Tallinn, Estonia - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

jstducky · 03-28-2006, 04:22 PM

Ok, so I'm starting to do some pre-research for a possible cruise to Scandinavia next year.

One of the possible ports of calls will be Tallinn, Estonia.

I am looking for information of any sort from those of you who have been before.

What did you do? Did you take a ship tour? Private tour? Do it on your own?

What are the main attractions?

Is Tallinn an expensive city? Is the tourist destination right there next to the port, or does this require a drive of some distance?

What are the types of souveniers that are good to get in Talllinn?

Would you go back again if given the opportunity? Or is this a, great to have gone once before, but don't want to go back again type of port?

Texashorselady · 03-28-2006, 05:43 PM

Oh I love love love Estonia!! I'll give you some details in a little bit...gotta do some housework...

Texashorselady · 03-28-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstducky

Ok, so I'm starting to do some pre-research for a possible cruise to Scandinavia next year.

One of the possible ports of calls will be Tallinn, Estonia.

I am looking for information of any sort from those of you who have been before.

What did you do? Did you take a ship tour? Private tour? Do it on your own?

We took a HAL ship tour.

What are the main attractions?

The walled city of Tallin is cool. It's very medieval, and one of the few old towns that still has the entire wall intact. It's full of tall peaked buildings...it has its own style but there is a definite Russian influence with a few onion dome buildings and orthodox style churches.

Is Tallinn an expensive city? Is the tourist destination right there next to the port, or does this require a drive of some distance?

It's not expensive. It's too far to walk.

What are the types of souveniers that are good to get in Talllinn?

Oh great stuff...we bought beautiful hand painted porcelain Christmas ornaments with scenes of Estonia and religious designs. There's a big strip of little shops full of all sorts of artsy crafty things...mostly hand painted witih religious or ethnic themes. Also, the churches sell things in gift shops and there are street vendors selling all sorts of stuff. This is one place delightfully free from the 'made in China' type of souvenier.

Would you go back again if given the opportunity? Or is this a, great to have gone once before, but don't want to go back again type of port?

If I ever go back to the Baltic you can bet I'll visit Estonia again!

Texashorselady · 03-28-2006, 06:14 PM

Tallin rooftops...

Texashorselady · 03-28-2006, 06:15 PM

...Tallin medieval wall

Texashorselady · 03-28-2006, 06:17 PM

...Tallin orthodox church

JodiBB · 03-28-2006, 06:24 PM

Tallinn is a beautiful city!!!!

We walked around Old Towne Tallinn on our own. You can buy a city pass for Tallinn, which will also include a Hop on/Hop off bus tour that takes you into new Tallinn as well. We didn't get the pass and just used Rick Steven's Scandanavia book which had a walking tour....we followed that as our guide. Many people who took aa ship tour ended up in the same places we did throughout their tour.

Is it expensive? Not terribly, but some things are more expensive, like the Matruska Dolls.

I would go back again. The architecture is incredible and I would probably go into new Tallinn to give us a different experience the next time.

jstducky · 03-28-2006, 06:30 PM

Jodi - What is the difference between Old Tallinn and new Tallinn? Is that a stupid question?

What is a Matruska Doll?

Julie - those are amazing pictures. was your tour with HAL and all day tour or half day?

JodiBB · 03-28-2006, 06:45 PM

Old Tallinn is the oldest medieval city in Europe. The pictures THL posted are of old Tallinn. New Tallinn is the rest of Tallinn that surrounds the medieval city. It's modern and it's interesting how this old town exists in the middle of a modern suburbia.

A Matruska doll are those hand-painted stacking dolls that nesting inside one another and get smaller and smaller. There are fakes and there are the real deals. We learned from a crew member how to tell the difference and bought a real nice one in St. Petersburg.

jstducky · 03-28-2006, 06:49 PM

wow. ok, i love those nesting doll things. if i go on this cruise. i'll certainly have to buy one for myself.

thanks for the explanation on the differences between old and new.

on your cruise, did you have a port lecture about each of the ports, not a shopping lecture, but an actual port lecture?