"Häid jõule!", “Schastlivogo Rozhdestva!” or Merry Christmas! A Christmas market school trip to Tallinn is guaranteed to awaken that festive spirit! Combine the markets with a history or language trip for even more fun.
Tallinn - Christmas Market School Trip
- 4 days
- +2
- Estonia
- Approx. 2hrs
- The Old Town
- Kadriorg Palace
- Christmas Market visit
- Christmas Market in the Rotermanni Quarter
- Estonian History Museum - Maarjamäe Palace
- Day Trip to Helsinki
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Sample itinerary
This sample itinerary is offered as a guideline. The trip focus, length and itinerary/activities can be tailored to meet your learning objectives.
- Day
Day 1 - Tallinn Old Town
Fly to Tallinn, and upon arrival, take a coach transfer to your centrally located hotel. Along the way, enjoy views of Lake Ülemiste and get your first look at the historic Old Town.
After check-in and lunch, join your experienced TCBC guide for a tour of the Old Town, where you'll explore the medieval city and its ancient walls from the 13th century.
As you wander the cobblestone streets, your guide will introduce you to Estonian Christmas traditions. Take in the historic ambiance of Middle Age Aida Street, the haunted Lühike Jalg, and make a stop at Piiskopi Street to see both Toompea Castle, the seat of the Estonian Parliament, and St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the main Russian Orthodox cathedral in Estonia.
Catch a glimpse of the Christmas market (tomorrow you'll have the full evening to explore!) as you walk to the Old Town ice skating rink for a fun evening activity. Have dinner in one of the Old Town's restaurants, and then come back to your hotel. Have a good night and rest well, as tomorrow you'll have a long day exploring the festive beauty of Tallinn during the Christmas season.
Day 2 - Peter the Great Museum, Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn Christmas Markets
Start your day with a guided tour of the House of Peter the Great. This historic palace was frequently visited by Tsar Peter I and his wife during their stays in Tallinn. The Tsar acquired additional nearby estates and began designing a new palace and park in honour of his wife, Catherine. You can also explore this palace, known as Kadriorg, which is a magnificent example of Baroque architecture and is home to the Kadriorg Art Museum, showcasing Western European and Russian art.
As evening falls, it’s time to enter the fairytale world of Tallinn Christmas Market. Centered around a 14m tall spruce tree are unique crafts, delicious local fare, and Christmas ornaments aplenty. Keep out the cold in new woolen mittens, check out the unique Estonian design leatherware, and definitely make room for food! You’ll want to try the Metsaoru gingerbreads from a medieval recipe said to make the heart rejoice! Continue to explore Estonian delicacies with its traditional blood sausage and sauerkraut stewed in beer. Or sample a Latvian plant-based treat such as chia caviar and soy shashlik.
On your way back to the hotel, walk through the cozy Christmas Market in the Rotermanni Quarter as a final touch to this magical Christmas evening.
Day 3 - Day trip to Helsinki
Expand your students' horizons further with a cultural exchange trip to Helsinki for the day.
Travel by ferry to Helsinki and then explore Finland’s capital with your expert guide. Learn about Christmas and holiday celebrations here, including the Christmas Sauna and a tradition that has roots in the 1300s, when “Christmas Peace” is declared in Turku on December 24.
Next, head to Senate Square for Helsinki’s Christmas market. Tuomaan Markkinat is Helsinki’s oldest outdoor market, visited by more than 300,000 people each year between December 1-22. With nearly 100 artisans and small producers from all over Finland, and a free vintage-styled carousel for visitors, there is guaranteed to be something to bring that Christmas spirit.
Day 4 - KGB Museum and Soviet Tour
This morning, students will develop their knowledge of Soviet Estonia and what it was like to live under the control of the USSR. A trip to the 23rd floor of the Sokos Hotel Viru transports students into the world of espionage. Now a museum, the hidden room here was once the KGB radio centre that allowed Soviet spies to listen to foreign visitors within sixty of the hotel's rooms.
