Tallinn is one of my favourite cities in Europe and in my opinion, extremely underrated.
I visited during the Christmas Market season and Tallinn in December is spectacular. It's no wonder that the city won the best Christmas Market in Europe in 2019. You can check out my weekend guide to Tallinn here.
But whether you’re visiting Tallinn in the winter season or the summer months, finding the best place to stay in Tallinn and the best area to stay in Tallinn Estonia, is an essential part of your trip.
In this article I want to share with you my review of the hotel I stay in, why I recommend it and other options I considered too.
Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored by the hotels I recommend, my recommendations are simply based on my personal experience. This post does contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something. While clicking these links won't cost you anything, they will help me to keep this site up and running! Check out the full disclosure policy for more details. Thank you so much!
Where to stay in Tallinn - Hestia Hotel Ilmarine
I stayed at the Hestia Hotel Ilmarine in Tallinn, which is less than 300 metres from Old Town Tallinn and I would consider it one of the best hotels in Tallinn for a weekend or week-long trip to the Estonia capital.
Location
The location is absolutely perfect because although I originally wanted to stay in the old town, the prices were much more expensive and also it was fairly noisy, especially with the tourists in the Christmas season.
Instead, the Hestia Hotel Ilmarine was the ideal compromise, being so well-located close to the Old Town but it actually sits almost on the seafront so I hear no disturbances or outside noises during my stay.
Amenities and Food
The rooms are modern, with all the modern amenities you could need for a week or few days trip, a large TV, large comfortable bed and great ensuite bathroom.
A buffet breakfast was also included in the price and the food variety was amazing, it really set us up for the day when we weren’t sure what time we would stop for lunch or dinner!
There are also tea and coffee facilities in all the rooms and a large modern ensuite, ideal for taking a break after a day of exploring.
We were also very impressed that free parking is also provided by the hotel. Had we have stayed for longer and hired a car, this would have been extremely valuable.
The hotel also boasts a gym and laundry services with car rental available on request.
Distance from the airport
We arrived at the hotel via taxi which was just a short 15-20 minute drive from the airport and reasonably priced, just make sure to join the official taxi rank at the airport arrivals.
Price
Rooms start from as little as £85 per night for a standard double room, which is what I stayed in. They have prices as low as this in the summer peak travel months which is great to see!
I paid slightly more, approximately £150 per night for during the Christmas season which is also a peak travel time to Tallinn due to the Christmas Market events.
Alternative places to stay in Tallinn
Old Town
Tallinn Old Town
If you’re considering visiting Tallinn but you are certain you’d like to stay in the Old Town Tallinn, then I’d recommend checking out the sister hotel to the Hestia Hotel Ilmarine - The Hestia Hotel Barons in the centre of the Old Town.
This is a boutique hotel with a more characterful experience, as the building is much older, the rooms are more characterful and unique, with dark wood fitting and patterned wallpaper. The location is again brilliant and ideal if you’re planning lots of things to do in Tallinn Old Town:
Distance from ferry terminal 1.5 km
Distance from train station 0.8 km
Distance from airport 4.1 km
Distance from bus station 2.2 km
Distance from Tallinn Town Hall Square 300 m
Mid-range budget
Experience luxury on a mid-range budget at the Metropol Spa Hotel which is located in the very centre of the new city and just a short walk to the old town in Tallinn.
With rooms starting from £130 per night for a double room, with pool and spa access, a gym and a restaurant on site. Rooms come with city views and the airport is just over 3 miles away.
With over 4,000 reviews on Booking, with an average of 8.9/10, you’re guaranteed to enjoy your stay.
Luxury stay
Perfectly located on the very edge of the Old Town, in the tallest building in Tallinn with city views in every direction, the Swissotel Tallinn boasts huge rooms, flat screen TVs, modern decor and large ensuites.
Rooms start from around £240 and go up to £625 for a suite with sea views.
There’s a spa and wellness centre, a swimming pool, a gym and a stunning restaurant on the top floor.
The hotel is just 950 yards from Viru Square, incredibly located and just a 10 minute drive from the airport.
With almost 3,000 reviews and an average of 9.1/10 on Booking, your experience here will be worth every penny.
Cheap Hostels in Tallinn
Tallinn was not as cheap as I expected it to be in terms of spending money and while it is nowhere near the prices of other European cities like Paris or Barcelona, there are plenty of options for a hostel in Tallinn if you’re looking to keep costs down.
Tallinn Backpackers is in the heart of the Old Town, perfectly located and offers beds from just £9 per night.
Knight House hostel offers beds from £10 a night and includes free breakfast too.
A little further out of the city is Capsule Hostels Tallinn, if you’re looking for more privacy and personal hygiene space, for just £17 per night and around 2km from the city centre.
I hope this guide shows you options for places to stay in Tallinn Estonia that suits your trip. There are options to suit every budget, as you can see and hopefully this helps you decide where to stay in Tallinn.
Pin this post to save for later and help you plan your future trip!
