A Guide To Christmas in Helsinki & Tallinn 🎄
🎄 Helsinki and Tallinn
✈️ Travel
📅 How Long to Stay?
Both capitals offer a plethora of things to do outside the markets. The Helsinki market is smaller, it can probably be seen in an evening, however, the city itself offers enough to do that visitors can easily stay 3-4 days. Tallinn on the other hand offers a more immersive experience, the Old Town can be done a day trip from Helsinki, but with the grand charm, 2 days is recommended.
✈️ Plane
Both destinations are well connected within Europe. Helsinki's Vantaa Airport has more flight options, especially direct from North America and Asia.
⛴️ Ferry
Traveling between these two will be the easiest of any market you choose to visit. The Tallink Silja Ferry takes 2-hours to cross the Gulf of Finland, and there are multiple voyages per day. and both ferry ports are within talking/tram distance from the city centers. Tickets for this cost around €35.
🇫🇮 Helsinki's Markets
Senate Square
Senate Square is at the base of the Helsinki Cathedral, it's the most popular and oldest Christmas market in the city. When people visit Helsinki during Christmas time, this is the market that they flock to.
It offers delicious eating experiences (Vegan friendly) and unique gifts sold by locals!
The warm and inviting atmosphere will help take your mind off the Finnish winter, and the beloved carousel is a staple in the center of the market.
The market in Finland, while it see's 300,000 visitors annually, it is by far one of the quietest and peaceful markets you'll be able to experience.
Finland typically has a short Christmas season, meaning markets are only open from the first weekend in December until December 22nd.
Market Square
Located just a 5-minute walk south of Senate Square. The market is open throughout the summertime, which makes it a perfect spot to try some Salmon Soup or catch the ferry to Suomenlinna Island. However, during the winter months, it transforms into a winter market with more of that Christmas flair.
🍷 What to Try
🍷 Glögi
Spiced or Mulled Wine as you'll probably know it by. Glögi is a staple at any Nordic Christmas Market. The Helsinki market is known to make one of the best in all of Europe.
If you want to try something extra; get it with Schnapps on top.
Cafés and bars around the city will likely serve their own special varieties with differing mixes of juices and spices.
You can also purchase bottles at a nearby Alko to drink or take home.
🐟 Fish
Incredibly common at all times of the year in Finland, there are plenty of varieties to try. White fish in gin, pickled herring, or cold-smoked salmon on rye bread.
Salmon soup is a Finnish classic, and a must-try.
🦌 Reindeer
Despite being the home of Santa Claus, Finland doesn't shy away from eating Reindeer. Typically it's either fried or made into sausages.
🥧 Pastries
Joulutorttu is the most popular pastry. Pinwheel-shaped, it's made from puff pastry and filled with either prune or apple jam.
More of a year-round specialty, Karelian pasties (Karjalanpiirakka) are a rye crust filled with rice porridge. A favorite among Finns.
Similarly, while not a pastry, Riisipuuro is a popular rice porridge to which you can add sweet toppings.
♨️ Sauna
Not typically seen at the markets. Finns love their Sauna. It's likely that your accommodations will have a Sauna for you to try. They are a great place to warm up from the cold outdoors and relax.
🎁 Souvenirs
🌲 Wood Products
Finland is covered in trees and known for their wood production. At the market, you'll be able to find a variety of wooden items, ranging from house décor to kitchen utensils.
Birch is a popular wood, and hot plates for the kitchen are a unique gift as they give off a warm woody aroma when heated by a pot or pan.
👀 Things to See
Just down the street from Senate Square, is Aleksanterinkatu street. It gets dressed up in Christmas décor and offers plenty of shopping through the various malls and stores that line the street.
Helsinki also has two other year-round market halls that are worth checking out:
Dare to go for a plunge in the cold Baltic waters? Finns love warming up in the Sauna and going for an ice-cold dip. The Allas Sea Pool and Loyly Sauna are both phenomenal places that locals love.
During Christmas time, why not head to a church or three.
🏨 Where to Stay
📍 Check Out Our Guides To Finland
🇪🇪 Tallinn's Market
Town Hall Square
Voted the best Christmas market in 2019. Tallinn during Christmas time is something straight out of a fairy tale. Nearly a 600-year-old tradition, the old town transforms into a winter wonderland filled with Christmas decor and snow-lined streets, all leading to the Town Hall Square where rows of vendors set up shop.
The market in Tallinn runs a little longer than its counterpart in Helsinki. It starts on December 1st and runs through into the first week of January.
🍷 What to Try
🍷 Glögg
Estonia has its flair for Mulled Wine with a slightly different name. Always a must-have at any Christmas market, and see how it differs from the one across the water in Helsinki.
🍞 Gingerbread
Gingerbread is not only a staple at the market, it's mania. There's a temporary museum set up to showcase art made from the product.
🥔 Pork & Potatoes & Sauerkraut
Traditional holiday food of blood sausages is a must when in Estonia, you'll see them hanging at the back of any stall.
Pork Chops are also available if blood sausages don't do it for you. Add on some potatoes and sauerkraut on the side and you'll have a plate of food perfect to fill you up for more exploration.
Souvenirs
🐑 Wool Clothing
At the market you'll find a wide range of vendors selling handmade wool items, anything from mittens, sweaters to ornaments for your tree.
Wool will be great at keeping you warm in the cold temperatures of the region.
👀 Things to See
Incase you haven't eaten enough at the Market, ROST is just outside the Old Town walls and a must try for their cinnamon buns. Easily one of the best cafes in all of Europe.
The Old Town itself is a living museum with plenty of things to see and do within the walls.
A little west of the Old Town is a 3-story market hall that you can explore, finding more souvenirs, foods to try, and shops to check out.
About a 15-minute drive outside Tallinn, you'll find the wonderful Open Air Museum. It showcases the country's rural way of life and has activities like horse sledding to match the winter season.
Open year-round, in the summer it hosts colorful gardens and pockets of art scattered around the park. In the wintertime, it's often draped in snow, which makes the park extra magical and much quieter.
🏨 Where to Stay
📍 Check Out Our Guide on The Baltics
The Best Christmas Markets In Europe 🎄
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