Tallinn's markets: a guide to the city's best markets

Markets in Tallinn: the honest guide

Tallinn does not have the enormous covered market halls of Riga or the sprawling flea markets of some larger cities, but what it does have is good. The Balti Jaam Market is a genuinely excellent food market; the Telliskivi flea market is one of the better Saturday markets in the Baltic states for vintage and craft; and the Christmas Market on Raekoja plats is arguably Europe’s best Christmas market by setting and quality.

This guide covers every market worth visiting, with practical information on opening times, how to get there, and what to look for at each.

Balti Jaam Market (Balti Jaama Turg)

The Balti Jaam Market next to the Baltic train station is the most interesting and useful market in Tallinn for visitors. It is a functioning local market — not a tourist attraction — and that distinction shows in both prices and quality.

What you find:

The market has an indoor section (open year-round) and an outdoor section (fuller in warm months). Inside, the food stalls are the highlights:

• Smoked fish: Baltic sprat (kilud), salmon, and eel from local smokers. Buy a portion to eat immediately or vacuum-packed to take home. A portion of smoked sprat costs around €3 to €5.
• Estonian cheeses: several stalls sell local semi-hard and soft cheeses. Ask to taste before buying — most sellers are happy to.
• Dairy: quark (kohupiim), kefir, butter, and cream from Estonian farms at significantly lower prices than supermarkets.
• Bread: Estonian rye bread (rukkileib) in its authentic dense, dark form. The genuine article is substantially different from the mild-flavoured international versions. A loaf costs €2 to €4.
• Honey: Estonian wildflower, buckwheat, and forest honey from local beekeepers. Excellent quality and good value.
• Seasonal produce: mushrooms in autumn (a big deal in Estonia — chanterelles, porcini), strawberries in summer, spring vegetables from April onwards.
• Flowers: year-round flower stalls, busy on market days and before public holidays.
• Soviet-era merchandise: the outer edges of the market have a permanent flea market section with Soviet cameras, enamelware, badges, and curiosities. Variable quality; interesting to browse.

Practical information:

• Open Monday to Saturday approximately 08:00 to 18:00, Sunday 09:00 to 16:00
• Busiest on Saturday mornings from 09:00 to 12:00
• Card accepted at most food stalls; cash useful for flea market items
• Adjacent to Balti Jaam (Baltic train station) — accessible by tram 1, 2, or 3, or a 15-minute walk from the Old Town

Tallinn food and history tour — passes through market neighbourhoods

See our dedicated Balti Jaam Market guide for more detail on navigating the market.

Telliskivi Saturday flea market

The Telliskivi kirpukk (flea market) runs every Saturday from approximately 10:00 to 15:00 in the Telliskivi Creative City complex in Kalamaja. In good weather it is entirely outdoor; in winter or rain it moves to an indoor space within the complex.

What you find:

• Private sellers clearing out household items — this is the section for genuine Soviet-era discoveries and random Estonian domestic history
• Small vintage dealers with curated clothing, accessories, and objects
• Artisan sellers with handmade goods — jewellery, ceramics, textiles
• Book sellers (mostly Estonian-language; some international titles)
• Plant and seed sellers in spring and summer

The flea market is best early — by 12:00 the most interesting pieces in the private-seller section are usually gone. Arrive at 10:00 or 10:30 for the full selection. Reasonable bargaining is acceptable with private sellers; less so with dedicated dealers who know their prices.

Practical information:

• Saturdays only, 10:00 to approximately 15:00
• Free entry
• Primarily cash (some sellers accept cards; bring some cash)
• Access: tram 2 to Telliskivi stop, or 20-minute walk from Old Town

See our Telliskivi Creative City guide for the full picture of what the complex offers beyond the flea market.

The Christmas market on Raekoja plats

The Tallinn Christmas Market on Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats) is the most famous market in Tallinn — running from late November to early January and consistently ranked among Europe’s best Christmas markets. The craft stalls sell hand-knitted woolens, ceramics, amber jewellery, Kalev marzipan, linen goods, and Estonian artisan products. The food stalls cover glögi (mulled wine), gingerbread (piparkook), smoked meats, and roasted nuts.

See our dedicated Christmas market guide for the full picture, including crowd management tips and what to buy.

Ülemiste antique market

The Ülemiste Antique Market is held periodically (check local listings for dates — it is not weekly) in the Ülemiste shopping centre area, southeast of the city centre. Dealers bring antique furniture, porcelain, silverware, art, and collectibles. It is a more serious antiques market than the flea markets, with higher prices and higher quality. Accessible by bus from the city centre or airport; combine with the airport if you have time before a flight.

