The Vysotsky Building is one of the tallest buildings in Russia outside Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and its observation deck on the 52nd floor offers the best panoramic view of Ekaterinburg. On a clear day you can see the Ural Mountains to the west and follow the Iset River as it threads through the city. The view makes visible what is hard to appreciate on the ground: the contrast between the 18th-century merchant city on the hills to the north, the Soviet-era constructivist buildings in the centre, and the glass towers of the modern business district rising along the river.
The observation deck is open daily and charges a modest entrance fee. There is also a Vladimir Vysotsky museum in the building, dedicated to the beloved Soviet singer and poet after whom the building is named — a good complement to the view. The building sits in the heart of the central business district, five minutes' walk from the Cathedral on the Blood and the main pedestrian street, making it easy to combine with a walking tour of the centre.