Guide to Tallinn and Estonia. All you need to know before you go. Christmas Tallinn or why you should definitely come to Estonia in winter! Is it worth it to go to Tallinn

In order for a trip to this city on the Gulf of Finland to please not only a tourist, but also a natural program, you need to know what to prepare for and what to expect from the weather.

The capital of Estonia is located in northern Europe, the proximity of the Baltic Sea makes the climate temperate with the transition from maritime to continental.

It is almost always humid and cool, but the warm Gulf Stream provides mild winters with variable weather and fairly fresh summers.

Tallinn weather forecast for a week

Climate of Tallinn

The amount of precipitation in Tallinn is average, but the humidity level nevertheless approaches 80% year-round. The driest month in humidity is May, but snow and rain are the least expected in February.

Most often with an umbrella you have to wander along the beautiful old streets in early autumn - at this time it can rain for several days in a row.

Another feature of the climate of Tallinn is cloudiness. The sky is grayed out for most of the year, but this does not spoil the general impression of the Estonian capital, but rather gives it a special, mysterious and not at all gloomy mood.

The atmosphere of the Middle Ages in the Old Town is only emphasized by the sun peeking out from behind the clouds, as if shedding light on the secrets of history.

Walking along the neat streets paved with cobblestone, it is very pleasant to rejoice in the heat that has appeared, to observe how the rays shimmer in the windows of the lovely houses and walk along the sparkling drainpipes.

Monthly weather

As in the whole of the Baltic States, the weather in the capital of Estonia is very unpredictable, therefore it is better to take things with you on all trips when traveling on a trip. Of course, much in the traveler’s luggage depends on the time of year and even a specific month.

March and April

Damp, rainy, unpleasant.

This time is considered the most unfavorable for visitors, since it is rarely possible to consider the beauties of the city not from under the umbrella dome.

Although sunny days, of course, do happen, and then the air warms up to 5-6 degrees of heat.

May and June

Travelers will be pleased with a relatively clear sky and warm up to 18 degrees.

July and August

The hottest and most pleasant months for walking are the last two months of summer with temperatures up to 22-25 degrees. And although the rains can still catch by surprise and go suddenly and for a long time, this does not spoil the mood, because the sun often looks out.

October and November

Autumn in Tallinn is wet, very similar to spring, but with higher humidity - sometimes the figure rises to 90%. Therefore, in October and November, you should not come here for those who poorly tolerate dampness. The temperature is on average about 2 degrees with warming up to 10 heat.

January and February

They can be both rainy and wet, and snowy and frosty.

The end of the calendar winter and the beginning of spring is the coldest time of the year, but the rainfall is the least.

The temperature can easily drop to -15, but on average is -7 degrees.

When to go to Tallinn

If we talk about the weather, then at any time in the capital of Estonia it is wet and rainy, and it is almost impossible to guess when the sun will come out and warm travelers.

Therefore, going here, you should not expect excessive natural favor, but simply do not pay attention to the climatic vagaries of the Baltic states.

It is not in vain that New Year's holidays are considered the most popular time for trips to Tallinn - snow wraps the city, turning it into a fabulous picture, makes old buildings gingerbread houses.

And hospitable Estonians decorate all this with thousands of colorful lights, completing the magical image.

Most tourists come to the capital of Estonia, Tallinn, for a couple of days, run around the Old Town, sit in a cafe, buy a knitted hat, Van Tallinn balm and sail by ferry to Helsinki or Stockholm. I have been to Tallinn several times, went around all the sights and interesting places. Read my tips for exploring Tallinn and make your route for exploring the city. Find out where you can take the best photos, listen to the organ, plunge into the Middle Ages, visit modern sites, take a walk or ride a bicycle.

1. Tallinn is located on the shores of the Baltic Sea in order to feel comfortable in any weather, bring along a hat, an umbrella and comfortable shoes.

2. If you want to save on accommodation and not mix with the tourist flow, then come to Tallinn in a week. The influx of tourists traditionally falls on the weekend (Finns, residents of St. Petersburg).

3. Start your walk around the Old Town with a visit to the information center at the intersection of Niguliste and Kullasepa. Take a free map, a brochure in Russian "Rest in the city" and go on a sightseeing tour.

