Best Viewpoints in Tallinn, Estonia | Where to See the City at Its Most Beautiful 🇪🇪
Tallinn is one of those cities that doesn’t really have a bad angle. From its medieval towers and terracotta rooftops to the glimmering Baltic Sea in the distance, the whole place looks as if it were built to be admired.Â
What surprised us most, though, was just how many incredible views are tucked within easy walking distance of each other.
Whether you’re chasing that perfect postcard shot or just want to pause above the terracotta rooftops for a moment, these were our favourite viewpoints around Tallinn — each one with its own charm, character, and reason to take out your camera.
Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform
If you’ve ever seen a photo of Tallinn’s Old Town looking like a real-life fairytale, chances are it was taken from Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform. It’s one of those places that makes you stop mid-sentence when you first see it. From here, the entire city unfolds in front of you — a sea of red rooftops, spires, and medieval walls, framed by the Baltic beyond.
We arrived early in the morning, before the tour groups arrived, and the stillness was magical — just the sound of church bells and the faint smell of pastries from somewhere below. By late afternoon, it becomes a social hub, with locals chatting and travellers swapping camera spots.Â
Patkuli Viewing Platform
If there’s one spot you absolutely shouldn’t miss in Tallinn, it’s this one.
The Patkuli Viewing Platform offers an entirely different perspective of Tallinn. From here, you’re looking down on the city’s northern walls — the kind of medieval scene that makes you feel like you’ve slipped back a few centuries. You can spot the turrets of Toompea Castle, the sharp steeple of St. Olaf’s Church, and the distant shimmer of the port.
It’s also one of the best places to catch a sunset. As the light softens, the rooftops glow, and the whole city looks like it’s been dusted in gold. Bring a coffee and a pastry snack, and take it all in — it’s one of those views that deserves your time.
St. Olaf’s Church TowerÂ
If you’re not afraid of heights (or narrow staircases), St. Olaf’s Church Tower offers one of the most impressive 360° views in Tallinn. The climb isn’t for the faint-hearted — it’s a long, steep spiral of stone steps that seem to go on forever — but the reward is worth every panting breath.
From the top, you get a bird’s-eye view of the Old Town in one direction and the modern city stretching towards the sea in the other. You can really see the contrast that makes Tallinn so unique — centuries of history on one side, sleek glass towers on the other. Hold onto your hat, though; the wind up there can get wild.
Niguliste Church Tower
Often overlooked, the Niguliste Church Tower offers a fantastic view right in the heart of the Old Town. It’s generally less crowded than St. Olaf’s, but the views are every bit as lovely. Oh, did we mention it has an elevator?
From the top, you can look out over Town Hall Square, St. Nicholas’ spire, and the winding medieval streets that weave between them.
LinnahallÂ
If you want a completely different kind of view, head over to Linnahall, which was built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics sailing regatta.
This massive Soviet-era concrete structure near the harbour isn’t pretty in the traditional sense — but it’s fascinating. Climb to the top and you’ll get wide-open views of the Baltic Sea. It’s a little eerie, a little poetic, and the kind of place that makes you think about Tallinn’s layered history.
Our Thoughts
Tallinn’s beauty isn’t just in its Old Town charm — it’s in the way the city unfolds from above. Each viewpoint tells a different story: the medieval walls at Patkuli, the fairytale rooftops at Kohtuotsa, the windswept heights of St. Olaf’s. Whether you’re chasing the perfect photo or just looking for a moment of quiet above the streets, Tallinn rewards you every time you look up.