🗺️ Shopping in Tallinn: Estonian brands and handmade gifts

Forget the magnet with Town Hall Square. The real gifts from Tallinn are made by small local brands, and you can buy them right in the city center.

Visitors usually look for bear canned meat and garlic chocolate. Estonians themselves give something different: candles, chocolate, wool, and ceramics.

Ten such gifts are listed below. The selection is largest in December.

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What to buy in Tallinn

💡 In short:

Go for things made in Estonia: candles, sweets, socks, wool, and ceramics.
You'll find designer shops in the Old Town and in the Viru Keskus and Ülemiste malls.
Come in December if you want to catch the Christmas market.

1. Joik candle

Joik makes natural cosmetics and scented candles in Estonia. The brand was founded in 2005 (as of 09/2026, joik.eu), and its first and most famous product was candles made from organic wax.

Joik Spiced Cranberry candle in a glass jar

Today the brand also produces creams, bath salts, and decorative cosmetics. The candles are poured from rapeseed wax (as of 09/2026, joik.ee).

Before Christmas, the shelves feature scents of piparkook, spruce forest, hot chocolate, and spiced cranberry. Look for them in Selver, Prisma, and Rimi stores, as well as in Kaubamaja Ilumaailm and Tali shops. A candle takes up little space in a suitcase, so this gift is easy to bring home with you.

2. Kalev candies

Kalev products have long become a classic. Kalev candies are named after Kalev, the hero of the Estonian epic "Kalevipoeg."

Kalev chocolate with Estonian designs on store shelves

The range includes bars, toffees, marmalade, truffles, and hard candies. Try the white chocolate with blueberry, dark chocolate with cherry Drako, marzipan figures, and Tiina marmalade.

You can find Kalev in any grocery store in the country. Handmade truffles and marzipan are sold in brand stores and in the old Maiasmokk cafe. In winter, be sure to try piparkook, the local Christmas cookie with cinnamon and pepper. You can put together a box of sweets at any supermarket on the way to the airport.

3. Sipsik merch

The children's book character Sipsik was created by Estonian writer Eno Raud. In schools and kindergartens, children draw pictures and make crafts based on him, so everyone in Estonia knows the character.

Books about Sipsik have been translated into English, German, Finnish, Polish, and Lithuanian. You'll find the stories in Estonian and English at the Rahva Raamat bookstore. For the toy, check Jukukeskus, XL Mänguasjad, Karupoeg Puhh, and the large Rimi and Prisma supermarkets. As you walk around the city, you'll keep spotting the character in shop windows and on posters.

4. Vana Tallinn liqueur

Vana Tallinn has long become a symbol of Estonian alcohol. The classic version is strong, while the modern variants are noticeably lighter: with toffee, caramel, tiramisu, ice cream, coconut, and marzipan.

These liqueurs are great for adding to coffee or ice cream. In winter, go for Vana Tallinn glögg, the local hot spiced wine: it will warm you up in the cold.

Among the newer players, Nudist stands out. This brand makes wine from Estonian ingredients, including rhubarb, strawberry, and raspberry. Similar flavors and non-alcoholic versions are offered by Mull. Beer lovers should pick up craft brews from Põhjala.

5. Designer items from Oma Asi

The shop name Oma Asi translates as "one's own thing." It brings together works by Estonian designers: posters, socks, tote bags, mugs, and jewelry.

The shop's Old Town addresses are on Viru and Saiakang streets. Earrings and brooches make a great gift for a friend. You'll find a gift for any personality, but designer pieces cost more than ordinary souvenirs.

6. The book "Legends and tales of old Tallinn"

Tallinn has many legends and myths, and a dedicated book has been written about them. Its author, art historian and city historian Jüri Kuuskemaa, collected the stories of the Old Town in a single volume.

The English edition of the book can be bought at the Rahva Raamat store in the Viru Keskus mall (as of 09/2026, rahvaraamat.ee). This gift suits someone who loves the Old Town. You're giving not just a souvenir, but a book of local legends.

7. Socks from Sokisahtel

Bright socks have become a popular gift, and Tallinn has a dedicated shop for them. Sokisahtel translates as "sock drawer."

Here you'll find dozens of options featuring Town Hall Square, national patterns, Baltic herring, and Estonian phrases. The price per pair is lower than designer items, so socks are a convenient gift for colleagues and friends.

