First Cruise to the Baltics

[swantp]

First time we will be cruising to the Baltics next May. Done the Caribbean a couple of times but was just wondering if anyone would like to recommend some "not to miss" places in the following Ports:-

 

Kristiansand

Oslo

Copenhagen

Stockholm

Tallinn

Helsinki

Bruges

 

We've just booked a two day tour in St. Petersburg, so that's all sorted. We are using a company called Alla Tours which have come highly recommended. Evidently they will do discounts if we book additional tours in some of the other ports.

 

Would equally be interested to know the Ports where we are better doing our own thing and just having a poddle about.

 

Have also been on our Roll Call and posted a similar question on there.

 

Thanks in advance. :)

[Keith1010]

You can get a lot of information by posting this on the Northern Europe Ports Of Call Board.

 

Keith

[swantp]

Okay Keith, thanks for the tip.

[Keith1010]

You are very welcome.

 

Keith

[Essiesmom]

Vasa Ship museum in Stockholm. Viking ship museum in Oslo. Get a copy of Rick Steves' Northern Europe Cruise Ports and see what there is to see, and how to do it on your own. EM

[swantp]

Thanks for the info. :0)

[John Bull]

Copenhagen - if you berth along Langelinnie (near the little mermaid) you can walk to the centre. Quite a long walk but do walk it at least one way, past several sights. Tivoli probably not worth the fee for a port-of-call day. Beers & snacks along the Nyhavn quay.

(but you may port at a new cruise facility out-of-town. Sorry, can't help with that)

 

Stockholm - three possible ports.

Largest ships have to port at Nynashamn, about an hour from Stockholm.

Other ships sail into Stockholm thro the archipelago of islands - be up and about for the sail-in, it's all very close-quarters navigation. If you then berth at Frihamnen you'll need a short local bus or taxi (or ship's shuttle?) ride to the centre. But if at Stadtsgarden you're pretty close in. Local or hop-on buses, or better the hop-on boats.

First go to the Vasa (think Mary Rose but very very complete) cos queues build later in the day. The hop-on boat route from Stadsgarten goes clockwise, & Vasa is almost the last stop before it comes back tyo the ship - but there'll also be morning hop-on boats that go direct to Vasa. Then explore the city - the old Gamla Stan district & adjacent royal palace.

 

St Pete's - you've chosen well. But despite the discount you don't really need a guided tour in other ports - a matter of personal choice.

 

Tallinn. Shuttlebus to the old walled town, or walk -about 15 mins to the nearest part of old town, the entrance & squat tower with the unflattering name of Fat Margaret. Old town is very hilly - there's plenty to see & experience on the flatter lower part if walking is an issue, but its well worth walking to the top. A very laid-back day.

 

Helsinki - you need the shuttle or taxi to the Market Square & nearby Senate Square. Trams from Market Square, including a circular route which includes Olympic park, art-deco rail station & (near) the Rock Church & Sibelius park/memorial. Or if the weather's kind, boats from the adjacent harbour to Suomenlinna island fortress

 

Bruges - you port at Zeebrugge. To get to Bruges, either

- shuttle 2 to 3 miles to Blankenberge station then a 15 min / 6-euro return train ride - but beware the train only runs hourly. 15 min walk from Bruges rail station to the centre (ships "Bruges on your own" transfers also drop you 15 mins from the centre)

- or taxi rom the quay to Bruges. About 20 mins, ask driver to drop you at the Grotemarkt & arrange for him to collect you at an agreed time to return to ship. Costs a hefty 50 euros e/w but you'll find folk to share - and if you're on the quay early you can grab one of the larger taxis that take 6 passengers.

 

Loads more info on that Northern Europe forum mentioned by Keith

 

JB :)

Edited November 20, 2014 by John Bull

[Talisker92]

In Oslo do not miss Frogner Park. It is full of the Viegeland sculptures!

[swantp]

Smashing advice - huge thanks.

:)

[ontheweb]

It's been 7+ years since our Baltic cruise, but I'll give it a try.

 

St. Petersburg---good choice. We also toured with Alla, and it was excellent.

