Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform
Tallinn Shore Excursion – A Big Favorite
Our Tallinn Shore Excursion was my second favorite port on the 2 week Baltic portion of our cruise on the Holland America Rotterdam. The only port I liked better was Visby. Both of these old towns are surrounded almost completely by medieval walls. The main difference is that in Tallinn the walls are much higher and the old town is much larger and busier with tourists.
Tallinn Shore Excursion – Why I Loved It
The cruise port in Tallinn is about a 20 minute walk from Fat Margaret’s Gate into old town Tallinn. So, you don’t have to join an organized tour. Just make a plan using a map like the one attached below and head out on your own. Once we entered through the walls, we passed the 3 Sisters buildings and then took a quick right to the base of the walls. This simple move caused us to leave everyone else behind. We strolled along the walls on the north edge of the old town by ourselves, darting in and out to the gardens outside the walls, until we reached the steps up to the upper town where you join the tourist crowds and find the Cathedral of Alexander Nevskii.
The Danish King’s Garden
The Cathedral of Alexander Nevskii doesn’t allow taking photos, so its interior has quickly faded from my memory. On the other hand, the three larger than life monk sculptures at the Danish King’s Garden made the most lasting impression on our Tallin Shore Excursion. When you look where you expect to see the monks’ faces and realize nothing is there, it fills you with a sensation that is hard to forget.
Tallinn Shore Excursion – Hours of Enjoyment
We spent several hours enjoying Tallinn and found all the places on the attached map. The split at the Short Leg Gate between the upper and lower town was fun to find and walk through. My favorite though was the solitude following the string of towers along the northern edge of town. My least favorite was the large square bordered by the Tallinn Town Hall, which was crowded with tourists and businesses designed to support the crowds. I can’t complain though. Tallinn has something for everyone and I loved it.
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