visit five European Christmas markets a year, it would take you approximately 160 years to visit them all. You can catch the New Year's mood with fewer losses in the Baltics. We have narrowed the choice to the minimum: in our review there are five economical options to find yourself in the atmosphere of Catholic Christmas.
The most fabulous: Tallinn Christmas Market Estonia, Tallinn, Town Hall Square
17.11.2017 – 06.01.2018 10:00 - 20:00
The highlight of the Tallinn Christmas market is the house of Jõuluvan (Estonian Father Frost), where you can feed rabbits, goats and a family of reindeer. And it turns out that it was in Tallinn in 1441 that the European tradition of installing a Christmas tree in the main square of the city appeared.
This year, decorative lighting will be added to Town Hall Square and an updated stage with an LED screen will be installed. During the most “visited” times (Friday and Saturday evenings, Sunday afternoons) a cultural program is planned: about 1,700 artists, including choirs and dance groups, will appear on stage.
A stone's throw from the square, on Harju Street, next to the Niguliste Church, there is an excellent ice skating rink - with rentals and music. You need to snack on your emotions with seasonal treats: blood sausage, eel, sauerkraut, gingerbread and cookies. Wash it down with hot spiced wine. Handmade blankets, pillows with buckwheat husks, felt boots, woolen knitted items, sheepskin slippers and vests and candles of rare beauty are brought as souvenirs from the Tallinn Fair.
Where to live
It is not recommended to stay in Tallinn outside the historical center - you have enough traffic jams at home, right? It’s better to live in the center: accommodation in “three stars” here will cost about 2 thousand rubles per day, and you can also save a lot on transport. In this case, all the sights can be explored on foot, and some of them can even be observed from the window of the room. In the area of Town Hall Square, where all historical places are within easy reach, most of the restaurants, coffee shops and pubs are concentrated. However, it is difficult to park here, and on holidays it is quite noisy. But - medieval aesthetics, festive surroundings... atmosphere!
How to get there
You can get from St. Petersburg to Tallinn in any possible way: by land, by sky and by water. The first option is especially tempting for car enthusiasts, because you need to drive some 360 km along a good highway (Muscovites will have to spend one daylight hours). The ferry is more suitable for a thoughtful journey - you can’t get to Tallinn directly on it, first go to Helsinki and Stockholm.
Direct flights, trains and buses depart to Tallinn from St. Petersburg and Moscow every day. By the way, both the railway and bus stations in Tallinn are located near the Old Town.
The youngest: Christmas market in Old Riga Latvia, Riga, Dome Square
02.12.2017 - 07.01.2018 10:00 - 20:00
This year the Christmas market in West Riga turns 11 years old. It is here that you can see both old (traditional) and new (modern) Riga as it is. The event opens on November 30 at 6 pm when the Christmas tree is lit on Dome Square. You can also celebrate the New Year here: every day the fair closes at 20.00, but on the night of December 31 to January 1 it is open until 2 hours.
On December 20, don't miss Ziemassvetki - the winter solstice celebration, the culmination of the "Ghost Season" and the birthday of Dievas, the supreme god in Latvian mythology. In the Middle Ages, Latvia was baptized, but the holiday remained, acquiring Christmas features. One of the most spectacular moments of the day is the ancient rite of deck drawing, which takes place on the streets of the Old Town and begins right on Dome Square. The log - an oak log - is dragged by the mummers from yard to yard, thus collecting the negativity that the people have accumulated over the year, and then solemnly set on fire.
This is only part of the varied fair program, which includes theatrical performances, performances by folk musicians and modern pop groups, creative workshops, communication with pets and Santa Claus (in Latvia his name is Salavetzis) and, of course, generous refreshments. Latvian folk beliefs prescribe eating nine times on Christmas night - then you can hope that the new year will be no worse than the old one. Traditional dishes are bread, pork ham, fried cereal with lard and onions, blood sausage, baked vegetables, pies. At the fair, this list is supplemented with smoked meats, piparkukas pepper cookies and mulled wine.
