• Dating back to 1441, Tallinn’s Christmas market is just 2 hours from the UK and prices start from £153pp* 
• Gingerbread Mania features an art exhibition of edible sculptures, while the city features a 20-dish medieval banquet and husky sledding through enchanting forests. 

4th November 2025: Christmas market season is around the corner, but for many travellers, once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.  

One lesser-known destination, however, offers a truly unique festive experience, from gingerbread art and immersive, medieval feasts to snowy sledding adventures. Now travel brand First Choice is shining a light on the Baltic city, Tallinn, where Christmas feels authentic, unexpected and genuinely affordable. 

The city’s crown jewel of the festive season is the Gingerbread Mania exhibition, running from 29 November 2025 to 7 January 2026.  

This is no ordinary seasonal display – over a hundred artists, including architects, designers and visual artists, create intricate sculptures entirely from gingerbread. Visitors can witness edible castles, bridges and figurines before enjoying artisan gingerbread cookies in the exhibition café. It’s the kind of event that makes even the most seasoned Christmas market- goer stop in their tracks.  

Tallinn’s Christmas Market, open from 21 November to 28 December 2025, brings a storybook charm to Town Hall Square.  

Its historic Christmas tree, first erected in 1441, is widely recognised as Europe’s earliest public Christmas tree. Local artisans sell traditional Estonian festive foods such as verivorst (blood sausage), sült (jellied head cheese) and hapukapsas (sauerkraut), alongside mulled wine and seasonal treats. With a vibrant programme of performances, everyone can soak up an authentic atmosphere without the overcrowding or inflated prices of more famous markets. 

Beyond the square, the hidden surprises continue. On Pikk Street, behind thick medieval doors, diners can feast by candlelight at Olde Hansa, a restaurant that recreates the rituals of a 20-course 15th-century banquet.  

The experience begins with a ceremonial handwashing, before guests elect a ‘master of the table’ to break bread for the group. Twenty dishes arrive in succession; wild boar sausages, bear stew marinated in red wine, smoked deer sirloin and rose pudding – all served on shared platters with medieval music humming in the background.  

The experience is a little more on the pricey side at €68-€120, but this kind of immersive dining offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

The sense of magic doesn’t stop at the city walls either.  

Less than an hour north of Tallinn, visitors can meet teams of Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies at the Small Lapland Husky Park and race through pine forests on a sled. After the ride, guests can warm up with tea by a crackling campfire and toast marshmallows beneath the starry Baltic sky. It’s a once in a lifetime moment you’d expect in Lapland, but here, it’s just another layer of Tallinn’s winter festivities. 

‘Brits are craving authentic winter breaks that feel special but still offer great value,’ says Kevin Nelson, Managing Director at First Choice Holidays. ‘Tallinn delivers both value and unique experiences like Gingerbread Mania and husky sledding, competing with other European favourites.’ 

And Tallinn doesn’t just offer a unique festive experience; it’s also a far more affordable alternative.  

While trips to cities like Vienna or Copenhagen now average close to £1,000 for a weekend break, a similar stay in Tallinn with First Choice costs as little as £153pp*. When it comes to food and drink, meals at the markets rarely total more than €12, and mulled wine costs as little as €3.  

To be in the heart of it all, travellers can stay at the stylish Centennial Nexus Hotel Tallinn just a short stroll from the Old Town’s festive lights and markets. Its modern Nordic design and cosy spa make it the perfect base to unwind after a day exploring the city’s winter charm. It blends comfort, convenience, and seasonal atmosphere in one sleek stay. 

In a world where many travellers are becoming disillusioned with overcrowded, overpriced Christmas markets – Tallinn stands apart, offering rarity and authenticity. It’s the kind of destination where value meets experience in the truest sense. 

For those looking to rediscover what makes Christmas travel feel truly special, this small Baltic capital might just be Europe’s biggest festive surprise.