Old Town craft markets and pop-ups

The Old Town has several semi-regular craft markets beyond the Christmas season:

Masters’ Courtyard (Meistrite Hoov): the medieval courtyard adjacent to Katariina käik has artisan workshops open daily, with a more market-like atmosphere during summer events. Working ceramicists, hatmakers, jewellers, and leather workers sell from their studios.

Katariina käik (St Catherine’s Passage): the covered medieval lane hosts occasional craft markets and is always worth walking — the workshops of working artisans are accessible year-round.

Old Town Days craft market: during the June Vanalinna Päevad festival, a craft market takes over several Old Town locations. See our events calendar for current year dates.

Kadriorg summer market

During summer weekends, a small farmers’ and artisan market operates in the Kadriorg area, typically near the park. Locally grown produce, honey, flowers, and small craft items. Informal and seasonal — check locally for current Saturday market locations. See our Kadriorg guide for the broader neighbourhood context.

What to bring to Tallinn markets

Cash: while most permanent food stalls and shops accept cards, flea markets and outdoor craft sellers often prefer cash. Having €30 to €50 in notes is useful.

Bags: bring your own reusable shopping bag — Estonian markets and shops charge for plastic bags (typically €0.10 to €0.20), in line with national policy.

Early arrival: Saturday markets — particularly the Telliskivi flea market and the Balti Jaam Market — are at their best before midday.

Language: English is widely spoken at all markets in Tallinn. You will have no difficulty communicating with sellers.

Markets and food culture together

The best way to experience Tallinn’s market culture is as part of a broader neighbourhood exploration. The Balti Jaam Market connects naturally to Kalamaja, Telliskivi, and the Noblessner waterfront. A Saturday morning that starts at the Balti Jaam Market, moves to the Telliskivi flea market, and then wanders through Kalamaja’s wooden streets before lunch at Telliskivi gives you the best of the neighbourhood in 4 to 5 hours.

For eating at and around the markets, see our best restaurants guide and Tallinn food culture guide. For the full shopping picture across Tallinn, see our Tallinn shopping guide.

Seasonal market highlights

Tallinn’s markets have a clear seasonal rhythm that rewards visiting at different times of year:

Spring (April–May): the Balti Jaam Market gains its outdoor section. First Estonian strawberries appear in May, along with wild garlic (metsküüslauk) and spring greens. The Telliskivi flea market moves outdoors and gains its best summer format. Design markets at Telliskivi resume with spring collections.

Summer (June–August): peak market season. Fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, bilberries, cloudberries), summer vegetables, and flowers from local producers fill the Balti Jaam Market. The outdoor food vendors at Telliskivi run full weekend programmes. The Kadriorg area farmers’ market operates on summer weekends.

Autumn (September–October): the best season for the Balti Jaam Market’s produce section. Chanterelle and porcini mushrooms from local foragers, autumn apples, pears, and berries, root vegetables, honey from the last harvest, and an excellent selection of pickles and preserves. The Telliskivi flea market has typically interesting stock as Tallinn residents clear out before winter.

Winter (November–December): the Balti Jaam Market continues indoors with smoked meats, dairy, and winter produce. The main event is the Christmas market on Raekoja plats — see our Christmas market guide for the full picture. Some Telliskivi markets move indoors but continue through December.

A guided food experience through Tallinn’s neighbourhoods

For visitors who want to experience Tallinn’s food market culture as part of a guided narrative — connecting the markets to the city’s history and the stories behind what is being sold — a food walking tour is a good option. These typically take in the Old Town’s food heritage, some market stalls, and neighbourhood restaurants.

Tallinn food and history walking tour — markets, neighbourhoods, and local food

Market etiquette and practical tips

Bargaining: acceptable and expected at flea markets and antique stalls, where private sellers have flexibility. Not appropriate at food stalls or professional craft sellers, who have fixed prices.

Sampling: at food stalls in the Balti Jaam Market, asking to taste before buying is normal and accepted. Point at the item and make a questioning gesture; most sellers will offer a sample without needing English.

Photography: at markets, always ask before photographing sellers or their stalls — a gesture and a smile go a long way. Most sellers are happy to be photographed; a few prefer not to be.

Seasonal unavailability: some market stalls are seasonal and may not operate in winter months. The core of the Balti Jaam Market is year-round; the outdoor sections and some specialty producers are summer only.