Tallinn

Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, with a medieval old town that survived the Soviet era largely intact. The cruise terminal is a short walk or shuttle ride from the old town gates. Inside the walls, cobblestone streets wind past Gothic church spires, merchant houses with carved doorways, and Toompea Hill, where the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral sits in front of the Estonian parliament building. The view from the Kohtuotsa platform extends over the red rooftops to the Baltic Sea. The Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats) is the centre of the old town and has one of the oldest continuously operating pharmacies in Europe, dating to the 15th century. Tallinn's marzipan tradition goes back centuries, and the shops along Pikk Street sell it in painted figurine form. Viru Street and the surrounding blocks have the highest concentration of restaurants and souvenir shops. The currency is the euro. Portions are generous, prices are lower than in Scandinavia, and tipping is not expected but appreciated.