Our New Year’s plans were still open until the last minute, and we were considering something a bit different to celebrate the turn of the year. We decided to see what New Year’s Eve would look like in Tallinn, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. Tallinn’s New Year offered a spectacular laser show, plenty of fireworks, and wonderfully atmospheric Christmas markets that stayed open late into the evening.
Travel and Hotel
We booked ourselves on Eckerรถ Line’s M/S Finlandia, which takes just over a couple of hours to travel from Helsinki to Tallinn. We stayed in Tallinn for two nights, making it a pleasant and short weekend getaway. We arrived in Tallinn in the afternoon, and our return ferry departed in the early evening, giving us just over two full days in the city. This was a perfect amount of time to explore Tallinn, see the sights, and celebrate the New Year.
We chose to stay at the Tallink City Hotel, which we liked a lot. The hotel was clean and modern, with large lobby areas featuring plenty of seating, a lobby bar, and a restaurant. There was also a cozy fireplace in the lobby, creating a warm atmosphere. The common areas were very clean and inviting. The rooms were also clean, spacious, and modernly decorated.
The hotel’s location was excellent, with the Viru Keskus shopping center right across the street, and the Old Town and Rotermann Quarter also nearby. We can happily recommend the Tallink City Hotel.
Tallinn Old Town
Tallinn’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and undoubtedly the city’s most famous and important attraction. This medieval district is known for its vibrant atmosphere, city walls, and well-preserved cobblestone streets. Walking through the narrow streets, you can admire centuries-old beautiful architecture and should definitely explore the quieter side streets and courtyards where you might find charming boutiques and cafes.
While the entire Old Town is worth experiencing, here are a few highlights not to miss, whether you visit in summer or winter:
- Viru Gates, a symbol of Tallinn dating back to the 14th century
- St. Catherine’s Passage, a delightful medieval street
- Town Hall Square, where the Christmas market is usually open until Epiphany
- Town Hall tower and Old Thomas, a town hall from the 15th century offering 360-degree views of the city and Town Hall Square
- Kohtuotsa viewing platform, providing beautiful views over the Old Town
Town Hall Square Christmas Market
The Tallinn Christmas Market is incredibly atmospheric and definitely worth visiting. The city itself is very festive during Christmas, and the market’s ambiance is unparalleled. Town Hall Square transforms into a real Christmas wonderland with a large decorated tree and beautifully arranged Christmas lights and decorations. The stalls offer a wide range of crafts and Estonian Christmas foods, from sauerkraut to blood sausage, and, of course, glรถgi (mulled wine) for both children and adults.
The market also features carousels and a diverse Christmas program that delights both children and adults. We especially enjoyed the market’s lovely atmosphere โ the scent of mulled wine, happy people, Christmas lights, and the magnificent tree dominating the square.
There is also a stage at the market with performances throughout the Christmas season. On New Year’s Eve, the stage featured live music and later a DJ who played lively music, creating a joyful atmosphere and drawing New Year’s revelers to the square.
Tallinn also has a couple of other smaller Christmas markets, such as in the Rotermann Quarter, but Town Hall Square’s market is the main one.
New Year’s Eve at Freedom Square
The New Year’s celebrations culminated at Freedom Square, where the city organized events and a spectacular laser show that drew large crowds. The laser show was stunning, accompanied by music, and the New Year’s countdown was projected onto the side of a building on the square. The atmosphere was cheerful, with fireworks going off all over the city, especially on the hill next to the square.
After the event, we headed to the Old Town, which was full of people celebrating. Fireworks continued to light up the sky, both from the streets and from larger displays further away, beautifully illuminating the Old Town. At Town Hall Square, the DJ kept the party going, and people danced in the middle of the square. The market vendors were still there, and especially the glรถgi stalls had long lines. We were surprised that the market was still open at this hour, and we ended up staying there for quite a while, enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Tallinn’s New Year celebration was an unforgettable experience in every way. The city, its beautiful Christmas markets, and the historic setting of the Old Town provided the perfect backdrop for welcoming the New Year. We can warmly recommend celebrating New Year’s in Tallinn โ itโs easily accessible, close by, and a world-class destination.
