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Cruises to Tallinn

As one of the best-preserved and most comprehensive medieval cities in Europe, Estonia’s ancient seacoast capital exudes a sense of romantic history. Find the perfect cruise to Tallinn with MSC Cruises.

Tallin: One of the best-preserved and most comprehensive medieval cities in Europe

As one of the best-preserved and most comprehensive medieval cities in Europe, Estonia’s ancient seacoast capital exudes a sense of romantic history.

A spirit of mystery still pervades the cobbled courtyards of Tallinn’s picturesque old town where winding alleys, overhung with original 12th and 13th century merchant’s houses combine a profusion of perfectly-preserved medieval churches and state buildings.

Tallinn, released just over a decade ago from the clutches of Soviet rule is not, however, stuck in the Dark Ages!

This well-kept city and UNESCO world heritage site is just as forward-thinking as any other modern European capital. We recommend you leave your luxury MSC cruise ship for the day and opt for one of our unique Tallinn excursion packages.

Not only will you enjoy the best deals on all the sights, we cater for passengers’ different tastes. Culture buffs will be eager to experience the special ‘Art and Architecture tour’, an informative guide that covers Tallinn’s main sights.

If it is your first holiday in Estonia you will really get a flavour for local culture in the full day trip around Tallinn and the nearby Open Air Museum – a reconstruction of life in the 18th century and great for children, too.

Add a sporty element to your vacation here with a fun bike ride around the Open Air Museum combined with a relaxing ride through picturesque woodlands.

Whether you leave the ship for shopping and sightseeing or history and culture, your day will be set against a backdrop of fairytale architecture and you are sure to leave enchanted.

Cruises to Tallin - Estonia - MSC Cruises

Directions


Ships dock at the Old City Harbor, only 500 metre from the city centre. The airport is located jut 4 km from downtown Tallin.

Port average temperature

The temperate figures shown are based on monthly average weather conditions for the selected port. Weather data is not real-time, and sometimes no data is shown for a specific date, month or port in general.

TALLINNMonths
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high °C-2-217131720181382---
Averagelow °C- 6- 7- 3---510121273---- 4
 TAL01 - TALLIN & OPEN AIR MUSEUM (approx. 6 hours, lunch included) - 2013
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  Lunch or dinner included  Cultural  Join us on a fun day out of sightseeing by coach and on foot. Begin with a walking tour around Tallinn old town. Starting in the Upper town you can note the impressive Toompea Castle, presently the seat of the Parliament; visit the Russian Orthodox Church of Alexander Nevsky and the Gothic Dome Church. Enjoy magnificent views of the Lower town with its gabled roofs. Descend to the Lower town where you will continue your tour passing by highlights such as the Town hall, the XV century pharmacy, the Great Guild, the Blackheads Brotherhood House and many homes of medieval merchants. After a typical Estonian lunch, enjoy free time for shopping in an Estonian arts and crafts store. Continue to “Rocca al Mare”, the Open Air Museum for a scenic hike through the forest and to see authentic examples of the local XVIII and XIX century rural architecture. Return to the ship. Please note: this tour is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair as long walking on uneven ground is involved. 1 drink of choice included in the lunch. Conservative attire is recommended for visiting sites of religious importance.

Price per person $117.00 Adults $82.00 Children

   


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 TAL02 - TALLINN HIGHLIGHT (approx. 3.5 hours) - 2013
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Wheelchair and disabled-friendly tour  Cultural  Start with a drive through the cultural centre of Tallinn and then along the medieval city wall that encompasses the Old Town. Walk up to the Nevsky Cathedral to admire the panorama of the Kiek in de Kök Tower, Neitsitorn before walking downtown. Enjoy a free time shopping for souvenirs or relaxing in the Town Hall square. Then you will board a bus and drive along the main thoroughfare to the central park of Kadriog. We will stop to take photographs at the Song Festival Grounds and continue with a drive through a beautiful residential area to reach the “Pirita Marina” which hosts splendid international regattas every year and was the site for the yachting Olympics. External visit of St. Birgit’s Convent before heading back to the port. Please note: conservative attire is recommended for visiting sites of religious importance. All sites are wheelchair-accessible with the exception of Nevsky Cathedral (about 12 steps).

