Tallin from cruise ship

[floridafish]

How far is the actual center of Tallinn from the cruise pier? Can we walk it? Are cabs readily available?

[SparkleBee]

it's close, you can be in the heart of the old city in 10 minutes I think.

[LHT28]

I believe they also have a shuttle from the port

It is a short walk depending on fast you walk ;)

[nybumpkin]

We walked. I would say it was about a 15-20 minute walk. You just need to pay attention to the pedestrian signals at crosswalks; traffic will be coming from several directions, and you really don't want to try crossing the roads without a signal. Tallinn was truly one of the highlights of our cruise last year.:cool:

[KirkNC]

If you are asking because longer walks are a problem be aware that Tallin is uphill and has cobble streets so walking can be a challenge if you have any walking issues.

[Giantfan13]

How far is the actual center of Tallinn from the cruise pier? Can we walk it? Are cabs readily available?

 

The actual entrance to the old city, usually thru Fat Margret gate is about a 10 to 15 minute, very easy walk from the ship. If memory holds, there are markings on the street right from the cruise ship dock that everyone follows. Just follow the crowd. Once into the old city, the walk to the top of the hill, which might be called the center of the city is about another 20 minutes or so. There are things to see along the way. Get a copy of the great walking tour of Tallinn to help you along the way.

Yes, the walk to the top of the hill is a slight incline, so if you have any mobility issues, you might want to look for an alternative way of getting there. There are several tour companies that do tours, there may also be a shuttle that will take you to the top and you can walk down.

If you have no issues, it is a very fun walk and gives you the chance to wander arou8nd a bit on your own.

 

The entrance to the old city, thru Fat Margret Gate

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster511.jpg

 

The road that leads up to the top of the hill.

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster537.jpg

 

Once at the top, you get marvelous views of the city

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe543.jpg

 

The steps going down

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster584.jpg

 

And you never know who you might run into as you wander about

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe627.jpg

 

Cheers

 

Len

[lydnsyd]

We will be going to Tallinn on the Celebrity Eclipse in August & the schedule is showing that we will be docking at MUUGA which is 17k from Tallinn + the schedules for 2015 also show Muuga. I know from previous reports that the ships must have docked nearer but it looks as if things have changed for the worst as according to locals Muuga is an Industrial Port and not easy to get transport other than the ships shuttle or Taxi. Needless to say our original plans to do the 15-20min walk into the Old Town have now been thwarted:(

Edited June 10, 2014 by lydnsyd

[bubblesqueaker]

Hi- ours said Muuga too but we docked much closer. Assume the furthest point and take it that you need to get the shuttle - if you dock closer then happy days :-)

 

 

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[pv girl]

We took a taxi from dock to the top of the hill - about 10 euro for 2 with tip. Then we saw the church at the top, the views, etc. and then walked down the hill to the main square. Lots of shops on the walk down. At the main square are lots of outdoor restaurants, shops, etc. Then we walked thru old part by flower stalls and sellers of knitted goods to the old gate and back to the port. This seemed a good approach and we learned it here on CC.

[WyomingCruiser]

We took a taxi from dock to the top of the hill - about 10 euro for 2 with tip. Then we saw the church at the top, the views, etc. and then walked down the hill to the main square. Lots of shops on the walk down. At the main square are lots of outdoor restaurants, shops, etc. Then we walked thru old part by flower stalls and sellers of knitted goods to the old gate and back to the port. This seemed a good approach and we learned it here on CC.

 

 

Where exactly did taxi drop you? Did you tell driver to take you to the "top of the hill"?

 

 

 

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[Giantfan13]

Where exactly did taxi drop you? Did you tell driver to take you to the "top of the hill"?

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

 

That might work. Or else, the 'top of the hill' is called Toompea.

 

Cheers

 

Len

[linedancer 73]

We also took a taxi to the top of the hill. The driver knew exactly where to drop the tourists. I think that was the best way to see Tallin. We even saw a wedding!

