Estonia in December

Christmas market on Town Hall Square; 6 hours of daylight; 24–26 Dec closures.

December is rated good. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatGreen and bright; 30 April Walpurgis in Tartu; sea still cold.
• JuneGreatWhite nights; Old Town Days early in the month; Midsummer 23–24 June closes a lot — plan around it.
• JulyGreatWarmest month (20–23 °C); islands and Pärnu beaches busy; book ferries and rooms early.
• AugustGreatStill summer; festivals and cruise crowds in Tallinn; nights cooling by the end.

• North coast and Tallinn · Tallinn, Lahemaa, Narvacool

  Mild for its latitude thanks to the sea; winter around −3 °C (27 °F) with slush and wind; summer 18–23 °C (64–73 °F) with up to 19 hours of light.Mild for its latitude thanks to the sea; winter around 27 °F (−3 °C) with slush and wind; summer 64–73 °F (18–23 °C) with up to 19 hours of light.

• South and inland · Tartu, Otepää, Võru, Viljandicool

  More continental: colder, snowier winters (cross-country skiing around Otepää) and a few degrees warmer in summer.

• Western islands and coast · Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Pärnu, Haapsalucool

  Sunniest part of the country in summer; the sea stays cold until late June; many guesthouses close October–April.

• East Estonia: East Estonia · Ida-Viru county, Baltic coast and Lake Peipsicold

  Lake Peipsi freezes in winter and the Valaste waterfall freezes into ice; the coast is windier and cooler than inland in summer.

• North Estonia: Tallinn and the north coast · Tallinn, Paldiski, Laulasmaa, Kaberneeme, Käsmu, Võsucold

  Best June–August for beaches and long days; May and September are quieter and cheaper. Winters are cold and dark, with the sea freezing in some years — Jägala Falls freezes in cold spells.

• North Estonia: Inland (Raplamaa, Järvamaa, Rakvere) · Türi, Rakvere and the manor beltcold

  Slightly colder and less windy than the coast; bog walks are best late spring to early autumn.

• South Estonia: Tartu and the south · Inland hills and lake countrycold

  Colder and snowier than the coast; Otepää holds snow for skiing most winters. Summer days are long, with light until late evening.

• West Estonia and Islands: Mainland coast (Pärnu, Haapsalu) · Pärnu and Lääne countiescold

  Beach season is June–August; the Baltic stays cool, around 18–20 °C (64–68 °F) at the height of summer.Beach season is June–August; the Baltic stays cool, around 64–68 °F (18–20 °C) at the height of summer.

• West Estonia and Islands: Islands (Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Kihnu) · West Estonian archipelagocold

  Windier and a few degrees cooler than the mainland; ferry crossings can be cancelled in autumn gales.

• Tallinn0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 15 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 15 rain days
• Aruküla0 °C (32 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 10 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 10 rain days
• Haapsalu0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 13 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 13 rain days
• Jõhvi-1 °C (30 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 14 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 14 rain days
• Kaberneeme1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 11 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 11 rain days
• Kabli1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 11 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 11 rain days
• Kallaste1 °C (34 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Kärdla3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 13 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 13 rain days
• Käsmu1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 11 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 11 rain days
• Kihnu3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Kiviõli0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Kohtla-Järve-1 °C (30 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 9 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 9 rain days
• Kuremäe-1 °C (30 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 11 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 11 rain days
• Kuressaare2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 13 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 13 rain days
• Laulasmaa1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 11 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 11 rain days
• Maardu2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Mustvee-1 °C (30 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 11 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 11 rain days
• Narva-Jõesuu3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Narva-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 14 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 14 rain days
• Noarootsi1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 11 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 11 rain days
• Nõva1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 11 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 11 rain days
• Otepää-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 13 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 13 rain days
• Paldiski1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 12 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 12 rain days
• Pärnu0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 13 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 13 rain days
• Põltsamaa0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Rakvere0 °C (32 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 12 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 12 rain days
• Ruhnu1 °C (34 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 13 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 13 rain days
• Sillamäe0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 14 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 14 rain days
• Tapa0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 11 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 11 rain days
• Tartu-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 13 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 13 rain days
• Toila2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 13 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 13 rain days
• Türi0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 12 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 12 rain days
• Valga-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 12 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 12 rain days
• Valgeranna1 °C (34 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 11 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 11 rain days
• Viljandi0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 13 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 13 rain days
• Vormsi3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 13 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 13 rain days
• Võru-1 °C (30 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 13 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 13 rain days
• Võsu0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 10 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 10 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Christmas markets

  Late Nov – Dec

  Town Hall Square market in Tallinn; weekend hotel prices rise.

• Christmas big impact

  24–26 Dec

  Three-day holiday; many restaurants and museums close; transport reduced.

• Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF)

  Mid-Nov to early Dec (check) · Tallinn

  Screenings citywide; cinemas and cafés full in the evenings.

• Christmas Eve to Boxing Day

  Dec 24–26 · Tallinn

  Most shops, restaurants and museums close on the 24th and 25th.

Crowds · Estonia

Medium

Prices · Estonia

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Estonia, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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