Tallinn

Gateway to Tallinn Old Town (UNESCO), Toompea hill, Kadriorg Palace.

Photo: Scotch Mist, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

Tallinn is one of the easiest Baltic ports: you can walk from the ship to the medieval Old Town. Wear good shoes, the streets are cobblestones and Toompea hill is steep.

Getting ashoreShip docks
Distance to townAbout 1 km to the Old Town walls (unverified).
Gateway forTallinn Old Town (UNESCO), Toompea hill, Kadriorg Palace.
Walk to Old Town (Viru Gate / Town Hall Square)15-20 minutes (unverified) · Free
On the chart

Where Tallinn lies

Where your ship docks

Ships dock at the Old City Harbour cruise quay.

Shuttle. Some lines run a shuttle to the Old Town edge; check your planner.

From the gangway

Getting to the sights

The wayTimeCost
Walk to Old Town (Viru Gate / Town Hall Square)15-20 minutes (unverified)Free
Tram or taxi to Kadriorg Palace and parkAbout 15 minutes (unverified)Unverified

Walk to Old Town (Viru Gate / Town Hall Square)

Time 15-20 minutes (unverified)Cost Free
  1. Exit the terminal.
  2. Follow signs toward the Old Town (Vanalinn).

Flat until Old Town; then cobblestones.

Tram or taxi to Kadriorg Palace and park

Time About 15 minutes (unverified)Cost Unverified
  1. Take a tram toward Kadriorg or a taxi app.
Worth the trip

What to see

Town Hall Square

Heart of the medieval Old Town.

How
Walk.
Time
30 minutes
Tickets
Free

Toompea viewing platforms

Red roofs and church spires view.

How
Walk uphill from Old Town.
Time
1 hour
Tickets
Free

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Onion-domed Orthodox cathedral on Toompea.

How
Walk.
Time
20 minutes
Tickets
Unverified

St. Olaf's Church tower

Climb for views (narrow stairs).

How
Walk.
Time
45 minutes
Tickets
Unverified

Kadriorg Palace

Baroque palace and park.

How
Tram/taxi.
Time
1.5-2 hours
Tickets
Unverified
A day ashore

Your day, hour by hour

Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.

  1. Walk from ship to Old Town.
  2. Town Hall Square, then up to Toompea viewpoints.
  3. Lunch in Old Town.
  4. Optional Kadriorg by tram/taxi.
  5. Walk back; aboard 30-45 minutes early.
Wise counsel

What goes wrong, and how to avoid it

Beware

  • Cobblestones and steep hill.
  • Crowds when several ships are in.

Do this

  • St. Petersburg is no longer on Baltic cruises (major lines dropped it in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine); Tallinn and Helsinki often take its place.
Practical matters

Fees, money and access

Accessibility

Cobblestones make wheelchairs hard. The upper town is steep.

Money

Euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted. Carry a little cash for small cafes, toilets, and markets.

Onward

More of the The Baltic Capitals

Arrivals & departures

Which ships are in port

See today's ships and every upcoming arrival at Tallinn, from the port's own schedule.

Open the Tallinn arrivals board →

Sources & what we could not confirm · 1 sources · checked 2026-11
Still being confirmed
  • Walking distances and times
  • Shuttle availability
  • Attraction prices
  • Tram times