St. Olaf's Church
Once the tallest building on Earth (159 m in 1549) — climb 258 steps up the spire for the best rooftop view in Tallinn.
Slender spire of St Olaf's Church rising above Tallinn's medieval skyline
What to expect at St. Olaf's Church
Legend says St Olaf's was designed to be a beacon for merchant ships approaching the Baltic — and for eight decades in the 16th century, at 159 metres, it was the tallest building in the world. Lightning has knocked the spire off at least eight times since 1500, and each rebuild made it a little shorter (now 123 m). The interior is stark Lutheran whitewash, but the pilgrimage here is upward: a claustrophobic 258-step spiral climb to an outdoor gallery with a view no other tower in Tallinn matches.
The tower is only open April to October, and the staircase is one-way at busy times — expect a queue on cruise days. Wear grippy shoes because the stone treads are worn slick, and skip it if you have knee problems or serious claustrophobia (the passage narrows to shoulder-width near the top). Best light for photos is late afternoon, when the Toompea limestone glows and the sea to the north turns silver.
Questions about St. Olaf's Church
$5 in cash at the base of the tower. The church nave itself is free to enter.
The church interior and Sunday services are free. Only the tower climb is ticketed.
About 1 hour: 15 minutes in the nave, 20 minutes up and down the tower, plus 15 minutes on the gallery.
The tower closes 1 November-31 March. The church nave stays open year-round except during services.
No booking — walk-in only, cash only at the tower door.
On Lai street in the lower old town, 8 minutes from Fat Margaret and 12 minutes from Raekoja plats.
Hotels near St. Olaf's Church
More natural parks
All natural parks
From the journal
All posts
Comparisons & rankings
Hotels with spa & sauna in Tallinn, ranked
Ten Tallinn hotels where the spa is the reason to book, ranked by pool depth, sauna heat and what you actually pay per night in shoulder season — from $95 to $360.
Comparisons & rankings
Best family-friendly hotels in Tallinn
Nine Tallinn hotels that actually work with kids under 12, ranked by pool access, room configurations for four, and walking distance to a playground — priced from $110 to $290 a night.
Comparisons & rankings
Tallinn hotels with free parking
Central Tallinn parking runs $18 to $30 a night at most hotels — here are eight properties where it's genuinely free, plus honest advice on which ones are worth the trade-off in location.