You can choose Christmas gifts for your friends from a wide range of Latvian souvenirs: all kinds of amber jewelry, useful little things made of leather, wood and ceramics, linen products, woolen patterned shawls, mittens, sweaters, wooden and rag toys.
Where to live
Dome Square is the largest in West Riga, the heart of the city, famous for its cathedrals and historical buildings. Tourists often choose a hotel closer to the Old Town, and it is not as expensive as it might seem. In Old Riga there are many hostels and hotels (starting from a decent two stars), which are located in both old houses and new buildings. True, driving in Wetzriga will not be very convenient: parking here is very expensive. But you will be in the center of events, and the main attractions can be easily reached on foot.
How to get there
Every day, several planes fly from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Riga, trains and buses depart (the average travel time in the last two cases is 15 hours). By car you will have to travel 918 km from Moscow and 641 km from St. Petersburg.
Most peaceful: Christmas Town Lithuania, Vilnius, Cathedral Square
How pre-New Year Vilnius compares favorably with other European capitals is the absence of exhausting pre-holiday bustle. Christmas events begin in Vilnius in mid-November, when the fairs open. The main one takes place on the main square of Vilnius, in the Old Town, in a temporary Christmas town. It is formed by fifty cozy houses where they sell original gifts, snacks and drinks. Aborigines themselves come here for smoked meats and other natural products, tourists come here for a taste of national dishes and Lithuanian souvenirs: amber jewelry, dishes, baskets. The market walk should be supplemented with other local entertainment: a ride on the Christmas steam locomotive; watch the 4D show “Magic Christmas” (it will be broadcast three times a day from December 25 to 31 on the wall of the Cathedral); appreciate the nativity scene (on Cathedral Square from December 24 to January 6); cheer on the participants of the International Santa Claus Run (December 27). You can also go ice skating on Lukishskaya Square and wander through the Christmas tree-labyrinth on Town Hall Square.
Where to live
Compared to Tallinn and Riga, living in Vilnius is a little cheaper. Even in the Old Town there are many budget two- and three-star hotels, which are very popular among tourists. The reasonable price in this case is not the main advantage: there is also original architecture, a pleasant view from the window and a decent level of service. Even “two stars” offer breakfast and free Internet in the rooms. For more tangible savings, you can live in the station area - although it is a little provincial, it is clean, quiet and friendly.
How to get there
By plane Direct regular flights to Vilnius from Moscow are operated by UTair Aviation and Aeroflot, and from St. Petersburg by RusLine three times a week. The Lithuanian train runs from Moscow every day, from St. Petersburg - only the Kaliningrad train, which goes through Vilnius. You can also go by bus; the distance to Vilnius from Moscow is 875 km, from St. Petersburg - 739 km.
The most family-friendly: St. Thomas Fair Finland, Helsinki, Senate Square
St. Thomas's Fair is the main Christmas market in Helsinki, which is located in the central square. Going through all 120 bright pavilions with Christmas goods and not going broke, choosing the best examples of toys, decorations, outfits and various goodies - this can already be considered an exciting attraction. There's also plenty of other outdoor entertainment to look forward to: theater performances, jazz concerts and choir performances of Christmas carols. On December 13 in Helsinki you can see the procession in honor of St. Lucia (it begins in the evening, right at Senate Square) or walk along the Christmas trail on the island of Seurasaari, very loved by children: it will be a real walk in ancient times, which can be completed with horse riding or fire show.
Where to live
Prices in Finnish hotels are quite high regardless of the season. If you add expensive public transport to this, it becomes clear that it is better to stay in Helsinki in close proximity to the places where you plan to spend the majority of your time. So if you are going specifically to the St. Thomas Fair, you should stay in the Kruununhaka area - a relatively quiet, respectable place and almost in the center, and knowledgeable people recommend looking for apartments rather than a hotel.