 

Stockholm---Vasa Museum is a definite can't miss. There are a lot of other attractions, and this was the only port where we felt we could have used a lot more time.

 

Oslo---I agree with the sculpture park. We also went to the Munch Museum, that is out of the way, but my art teacher DW definitely wanted to see it. I believe you can also see Munch paintings at the National Museum.

 

Talinn--just walk around the old town. It is truly amazing.

 

Helsinki---I would recommend the church made out of stone.

 

Other than your Alla tour, you should not really need any other excursions.

[ShipsandDipper]

We went last year. We did our own thing everywhere but St. Petersburg and it worked out pretty well. The Rick Steves book mentioned above has very good directions for how to get out of the ports and access public transport.

 

Oslo - we bought an Oslo Pass right where the ship docked (we were right by the Akershus Castle/Fortress). That included admission to many sites and public transport. We visited the Occupation Museum in the Castle, took the public boat across the bay, visited the Fram Museum (polar ship - actually very interesting, stayed longer than we planned) and the Viking Ship Museum (loved it), back across the bay, visited the National Gallery (it was having a special Munch exhibition), and walked around a bit. We were going to take the tram to see the Vigeland Sculpture Park but ran out of energy and had a bite to eat at a restaurant instead.

 

Copenhagen - we docked here on a Sunday and had trouble getting out of the port (undergoing construction last year and regular walking routes were blocked). Finally found our way to the train, which we took into town. We did an e-bike tour; that was fun. Also walked around town and visited the National Museum.

 

Stockholm-definitely the Vasa Museum. Fabulous. We rode the public boats, did a boat tour, visited the museums in the Royal Palace, rode trams, and walked around a lot.

 

Tallinn-walked from dock into town. Took the tram out to the Song Festival Grounds (we watched the documentary The Singing Revolution beforehand so wanted to see the festival grounds). Walked through a big park, just wandering, then took a tram back and walked through the old town.

 

Helsinki-took tram into town. Went to the Rock Church, then rode the tram in a loop as described in the Steves book. Went to the market and visited some of the nearby churches.

 

Hope you have a great trip!

[Kris74]

Now it depends what you want to see. And in how much time. Tallinn old city is very close, so you just walk there. Walk all the way to Toompea, the highest place there is, very lovely view. There are all sorts of wonderful museums and you can also walk up the city wall a short walk. Other than the old town, Tallinn really does not have so much to show, so keep it simple and stay there. Restaurant Olde Hansa is very popular, as it serves real medieval food. Been there once, the food is not so great, but the athmosphere is really great, so if you eat only once, that is a good one. Normally we eat at Elevant Restaurant, which is kind of etno fusion food. Tastes better than medieval food and has a large variety of vegetarian food also. Olde hansa you will find just near the old town town square and Elevant is in Vene street very near too.

 

Now Im born in Helsinki, but I funnily its really hard to tell what is the must see in Helsinki. a good choise is to start is buy the market and the small park just next to it. There are some architecturally interesting things to see, but you need to take a taxi or a tour, Temppeliaukio church is built inside a hill ja Sibelius monument is the second must see. Im sure they have lots of tours you can just take. Or then just a taxi.

 

About taxis then. In Helsinki they have standard rates so you need not to worry but in Stockholm you need to be very carefull or it will be a ripoff. You need to negotiate the price beforehand, take its in writing preferably and ask more than one taxidriver before you decide. They dont have any standard prices and it is really an outrage how they take the skin off foreigners. In Tallinn the same applies, but as it is generally much cheaper it si not such a big deal. In tallinn take taxis that look like the same. Now if i remember correctly the best taxis are yellow.

 

But now, I know about Helsinki and Tallinn the best so feel free to ask

 

And yes it is a good idea to take the tram loop, its 3b or 3t depends which way you go. In Helsinki that is. i cant really recommend any place special where to eat in Helsinki, as Ive lived so long away. Cafe Esplanad used be the best cafe but that was a few years back.

Edited November 21, 2014 by Kris74

[swantp]

Thanks ShipsandDipper and Kris74, more really good advice. :)