Find your pair at the Ülemiste, Nautica, and Foorum Keskus malls. Socks take up little space, so you can bring several pairs even in carry-on luggage.

8. Scarf from Alpaka

The Alpaka brand makes clothing from alpaca wool. The raw material comes from the Peruvian Andes, while the design and production are in Estonia (as of 09/2026, alpaka-shop.com).

Beige Alpaka scarf with fringe in a gift box

An alpaca scarf keeps you warm in a northern winter and looks understated. Items are sold on the brand's website and in a store at the Viru Keskus shopping center. You'll definitely appreciate a warm scarf on a winter walk through the Old Town.

9. Ceramics from NUUNUU RUUM

The NUUNUU RUUM ceramic studio operates in the Old Town on Müürivahe Street. They make handmade vases, plates, glasses, and mugs here.

Ceramic cup with green tea and a tea caddy

You can sign up for a workshop at the studio and make your own mug in the very heart of Old Tallinn. Ceramics are easy to transport: wrap them in clothing and they'll arrive home intact. You won't find a gift like this in an ordinary souvenir shop.

10. Christmas market

If you're traveling to Tallinn in winter, the best shopping awaits you at Town Hall Square. In the 2026 season, the market is open from November 20 to January 6 and is being held for the 25th time (as of 09/2026, on the organizers' website). It welcomes visitors every day from 10:00 to 20:00, hot drinks are served until 22:00, and on Fridays and Saturdays until 23:00.

Christmas market in a snowy square with a large Christmas tree

Mulled wine here is brewed in dozens of ways, from cranberry-cherry to pumpkin, and non-alcoholic versions are available at almost every stall (according to the market organizers). The center of the square is occupied by a 14-meter spruce, surrounded by wooden stalls. According to local tradition, the first public Christmas tree was put up on Town Hall Square several centuries ago.

The focus here is on local artisans: candles, Christmas tree ornaments, wool and alpaca socks, sweaters, and hats. Plastic trinkets have almost disappeared from the stalls. Prices at the market are tourist-oriented, so compare them with shops in the Old Town.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much money do you need for souvenirs from Tallinn?

Not much. Kalev sweets and Sokisahtel socks are inexpensive, Joik candles and a book about Tallinn fall in the mid-range, and NUUNUU RUUM ceramics and Alpaka wool are the most expensive. Check exact prices on the brands' official websites before buying.

Where to look for Estonian gifts if you're short on time?

Stop by Viru Keskus in the center: it has an Alpaka store and the Rahva Raamat bookstore. For Kalev sweets and Vana Tallinn liqueur, go to any Selver, Rimi, or Prisma supermarket. You can cover this route in under an hour.

Which souvenirs can't go in carry-on luggage?

Vana Tallinn liqueur and Nudist wine count as liquids, so they won't be allowed in carry-on. Check the bottles in your luggage or buy them after security at duty-free. Candles, candy, socks, a book, and ceramics can easily go in the cabin with you.

When does the Tallinn Christmas market operate?

The 2026 season opens on November 20 and runs until January 6 (as of 09/2026, in the market schedule). The market is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00, and hot drinks are served later. In December the gift selection is at its largest, but so is the crowd.

Which souvenir is definitely made in Estonia, not imported from Asia?

Joik candles, Kalev chocolate, Sokisahtel socks, NUUNUU RUUM ceramics, and Alpaka wool are produced in Estonia. Magnets, printed mugs, and keychains are more often made in Asia. If you want to support locals, buy products from these brands rather than trinkets at the market entrance.

In short: what to buy in Tallinn

Souvenirs from Tallinn are easy to sort by budget and the recipient's personality.

If you're on a tight budget: get Kalev chocolates or Sokisahtel socks.
If you want a recognizable brand: get a Joik candle or an Alpaka scarf.
If you need a gift with history: a book by Jüri Kuuskemaa about old Tallinn.
If the recipient loves handmade items: NUUNUU RUUM ceramics.
If you're in town in December: you'll find gifts at the Christmas market.

Coming for shopping in December? Book a hotel in the Old Town so you don't have to haul bags across the whole city: see Tallinn hotels on Trip.com.

Tallinn souvenirs: 10 gifts from local brands