The 7 Best Viewpoints in Tallinn, Ranked

Tallinn is one of Europe’s most picturesque cities in general, and the Estonian capital is blessed with more viewpoints than many places. I’ve been to Tallinn five times, and from a photographer’s perspective, this place is a dream. Many of the views are free, which is nice, but some are also worth paying for. 

Since Tallinn has so many viewpoints, doing some research before visiting is a good idea. Not all of these were created equally. Some offer better views than others, and they vary significantly in accessibility. Moreover, the crowds will differ depending on where you go. 

Another challenge is that some viewpoints in Tallinn are only open at certain times during the year. With my comprehensive experiences visiting the Estonian capital multiple times, I’m bringing you this complete comparison between the best viewpoints in the city. We’ll rank them based on each of the following: 

• Accessibility: The higher the score, the more accessible. 
• Seasonality: A high score means it’s more likely to be year-round. 
• Views: The higher the score, the better the views.
• Price: The higher the score, the cheaper the price. 
• Crowds: The higher the score, the fewer the crowds. 

Once you’ve read this guide, you will have all the information you need to find the best views in Tallinn. Moreover, you’ll know what to expect when visiting each viewpoint. That way, you will be much better prepared. 

1. Tallinn TV Tower

The Tallinn TV Tower is another place I had wanted to visit for a while, and I finally got the opportunity on a 2025 trip to the city. The building itself is very interesting, and as one of the tallest structures in Estonia, you get panoramic views of much of Tallinn and its outskirts. 

Since the TV Tower is outside Tallinn’s Old Town, the crowds here are very manageable. That said, it can still get busy; a maximum of 100 people are allowed on the observation deck at any time. When you purchase the Tallinn Card, you’re guaranteed entry (it also covers public transport to and from the tower). You can also purchase skip-the-line tickets. 

The main reason I’m giving the views a lower score is that you can’t see the Old Town as well as some of the other viewpoints in this guide. If you’re visiting Tallinn for the first time, you’ll probably want to see the Old Town from above at least once. And if that’s what you’re looking after in particular, you’re better off going elsewhere.

You will, however, get excellent views in all other directions. Going both here and visiting another viewpoint on your trip is the best middle ground, in my opinion. 

In terms of accessibility, the Tallinn TV Tower is very good. Elevators will take you to the observation deck. 

Entry tickets to the Tallinn TV Tower are quite pricey, which is a bit of a downside. That said, I do think the admission fee is worthwhile. You can buy “walk on the edge” tickets that give you an unobstructed view, along with normal admission. 

To get to the TV Tower, you’ll need to take a bus from the city center. We took one from the Viru Keskus shopping center; it took around 20 minutes to get to the tower. 

2. The Freedom Square Viewpoint

Harjumägi, the park close to Toompea Castle, has a nice view of Tallinn’s Freedom Square. This isn’t as visited as some of the other spots, but it’s an easy place to stop and get some pictures. You’ll get a view primarily of the plaza, rather than a panorama of the Old Town, but it does provide a unique angle. 

The Estonian flags add to the atmosphere here, and the viewpoint is accessible year-round. It’s easy to reach thanks to mostly smooth terrain and step-free access. You’ll find some benches if you wish to take a break before exploring more of Tallinn. 

You can access this viewpoint for free, and there’s a staircase leading up from the Freedom Square to Harjumägi. For the most part, you won’t find huge crowds here. 

3. Patkuli Viewing Platform

The Patkuli Viewing Platform is another famous viewpoint in Tallinn, and you’ll likely have seen countless photos from this spot. You can see St. Olaf’s Church, in addition to the Old Town’s walls, the TV Tower, and much of the Old Town’s architecture. 

From this viewpoint, you can also get a glimpse of the ferry port connecting Tallinn with the Finnish capital Helsinki. It’s open year-round, and a staircase connects the viewing platform to other parts of Tallinn. Patkuli is free to visit, and even if I’m only in Tallinn for a day, I normally aim to stop here for 10-15 minutes. 

The viewing platform is crowded, but I don’t think it’s on the same level as Kohtuotsa—even during peak hours. You can, however, visit early in the morning or later in the evening if you want to avoid the crowds as much as possible. If you’re visiting Tallinn for the weekend rather than just one day, visiting outside peak hours is wise.

The main issue with this viewing platform is accessibility. You’ll either need to take the stairs here or walk through the Old Town, which will be a challenge if you’ve got issues with mobility. It’s not as big of a problem as St. Olaf’s Tower if you lack fitness, but some may still find the stairs a problem. 

Another thing to note is that the viewing platform is a bit hidden if you’re already in the Old Town. Thankfully, though, it is signposted. 

4. St. Olaf’s Church Tower

I had wanted to visit the observation deck at St. Olaf’s Church for multiple years. But unfortunately, I never had the chance on my first four visits to Tallinn. So, when I went to the Estonian capital on a summer trip, this was naturally top of my “must-do” list—and it lived up to my expectations. When visiting Tallinn, I think it’s one of the best things to do here.

From the top of the church tower, you get a fantastic view of Tallinn’s Old Town. You can see many of its most iconic buildings, such as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and St. Mary’s Cathedral. The orange roofs of the houses below look mesmerizing from this vantage point, too. 