4. Admire the views of Old and New Tallinn from viewing platforms (free). The Kohtu platform is located on the eastern side of Toompea hill, the Patkuli platform is on the north. These are the best places for panoramic photos.

5. Take a walk along the ramparts. You can get to the open areas for visiting from the Hellemann tower (at the Viru gate) and from the Nunnu tower in the opposite part of the Old Town. Admission by ticket, inside the exhibition.

6. Check out the Town Hall Pharmacy - this is the oldest existing pharmacy in Europe. Here is a collection of pharmaceutical supplies from the 17th - 20th centuries, ancient potions and potions. The entrance is free.

7. Observe the work of craftsmen in Katarina Lane, take part in master classes and buy original souvenirs.

8. Go to the Dome Cathedral. Famous personalities are buried in it, including the explorer Kruzenshtern, the walls are decorated with family emblems and epitaphs. Organ concerts are held on Saturdays. Admission ticket.

9. Climb the tower of the Olevist church. The 124 meter high tower is the tallest building in Tallinn. The observation deck is open from April to October, admission by ticket. Remember to grab the camera!

10. Make a sweet stop in the marzipan museum room. Before your eyes, the artist will paint a figure, and you can buy and try marzipans in any form. The museum belongs to the famous confectionery factory Kalev. The visit is free.

11. On weekends, be sure to go to an organ concert in the Niguliste church. On other days, it’s also worth a visit here to look at the canvas of the 15th century by Bernt Notke “Dance of Death”. Paid entrance.

12. To raise the cultural level, visit the maritime museum in the tower of Tolstaya Margarita and the historical museum in the building of the Great Guild.

If you have the time and desire to see more than the Old Town of Tallinn:

13. Travel to the Pirita area. In good weather, you can rent a bicycle (convenient walking and bicycle paths are laid along the sea), and in bad weather it is easy to get to Pirita by public transport. Objects of inspection: Kadriorg Park, a monument to the Mermaid, the ruins of the monastery of St. Brigitte.

14. Visit the recently opened and most modern places in Tallinn - Flying Harbor and Tallinn TV Tower.

15. With children go to the Tallinn Zoo.

Traveling in the Baltic States, you should definitely visit Tallinn, which is the capital of Estonia. The city was founded in 1154, and many buildings of that time came to us in varying degrees of safety.

Tallinn weather forecast for a week

What weather will tourists expect in different months?

In general, Estonia has a temperate, fairly mild climate. See a detailed overview of the weather in Tallinn for different months.

December

When the New Year is approaching, some tourists can celebrate it quite originally, having met a holiday in Tallinn. And it's worth it. By the New Year, Tallinn is decorated so that the city just transforms. Estonians are very fond of celebrating the New Year, so they approach the decoration of the city with great responsibility.

If you want to see the festive splendor and take part in city festivities, then coming to Tallinn in December is a great idea.

Despite the fact that the duration of daylight hours in this month is about six hours, the temperature is relatively warm, rarely does the thermometer drop below less than minus two degrees.

In the afternoon, as a rule, the same temperature holds, but already with a plus mark. Rains in December are extremely rare. The weather is clear. On New Year's Eve, snow may fall.

January

If a trip to Estonia is planned in January, you will have to bring warm clothes and just in case an umbrella. The average temperature this month usually keeps just below zero.  It is slightly warmer during the day than at night, but usually it is not colder -5.

In January, snow is rare, but it can rain and the streets are covered with a crust of ice. In Estonia, public utilities work well, and the sidewalks from icy hoarfrost are cleaned like roads. Chemistry can be used, therefore it is worth saving shoes.

In January it is usually cloudy, so if you plan to take pictures, set up the equipment for greater photosensitivity, the length of the day is 6-8 hours, depending on which half of the month you arrive. If you like to walk around the city for a long time and want it to be light, then coming in winter is not a good idea, but if you want to see the beautiful lighting that Estonians turn on at night, and at the same time do not like to go to bed late, then January is perfect option.

February

In February, the longitude of daylight increases significantly, and it is already equal to 10 hours.

The average temperature ranges from - 3 to -7, it is cold mostly at night. There is practically no rain, snow may fall, but in Tallinn this phenomenon is infrequent, so it is unlikely that you will see snow blockages, such as in winter Moscow.

Paving stones are regularly cleaned, so you do not have to fall due to frost. But dressing is warmer. Winter Tallinn has its own special charm, which you can see and feel only by visiting there in winter.

