Questions about Tallinn...

[Live the good life]

(1) Has anyone taken Celebrity's "Tallinn Highlights" tour, which includes a ride to the Song Festival ground, Pirita, Kadriorg Palace, etc...and Old Town. Which monuments did you have an inside visit of on this tour and about how many people on the bus? We are debating whether to take a private tour or a ship tour. The cost of the private tour with a licensed tour guide and driver in this case would be much higher, but less waiting around...Also wondering whether the ride would be worth it, or should one just stay in Old Town, as this private company also offers walking tour of Old Town...

 

(2) Also wondering whether anyone has gone to a guided sightseeing tour (walking or combo of bus/walking) covered by the Tallinn card? How was it, and about how many people were on board the tour bus?

 

(3) Were there lots of mini-concerts or local medieval performers on the streets of Old Town in Tallinn?

 

(4) Any recommendations on food/restaurants/cafes in Tallinn?

 

Thanks, Kim

[Sekhmet]

A partial answer. I wouldn't bother with a tour bus for Tallinn - the town is small enough to walk around, and you see it better that way too. There are lots of places to eat in and around the main square.

 

Hope this helps.

[juliejoe]

I agree with Sekhmet. We joined another couple for a guided tour and actually felt like we missed out on the best of Tallin. If you want a guide - use one for a walking tour of the old town. What you see outside that area is not worth the time and money spent going there IMHO.

 

It will be interesting to see what is recommended by others who have been there.

[gene101]

I agree with Sekhmet. We even walked from the pier to the gate of the old town. It was only 15 to 20 minute walk.

 

The old town has a lower town and an upper town. It is quite compact and walking is the best way to appreciate the things Tallin can offer... the people, the architecture, the churches etc.

 

Get a nice map from the Information Center and you are all set!

 

Hope this help.

gene

[gene101]

If you want to fully appreciate Tallin get Rick Steves' Scandinavia book. He has a whole chapter on Tallin and detail walking tours.

 

gene

[mtlcever]

I agree! Walk it! We had a free shuttle from the pier to Old Town and just thoroughly enjoyed doing it on our own. Great places for food and drink and a nice outdoor market with good prices!

[hobo1937]

We also walked from the pier to the lower entrance of Old Town, very easy to do. Second the idea of the the Rick Steves Scandanavia book. His walking tour for Tallinn will take you to all the sights and is easy to follow.

 

We were there on Sunday June 6th last year and it was the weekend of an annual Medieval festival so we did performers and people in medieval dress. The info for this was on the web site for Tallinn. Don't know if they do this any other time.

[hobo1937]

Just wanted to give you the web site for Tallinn. It is http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee

 

Go to What's Happening and the listing for major events.

 

The event we saw was called Old Town Days and will take place June 3-5 this year.

 

Hope this helps

[Live the good life]

Thank you everybody for your input on Tallinn!

 

One of the reasons we usually have a private tour guide or ship tour (for at least part of the port day) is the narration on history and culture which would be helpful for the education of our teenage daughter...One of our hobbies is to also visit royal palaces and cathedrals...However, not sure whether "Kadriorg Palace" is a nice palace to visit???

 

We just found out that Kadriorg Palace is only about 10 minutes away by car/bus from Old Town. However, having heard about Tallinn being a pleasant surprise port for most people, we really want to see both Upper Town and Lower Town. The dilemna is that Celebrity ship tours only offer either "Kadriorg Palace and Upper Town" or "Walking Tour of Upper Town and Lower Town", but not all 3 places...So in order to visit all 3, we will need to book a 4.0 hour private car/walking tour, and use the rest of the time to have lunch and stroll on our own...Sometimes, we even prefer ship tours as we only need to converse with the guide when we wish to!

 

Also found out that the Tallinn card offers combo bus/walking tour with narration but not sure how there will be enough buses to take hundreds of passengers who might be interested in these free tours? Would be interested to hear from those who have taken these tours (or Celebrity ship tours)...Another question is whether the Constellation will dock at Terminal A of the port?