The church’s observation deck has very good views of Tallinn in other directions, too. For example, you can see the TV Tower, much of the Kalamaja district, and the ferry port. In terms of overall views, St. Olaf’s Church is hard to beat. 

Despite being one of the main attractions in Tallinn, I didn’t find the viewpoint too busy, even though we went in the summer. The observation deck is open from April through October, and it’s included in the Tallinn Card (I wrote a full review of the Tallinn Card if you’re interested in buying it). 

The big issue with this church, however, is its accessibility. Like many old European churches, the climb is difficult; even for my girlfriend and I, who are young and pretty fit, it felt like a hike. Climbing the 282 steps in 30ºC (86ºF) heat and high humidity wasn’t fun, even if the views were worth it. If you don’t have good cardiovascular fitness or have difficulties walking, I’d look at an alternative. 

The staircase is also very narrow and steep, with lots of spirals, which isn’t ideal if you have claustrophobia. Keep this in mind before you visit. In addition to being included in the Tallinn Card, you can buy tickets for the tower at the church. Admission costs €8. 

5. Fotografiska Rooftop Bar

Fotografiska is a great photography museum in the heart of the Telliskivi Creative City. Its exhibitions are worth seeing, and if you’re here, you should also visit the rooftop bar. Besides getting great cocktails, you can enjoy views of the district and its surroundings. 

You won’t get the best Old Town views here, but you can still see the walls surrounding it and St. Mary’s Cathedral. Moreover, you’ll get a view of Tallinn’s main railway station. This area is generally not too crowded, but you will need an admission ticket for the museum. These are pretty expensive, so you should want to actually visit the exhibitions, too. 

Fotografiska is also included in the Tallinn Card, so you could visit it if you don’t want to see the museum but have already bought the pass. The views of Telliskivi are great, in particular, and there’s plenty of seating if you want to enjoy a drink. 

In terms of accessibility, you can reach the viewpoint via an elevator.

Good If: 

✅ You’re already visiting Fotografiska

✅ You’d like to see the Telliskivi Creative City from above

Bad If:

❌ You don’t want to visit the museum

Address: Telliskivi tn 60a-8, 10412 Tallinn, Estonia

6. Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform

The Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform is probably the most famous viewpoint in Tallinn. It used to have some very popular “The Times We Had” wall art, but this has since changed to Tallinn with a heart. The viewpoint is also well-known for its resident seagull, who is more than happy to pose for pictures 😄. 

From Kohtuotsa, you can get a nice view of St. Olaf’s Church. Moreover, you’ll be able to see the contrast between Tallinn’s Old Town and some of its newer districts. To me, this view perfectly sums up the Estonian capital: An interesting blend of modernity and tradition. 

The viewpoint is open year-round, and I’ve been in all seasons. Tallinn looks beautiful regardless of when you visit, and the contrasts are big. I love seeing the city covered in snow during the winter, but at the same time, summer has its charms. The latter is also great if you want to take vintage-style photos. 

You can visit Kohtuotsa for free, meaning you can spend some more money on Tallinn’s great food and beer instead. Getting here isn’t as challenging as St. Olaf’s Church in terms of accessibility, but you will need to get into the Old Town; navigating the cobblestone streets may be more difficult for wheelchair users. 

Another important point to remember about Kohtuotsa is that it’s the most crowded viewpoint in Tallinn. Trying to get a picture here often means needing to wait a few minutes, and you’ll need to jostle with lots of others. You can mitigate this by visiting in the early morning or evening; many people will be visiting on a day trip from Helsinki or as part of a cruise, and it’s noticeably quieter when they leave. 

7. Tallinn Town Hall

Tallinn’s Town Hall is an attraction in and of itself; it’s one of the prettiest in Europe. During the summer months, you can also explore the interior. Besides its exhibitions, which detail Tallinn’s and the building’s history, you can climb the tower for a view of Raekoja Plats—the Estonian capital’s main square. 

The tower is only open from June through August, which is a bit annoying if you’re visiting outside of the summer. The admission fee for the tower alone is €6, which is reasonable and in line with similar observation decks in Europe. Access is included for free in the Tallinn Card. 

Accessibility is, however, not great. The stairs are very narrow, and this is not a nice place to climb if you’re claustrophobic. Moreover, there isn’t much space when you get to the top of the tower. The views, however, are great; if you can, it’s still worth visiting. 

While you can’t see over the majority of Tallinn, you do get a unique view of Raekoja Plats. As such, you can get some great photos up here. It’s a shame the tower isn’t open in the winter, because the views of the Christmas Markets would be amazing. 

Final Thoughts

Tallinn has a number of fantastic viewpoints, but knowing what to expect when visiting them is essential. Some are more accessible than others, and the views will differ depending on where you go. Understanding what you want is key, and ideally, you should visit more than one on your trip. 

While some viewpoints are seasonal, you’ll find a good mixture of those that you can visit year-round. Moreover, you don’t need to be amongst the crowds if you want something a little more lowkey. 

Now that you’ve read this guide, you’ve got all the information you need to visit the best viewpoints in Tallinn. Allocate a good chunk of time on your trip to see the city from above at least once. 

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