CRUISE QUAYS
Almost all arrivals berth behind Terminal A in the Old City Harbour, a ten-minute walk to the nearest Old Town gate.

TERMINAL D
Occasionally some have to use quays behind Terminal D, newer and brighter but a slightly longer distance from the Old Town.

port of tallinn

Tallinn is a vibrant town with a fine natural harbour. Its medieval walls and spires can be seen far out at sea. Sightseeing can start within ten minutes' walk from the quay.

In the past a few cruise ships had to moor in the cargo port at Muuga, ten kilometres to the east, but all can now be accommodated in the Old City Harbour. Most of the cruise berths are behind Terminal A, just a kilometre (half a mile) from the nearest old town gate.

Occasionally the main cruise quay is so busy that ships have to berth by Terminal D, but it means only a slightly longer walk to the old town. The total distance is still only 1.25 km, less than a mile.

No cruise ships stay overnight in Tallinn. Almost all are on their way to, or coming back from, St Petersburg, which has so much more to see that extra nights are better spent there. But tiny Tallinn has charm and a much more human scale.

No cruises start or end in Tallinn because the airport doesn't have enough convenient international connections. For the same reason, a cruise is the ideal way to see this historic town.

CRUISE QUAYS
Almost all cruise ships berth at the quays behind Terminal A. Cruise passengers do not exit through the terminal itself - the cruise area has its own gate - but the terminal building is a convenient place to pick up provisions and brochures or change money.

Taxis are often waiting in the cruise area, but are not an ideal way to see the Old Town because some of the best parts of it are closed to cars. Take a cab if you don't want a ten-minute walk as far as the nearest Old Town gate. If walking is out of the question, a bicycle taxi may be the answer.

There is a public toilet in the cruise area, spartan but clean. There is also sometimes a mobile shop selling chocolate and other candy. Tourist information is available in the small cruise gate building.

Just outside the gate, turn left and enter Sadama (meaning Harbour) street. If you don't need to change money or buy anything, turn right and walk up the street towards the church spires and the town.

To go to the Terminal A building, make a small detour left here. The terminal is open from 6:00 to midnight, in other words, all the time cruise ships are in port, although not all its shops keep the same hours. If you aren't visiting the Terminal, jump over the next six paragraphs.

Money changing There are two money changing booths in Terminal A. You will need local money for almost anything you buy; very few shops will let you pay in dollars or pounds. Euros are a bit more acceptable but not everywhere.

The money exchange offices do not all offer exactly the same exchange rates so it's worth comparing. Alternatively there are two ATM terminals in the wall outside the terminal, where you can withdraw local money if you have a Visa or Mastercard.

There is a tourist information office in Terminal A, open from 8:00 to 16:30 (4:30 pm). From the terminal bar you can get coffee or sandwiches. Of course there are plenty of places for refreshment in the Old Town but most of them are at the far end from the gate where you will be entering.

Terminal A has a free toilet. You can also find a pharmacist, open 9:30 to 19:30 (7:30 pm) seven days a week and a hairdressers 8:00 - 15:30 (3:30 pm), closed Sundays. You'll need to change money first to use these.

Bus tickets From the newspaper kiosk, open 7:00 - 19:00 (7:00 pm), you can buy tickets in advance for public transport. The same ticket works in buses, trams and trolley buses. You could get a ticket when you need one from the driver, but kiosks also sell a 24-hour ticket, which is more convenient. Kiosks sell stamps, too, if you have postcards to mail.

For travellers with laptop computers or internet-enabled phones, Terminal A is a free WiFi hot spot. The nearest public telephones are next door, in Terminal B. A credit card is needed to use them. Your business concluded, walk back up Sadama Street. The great spire of St Olaf's is your beacon.

Halfway up the street, opposite the tacky aluminium mermaids of the new Spa and Conference Hotel, is a smallish shopping mall. It aims to intercept ferry passengers, mostly Finns, so its offerings are skewed towards beer and spirits, but it is somewhere to pick up a last-minute souvenir on the way back.

At the top of the street is a rather busy highway but there are pedestrian crossings to get you over to the Great Coastal Gate (Suur Rannavärav) of the Old Town, flanked by Fat Margaret's Tower. The history books say the tower was so named because it is the stoutest tower in the city, but no one tells who Margaret was.

Instead of exploring the town, you can also catch a tram from next to Fat Margaret that will take you to the new shopping area and beyond to Kadriorg.

TERMINAL D
A few times in 2008, the cruise quays were so busy that some ships had to berth behind Terminal D. This is no serious disadvantage. You simply walk around the Admiralty Basin. The rest of the walk to the Old Town is the same. The extra distance is about 200 metres (yards).

In compensation, Terminal D is much newer and brighter than Terminal A, with more shops. There is also a plentiful supply of reliable yellow taxis outside, if the extra 200 metres is too much.

For travellers with laptop computers or internet-enabled phones, Terminal D is a free WiFi hot spot.