[LondonTowner]

We also took the taxi to the top of the hill and the taxi driver dropped us off outside the church. We then made our way down to the main part of the town. I think we paid €10 too. I think we walked back to the ship. It was only last September and I can't remember!

[Regguy]

There are essentially two ways to get from the lower town to the upper town once within the old city -- one way has a steep set of stairs (Luhike Jalg on a map) and the other way has a more gradual cobble stone incline (Pikk Jalg on a map). If fit and walking, the best way in my view to tour Tallinn is to enter at fat margaret, about 15 minutes from the dock, explore the lower town, and then make your way up one of the two routes to the upper town, explore the upper town, and go back down using the other route. Both of the routes up/down are interesting in their own way, and if you go up and down, you see both of them. This is the pretty standard walking tour that many recommend.

 

If you are not feeling up to going up and down the hill and instead would prefer only to go up and take a cab back from the upper town, or take a cab to the upper town and walk down, you need to decide whether you want to go from the upper town to the lower town by using Luhike Jalg (the stairs) or Pikk Jalg (the cobblestone incline). If only doing one, my choice would be the stairs, because that way you pass through the old gate and wooden door that separated the upper and lower towns, which is kind of cool (though I think I saw about 100 tourists blow right through it on their way up the stairs without even turning around to take a look at the gate).

 

If you're not feeling up to going up or down the hill at all, there is still a nice way to do a walking tour of the lower part of the old town. Most people will walk from the cruise **** to fat margaret, tour the lower town, and then walk back the same way. An alternative for those with mobility issues is to take a cab from the port to the gate on the western part of the lower part of the old town, called the Viru Gate. It should only be a few euro if the driver uses the meter. Alternatively, just set a price before getting in the cab -- 10 euro is a high price to pay, but since the cabbies sit at the dock waiting for fares, and to avoid getting ripped off, if you just approach one and say, "how about 10 euro to the Viru gate," he'll be happy, you'll be happy, and you'll get modestly ripped off for a 5 minute ride, but you'll contribute to the local economy.

 

Anyway, from the Viru gate, it's a quick walk up Viru (the street name) to the central square in old town, and then you can leave town by going back down through the gate near fat margaret (you'll be going the opposite direction as all the other tourists!), and walk from there back to the ship. Essentially, what you're doing here is taking the cab to a gate to the lower city (so you don't have to go up or down the hill) that is further away from the port entrance, and then working backwards to the ship, instead of going in and out through the same gate and doing lots of backtracking. As noted, you're also a step ahead of those getting off the ship and walking the other way. This is the a nice, low impact way to do a nice walking tour of the lower city without having to backtrack.

 

Edit: Ha! I accidentally typed "t" when typing ship and the website thought it was a swear and edited it to astersisks! Anyway, the asterisks above are "ship"!

Edited July 16, 2014 by Regguy

[shoreham01]

We will be going to Tallinn on the Celebrity Eclipse in August & the schedule is showing that we will be docking at MUUGA which is 17k from Tallinn + the schedules for 2015 also show Muuga. I know from previous reports that the ships must have docked nearer but it looks as if things have changed for the worst as according to locals Muuga is an Industrial Port and not easy to get transport other than the ships shuttle or Taxi. Needless to say our original plans to do the 15-20min walk into the Old Town have now been thwarted:(

 

We were on Eclipse in June and it also said Muuga. On our roll call we were becoming rather concerned as it is such a long way from Tallinn and we were not going to be there all day. I contacted the tourist office in Tallinn and they assured me that all the cruise ships dock in the centre. We did dock in the centre, I think it was a new dock as it was not quite as near the Old Town as last time. We just took a Celebrity shuttle bus as we did not want to be tired before we started. Two things to tell you. There is a lovely little market right by where the ship docks and we recommend The Hell Hunt bar for lovely beer and good cheap food. They have a web site if you google it. We have visited Tallinn twice and loved it both times.

