Helsinki Christmas Market - Tuomaan markkinat

Tuomaan markkinat - Suomenkielinen käännös löytyy alta.

Every December at the Senate square next to the Torikorttelit there is a Christmas market called Tuomaan markkinat. This year it is even better than earlier. Reason for that is designer Linda Bergroth and Torikorttelit who took over the production.

This year you will not find any boring food you will usually find from basic market stalls. At Tuomaan markkinat you will have difficulties to choose what to eat. You will find at least these stalls:

• MAT Xmas Canteen
• Café Köket's Christmas Café
• Twisted Street Kitchen
• Sandro
• Texas BBQ
• Street Gastro
• Ravintola Sunn
• B-Smokery
• Social Food
• Harjun makkaratehdas
• Soi Soi
• Hymy Raw Food Café.

I attended the blogger's event last Monday at the Tuomaan markkinat and had an opportunity to try some food. I ended up tasting Curry Tofu with Christmas Flavors from Twisted Street Kitchen and also some delicious Lamb Meatballs from MAT. It was all really good.

Among the food and gift stalls you will find a free carousel and a real Santa Claus. I am definitely going to take my niece Sohvi there really soon. She loves the carousel. At the Torikorttelit you will also find a Christmas Yard. There you can go to the sauna (free of charge) and enjoy some food and drinks. During the weekends you can attend the events, check out the timetable from here.

The Senate square is decorated with beautiful PEFC certificated Christmas trees. You will soon have an opportunity to win one of these Christmas trees. So stay tuned for the giveaway!

Tuomaan markkinat
8. - 21.12.2014
Senate Square, Helsinki
www.tuomaanmarkkinat.fi

CLICK HERE TO ATTEND THE GIVEAWAY OF A CHRISTMAS TREE!

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Tuomaan markkinat

Senaatintorilla järjestettävät Tuomaan markkinat on uudistettu. Uudistuksen takana on Linda Bergroth ja Torikorttelit. Uudistuneilla joulumarkkinoilla tarjotaan maukasta katuruokaa ja lapset pääsevät ilmaiseksi karuselliin. Tutustu myös Torikortteleiden Joulupihaan Bockin talon sisäpihalla.

Senaatintori on koristeltu kauniilla PEFC-sertifioiduilla joulukuusilla. Nämä kuuset etsivät pian uuttaa kotia, ja pääset osallistumaan arvontaan, josta voit voittaa yhden kuusen joulusi iloksi. Joten pysy kanavalla!

Tuomaan markkinat
8. - 21.12.2014
Senaatintori, Helsinki

KLIKKAA TÄSTÄ JOULUKUUSIARVONTAAN!

Tallinn, Estonia - Where to Stay and How to Travel

When I have traveled to Tallinn I have stayed in few hotels and once in an airbnb loft. Here are my recommendations for your stay.

Hotels

• Swissôtel Tallinn
• Nordic Hotel Forum *
• Savoy Boutique Hotel
• Sokos Hotel Estoria *

Swissôtel is defenately the nicest place to stay. It's quiet and 117 meters high with 30 floors. The view we had from the 16th floor window to the sea was peaceful and beautiful. The room price we paid didn't include breakfast as I wanted to try the room service. Pete and I ordered eggs, pancakes and juice, it was a good choice as I don't enjoy buffets. The service is five star class in this hotel.

Swissôtel Tallinn. November 2013.

The beautiful view from the Swissôtel.

Swissôtel

Room Service!

Nordic Hotel Forum* also had a nice room with an urban city view. I really enjoyed my stay there. Tia and I also took the advantage of the Leisure Center and went swimming. The breakfast was a basic hotel breakfast.

This one and the main photo are taken in the Nordic Hotel Forum. September 2013.

Jenni and I stayed in Savoy Boutique Hotel in the Old Town. The hotel is in an old building and it has a sympathetic atmosphere. The breakfast can be enjoyed at the restaurant Mekk, that is one of the Tallinn restaurants with quality food.

Savoy Boutique Hotel. February 2013.

Jenni at Savoy Boutique Hotel. February 2013.

The view from the Savoy Boutique Hotel. February 2013.

During my latest visit Marina and I stayed in Sokos Hotel Estoria*. It is a more quiet and smaller hotel next to the legendary Viru hotel. We saw some beautiful sunsets from our room window and enjoyed prosecco and chocolate we got as a gift from the hotel. We stayed in a business traveler's room.