How to get there
St. Petersburg residents know that the cheapest way to go to Helsinki is on a tourist bus on a shopping tour. A more expensive alternative is a minibus “from home to home”, a faster alternative when crossing the border is a regular bus, and a more romantic alternative is traveling by ferry. The fastest options from St. Petersburg and Moscow are offered by four names: Aeroflot, Finnair, Allegro and Lev Tolstoy (the last two are daily trains from the two capitals).
The most traditional: Skansen Fair Sweden, Stockholm, Djurgården Island
Skansen is an open-air museum that appeared in Stockholm in 1891, over a hundred years it has grown into a grandiose ethnographic complex, and now its name is a household name for followers all over the world. The Skansen complex consists of 150 houses and estates from different eras, through which you can study the history of Sweden from the 16th century to the present and its nature from north to south. The spirit of the times is maintained in every detail: the museum staff are dressed only in national costumes, master folk crafts at the level of a professional teacher and can talk about the country all day long (but this is hampered by housework). At Christmas time, Skansen is even more like a hospitable fairy tale, from where you need to take away authentic souvenirs and culinary delights into reality: jewelry, embroidery, children's books, beautiful things made of wood, metal, leather, textiles, ceramics and a lot of other interesting things. Must-try: fried homemade sausages, salmon in cream sauce, dried venison, smoked turkey, ginger biscuits, marzipan sweets. The most Swedish Christmas drink is glögg, the local mulled wine: warmed wine plus strong alcohol and lots of almonds. The most correct glög, of course, is in Skansen - according to the recipes of our ancestors.
Where to live
Stockholm spoils the whole list in our selection with one feature: hotels here are expensive and very expensive. There are still expensive ones, but they are located far from attractions and the metro. Therefore, you won’t be able to save on housing, and it’s better to choose it according to your liking and location. The famous Scandic Ariadna hotel next to the ferry terminal is, by the way, a stone's throw from the island of Djurgården. But in terms of room prices, it does not lag behind central hotels, where there are other advantages.
How to get there
The only way to get from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Stockholm quickly and without transfers is by plane. You will have to go by train to Helsinki, and then change to a ferry. You can't avoid the ferry by car either, and you can board it in Helsinki, Riga or Tallinn.
A few years ago, the British “The Times” called the Tallinn Christmas market the best in Europe. The traditional holiday market in the capital of Estonia, which we will look at today, then surpassed those in Prague, Berlin and Luxembourg.
The fair is traditionally held on Tallinn Town Hall Square in the very center of the old city.
Unfortunately, nature has its own plans for the weather on Christmas Day. No snow and winter romance. But even at +7 outside, the fair is magnificent.
Yes, the festive train is coming towards us, but not leaving, leaving behind a bunch of exhaust)
The aroma of mulled wine is everywhere. I don’t know why exactly, but I really liked the local Town Hall, which is more than 600 years old. She's simply amazing:
At the fair you can try traditional Christmas dishes. By the way, there are signs in Russian everywhere in the center, there shouldn’t be any problems with it. And not only in the Old Town. Most likely, they will greet you or ask you something in Estonian at first, but when they hear that you speak Russian, they will switch to it. This happened to me in the supermarket, at the post office when buying stamps for postcards home, in a bookstore, etc.
The smell is so bad you can't help but eat it)
It's also a paradise for those with a sweet tooth. Estonia is challenging Germany for the title of birthplace of marzipan.
Gingerbread:
The choice is huge, prices range from 1.5 to 3 euros per piece:
It seems that the gnome with glasses doesn't like being taken off)
To complete the experience, add the aroma of mulled wine and fried food, as well as cool Christmas music.
An Estonian woman in national costume sells juniper products. Place a hot kettle on such a stand, and soon the aroma of wood will spread throughout the kitchen:
Estonian Santa Claus - Jõuluvana (Jõuluvana, emphasis on Y, “Christmas old man”) “lives” at the fair in a separate house and welcomes children. Jõuluvana resembles his Finnish relative Joulupukki, bringing gifts at Christmas. The gnomes help him in this.