March

Thaws are already starting in March. In the daytime, the thermometer rises to + 1 ... +3 degrees. At night, there may be light frost up to -2 degrees. Rains at this time are rare, as, indeed, is snow.

You can enjoy walks in the illuminated city, as the length of daylight will increase to 13 hours. There are few tourists in Tallinn in March, therefore, if you don’t like a large crowd of people near historical values, and simply in the city, then visiting Tallinn in March will be one of the most correct decisions.

April

April is the time when spring comes into its own. The daylight hours are increased to 15 hours, and you will have enough time to enjoy the city in its entirety without unpleasant twilight time, when there is obviously not enough daylight and artificial lighting is not yet on.

Lighting turns on automatically when it gets completely dark on the street.

The column of the thermometer in April is at around + 2 ... + 6 degrees. Days become clear, there are a little less than half of such days in a month. Nature begins to wake up after hibernation and on the trees you can see the buds.

In May, it gets warm enough. The average temperature in Tallinn is about + 13 degrees during the day and + 7 degrees at night. The length of daylight becomes longer, it is about 19 hours, so the city is almost not getting dark. At this time, flowers begin to bloom and leaves appear on the trees. Everything in Tallinn blooms and decorates the city. In addition to the standard attractions that will not go anywhere at any time of the year, you can watch the most beautiful awakening of nature in this corner of the world.

June

Relative to May, it is a rainy month. Rain is unlikely to be able to upset your plans, however, just in case, stock up on an umbrella and waterproof shoes.

The thermometer column is held at a height of + 15 degrees day and night. The temperature difference between daytime and nighttime, as a rule, is 2-3 degrees, which is not too noticeable for a person, for this reason you do not need to take a warm jacket on a June evening. But protection from mosquitoes will not hurt.

July

This is the time when summer comes in Tallinn. If you want to hide from the heat, it is best to come to Tallinn, as it is rarely warmer here +17 degrees at night and + 24 in the afternoon. It should be noted that being here in the summer is quite comfortable. The day is long - about 18 hours, there is almost no rain, the weather is not hot, but at the same time clear. In summer, there is something to see in Estonia. In addition to those attractions that are accessible all year round, various festivals are beginning to be held, which are worth visiting.

August

August in Tallinn is not much different from July. The average temperature in August rarely exceeds + 20 degrees, so if you like to travel in the summer and do not like the summer heat, then it's time to go to Estonia and relax from the heat, and look at the surrounding beauty. In the summer, mostly all days are clear, and rains are quite rare. They can be 4-5 days from the whole month and rarely happen for several days in a row, so a rainy day is unlikely to spoil your vacation.

The number of tourists in the summer is growing significantly, so if you do not like large crowds of people, then you should consider other months for your trip.

September

September is the time when the longitude of the day decreases slightly: only up to 14 hours. The temperature is still positive. The thermometer column rarely drops below + 14 at night and + 17 in the afternoon. Nature is slowly preparing for bed. Red and golden leaves appear on the trees, but they are in no hurry to fall. The weather is still clear and similar to August, there is no more rain, but there are fewer tourists.

October

In October, a real golden autumn begins in Tallinn. You will see magnificent leaf fall and leaf carpets, which are waiting for you mainly in parks, because everything is carefully cleaned on the streets of the city.

Autumn in Tallinn is a very beautiful time of the year, which is worth seeing with your own eyes. Days become cloudy, but the rains will not bother you. In October, they are extremely rare.

November

November, although formally it is the calendar month of autumn, can be safely attributed to the winter months, since there are very few differences. They consist only in the fact that while there is no minus temperature, and consequently, no snow. In November, the thermometer both day and night shows a confident + 6 degrees, you will not see rain, this is very rare. Occasionally, a short-term wind of small strength can rise. But the duration of the day will be already winter - only about 8 hours. Also, you will no longer see blooming flowers and lush trees, since the leaves will already have fallen by this time. Tourists at this time of year are few enough, and if you want to get to all museums, bypassing the queue, then November is a great time for this.

You can come to Tallinn from St. Petersburg by train - a convenient and comfortable form of transport. More details.

30 € – minimum daily budget in Tallinn 🇪🇪.  This is enough for a good budget hostel, two trips by public transport and food (the sum is equal to two dinners in inexpensive cafes).

