Overview

Events in Tallinn

Tallinn events and festivals: winter markets, creative city culture, music week energy, and Old Town celebrations — plus how to enjoy them without overplanning.

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Photo by Estonia Incorporated on Unsplash.

Signature Tallinn Events

How to Enjoy Events Like a Local

Pick one “headline” moment and leave the rest open.

  • Markets: go early or on weekdays.
  • Festivals: choose one venue/area per night.
  • Old Town celebrations: arrive before peak crowd, then retreat to quieter lanes.

Summer Season Tips (When Most Tourists Arrive)

Tallinn’s summer is about long evenings. The best strategy is to treat daylight like part of your itinerary:

  • Do Old Town early, then shift to parks, museums, or the sea mid-day.
  • Save one evening for viewpoints and one for the waterfront (Noblessner or Pirita).
  • Check Public Holidays if you’re planning a weekend around peak event days.

Season planning: Tallinn Festivals in Summer · Tallinn in June · Tallinn in July · Tallinn in August.

More Evergreen Event Ideas

If you’re planning around a trip theme, these can be great anchors too:

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Jump straight into the best pages in this cluster.

Place

Tallinn Christmas Market

Tallinn’s Christmas Market in Town Hall Square is winter magic: lights, mulled drinks, and medieval atmosphere. Here’s how to go at the best times and make it feel romantic, not crowded.

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Tallinn Music Week

Tallinn Music Week is one of the city’s signature cultural events: live music across venues, creative-city energy, and a great reason to visit in spring.

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Tallinn Old Town Days

Tallinn Old Town Days celebrates the medieval heart of the city with events and atmosphere — a great time to visit if you love street life, history, and summer evenings.

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Tallinn Day (May 15)

Tallinn Day celebrates the city’s birthday with guided tours, cultural events, and a lively local mood. It’s a great time to visit if you like city history with a festive, not-touristy feel.

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Tallinn Medieval Days

Tallinn Medieval Days is a summer event that leans into Old Town atmosphere with medieval-themed programming. It’s perfect if you want history vibes with a playful, festival feel.

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Tallinn Restaurant Week

Tallinn Restaurant Week is a great excuse to plan a food-forward trip: tasting menus, special offers, and a city-wide dining mood. Here’s how to enjoy it without overbooking.

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Tallinn Marathon

Running Tallinn? The Tallinn Marathon brings a special city atmosphere. Here’s how to plan a trip around it: where to stay, what to do before/after the race, and how to keep it fun.

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Jazzkaar (Tallinn Jazz Festival)

Jazzkaar is one of Estonia’s signature music festivals and often brings a vibrant cultural buzz to Tallinn. Here’s how to plan a relaxed, music-forward city break around it.

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Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF)

PÖFF (Black Nights Film Festival) is Tallinn’s headline film festival — a November cultural season highlight with screenings, premieres, and a city-wide cinema vibe.

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Tallinn Craft Beer Weekend

Tallinn Craft Beer Weekend is a modern festival highlight for beer lovers — a social, high-energy weekend that pairs perfectly with creative neighborhoods like Telliskivi and Kalamaja.

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Tallinn Maritime Days (Tallinna Merepäevad)

Tallinn Maritime Days is a signature summer festival by the sea — ships, harbor atmosphere, waterfront events, and a great reason to plan a coastal-feeling Tallinn weekend.

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Tallinn Design Festival

Tallinn Design Festival is a strong reason to visit for design lovers — exhibitions, talks, and a city-wide creative mood that pairs perfectly with Telliskivi and Rotermann.

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Tallinn Architecture Biennale (TAB)

TAB (Tallinn Architecture Biennale) is a top-tier cultural event for architecture fans — exhibitions, talks, and city-wide ideas that make Tallinn’s built environment feel even more interesting.

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