Estonia in January

Cold (−5 °C (23 °F)), dark by 16:00; snow in the south for skiing; Tallinn quiet and cheap.Cold (−5 °C (23 °F)), dark by 4:00 PM; snow in the south for skiing; Tallinn quiet and cheap.Cold (23 °F (−5 °C)), dark by 16:00; snow in the south for skiing; Tallinn quiet and cheap.Cold (23 °F (−5 °C)), dark by 4:00 PM; snow in the south for skiing; Tallinn quiet and cheap.

January is rated mixed. 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.

• Tallinn-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 14 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 14 rain days
• Aruküla-2 °C (28 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 10 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 18 °F (-8 °C), 10 rain days
• Haapsalu-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 12 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 12 rain days
• Jõhvi-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 12 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 12 rain days
• Kaberneeme-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 10 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 10 rain days
• Kabli-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 10 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 10 rain days
• Kallaste0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 7 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 7 rain days
• Kärdla2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 12 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 12 rain days
• Käsmu-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 10 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 10 rain days
• Kihnu2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Kiviõli-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 7 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 7 rain days
• Kohtla-Järve-2 °C (28 °F) / -9 °C (16 °F), 8 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 16 °F (-9 °C), 8 rain days
• Kuremäe-3 °C (27 °F) / -9 °C (16 °F), 10 rain days27 °F (-3 °C) / 16 °F (-9 °C), 10 rain days
• Kuressaare0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 12 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 12 rain days
• Laulasmaa-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 10 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 10 rain days
• Maardu0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Mustvee-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 10 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 10 rain days
• Narva-Jõesuu2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 8 rain days
• Narva-3 °C (27 °F) / -9 °C (16 °F), 12 rain days27 °F (-3 °C) / 16 °F (-9 °C), 12 rain days
• Noarootsi-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 10 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 10 rain days
• Nõva-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 10 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 10 rain days
• Otepää-3 °C (27 °F) / -9 °C (16 °F), 12 rain days27 °F (-3 °C) / 16 °F (-9 °C), 12 rain days
• Paldiski-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 11 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 11 rain days
• Pärnu-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 12 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 12 rain days
• Põltsamaa-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 8 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 8 rain days
• Rakvere-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 10 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 10 rain days
• Ruhnu0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 12 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 12 rain days
• Sillamäe-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 12 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 12 rain days
• Tapa-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 10 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 10 rain days
• Tartu-2 °C (28 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 12 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 18 °F (-8 °C), 12 rain days
• Toila0 °C (32 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 12 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 12 rain days
• Türi-1 °C (30 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 11 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 11 rain days
• Valga-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 11 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 11 rain days
• Valgeranna-1 °C (30 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 10 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 10 rain days
• Viljandi-2 °C (28 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 12 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 18 °F (-8 °C), 12 rain days
• Vormsi2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 12 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 12 rain days
• Võru-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 12 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 12 rain days
• Võsu-2 °C (28 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 10 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °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.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Shops open late; offices closed.

• Christmas Market on Town Hall Square

  Late Nov to early Jan · Tallinn

  Crowds and mulled wine on the square every evening; book restaurants on weekends.

Crowds · Estonia

Low

Prices · Estonia

Low

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

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Rated best or good this month

• Otepää

  Best months: Jan–Mar for snow sports; Jun–Aug for the lake and hiking