Christmas events and tours in Tallinn
Tallinn City Tour Christmas Bus
During the festive season, City Tour's Hop-on Hop-off double-decker Christmas-themed bus will run from Friday to Sunday through the city centre, Kalamaja, Kadriorg and Pirita to the TV Tower and then return to its starting point at Viru Square. In the meantime, you can hop off the Christmas bus and continue your journey on the next bus.
There are three departures a day, starting from Viru stop: at 10, 12 and 14. The ticket is valid all day. There is also an Estonian/Russian/English-language audio guide on the bus, which introduces the history of Estonia and Tallinn, and the places on the route.
The bus is Sunday-locked and passengers are greeted by a nice bus driver and a sweet surprise. The journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. The ticket costs 10 euros, 5 euros for children aged 7-17 and 25 euros for families. Free for children under 7.
Excursion Magical Christmas in Tallinn Old Town.
The guide will talk about life in the Middle Ages, Christmas traditions through the ages and legends of the Old Town. You will learn how to make a medieval Christmas decoration - a Christmas crib - at home.
Price €29, children aged 4-12 15% discount. This is a private tour, so advance booking is required. Register at sales@nordicexperience.com, tel +372 5346 4060.
Free performances in the North Tallinn Christmas Land
Visit the Christmas Garden in Stroomi Beach Park, where every Advent and 7 January there will be free children's performances, games, a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus, exciting workshops, a horse-drawn carriage and carousel ride. There will also be an alley of Christmas trees and Christmas music.
The Land of Giants amusement park
From 17 December to 30 January, a theme park with life-size statues of good and evil giants from a faraway fairytale land will be open at Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. A total of 29 different giant figures will be erected in the amusement park. The main character in each area plays a part in the fairytale, moves around and communicates with visitors in Estonian.
At the same time, a Tivoli park and a street of different foods and flavours will be set up in the Land of Giants. Children will be able to ride in a horse-drawn carriage.
Guided tour "Christmas Spirit in the Old Town"
A walk through the colourful stories and fascinating legends of the medieval town's history, from the proud barons, the clever merchants, the superstitious townspeople. The tour starts at the end of Nunne Street, is 3 km long and lasts 3 hours. The excursion is by reservation, registration required at least 48 hours before the tour. Register at info@waypointtallinn.ee. The tour ends with a fun gingerbread making workshop.
Tour "Christmas Stories of the Old Town"
Tallinn Guides Association invites you to listen to Christmas stories of the Old Town again! While walking around the Old Town in a Christmas story, you can learn where the Hanseatic merchants got the spices for making gingerbread, how Christmas carols were made and how the first Christmas tree was brought to Town Hall Square.
The tours run until 2 January at weekends from 14:00 for 1.5 hours. Register at info@tgy.ee. Adult tickets cost €10, children (6-12 years) €5, younger children free.
You can buy tickets in advance at the Fienta ticket office or in cash directly from the guide.
The meeting point with the guide and the start of the tour is in front of the Town Hall under the bell, you can recognise the guide by the flag of the guides' association.
The gingerbread art exhibition Gingerbread Mania
Gingerbread Mania is an art exhibition where all the works are made of gingerbread. As in previous years, you will be able to admire biscuit art made from gingerbread dough by different artists. This year's theme is music, and there will also be exciting gingerbread workshops.
The gingerbread art will be on display in the Design and Architecture Gallery at Pärnu mnt 6, open from 8 December to 7 January from 11-18, 24 and 31 December from 11-15, and closed on 1 January.
International Christmas Night Mass
In many Western Christian traditions Midnight Mass is the first liturgy of Christmastide that is celebrated on the night of Christmas Eve, traditionally beginning at midnight when Christmas Eve gives way to Christmas Day.
The night mass takes place on the 24th of December at 11 pm in the Swedish St. Michael's Church at Rüütli 9, Tallinn.
See the full programme of Christmas events at visittallinn.ee