Sokos Hotel Estoria. September 2014. Photo © Marina Ekroos

Estoria. Photo © Marina Ekroos

Estoria. Photo © Marina Ekroos

* In cooperation with Visit Estonia.

Airbnb

This airbnb loft is a gem. I stayed there in June 2014 with my brother, sister and niece.

• Loft in Bohemian Kalamaja

We loved the area of Kalamaja with a small bakery on the home street. The loft was beautifully decorated and worked quite well even with a 1 year old child. We cooked and spent quite a lot of time there as it was so cozy appartment.

Airbnb Loft in Kalamaja. June 2014.

My sister chillin' at the concrete loft. June 2014. Photo © Matti Keski-Kohtamäki

Airbnb Loft in Kalamaja. June 2014.

Lots of Travel Books to read. June 2014.

Kalamaja Pagarikoda bakery on Jahu 11, Tallinn. June 2014.

Read what my brother Matti wrote about our trip in June 2014: Visiting Tallinn.

How to travel

From Finland you can take a ferry or flight to Tallinn. I have only taken the ferry. There are three ferry companies to choose with:

• Eckerö Line
• Tallink Silja Line
• Viking Line.

Eckerö Line's comfortable Lounge Cafe is my favorite. Photo © Avaruusasema

I will share you few tips how to travel more comfortable in a ferry. The most enjoyable might be to take a cabin if you just want to rest the few hour boat trip. But if you would like to enjoy a cup of coffee or some snack with enjoying the sea view you will find a Conference Lounge or Lounge Cafe at all of the ferries. There is a Lounge Cafe at Eckerö Line, Tallink Silja Line has a Business Lounge and Viking Line offers a Conference Lounge. You need to pay 10-20 euros to get in but the price includes some drinks & snacks and a WiFi. These areas are always more quieter with less noisy people. My personal favorite has been Eckerö Line and their modern and cozy looking Lounge Cafe. They serve some delicious carrot cake among the peaceful atmosphere.

View from Eckerö Line's cabin. Septermber 2013.

My niece on her first ferry trip to Tallinn. June 2014.

Stay tuned for more blog posts about the food scene and the restaurants in Tallinn.

Most of the ferry trips traveled in cooperation with Visit Estonia and the ferry companies.
www.visitestonia.com

Tallinn Traveler

I have become a true Tallinn traveler. My first trip to Tallinn was in 1997 with my family. And the second trip was in 2001 when I traveled there with three friends of mine: Maikki, Annu, Liina & her daughter Matida.

Old Town, February 2013.

Septermber 2014. Photo © Marina Ekroos

Jenni. February 2013.

After the first two trips I had 12 years gap in traveling there. Within those 12 years Tallinn had really developed in many ways and that I noticed when I traveled there with Jenni from Liemessä blog in February 2013. I was so delighted about the food scene going on there that I had to take my next trip there already in Septermber 2013 when I was invited to review restaurants for The 50 Best Restaurants. I traveled with Tia & Mikko from Avaruusasema blog and a group of journalists from Finland *. I couldn't get enough of Tallinn restaurants so I traveled there again with Pete in November 2013.

Tia Instagrammin. September 2013.

The view from Swissotel.

November 2013.

Jenni. February 2013.

February 2013.

In 2014 I have been to Tallinn twice. The first trip I took with my brother, sister and niece. We traveled there last June. This autumn The 50 Best Restaurants evaluations took a place again. This time I traveled with my photographer friend Marina Ekroos in the end of September *.

Read what Avaruusasema blog wrote about our trip to Tallinn in 2013 (in Finnish) *.

• Ruokamatka Tallinnaan
• Kohvik Moon
• Vielä Tallinnasta: Kolm Sibulat.

My brother's journal post about our trip has some nice photos, just click here.

June 2014. Photo © Matti Keski-Kohtamäki

So at this point of my life I have already visited Tallinn seven times. And I am sure I will continue travelling there few times a year.

See you soon Tallinn! Photo © Marina Ekroos

In my desk drawer I have more post coming up about the restaurants, places to stay and the traveling options. So stay tuned for more posts about Tallinn!

* In cooperation with Visit Estonia.
www.visitestonia.com