Sorry for the quality of the picture, Grandfather froze me and my hands trembled:
Yyuluvan's house:
Grandfather's house is not on sale, but the selection of ceramic houses is huge:
In the center is a copy of the famous Tallinn landmark - “Three Sisters”. In the 14th century these were merchant houses, and now they are a fashionable hotel where the Queen of England stayed during her visit to Tallinn:
A little without comment.
Merry Christmas in Estonian
I really liked the fair. The prices are not bad, the choice is large. Many souvenirs are sold cheaper here than in the city. For example, magnets cost 1 euro instead of 3, postcards cost 50 cents instead of 80 or 90 on the narrow streets of the old city.
You can go around all the shopping places several times, listening to Christmas music and drinking mulled wine. The only thing I expected to see was a larger size market. Somehow it didn’t seem so big.
Every year, the center of Tallinn turns into a winter fairy tale, full of bright lights, New Year's mood and gifts. The fair lasts from mid-November to January and is replete with Christmas goods, gifts and other pleasant little things.
What is this?
According to tradition, a Christmas tree is erected on Tallinn's Town Hall Square and a fairy-tale fair begins. In the wooden houses around the Christmas tree you can buy souvenirs, traditional Estonian delicacies, New Year's toys, gifts and much more. In addition, the fair has a lively corner with rabbits, ponies, sheep, geese and goats. On weekends and holidays, guests of the fair will enjoy a show program with performances by artists, and Santa with his famous Reindeers will be waiting for all children. In 2017, the fair runs from November 17 to January 6, 2018.
Price
Admission to the fair is always free.
How to get there?
The square is located in the center of Tallinn in a pedestrian zone. The exact address is Kesklinna linnaosa, Raekoja plats, but finding it will be as easy as any central square of European capitals.
Is it incidental?
It’s not worth going specifically to the Christmas market in Tallinn - in general, most European New Year’s fairs are similar to each other, and if you want to plunge into the atmosphere of a “Christmas fairy tale,” there are places closer.
It’s another matter if you’re in Tallinn or not far from the Estonian capital - then it’s definitely worth a stop, even if you have to make a short detour. Still, in Ukraine there are practically no such colorful and magical winter places with mulled wine, warm trdelniks and handmade gifts.
A huge number of tourists come to Tallinn to immerse themselves in Medieval Europe, decorated with hundreds of garlands. Tallinn Christmas Market- meridians of lights, ancient carousels, charming souvenirs and amazing aromas filling the Town Hall Square.
Tallinn Christmas Market - a wonderful Christmas fairy tale in which all wishes come true
The cozy fair welcomes guests with Christmas music and a festive mood. Products include a large selection of Christmas decorations, woolen knitted items and incredibly beautiful candles. Unique handmade goods that cannot be found in regular stores deserve special attention.
Visitors simply must try the Christmas dishes and sweets. Many manufacturers will market themselves to best communicate their products. Everyone will enjoy a traditional Estonian dinner of sausages, potatoes and sauerkraut.
A rich entertainment program awaits guests
The first Advent candle will be lit in the square, and Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar will greet fair visitors on this occasion. The Estonian Father Frost, Jõuluvana, will also come for the first Advent. Children will be able to visit his house, play with the gnomes - Grandfather’s assistants, read poems and receive sweets as a reward.
Everyone can ride on the carousels made by Peter Petzi based on the most legendary ones. Visitors will meet a family of reindeer and also have the opportunity to feed rabbits, goats, sheep and ponies.
About 100 groups and 1,700 participants will perform on stage. Among them: Ellerhein children's choir, E.T.A. dance school, Free Flow Studio and other folk ensembles.Talented masters of Tallinn will demonstratecraftsmanship. Frozen visitors will be warmed by aromatic mulled wine, and hungry ones will be warmed by a special Christmas soup.
How to get to Tallinn Christmas Market 2016
The fair is traditionally held on Tallinn Town Hall Square in the very center of the old city. Entry is free for all visitors.