Tallinn walking tour with SPB?

[World Gallery]

We are interested in the walking tour of Tallinn with SPB with our kids ages 11-18. I have read that Tallinn is a very easy DIY town but this is only a 3 hour tour and we thought it would be a good introduction. Has anyone taken the SPB Tallinn walking tour? Is it worth it (20 euros pp)?

 

Also, I talked to a lady did the ship's Tallinn walking tour years ago and she said that the tour focused on how brutal the Russians were to the people living in Tallinn. While I understand that "history is history", 3 of my children were adopted from Russia so I wouldn't want the entire tour to focus on this. Any insights?

[Giantfan13]

WG

 

From what I understand, SPB's Walking tour of Tallinn is fairly new. I believe they just started it last season, so you probably will not get too many who partook in it.

 

Tallinn is just a fun city to do on your own. there are several great walking tours of Tallinn mentioned here and they all get you to the highlites of this wonderful city. It is an easy walk from the ship, and once inside the walls of the old city, it is great to go off on your own a bit, to explore the narrow winding cobblestone streets.

 

When we were there a couple of years ago, they had an archery demonstration and they were also letting people try it out if they wished. Kids might like that alot.

 

Most of the city is Russian influenced, but if you do use SPB Tours, let them know your concerns and they will accommodate your wishes. They Are A class outfit and will make your tour of Tallinn very memorable.

 

Here are a few pixs of Tallinn. Again, it is really a wonderful place to spend a day.

 

You enter the old city thru Fat Margaret's Tower

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

 

It is so much fun to just wander around the narrow cobblestone streets

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe518.jpg

 

As you walk around the city, most people work their way to the top of the hill, where you can get a remarkable view over the rooftops, out towards the bay and your ship

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

 

Part of the walking tours will take you to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe566.jpg

 

The main town square, where you can rest a bit, have a bite to eat, or jsut relax and watch the people wandering by

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster602.jpg

 

And for fun, there are always characters wandering around, several parades, and entertainment

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

 

Cheers

 

Len

[World Gallery]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing them.

I didn't know it was a new tour for SPB so I will contact them.

[Giantfan13]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing them.

I didn't know it was a new tour for SPB so I will contact them.

 

WG

 

Thanks for the kind words on the pix.

 

I believe in the last year or so, SPB tours has expanded to several other cities on the Baltic Circuit, like Helsinki, Berlin etc. I do know that if you wish, they offer a sort of package deal, which, I beleive, the more tours you book with them, the better the rates they will give you.

 

Once again, Tallinn is so very easy to do on your own. But, if you think you would rather start with a tour, you definately cannot go wrong using SPB Tours. And, if you decide to go that way, you may want to think about incorporating some of the other cities they do tours in, to help save you some money.

If you do the tour, you will have plenty of time to walk back to the city (it's only a 10-15 minute walk) and explore on your own.

 

You might want to try some lunch at the Olde Hansa Inn. It is the place most people wish to eat at and see. There is NO ELECTRIC in the place, so everything is done by candlelight. I bit over priced, but a definate place you would want to see.

 

Here is a very short Video of the square where the Olde Hansa Inn is, along with another popular restaurant, the Peppersack

http://s834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/?action=view&current=europemaster638.mp4

 

Don't know if your children are interested, but they have this little train that is some fun

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster586.jpg

 

Tallinn is famous for their 'stalls; along the walls of the city, they sell some beautiful woolen wares among other things

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe622.jpg

 

There are many interesting shops also, some almost buried down some steep stairs, but the people are so friendly and helpful

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe619.jpg

 

Besides ther 'main' sights, it is fun to explore this city. In a park, inside the walls, we found these flowered animals.

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster535.jpg

 

And here is a shot of the Olde Hansa inn.

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster591.jpg

 

Again, you will just love Tallinn

 

Cheers

 

Len

[StPetersburgPort]

I would do Tallinn on your own, making good homework at home beforehands, it is pretty easy and much more interesting

[World Gallery]

Thank GiantFan!

There isn't a lot of info about Tallinn in comparsion to the other Baltic ports here on CC, so thanks for posting these pics.

[KirkNC]

Tallin has got to be one of the easiest DIY cities in Europe. We used Lair Bears walk (do a search) and Rick Steve's walk and spent five or so hours in this beautiful city. While we thought SPB did an excellent job in both SPB and Berlin, Tallin can be done on your own.

[rnbtr]

Can some till me what SPB is My trip is in JUly would like to do Tallin on my own Any suggestions?

[Cornishpastyman1]

Thank GiantFan!

There isn't a lot of info about Tallinn in comparsion to the other Baltic ports here on CC, so thanks for posting these pics.

I printed out Jay ******** great walking tour and made this

from following his 'instructions'.

[dogs4fun]

Can some till me what SPB is My trip is in JUly would like to do Tallin on my own Any suggestions?

SPB is Saint Petersburg. :)

If you mean SPB Tours, they are a russian independent tour company that, among many others, offer guided tours of baltic ports.

Since you are interested in doing Tallinn on your own:

There is a great walking tour that posters are referencing on this thread. For some reason, CC will not allow the website to be posted.

www dot bren tjes (one word) dot com/tallinnwalk dot html

We did Tallinn on our own using this tour.