The budget is indicated excluding the cost of flights and insurance. A round-trip ticket from Moscow can be found for 10-12 thousand rubles. Slightly cheaper during sales (subscribe to the telegram channel @samokatus so as not to miss them).

Insurance can be picked up on services or, prices start from 1 € per day.

In summer, prices rise by 25-50%. For 35-45 € without early booking, you can only find options in guest houses further from the center (for example, Oti Guesthouse, Kelluka Guesthouse or Kaunis Guesthouse).

Hostels: A place in the common room can be found at a price of 11 € in summer and from 10 € at other times. Optimum ratio of prices, reviews and location at Old Town Alur Hostel.

Airbnb: An apartment near the Old can be rented for 25-30 €. In the Old Town, you can rent a room for 20 €, if you book in advance, you can rent a room nearby for 15 €.

If you do not have an AirBnb account, you can get 36 € for your first booking by registering at this link.

Thus, a good budget accommodation in Tallinn will cost you 10-15 € per night per person.

How much is the connection?

Mobile Internet is cheaper from Telia: 2 GB for 7.99 €.

A way to save on communication is to order a DrimSim travel SIM card in Russia as well. What we like about Drimsim:

How much are the products in the supermarket?

Prices in Tallinn for food in the supermarket are 11.6% higher than in Moscow. At the same time, vegetables, fruits and dairy products will cost less.

How much does entertainment cost?

There are several free tours in Tallinn. If you are willing to pay for the tour, then interesting options can be found on the sites and.

When to come to Tallinn?

From the point of view of weather conditions, it is optimal to arrive in May - it is already warm, but there is still little rainfall. July and August, although they are the warmest time, but it is also the rainiest. But at that time the main city events take place - the Days of the Middle Ages and the Days of the Sea, as well as the иllesummer music and beer festival.

In the autumn, a marathon and a film festival take place. It is worth coming to Tallinn for Christmas because of fairs and concerts. In general, it is worth coming to Tallinn for two days.

  Total So how much will I spend?

So the minimum:

• 10-15 € for housing
• 4-5 € for transport
• 16 € per meal

useful links

• Prices in Tallinn at Numbeo
• Tallinn ranks 71st out of 138 on the Backpacker Index (the higher the spot, the cheaper)
• Wikitravel about Tallinn (in English, in Russian)
• Guides about Tallinn:

The cancellation of plans to relax in Europe in the Russian blogosphere is written and rewritten. “With such a euro, you yourself live in your Europe” - such a sad thesis is deduced by those who used to love to go to Europe for a few days a couple of times a year.

I do not offer last minute tours or a similar herbalife. I'm not saying that for a penny you can hit the weekend in Paris or Venice.

I live in Tallinn and I want to offer a budget option for a couple to spend a weekend in the old city and experience a different atmosphere. Going to another city for the weekend is an excellent brain switch that is so necessary for office workers and other workers in stressful professions. And when you are surrounded by stone walls and medieval buildings, the smell of cinnamon and rolls, delicious mulled wine and pies - this is also the share of romance that the relationship of an urban couple needs so much.

Let's calculate the budget for a weekend trip for a couple (to simplify the calculations - without a child) who will travel from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Tallinn.

0. Visa
It is understood that the couple has a visa to travel to Estonia. I do not include the costs of obtaining a visa in the budget.

1. Options to get there.
From St. Petersburg there are wonderful buses Ecolines, SEBE, Simple Express.
ecolines.net/ru/
simpleexpress.eu/ru
sebe.ee/en

Ticket prices can vary greatly - if there is a discount, then one way the price can be 600 rubles in total. I looked at the average offer - a round-trip ticket will be approximately 1800 rubles. Travel time - about 6 hours.
The train and plane will certainly be more expensive and are not considered here.

