🎁 Top 15 souvenirs from Tallinn
The trip is coming to an end, but you haven’t bought any souvenirs yet? I suggest leaving the magnets alone and looking for something truly Estonian. You may have already heard about canned bear food and garlic chocolates – you won’t see anything like that here! But this “shock content” will not be the first choice of gift for locals. I’ll tell you now what the people of Tallinn spoil their foreign friends with.
Joik candle
is the most popular brand of Estonian travel cosmetics. It was founded by businesswoman Evoi-Marie Õunapuu. The range has long included creams, bath salts, and decorative cosmetics. But nothing is more associated with the company than their very first and most successful product – scented candles on organic wax.
Around Christmas, the store's shelves include flavors of piparkoog (local Christmas cookies), spruce forest, hot chocolate and spiced cranberry. You can purchase your Joik candle in the chain of stores Selver, Prisma, Rimi, as well as Kaubamaja Ilumaailm and Tali.
Candy Kalev
Kalev products are timeless classics! It seems that the candies named after the main hero of our folk epic, Kalev, have leapfrogged him in the popularity ratings. There is plenty for every taste: bars and risks, marmalade, truffles, lollipops and much more!
My favorites include: white chocolate with blueberries, dark chocolate with cherry pieces “Drako”, marzipan figures and marmalade “Tiina”. All this and more can be found in absolutely any grocery store in the country. In branded stores you can find luxury products, such as truffles and handmade marzipan figurines. By the way, you can still find them in the oldest cafe in the city “Maiasmokk” (“Gourmand”). During the Christmas period, be sure to try piparkok or pepper cookies – our traditional holiday delicacy.
Merch from Sipsik
Who is Sipsik and where does he get his merch? Meet our favorite fairy tale and cartoon hero. “Karapuz” was invented by the Estonian writer Eno Raud back in the 60s, but neither stories, nor theatrical performances and numerous cartoons lose popularity to this day. In schools and kindergartens they draw pictures and make fakes, inspired by the world of heroes.
The book about Sipsika has been translated into many languages, including English, Polish, Finnish, Lithuanian, German and others. You can buy stories in Estonian and English at the Rahva Raamat bookstore. And you can buy a toy in children's stores Jukukeskus, XL Mänguasjad, Karupoeg Puhh, Rahva Raamat or in any large supermarket like Rimi or Prisma. Walking around the city, you will often come across something related to this cute character.
Vana Tallinn
Surprisingly many guests from the post-Soviet space have heard about the local liqueur “Old Tallinn” or Vana Tallinn. Since then, the product line has expanded significantly and is no longer limited to the classic 40-degree original. You will find many “lite” 16 degree versions in grocery stores. Among them are liqueurs with the taste of toffee and caramel , tiramisu, ice cream, coconut and marzipan – all this is our greeting to the Irish Baileys. By the way, such drinks are good to add to coffee or ice cream. During the Christmas season, I suggest taking “glögg” or hot wine from Vana Tallinn.
Alternative: New players have recently appeared on the block. For example, such a nonsense of local alcohol as Nudist specializes in wine from products that grow in Estonia. In their assortment you will find wine with rhubarb, strawberry and raspberry flavors. Mull (translated as “bubble”) also offers similar tastes and alcohol- free options. And the undoubted favorite in the world of craft beer is Põhjala.
Designer souvenirs from the Oma Asi store
The shop Oma Asi (translated as “one's own thing”) features works by Estonian designers, many of which are at very affordable prices. Here you will find posters, funny socks, shoppers, mugs, and a lot of decorations. I especially love choosing earrings for my girlfriends here – from fancy to elegant. Address Viru 21, 10148 Tallinn or Saiakang 4, 10146 Tallinn. You can see an approximate assortment in the main photo.
Jüri Kuuskemaa’s book ” The Legends and History of Old Tallinn”
Tallinn is a city of myths and legends! This book is an ideal gift for fans of Old Tallinn and those who are nostalgic for it. The author is art critic and chief historian of our city – Jüri Kuuskemaa. You can purchase your copy in English at the Rahva Raamat store in the Viru Keskus shopping center.
Socks from Sokisahtel
Recently, it has become especially popular to wear bright and original socks. In Sokisahtel or in the country’s main “sock drawer”, as the name translates, you will find a wide variety of options at an affordable price. I’m sure that your friends definitely don’t have a pair with Tallinn Town Hall Square, national patterns, sprat or just cool Estonian phrases. You can find your “pair” in the Sokisahtel store in the Ülesmiste, Nautica or Foorum Keskus shopping centers.
Scarf from Alpaka
Alpaka is an Estonian luxury brand that produces clothing from responsibly sourced alpaca wool. You can get acquainted with the co-products of the Peruvian Andes and Estonia on the website or in the store in the Viru Keskus shopping center. I was especially captivated by the elegance and high quality of the scarves – such a gift is impossible to simply refuse.
Ceramic mug from NUUNUU RUUM
Located in the Old Town, the ceramic studio NUUNUU RUUM is a must-see. In addition to being filled with inspiration, you will find many original handmade items: vases, plates, even glasses and, of course, mugs. By the way, you can also sign up for a master class there and make your own mug in the very heart of Old Tallinn. Address: Müürivahe Tänav 28-3, 10148 Tallinn, and for details on Instagram.
Christmas market
Every year at the beginning of December for more than 580 years in a row, a Christmas tree is decorated on Town Hall Square and a Christmas market is set up. By the way, in 2021, the Tallinn holiday market was recognized as the best in Europe. Here you can not only enjoy aromatic glögg and hot traditional food, but also buy souvenirs. Since 2020, there are fewer and fewer plastic trinkets from China on the shelves and more high-quality local goods.
For example, warm woolen socks carefully knitted by Estonian needlewomen, which will definitely save you from the northern winter. Or, for example, Christmas tree decorations in the form of figures in traditional costumes – this is my favorite! You won’t be able to shop here profitably – whatever one may say, this is a tourist mecca, but it would be simply indecent not to come here during the holiday season.
We talked about the best Christmas markets in the world in this material. But here you will find not just a list of places with holiday markets, but also impressions of some of them.