In the afternoon, students take a coach tour to uncover relics of the Soviet occupation. Once part of the Eastern Bloc, remnants of Soviet architecture, socialist-realist artwork, and propagandistic statues remain woven into Tallinn’s landscape; sites such as Freedom Square, KGB prison and punishment cells, and the controversial Bronze Soldier of Tallinn highlight the complex story of Russian control. Finish the afternoon with a tour of the Estonian History Museum - Maarjamäe Palace, which chronicles the 100 years from the birth of the Republic of Estonia to the present.
From here, transfer by coach to the airport and fly home after an incredible Tallinn winter school trip.
Happy holidays!
What’s included
Full TCBC support from the moment you book until you return home
Full itinerary flexibility to ensure the perfect tour for your students
We'll source the best available flights based on your school's location
You'll have all our necessary contact details to hand should the need arise
Knowledgeable TCBC guide ready to bring your walking tours to life
Detailed itinerary, with all entrance fees included, no hidden costs
Return flights, 1 piece of hold luggage per person, airport taxes and security charges and ATOL Protection Contribution
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure. We can also arrange your UK airport transfers if you wish
Experienced local TCBC guide in Tallinn for your included walking tours
3 nights' hotel accommodation, with twin/triple rooms for students and single rooms for teachers
Breakfasts and dinners daily at hotel, but we can arrange meals in local restaurants if preferred
Guided walking tour of Tallinn Old Town, Soviet Tallinn guided tour, tour of Occupations Museum , visits to the museums of your choice
There will be no hidden costs on tour, everything will be clearly explained before departure
24 hour emergency contact details of TCBC's office and your local guide's mobile number
The normal free staff place ratio is 1:10 but this is flexible and we'll work to whichever ratio you require
Please check at school to ensure you are covered by an adequate travel insurance policy which we will need to see a copy of. We can help you source cover if you need
We generally don't include lunches unless requested. We prefer to let the students explore the local options and choose for themselves
If you feel you have received excellent service, then our local guides and drivers will appreciate being tipped. Guidelines will be outlined in your quote
Event availability isn't usually known at the time of booking. We will inform you of options and ticket prices closer to departure
Local public transportation
Accommodation
We regularly use the same properties in Tallinn who are used to working with our school groups and meet our high standards.
Park Inn by Radisson Central Tallinn
Park Inn by Radisson Central in Tallinn is a cosy and modern hotel just a 5-minute walk from the well known Old Town.
Reasons to travel with us
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Safety & reliability
The safety of all our travellers is our number 1 priority. We have a robust Safety Management System in place to ensure that our tours are run to the high levels you expect.
Experience & expertise
We have years of experience in planning school tours. Our expertise lies in our organisational skills, attention to detail and an understanding of what you need to make your trip a success.
TCBC local guides
Our guides are our greatest assets and consistently lauded. Highly experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy, most are hand-picked and have worked with us for years.
Complete peace of mind
Our accreditations (ATOL, ABTA, STF, LOtC) provide you with the reliability, assurance and financial security expected from a specialist tour operator.
Customer
service
Our dedicated team is on hand to offer help and advice at every stage. We are positive you will be impressed with the high level of service you receive from us.
Flexibility & customisation
We customise every trip to suit your needs and offer maximum flexibility in planning your itinerary. We won’t rest until we get it right!
The personal touch
Getting to know our clients is very important to us. It’s very likely therefore that you’ll meet one or several of us at some point, either at school before departure or on the tour itself.
Total transparency
We include as much as possible in our quotes and are very transparent about what is and what is not included. There will be no hidden or surprise costs.
Pre-departure support
We understand how much work goes into planning a school trip. You will be dealing with the same people throughout the pre-departure process allowing us to respond quickly and accurately.
Repeat business
99.9% of teachers are so happy with our tours and our service that there is no need to travel with anyone else. We are confident you will feel the same way.
Whilst organising our trip, TCBC School Tours have been fantastic every step of the way - from helping us get it up and running, to the fantastic tours we had in each city. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to organise a school trip abroad.