Price per person $63.00 Adults $44.00 Children

   


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 TAL03 - THE ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF TALLINN (approx. 3.5 hours) - 2013
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Wheelchair and disabled-friendly tour  Cultural  Leave the port and drive through the cultural centre of Tallinn. Proceed to the old town to admire the skyline of the Cathedral Hill before walking up to the Palace Square to view Toompea Castle, now home to the Estonian Parliament, and visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, inaugurated in 1900 and filled with an array of superb religious icons. You can enjoy a panoramic view of Tallinn Lower town from the viewing terrace. Back on the ground we will board the coaches and drive to the exquisite Kadriog Palace for an interesting visit. Continue to the Song Festival Grounds and on to the Olympic Pirita Marina where splendid international regattas are hosted each year. On your way back to the port you will pass the famous Estonian mermaid monument, Russalka, and the summer residence of Count Orlov. Please note: conservative attire is recommended for visiting sites of religious importance. All sites are wheelchair-accessible with the exception of Nevsky Cathedral (about 12 steps) and of the third floor of Kadriog Palace. Shooting videos or taking photos inside Kadriog Palace is prohibited.

Price per person $61.00 Adults $43.00 Children

   


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 TAL04 - THE GOTHIC TREASURES OF TALLINN (approx. 3.5 hours) - 2013
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Cultural  Our tour begins with a circuit around the old town where we will briefly view the medieval city wall. We will stop at Tall Hermann Tower for an external view of the imposing castle before setting off for a guided walk through the winding streets of this old Hanseatic town, viewing the Transfiguration Church and the old merchants' houses. Admire the impressive Renaissance façade of the Blackheads Brotherhood House, the well-preserved Gothic Guild House and the quaint Holy Ghost Church with the oldest street clock in Tallinn. Enter the XV century Town Hall for a guided tour of this magnificent building. Walk through the Dominican convent to view St. Catherine's passage and see the oldest pharmacy in Europe that has been in operation since 1422. Time to shop for souvenirs. We will quickly see the Viru Gate in the city wall before boarding the bus back to the pier. Please note: this tour is not suitable for guests using a wheelchair; there are 20 steep steps to reach the Town Hall. Only cameras without a flash are allowed inside the Town Hall. This tour is not available on 15 May 2013 (MSC Musica).

Price per person $61.00 Adults $43.00 Children

   


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 TAL05 - CYCLING IN ROCCA AL MARE MUSEUM (approx. 3 hours) - 2013
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  Limited Availability  This entertaining and leisurely biking tour through the Estonian Open Air Museum, located in Rocca al Mare a short distance to the west of Tallinn city centre, offers visitors a fascinating glimpse at life in a rural-cum-fishing village in 18th-century Estonia. After putting on your safety helmet and mounting your bike, you will follow your guide around the museum complex, which recreates how village life was back in the day with a collection of 72 buildings – 12 farmyards, a church, an inn, a schoolhouse, several mills, a fire station and a net shed – over an area of 79 hectares. Your cycling tour then continues through the lovely Estonian coastal countryside, characterised by its verdant pine trees. Following your cycling tour, you will also have some time to shop prior to your return coach transfer to the port. Please note: tour guide available in English only. As this tour involves approx. 2 hours of cycling, it is not recommended for guests with mobility or health problems. This tour is not available for MSC Magnifica call.

Price per person $50.00 Adults $35.00 Children

   


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 TAL08 - RETRACING TALLINN'S HISTORY: SEAPLANE HARBOUR & CITY SIGHTS (approx. 4 hours) - 2013
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  Limited Availability  Recommended for families  Cultural  New Excursion  A short coach drive from the port will take you to the Seaplane Harbour, a treasure trove of maritime history made up of the sort of incredible stories that only life can tell. The fascinating museum includes rare examples of Estonian navigational history such as the Lembit submarine. Constructed in 1937, the Lembit sub was the world’s oldest submarine still afloat until 2011. You will also have a chance to see the icebreaker Suur Tõll, which dates back to 1914, and the Maasilinn shipwreck which dates back to the mid-16th century. After another coach transfer to the Upper Town, a walk will take you to Nevsky Cathedral for views of the late 15th-century Kiek in de Kök artillery tower. Then it’s on to the Lower Town on a route that includes highlights such as the town hall, the 15th-century pharmacy and elegant Great Guild building, the Renaissance-style Blackheads’ Brotherhood House and many former homes of medieval merchants. You will then have some time to explore the St. Catherine’s Arts and Crafts Centre before you return you to your ship. Please note: this tour is not recommended for guests with mobility problems or using a wheelchair.

Price per person $61.00 Adults $43.00 Children

   


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The excursions in the program above are intended to provide MSC Guests with an idea of the different tours that can be arranged in each port of call; this program is merely a guide and confirmation of each excursion and its description and prices will be made during your cruise. Full information can be found in the onboard Tour Magazine.