What ports can we just walk around in?

[shoegal24]

Hi all,

 

Just wondering.. what ports can we just explore on our own via walking? What ports should we plan and take public transportation, and what ports should we do a private tour?

 

Our itinerary is as follows:

 

Oslo

Aarhus

Berlin

Tallinn

St. Petersburg

Helsinki

Stockholm

 

 

Thank you!!

[KirkNC]

Hi all,

 

Just wondering.. what ports can we just explore on our own via walking? What ports should we plan and take public transportation, and what ports should we do a private tour?

 

Our itinerary is as follows:

 

Oslo

Aarhus

Berlin

Tallinn

St. Petersburg

Helsinki

Stockholm

 

Thank you!!

 

Of those you mentioned that we have been to, Tallinn, Helsinki and Stockholm are very easy to do on your own (especially Tallinn). Berlin can go either way, we ended up using SPB tours which worked great but you can also take the train on your own. St Petersburg very few do on their own as visa requirements and language can make this a tougher one (even though some have done it). We also used SPB tours for St Petersburg.

[kaisatsu]

Oslo is a very easy port to DIY. Depending on what you want to see, you'll probably want to take public transportation. You can buy a day pass, or if you're planning on visiting a few of the museums, it might be worth buying the Oslo Pass, which covers both transit and most museum admission.

 

Depending on where your ship is docked, it's usually easy to walk to Akershus Fortress and the Resistance Museum, the city hall, the Nobel Peace Center, National Gallery, historical museum, Ibsen museum, and the central street Karl Johans gate (along which is the palace, national theater, and parliament building). You'll want to hop on public transit to get to the famous Vigelands Sculpture Park, the popular museums on Bygdøy (Folk Museum, Viking Ships, Fram Polar Ship, Kon-Tiki), the Munch museum, or the Holmenkollen ski jump. Luckily, the transit system is extremely easy to navigate!

[tactic]

Oslo, Tallinn, Helsinki and Stockholm all have hop on hop off buses right by the ports if thats any help. Berlin would be a very long day, with little time there, having stayed in Berlin before and done all the sights can't comment on trip. We hired a car, driver and guide in St Petersburg, worth every penny, went where we wanted, no problems and very good value - booked through ship

 

Tallinn and Oslo were walkable. Depends where ship docks in Helsinki and Stockholm.

 

Hope this helps, we love the Baltic :)

[Travelanni]

Just wondering.. what ports can we just explore on our own via walking? What ports should we plan and take public transportation, and what ports should we do a private tour?

 

Our itinerary is as follows:

 

Oslo

Aarhus

Berlin

Tallinn

St. Petersburg

Helsinki

Stockholm

 

Thank you!!

 

Hi, If you go to Berlin and want to make the most of your limited time the best bet is a private tour. There are many recommendations in these posts.

If you decide not to go to Berlin (6 hours travel time for maximum 5 hours in the city) Warnemunde is only 5 mins walk from the ship; Rostock 25 mins by train; Schwerin, Wismar and Stralsund 1 hour by train. All very easy to get to and perfect for exploring on your own.

 

Happy cruising, :)

Anni

[april47]

When I went to Tallin I walked to the Old Town easily. It think it was like 4-5 blocks. I waited until most were off the ship and ate a leisurely breakfast. It was a fantastic day. Very picturesgue with old building and shops and restaurants.

[TLCOhio]

Hi all, Just wondering.. what ports can we just explore on our own via walking? What ports should we plan and take public transportation, and what ports should we do a private tour? Our itinerary is as follows: Oslo, Aarhus, Berlin, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm

Thank you!!

 

For St. Petersburg, a private tour is best. We used Anastasia and she was wonderful during the process for doing all of the advance planning, looking our various options, how to make the "flow" work in a smooth, easy manner, etc.

 

Stockholm, Oslo, Tallinn, etc., are easy on your own. Much depends on what you like to see, do and experience. Tell us more on your specific interests, travel style, budget flexibility, past Europe visits, loves when doing these trips, etc. How much for history, countrysides, museums, food, wine, art, music, shopping, architecture, leisurely style versus fast-paced, etc.???? Doing Copenhagen??

 

Below are some of my likes for walking around in a few key places in these great ports.

 

Here's the web location for the official tourism office in Helsinki.

http://www.visithelsinki.fi/In_English/Visitor/Helsinki/Tourist_Information.iw3

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 65,398 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

At Stockholm’s Royal Palace, the changing of the guard was one of our highlights from visiting this historic capital in Sweden. Loved this part of our visit.:

 

 

 

And right next door, here are many outside dining options in Gamla Stan or “old town” area.

 

 

 

Helsinki’s City Hall in the main downtown overlooking the market area:

 

 

 

A few block away is the Helsinki’s Church of Rock, or Temppeliaukion Kirkko, is carved out of solid stone with a unique contemporary design.:

 

 

 

This picture shows the main, historic fortress next to where many cruise ships dock in Oslo. The fortress construction started around the late 1290’s. The very interesting Norwegian Resistance museum can be visited there. Norwegian Royalty have been buried in the Royal Mausoleum in the castle. A portion of this fortress was replicated at the Norway pavilion at Disney’s Epcot Center.:

 

 

 

At the National Museum in Oslo right nearby, there is Munch art, including one of his two famed Scream painting that are in this Norway capital. Don't miss the City Hall and its famed interior art/space that are right handy. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded at the City Hall annually in early December. A little farther away and requiring some form of transportation is Vigeland Park that has a wide variety of outdoor sculptures in a super, wonderful setting. This park is a super highlight for Oslo. Its admission is free and the views and art are "priceless".: