Likelihood of Tallinn excursions

[azalice]

We are taking a September 2023 Baltic cruise and noticed there are no excursions listed for our day in Tallinn Estonia. Have you cruised on HAL and found excursions listed for that port?

[CruiserBruce]

Yes, and yes.

[Radbooks]

I expect that they will add some excursions there eventually, but I signed up for a Hop On, Hop Off bus through Viator for our stop there in Sept. 

[ontheweb]

You do not really need an excursion for Tallinn. We just followed the instructions in Rick Steves' Scandanavia book for a walking tour.

[CruiserBruce]

3 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

You do not really need an excursion for Tallinn. We just followed the instructions in Rick Steves' Scandanavia book for a walking tour.

True. Tallinn is pretty easy to walk, if mobility is not an issue.

[GeorgeCharlie]

 

We visited Tallinn is 2019 and took a privately arranged walking tour. The tour was offered by “Best of Tallinn: Walking Tour with a Local Guide”. There were 8 of us on the tour and it cost 20 Euros each. A similar tour was offered by the ship at a cost of US$89. 

As already mentioned by others, the main attractions the Tallinn Old Town (divided into a "lower town" and Toompea hill) are easily explored on foot from the port. Crime levels in Tallinn are low, although there is some petty crime. Pick pocketing can be a problem.

 

We met the guide at the port gates, and you can see the Zuiderdam in the background.

 

This is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe - so it is hilly and with many cobblestone streets, therefore (as as already mentioned) not conducive for people with mobility issues.

 

There was a tourist train, but I do not know its route.

 

The main entrance into the walled Toompea Hill portion of the Old Town.

 

 

The area contains many historical buildings, including some with a more recent notorious past.

 

 

 

 

It was a public holiday when we were there and throughout the area there were various shows being presented.

 

 

View of the Lower Town taken from the Toompea Hill.

 

The stairs we took down on our way back to the ship.

 

The large building is the Stenbock House on Toompea hill, which is the official seat of the Government of Estonia.

[Torquer]

Tallinn is perhaps the most easy to do on your own of all European "old port cities".  There is a half-mile walk from the ship to the city gates, so I guess a HAL tour might provide a bus for that.  But I really don't remember any buses inside the old city, nor I doubt if they would be allowed, so a HAL tour wouldn't help with that.  So all you really get with a tour is a guide.  I strongly encourage you to do it on your own and really just immerse yourself there.  There are plenty of guidebooks to help you get started.

[janmcn]

Just do it yourself! One of the best ports to just enjoy. Can’t get lost since the old town is walled in! Gorgeous!

[daisybertie]

Absolutely agree that you can enjoy Tallinn on your own. We visited in June 2018 and walked from the ship to the old town. Beautiful old buildings, and some amazing window displays in the shops. The little cats and owls are made from marzipan. It was extremely cold though, even in June.

[azalice]

I thank you all for your comments. We cannot do the amount of walking we used to do, so we are looking for some help with bus, or taxi transport to get us partway to see Tallinn. I think we would not manage a big hill walk but maybe we could manage the downhill part. So I will stIll wait to see what excursions will be available to help us somewhat reduce the walking.

[Heartgrove]

If you walk to the ferry terminal near the cruise ship pier, there is a european version of a convenience store. They sell a day pass for the bus and tram system. The 1 and 3 tram routes will take you to  the Kadriorg Palace. It is well worth visiting

[Torquer]

1 hour ago, azalice said:

I thank you all for your comments. We cannot do the amount of walking we used to do, so we are looking for some help with bus, or taxi transport to get us partway to see Tallinn. I think we would not manage a big hill walk but maybe we could manage the downhill part. So I will stIll wait to see what excursions will be available to help us somewhat reduce the walking.

As I said in my earlier post, I am sure there are no buses that run inside the old town.  I doubt there are even taxis or Uber within the old town...there are very few cars at all.  You could certainly take a taxi or Uber from the cruise ship pier to the town gates which would help you since it is 1/2 mile one way.  But once inside, I am pretty sure the only way is to walk within the town.  So I don't think a HAL excursion is going to help much, except if you are going to some place other than the old town.  If you still want to do a HAL excursion, read the description carefully to see if the amount of walking is suitable for you.  Of course, the other half of Tallinn is a modern city with public transportation, but I'm not sure if there is anything interesting to see there.

[GeorgeCharlie]

Have a look at this site, as it may give you a better idea of how to get around in the Old Town.

 

Accessible Tallinn (visittallinn.ee)

 

[iflyrc5]

We used "Tours by Locals" when in Tallinn several years ago.  Great tour by a college student.

[Radbooks]

I was in Tallinn last summer and had a wonderful time. We took that little tour train and it was fun, but I'm not sure I would recommend it because there is no narration. It went around the outside of the walled area and at one point actually drove down the cobblestone streets and it really rattled my teeth! 🙂 

 

We were there for a couple of days and walked around the old town and also drove to Kadriorg park and to a wonderful living museum sort of place with a farmer's market.