Tallin, Estonia.

[tullahlula]

Hi everyone,

 

Can anyone tell me roughly how long it takes to walk uphill from St. Olav's church to the Toompea castle? Is it really steep or a gentle slope and if necessary can you take a bus or taxi to get there? Thanks.

Sue

[april47]

I walked from the cruise ship and I am limited somewhat. It's 4-5 blocks with little grade to Old Town itself. On the map I googled the castle is right there. I remember I did climb a few stairs here and there.

[april47]

Here is a photo I too from the ship. That is Old Town with the spires. No mountains.:)

 

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/u384/rngram47/00000192.jpg

[CaroleLee]

Hi everyone,

 

Can anyone tell me roughly how long it takes to walk uphill from St. Olav's church to the Toompea castle? Is it really steep or a gentle slope and if necessary can you take a bus or taxi to get there? Thanks.

Sue

 

In today's (3-11-12) Sunday NY Times Travel section there is an article 36 hours in Tallinn

Good info

Carole

[dogs4fun]

We did this walk last August. If memory serves, it took us about 10 minutes to walk from St. Olaf's to Toompea (of course, we stopped many times along the way and that time is omitted). We did not find the uphill climb steep at all (by our standards). Easy to do if you are in relatively decent physical shape. :)

[TLCOhio]

In today's (3-11-12) Sunday NY Times Travel section there is an article 36 hours in Tallinn. Good info Carole

 

Excellent tip by Carole. I had noticed that "36 Hours" feature earlier this morning. I'll do a separate posting on the link and details for the article, plus some of my pictures from being there.

 

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 68,427 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

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 61,736 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[Giantfan13]

Hi everyone,

 

Can anyone tell me roughly how long it takes to walk uphill from St. Olav's church to the Toompea castle? Is it really steep or a gentle slope and if necessary can you take a bus or taxi to get there? Thanks.

Sue

 

Hi Tullahlula

 

The walk is not very strenuous, but it is uphill on a slight incline. I'm included a few pixs of the grade and the steps going down. Tallinn is just a marvelous city, with it's narrow cobblestone streets, just made for walking about and exploring.

 

This is the grade of the walk uphill. As you can see the sidewalks are very narrow and the streets are cobblestone. Just wear some good walking shoes and you should be fine

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

 

At the top, you get a tremendous view of the city, looking out towards the harbor and your ship

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

 

To get back down, there are steps, that might be described as sort of steep, but it is an easy climb with a secure handrail

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

 

Be sure to try the 'Olde Haus' for lunch or a snack. it is one of the highlites of the city.

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

 

Along the walls of the city, you will find many stalls selling all sorts of wares. great buys on some woolen items

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

 

And you never know who or what you may find wandering the streets of Tallinn

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

 

Cheers

 

Len

[TLCOhio]

Len has offered added "proof" on why Tallinn is so interesting and charming. In addition to his visuals, here are some "evidence" from my photo files. On our Saturday there, they were having a local festivals with a parade, dancing and music that made our visit there so super "magical"!!

 

That New York Times travel section can be accessed at:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/travel/tallinn-estonia-36-hours.html?ref=travel

 

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 68,427 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

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 61,736 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

Here are outside and inside views of Tallinn’s Alexander Nevsky Cathedral built in the Orthodox style 1894–1900. This church crowns the hill of Toompea. The church has been meticulously restored since Estonia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.:

 

 

 

 

 

At the top of Tallinn’s Toompea hill, this shows part of the Estonia Parliament building in the historic Pink Baroque Palace and the old Pikk Hermann watchtower with their flag on top:

 

 

 

Here is a Tallinn street-shop vendor with various woolen items at her stall near the famous Viru Gate as you entered the lower walled area. This area is commonly called the “Sweater Wall”. Very charming and interesting. Good values and buys.:

 

 

 

Tallinn’s rooftops in this charming Estonia Capital from the Toompea/upper town with docked cruise ships shown in the more distant background:

 

 

 

Dancers marching in Tallinn’s festival parade near the stone towers of the famous Viru Gate:

 

[H2Otstr]

Thanks, Terry. I printed the article. We are headed there for 3 days before our Volga River trip.

[TLCOhio]

Thanks, Terry. I printed the article. We are headed there for 3 days before our Volga River trip.

 

Glad to hear that news article works well with your upcoming trip. Below are a few more of my pictures to give you added ideas on the many sights and options in lovely Tallinn. It was one of our top highlights during our Baltics trip. You're lucky to have a nice period of time there.

 

THANKS! Enjoy your trip! 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 68,427 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

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 61,736 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

Inside of Tallinn’s historic St. Mary's Cathedral Lutheran church with parts of the building dating back to the 12th Century. The main church was built in the 14th Century:

 

 

 

In front of Tallinn’s City Hall, they are dancing:

 

 

 

Shopping is great in Tallinn. Here we are inside a nice linen shop near the City Hall.:

 

 

 

Outdoor lunch options on Tallinn’s main square:

 

 

 

At lunch, enjoying Tallinn’s local beer. This is the most popular beer in Estonia and the oldest operating brewery. Their slogan: "it's about the taste". We agree!!!:

 

[Ultima Thule]

Here you can find a very detailed map of Tallinn:

http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=59.4385&lon=24.745&zoom=17#

 

All streets in old town are going up and down a little bit but the route from St. Olav's church to Toompea should be straightforward until you pass a gate, one block west of the Town Hall Square, where"Pikk Jalg" will take you up to Toompea.

 

Here are four pictures of "Pikk Jalg":

 

 

 

 

[Ultima Thule]

Regarding the other questions I should say some 15 minutes walk. If need you could take a taxi that will circle old town and then then approach Toompea from the south side going up Toompea road.

[tullahlula]

Thank you everyone, we were wondering about time management, how much we can get done in a day...these days I don't mind strolling uphill but going at a frantic pace isn't in the cards.

 

Sue

[Got2Cruise]

It's very manageable in one day, including stopping for lunch. We ate in old town at Old Hansa. http://www.oldehansa.ee We loved it! I am going to put in my .02 about churches. You are going to see many many churches in SPB. We really didn't devote much time to the inside of the churches in Tallin, there is so much more to see. Also, we signed up for a three hour walking tour offered by SPb, it was given by a local Estonian, and very very informative and interesting. Not that you need it, but it was worth the money if you enjoy learning about different cultures, as we do. After the tour there was plenty of time to eat lunch and explore on our own. Then when you go back to the ship, don't forget there is a flea market right outside the ship! Good shopping! Also, save time to purchase Amber in Tallin if that is on your list.

/

Thank you everyone, we were wondering about time management, how much we can get done in a day...these days I don't mind strolling uphill but going at a frantic pace isn't in the cards.

 

Sue

[madame]

We used the Hop-on Hop-off bus for transportation with an old town tour at the same time.

[EGCruisers]

Any particular stores to check out for amber?