The 10 Most Instagrammable Places in Tallinn

Climb to the top of Toompea Hill, the upper part of Tallinn’s medieval Old Town, and make your way to the Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform. From here, you’ll get a great shot overlooking the Old Town, with its terracotta rooftops, church steeples, bell towers and even the harbour in the distance. Talk about #viewsfordays.

The Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform provides excellent photo opportunities all year round, but especially in winter, when the snow-dusted roofs look like something straight off a Christmas card.

Whether you’re into #streetphotography or creating the perfectly-framed picture, the Viru Gate is the place where you’ll be able to do both. The main entrance into the eastern side of Tallinn’s Old Town, the Viru Gate is a part-demolished section of the city’s defence walls and has 2 iconic turrets that hundreds of visitors pass between each day.

It’s a busy area of the city, so you’re likely to always get some people in your shot, but that only adds to the ambience. For the best result, capture the gate at night, when it’s beautifully lit up.

At the top of Toompea Hill in Tallinn’s Old Town, you’ll find the whitewashed structure of St. Mary’s Cathedral. It’s the oldest church in Tallinn and mainland Estonia, dating back to the 13th century.

From the outside, you can get a great shot of the cathedral’s Gothic exterior, with its brilliant-white walls, black Baroque bell tower and the street’s cobbles in the foreground. Inside, the altar is simply stunning, plus you can climb the 69-metre-high tower and capture fantastic views of the city, including the domes of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Surround yourself with medieval walls and fascinating sculptures and take your pick from all the great photo opportunities in the Danish King’s Garden. Located on the slopes of Toompea Hill and steeped in history and tales, it’s a tranquil outdoor space where legend has it that the Danish flag originated from.

Work your camera magic with the different angles of the walls, get a close-up of one of the faceless monks or take a Zen selfie next to the “breathe easy” graffiti at the platform overlooking the Old Town.

Behind Tallinn’s main railway station, you’ll find the trendy area of Kalamaja, often referred to as ‘hipsterville’. Located between the Old Town and the coast, it’s where you’ll find the Telliskivi Creative City, with its quirky architecture and street art. But one of the main reasons why keen photographers make their way to Kalamaja is for its Instagrammable array of colourful houses.

These historical wooden townhouses come in every colour imaginable, lined up alongside each other like a row of Lego bricks, so there’ll be #nofilter needed for this grid post. You’ll find some of the best Tallinn houses down Valgevase, Kalevi and Kungla streets.

You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you walk along the cobbles and under the archways of the charming St. Catherine’s Passage in Tallinn Old Town. Easily one of the most picturesque streets in the city, the narrow passageway with its olde-worlde shops and studios is an Instagrammer’s dream.

Take a walk along here in the daytime to capture the local shopkeepers and artists in action. Or head back here after nightfall, when the pretty lights are twinkling off the cobbles. It’s especially beautiful when the snow has recently fallen.

As far as palaces go, Kadriorg is pretty impressive. The interior is grand and lavish, but add its brightly-coloured exterior and neatly-kept gardens and you’ve got a winning formula to equal countless likes on your Instagram post.

Inside, you’ve got the Kadriorg Art Museum and the ornate main hall that’s worth a visit, but the photos from the outside are your money shots. Stand far enough back to get all of the palaces in one shot, with the patterned garden in the front. Then take the time to walk around the surrounding park, where you can bank a few flower pics for #latergram.

St Olav's Tower is a 12th-century baptist church in Tallinn featuring a 124-metre-tall tower. The church itself is well worth getting a picture of, but most people visit to enjoy the breathtaking views from the top. The tower boasts 360-degree views across the city and you can easily pick out the castle and cathedrals atop Toompea Hill.

Built in the early 16th century, the church was once considered to be one of the tallest buildings in the world. It may not hold that title now, but it’s still an iconic symbol of Estonia. Bear in mind there are 232 winding steps leading up to the viewpoint, so be sure to pace yourself for the climb. Also, note that this part of the church is closed in winter.

Mündi Street perfectly epitomises Tallinn’s Old Town, so it’s no wonder so many people stop and get their cameras out as they walk along its cobbles. Its quaint, independent shops have old-fashioned signs and lanterns hanging above the doors and the ancient architecture oozes charm and character.

But what makes this street so #instaworthy is the fact that you can seamlessly frame the distant Gothic Tallinn Town Hall on the square between the buildings. Plan to take your shot at sunset, so you can capture the warm glow of the sun behind the tower and spire.

With its black onion domes and strikingly elaborate design, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a stark contrast to the usual ancient architecture that lines the streets of Tallinn’s Old Town. Situated at the very top of Toompea Hill, it stands out from the crowd and people are drawn to it, cameras at the ready.

A sunny day will give you the best shot of the outside, with the white walls reflecting the sun and the domes standing out against a bright blue backdrop. It’s free to look around and find the ultimate shot for the ‘gram – just be respectful of any services taking place.