[rdnpdx1]

We are interested in the walking tour of Tallinn with SPB with our kids ages 11-18. I have read that Tallinn is a very easy DIY town but this is only a 3 hour tour and we thought it would be a good introduction. Has anyone taken the SPB Tallinn walking tour? Is it worth it (20 euros pp)?

 

Also, I talked to a lady did the ship's Tallinn walking tour years ago and she said that the tour focused on how brutal the Russians were to the people living in Tallinn. While I understand that "history is history", 3 of my children were adopted from Russia so I wouldn't want the entire tour to focus on this. Any insights?

 

 

We did this with SPB and are glad we did. The guide was very knowledgeable and was also aware of the traffic patterns in the old town when large cruise ships are in port, so she avoided most of the bad congestion points. We would highly recommend the tour. It left plenty of time for lunch and wandering around, shipping, etc. It was well worth the 20 euro cost.

 

As far as the subject matter, it was not overly oriented towards bashing the Russians, so I would not be concenred about that.

[CintiPam]

Tallinn is so easy to do on your own; we used the Rick Steves' walking tour in his Scandinavia guide book, and it was excellent. Save your money for where a guide really is worth it, like St. Petersburg!

[World Gallery]

Thanks for this info. Also, glad to hear they don't overly bash the Russians. Just something I have to think about when 3 kids adopted from Russia. They need to learn history but in a way they can gradually understand and absorb it. Glad to hear they were good.

 

We are doing a 2 day tour in St. Petersburg. This is the main reason we are taking the Baltic cruise, for St. Pete.

 

If it were just my husband and I, I would do our own walking tour but with kids, they are much more focused with a guide rather than with a "mom and dad guide". I have learned that teens really don't want a history lesson from mom but give them a fresh new face and different accent, they are all into it.

[rdnpdx1]

Thanks for this info. Also, glad to hear they don't overly bash the Russians. Just something I have to think about when 3 kids adopted from Russia. They need to learn history but in a way they can gradually understand and absorb it. Glad to hear they were good.

 

We are doing a 2 day tour in St. Petersburg. This is the main reason we are taking the Baltic cruise, for St. Pete.

 

If it were just my husband and I, I would do our own walking tour but with kids, they are much more focused with a guide rather than with a "mom and dad guide". I have learned that teens really don't want a history lesson from mom but give them a fresh new face and different accent, they are all into it.

 

Our guide in Tallinn was a young woman with a 2 year old who was expecting her second, well-educated and very able to talk to all levels of people in our group. She told interesting stories about "Peeping Tom", historical information, etc which came to life with a guide, rather than just reading a book as you go.

 

If she is back to guiding after her baby's birth, you will really enjoy her. If not, Viktoria has excellent guides working for her in St. P, Tallinn and Berlin. You cannot go wrong with choosing SPB in any of these ports.

 

I should add, in your Berlin thread you mentioned WWII emphasis. St. P has excellent WW II museums that SPB can add to your tour on request. Viktoria and her staff wil work to tailor the tour to your needs.

 

Have fun.

[fleckle]

I printed out Jay ******** great walking tour and made this

from following his 'instructions'.

Thanks so much for sharing this great video showing travelers to Tallinn what we can expect to see on the walking tour.

 

For those who want the walking tour instructions (and explanation of how to get it), also see dogs4fun's message in post #10.

[Smbruner]

WG

 

From what I understand, SPB's Walking tour of Tallinn is fairly new. I believe they just started it last season, so you probably will not get too many who partook in it.

 

Tallinn is just a fun city to do on your own. there are several great walking tours of Tallinn mentioned here and they all get you to the highlites of this wonderful city. It is an easy walk from the ship, and once inside the walls of the old city, it is great to go off on your own a bit, to explore the narrow winding cobblestone streets.

 

When we were there a couple of years ago, they had an archery demonstration and they were also letting people try it out if they wished. Kids might like that alot.

 

Most of the city is Russian influenced, but if you do use SPB Tours, let them know your concerns and they will accommodate your wishes. They Are A class outfit and will make your tour of Tallinn very memorable.

 

Here are a few pixs of Tallinn. Again, it is really a wonderful place to spend a day.

 

You enter the old city thru Fat Margaret's Tower

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

 

It is so much fun to just wander around the narrow cobblestone streets

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe518.jpg

 

As you walk around the city, most people work their way to the top of the hill, where you can get a remarkable view over the rooftops, out towards the bay and your ship

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

 

Part of the walking tours will take you to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe566.jpg

 

The main town square, where you can rest a bit, have a bite to eat, or jsut relax and watch the people wandering by

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster602.jpg

 

And for fun, there are always characters wandering around, several parades, and entertainment

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

 

Cheers

 

Len

Thanks for the great information and photos! Will plan on doing Tallinn on our own.

[Giantfan13]

Thanks for the great information and photos! Will plan on doing Tallinn on our own.

 

thanks you for the nice comments on the picc. As was said several times, Tallinn is just made to do on your own.

Download the walking tour and youa re all set.

 

Cheers

 

Len