Hotels near Toompea Castle

Toompea Castle crowns the limestone escarpment 30 metres above the lower Old Town and has held Estonia's seat of power for eight centuries. The Danes built the first stone fortress here in 1219, the Livonian Order rebuilt it in the 14th century, and the Russian Empress Catherine the Great added the pink Baroque parliament wing in the 1770s. Today the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) sits inside that pink block, while the medieval Tall Hermann tower (Pikk Hermann) at the south corner flies the Estonian flag every morning at sunrise to the national anthem.

The castle courtyard, walls and Tall Hermann tower base are freely accessible during daylight. Parliament interior tours run on weekdays and must be booked at least two working days in advance through the Riigikogu website - they are free but limited. From the west wall of the courtyard you get an unusual westerly view over Toompark and the Baltic. The area around Lossi plats also holds Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the entrance to the Patkuli viewing platform, so plan Toompea as a linked cluster.

Pro Tip: Approach Toompea via Pikk jalg (Long Leg) and descend later via Luhike jalg (Short Leg) - the two medieval streets connect Vanalinn to Toompea and each is worth a slow walk. Sunrise flag-raising at 07:33 in summer is a quiet local moment.