If, like me, you’re usually a pretty heavy packer then packing carry on luggage for a long weekend can be a struggle. My brain tells me things like ‘what if you want to wear that top you haven’t worn in 4 years’ and ‘ooh you’d better pack triple the amount of underwear – just in case’. Since we’ve been there ourselves, i’m here to give you some tips for what to pack for a winter weekend in Tallinn (other than the obvious bits like toothbrush and pants) so you can travel feeling happy and confident you have everything you need!

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What shall I do in Tallinn in Winter?

If you need any tips (other than what to pack for a weekend Tallinn) such as where to eat or what to do, check out our tips of Places to Eat & Things to do in Tallinn in Winter and take a look at our experience in the magical fairy-tale city!

The main thing is to stay warm!! All of the Christmas markets are outside and it’s so lovely to walk around with some mulled wine (glogg) and explore the hidden alleyways of the Old Town, so making sure your hands and face stay warm is a must!

Packing List:

• Plug Adapter – Estonia uses the type F plug, which is the same as pretty much all of Europe so they’re pretty easy to get your hands on if you haven’t already got some lying around. If you haven’t though, I always love these universal adapters that you can use in pretty much any country with built in USB ports!
• Money – Estonia uses the Euro. It’s always worth having some cash on you, especially if you plan on visiting the Christmas markets, however most places do accept card! I’d check your bank’s exchange rate beforehand to see which is better for you.
• Hand Cream & Lip Balm – a little hand cream and lip balm to fit in your pocket or handbag wouldn’t go amiss. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s freezing cold and the air can dry your skin out pretty quickly.
• Camera – Tallinn old town is one of the most beautiful medieval cities we’ve ever seen, so whether you’re a budding photographer or just looking for an excuse to dust off your lenses then I can’t think of a better place.
• Tissues – There’s nothing worse than getting a runny nose from going in and out of the cold all day (toilet roll from the cafe toilets will make your nose so so sore, trust me)!
• Hand Warmers – Not a ‘must have’, but a ‘nice to have’. If you’re on a budget, you can get a pack of disposables like these for around £5, but the only last for up to 45 minutes each, and they aren’t good for the environment. Our preference would be a rechargeable set of two that you can use over and over again, and last for hours!

Clothing

Tallinn is a pretty laid back city, so comfy clothes are fine for every day. There are however a few ‘fine dining’ restaurants here which you might feel better slightly more dressed up. I’d recommend bringing one smarter outfit with you as well to chuck your warm coat on top of – take a look at some of the places we ate on our trip to Estonia

• Layers, Layers, Layers – It’s often below freezing over winter in Tallinn, so vests, thermal tops/trousers, jumpers, scarves, hats, gloves, snoods…. you name it, bring it. Obviously If you’re just taking hand luggage then go for more, thinner layers as opposed to one huge chunky knit (I’m not even sure that makes sense…).
• Comfy Walking Shoes – On our trip to Tallinn, we decided to go to do a Husky hike (it was meant to be a husky ride but because the snowfall was late that year, we took the huskies out for a nice long walk instead) which is why we were so grateful we’d brought our walking boots! You could wear some warm and comfy trainers or regular boots, but we chose to do a lot of walking around whilst we were there and our walking boots not only kept our feet comfy but also added an extra layer of warmth for our toes! In Estonia, the months of December – February usually sees a lot of snowfall and the roads and paths can get pretty slippery. If you are choosing to wear other footwear, just make sure they give you some support and grip, as the cobbled streets can be quite steep.
• Thermal Socks – The warmer the better.
• Heated Gillet – Okay so this definitely isn’t essential, but I’ve found this great heated gillet for under £50 on Amazon at the moment so if you have some leftover Christmas money, definitely a great treat to yourself!

A little tip – if you’re short on space, simply wearing a pair of tights underneath some jeans can be a huge life saver to stop your legs from being chilly!