Toompea Castle stands on a limestone hill above Tallinn’s Old Town, its medieval walls and towers concealing a remarkably layered seat of power. Today it houses the Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament, making it both a historic landmark and a working centre of government.
The site was fortified long before the Danes began building in stone in the 13th century. Later rulers altered and expanded it, leaving a mix of medieval defences, an 18th-century pink palace wing commissioned under Catherine the Great, and a striking Expressionist parliament building completed in the 1920s. The Estonian flag flies from Tall Hermann tower, a potent symbol of the country’s independence.
Approach from Lossi plats for the pink palace facade, then walk around the hill to appreciate the castle’s older defensive walls. Guided visits to the parliament are available, but check the Riigikogu website for current times and advance-booking requirements. The climb through the Old Town can be steep and cobbled, so comfortable shoes are useful.