[lydnsyd]

We were on Eclipse in June and it also said Muuga. On our roll call we were becoming rather concerned as it is such a long way from Tallinn and we were not going to be there all day. I contacted the tourist office in Tallinn and they assured me that all the cruise ships dock in the centre. We did dock in the centre, I think it was a new dock as it was not quite as near the Old Town as last time. We just took a Celebrity shuttle bus as we did not want to be tired before we started. Two things to tell you. There is a lovely little market right by where the ship docks and we recommend The Hell Hunt bar for lovely beer and good cheap food. They have a web site if you google it. We have visited Tallinn twice and loved it both times.

 

Thanks for that info - will google the Hell Hunt Bar ...my husbands mission at each port is to try a 'local' beer - so he will be more than happy.

[Giantfan13]

We also took a taxi to the top of the hill. The driver knew exactly where to drop the tourists. I think that was the best way to see Tallin. We even saw a wedding!

 

Linedancer

 

Maybe for you, it was the best way, but we enjoyed the chance to just stroll thru the streets, wandering about, taking in this wonderful city. If the climb to the top of t he hill is that hard for you, I would certainly recommend a taxi, but for anyone who is even half fit, you would want to walk your way around. It is NOT a hard walk up and you see some wonderful things.

 

Cheers

 

Len

[LondonTowner]

I am surprised that some posters have mentioned that Tallin was their favourite stop on a Baltic cruise. For me the highlight was SPB, followed by Stockholm. I had been wanting to visit Tallin for some time, but I was a bit disappointed. For me it was over commercialised and everything was definitely overpriced.

 

It reminded me a little bit of Prague, but I liked Prague better when I went there. Oh, well, I suppose we all have different tastes.

[Giantfan13]

I am surprised that some posters have mentioned that Tallin was their favourite stop on a Baltic cruise. For me the highlight was SPB, followed by Stockholm. I had been wanting to visit Tallin for some time, but I was a bit disappointed. For me it was over commercialised and everything was definitely overpriced.

 

It reminded me a little bit of Prague, but I liked Prague better when I went there. Oh, well, I suppose we all have different tastes.

 

I believe when cruise ships first starting visiting Tallinn, it WAS an undiscovered jewel. Who really ever heard of Estonia, let alone Tallinn. But ships have been visiting this port for quite a while now, and maybe you are right, that hidden jewel thing has worn a bit thin.

I very much enjoyed our time in Tallinn. Maybe it was the build up to St Petersburg, but we just enjoy strolling these narrow cobblestone streets, trying to find some shop off the beaten path.

 

Cheers

 

Len

[LondonTowner]

Giantfan13

 

Maybe it's also because we have so many lovely old towns all over Europe that to me it was just one more. We revisited Brugges a few weeks ago, having not been there for years, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Had forgotten how lovely it is, but, also over commercialised.

 

Also, in the UK you can buy Belgian chocolates a lot cheaper than in Brugges.

 

Yes, it is probably because of so many cruise ships stopping in Tallin. I had considered going there for a long weekend, but now I have been, I won't bother.

[Giantfan13]

I live just outside NYC and the only thing WE have that resembles Tallinn, well, is Tallinn itself. :D:D:D:D:D

 

Cheers

 

Len

[upwarduk]

Someone on our Roll Call noticed that ''My Celebrity" showed that our port is to be Muuga for our visit to Tallinn. This caused a great deal of upset, as it was also confirmed by some agents at Celebrity (UK)

However one of our number contacted the Port of Tallinn and this was their reply which is directly from the port:

 

HI

 

Your ship will be in Old City Harbour.

We do not accommodate cruise ships in Muuga harbour for more than 15 years.

Where from do you have the information that the ship could be at Muuga harbour???

 

Enjoy your visit to Tallinn

 

Sirle Arro

Head of Marketing and Communication Department

Port of Tallinn"

 

If Celebrity read these boards, please take note and adjust your information.

Edited June 2, 2015 by upwarduk

[twoatcuse]

I 'd love to swim in the Baltic just once and Tallinn seems like the most likely spot to get this in. Has anyone been to the beach in Pirita? Do you have recommendations on the best way to get there and back? I'm actually more concerned about the getting back part- it seems like taxis might not be readily available out there. We of course want to do the old town as well. Is this too ambitious?