As the festive season begins, Estonian public media journalists have visited Christmas markets in Riga and Tallinn to compare offerings and prices, writes ERR News.
The Tallinn Christmas market opened on November 28 and would operate until December 28. Experience shows that demand drops sharply after Christmas, and therefore, like last year, the market will close after the holidays. The media observed that this year more local products and crafts could be purchased in Tallinn than before.
The market in the Estonian capital is also called the “mulled wine market” – because mulled wine is the most commonly sold product every year. Journalists reported that mulled wine could be purchased at more than 20 stands at the market on November 30. A simple mulled wine costs seven euros, while a hot drink will cost eight or nine euros. There is also no shortage of food – dishes made from lamb, pork, grilled chicken, salmon and blood sausage are available. A classic dish with pork costs from five to 17 euros.
At the Riga Christmas market, prices are slightly lower – mulled wine costs six euros, and stew with chicken – nine euros. However, other dishes will be more expensive.
Entrepreneur Andris Kreislers and his team have been organizing the Christmas market in Riga for more than 20 years, and pointed out that it is not just about trading, but also about creating an atmosphere.
The market is complemented by a cultural program and light shows.
This year, there are about 1,000 vendors at the market. Craftsman Viesturs Polis told Estonian media that there were more and more foreigners among the visitors, including from South American countries, Australia, Canada and the USA.
Meanwhile, the marketing manager of the Riga Christmas Market said that in the past the market was more focused on tourists, but now “you can see that locals with their families and friends are also coming”.
Meanwhile, tourists dominate the visitors of the Tallinn Christmas Market, and there are few local visitors. Visitors from other countries said that the city was small and nice, but the prices were a bit too high. Lucretius from Lithuania said that she really liked Tallinn, but the market was quite expensive, and she would not pay more than five euros for mulled wine.
Chelsea from the UK said that she was doing a kind of “Christmas market tour.” She started her trip in Hamburg, where mulled wine cost five euros, then went to Stockholm, where she enjoyed a hot drink for four euros, but in Tallinn the price was already seven euros for a glass of mulled wine. She added that this was interesting. Another tourist from the UK said that the London Christmas market was too big, while in Tallinn it was just the right size.
In Riga, the journalists met many Estonians, and a couple from Viljandi County said that the offer included more than just mulled wine, and the prices seemed a little lower than in Tallinn. The market in the Latvian capital will be open a little longer – until January 4. (ERR)