1. Take a spin around the ice rink in Old Town

Exploring Tallinn’s UNESCO-listed Old Town is a given. It’s the city’s most popular attraction, and for good reason. The cobblestone streets, winding alleyways, and red-tile rooftops are stunning in any season. However, they provide a picturesque backdrop to the ice skating rink on Harju Street in winter. You’ll feel like the main character of a holiday movie gliding around with fairy lights twinkling overhead and church spires towering in the background.
 

2. Linger over a MICHELIN-starred meal

Estonia’s culinary scene is booming. Tallinn is home to Estonia’s only restaurant with two MICHELIN Stars, 180° by Matthias Diether. Overall, MICHELIN Guide Estonia recommends 25 restaurants in Tallinn. There’s something for everyone: zero-waste dining at Fotografiska, fine Thai flavors at Nok Nok, high-quality meat-based meals at Pull, Italian food at Gianni, and French-inspired food at Âme. Chefs working in Estonia today are known for their innovative use of seasonal foods and traditional Estonian cooking methods, such as smoking and fermenting.
 

3. Cross-country ski like a local

Estonians love cross-country skiing; children even learn the basics in school. Getting active outdoors is the best way to beat the winter blues, so you’ll see skiers on the tracks as soon as the first snow has fallen. The most popular places in Tallinn are the Pirita Sports Center and the Nõmme Sports Center. Both places offer equipment rentals (bring your passport), and the trails are well-lit on into the evening.
 

4. Pamper yourself at the spa

Sometimes winter weather is truly frightful, but the spa is always delightful! Indulge in treatments using the best of Estonian nature to rejuvenate your skin or massage away the tension after a stressful holiday season. Tallinn has a variety of spas to pick from, and many also have water centers with pools and saunas. It’s easy to while away a few hours at the spa, and you’re guaranteed to emerge feeling like a new person.
 

5. Satisfy your curiosity at a world-class museum

Never been to Tallinn before? Spend some time at the city’s museums for an overview of Estonian art, culture, and history. Art lovers should head to Kumu Art Museum and Kadriorg Palace; history lovers will enjoy the Seaplane Harbour Museum and the Maritime Museum in Fat Margaret’s Tower. The Great Guild Hall and Kiek in de Kök are great for learning more about Tallinn’s medieval history, while the Estonian History Museum at Maarjamäe Palace and Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom, offer more insight into Estonia’s recent history.

6. Get your caffeine fix at a cozy café

"Kohv ja kook" — coffee and cake — is there anything better for a little afternoon pick-me-up? Local cafes have been booming. Try a cuppa with a flaky Napoleon or a meringue roulade with cream and berries. The pastries will have you swooning, too; cinnamon, cardamom, and poppyseed rolls are local favorites. During the weeks leading up to Lent, every cafe and bakery offers "vastlakuklid", sweet buns filled with cream and sometimes jam and marzipan. If you prefer to stay away from sweets, you can still enjoy savory pies called "pirukad". Go traditional with cabbage or carrot fillings. Some places even offer pies filled with game meat or wild mushrooms. Whichever you choose, you get the energy boost you need to keep exploring.

 

7. Strap on snowshoes for a wintry hike

One of the best things to do in Tallinn is to leave Tallinn. Estonian nature turns into a true winter wonderland when there’s snow. Luckily, the country is compact, so you can easily escape the city for a day to wander around the woods and be back in town before nightfall. A guided snowshoe hike will take you off the beaten path, so you can enjoy the peacefulness of Estonia’s forests.
 

8. Wade into winter swimming

Outdoor swimming is a year-round activity in Estonia. Locals brave the frigid waters of the Baltic Sea, even without a pre-swim sauna, and have been doing so long before cold dipping became trendy. Definitely don’t dive in, though, if you’ve never gone before. Check with your doctor, and don’t overdo it. You’ll find dedicated winter swimmers on the beach next to Linnahall. If you’d rather have a sauna to warm up before or after your swim, then check out the Lennusulps Winter Swimming Club (they also organize training for first-timers) behind the Seaplane Harbour Museum or the saunas at Iglupark in nearby Noblessner.
 

9. Relax in the warmth of a sauna

Fortunately, you can relax in the sauna without having to experience the bone-chilling waters of the Baltic. Warm up at a Finnish sauna, infrared sauna, barrel sauna, steam sauna, smoke sauna — there are nearly as many types of saunas as there are people in Estonia. Elamus Spa in Mustamäe is the largest spa and sauna center in Scandinavia; it has 22 different saunas and offers scheduled sauna rituals featuring traditional whisking, shea butter, and sound therapy. A truly Estonian sauna experience can be had at a smoke sauna. Though more common in South Estonia (Võro smoke sauna traditions have been listed by UNESCO), it’s possible to find them all over the country.
 

10. Travel back in time at a retro restaurant

Most visitors come to Tallinn to experience Old Town’s atmosphere, thanks to the many well-preserved medieval buildings. However, you can also travel back in time to any point in the last two hundred years at several historic restaurants around the city. Not only can you dine like a medieval merchant at Olde Hansa, but you can also enjoy the elegant vibes at Café Maiasmokk, Tallinn’s oldest continuously operating cafe, or try the retro flavors and mid-century ambience at Café Narva.