Now for the residents of Moscow.
At first I looked at flights, both ways, all options came out more expensive than 140 euros from the nose, so I did not consider it. Who loves a fast transfer by plane - I recommend Skyscanner
The bus company Ecolines (link to the site above) is transported from the Riga station through Riga, respectively, a round-trip ticket leaves an average of 5,000 rubles. Docking leaves in Riga for more than two hours, you can wander a little around Riga. The total trip time is 20-21 hours, you will need to sleep on the bus.
You can also go from Moscow with a transfer to St. Petersburg, choose the fastest option - Nevsky Express or Sapsan. The popular tutu.ru website shows the cost of such a one-way trip from 2200 rubles, the duration of the trip is 4 hours. It turns out that it’s even more profitable than through Riga, the total budget for round-trip tickets will be only 4,000 rubles, and you can see the connection with the option “take a walk in St. Petersburg” or just get to Tallinn faster.
Most likely, for Moscow residents traveling to Tallinn on a budget, they will still need to take time off work on Friday or Monday, since more than a day will be spent only on the road.

Total budget for transport:
- a couple from St. Petersburg - about 3600 rubles
- a couple from Moscow - about 8000 rubles

2. Accommodation in Tallinn.

With the placement, everything is simple - we go to the booking and set up the selection filters correctly. We need an option for a double room (budget, but not a bed in a hostel multi-occupancy room), so that not far from the old city, without breakfast (to eat more economically), actually for one night from Saturday to Sunday.

I looked at different dates and see that it is very realistic to rent a room for 30 euros in the city center; at the rate of 75 it comes out - 2250 rubles.

Total budget for the hotel will be - 2250 rubles

3. Nutrition.
The budget option is to go to the supermarket, pick up the products and cook them in the hotel kitchen. But this hassle and order reduces the degree of romance of travel.

Therefore, I advise inexpensive institutions of the old city:

The Third Dragon Tavern in the right corner of the Town Hall (central square of the old town). Pie with meat - 1 euro, soup with elk meat - 2 euros, tea - 2 euros, mulled wine - 2.5 euros. My wife and I have a very nutritious lunch there when we walk around the old town - for only 10-12 euros. And this is not just a dining room, it is an authentic medieval place with candles, cooking from Olde Hansa (a medieval restaurant nearby). It turns out - 900 rubles per pair.
- Brasserie Karja Kelder at Väike-Karja 1. A nice cellar with beer and music. Keg beer 0.5 l. comes from 4 euros. With a small snack, you can sit for 10 euros on the nose. Total trip to the pub - 20 euros per couple, or 1,500 rubles
- inexpensive Latvian Lido cuisine in Solaris (Estonia pst 19), very satisfying complex meals from 6-8 euros from the nose. That is, a couple will have lunch for 1200 rubles.

In total, I estimate that the average budget for a couple’s meals (for example, 2 times on Saturday and 2 times on Sunday) is 5,000 rubles — with the option of going to the pub.

4. Moving to Tallinn.
In the old town, everything is accessible on foot. Therefore, we are counting on the simplest option - we get from the bus station to the hotel and back by taxi. The cost of a taxi from the bus station to the center on average is 6-8 euros. You can decide even cheaper and take a city bus, the price of a ticket from the bow will be 1.6 euros.
It’s easier by taxi, so another part of the budget is 1200 rubles.

5. Options.
Tallinn is a city with many museums and interesting places. In the old town you will find art galleries, which can be visited for free, as well as interesting museums, where the admission price ranges from 6 to 10 euros from the nose. Personally, I advise everyone to visit the Maritime Museum - Flight Harbor.
For lovers of museums and excursions - there is a special TallinnCard program, which gives the right to visit more than a dozen museums for the price of the card and gives the right to one sightseeing bus tour
The cost of TallinnCard per day for an adult is 31 euros, for children - 19 euros www.tourism.tallinn.ee/eng/fpage/tallinn card / price / prices
TallinnCard also gives the right to use public transport for free.
As an option, I will not count in rubles and add to the calculation of the total budget.

TOTAL
The budget of a couple from St. Petersburg for a weekend trip to Tallinn will be:
3600 rub (transport) + 2250 rub (hotel) + 5000 rub (food) + 1200 rub (taxi) \u003d 12 250 rub

The budget of the couple from Moscow, respectively:
8000 rubles (transport) + 2250 rubles (hotel) + 5000 rubles (food) + 1200 rubles (taxi) \u003d 16 450 rubles

The budget can still be squeezed by several thousand, reducing food costs (just eat modestly in cafeterias, replace a taxi with a bus).

Is it a budget? I think that with an average income level in St. Petersburg and Moscow, those who wish to visit the Baltic states and the sea can afford it.

I will be glad to your advice and criticism in the comments, let's help those who want to unwind on the weekend in other parts of the world!