In Tallinn, 2 kilometres change your whole trip. Sleep inside the medieval walls and Town Hall Square is your front garden. Sleep in Kalamaja or Kadriorg and you get the sea and a lower bill. My Tallinn City Guide covers restaurants and museums; this guide is about the bed. The rest of my road trip is in my Estonia highlights.

Estonia’s capital is a 2 hour flight from Amsterdam, the easiest city trip nobody at home had on their list. I stayed at the foot of Toompea and walked everywhere. It is a small city where medieval walls meet a booming design and tech scene, made for short trips. Below: 4 areas and 9 hotels for every budget, including a hut on the sea with a morning sauna.

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Quick answer: the best area to stay in Tallinn for a first city break is the Old Town (Vanalinn), within walking distance of almost every sight. Kalamaja suits creative types, Kadriorg light sleepers. Expect around 50 euros a night for budget and 300 euros and up for high end luxury. Book well in advance for the summer months: in June Tallinn gets over 18 hours of daylight and every terrace knows it.

Where to stay in Tallinn: the 4 best areas

The 4 best areas to stay in Tallinn are the Old Town, the city centre just outside its walls, Kalamaja with Telliskivi, and Kadriorg. All 4 are within about 3 km of Town Hall Square. Most walks take 10 to 15 minutes, so pick between the best neighborhoods by vibe, not distance.

• Old Town (Vanalinn): cobblestone streets surrounded by the city walls, towers and the shortest walk to everything. Busy with tourists on summer evenings.
• City centre: modern hotels and apartments just outside the Old Town walls, often for less, plus Sadama, the harbour area for the ferry to Helsinki.
• Kalamaja and Telliskivi: wooden houses, street art, cocktail bars and the sea. The best local vibe in town.
• Kadriorg: a palace park, art museums, the Song Festival Grounds and a beach around the corner. Quiet.

Best hotels in Tallinn Old Town

The Old Town is where to stay in Tallinn if it is your first visit and you have 2 or 3 nights. Old Town Tallinn is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved medieval centres in Northern Europe. Most first time visitors stay here: it is the best location in town, and the prices know it. Toompea Hill, the main square with live music on summer nights and Kehrwieder Chocolaterie, my hobbit house coffee stop, are minutes away. The flip side: summer evenings get loud, so ask for a courtyard room.

Boutique places to stay in Tallinn Old Town

Nunne Boutique Hotel is a beautiful four-star boutique hotel in the heart of Tallinn’s Old Town, just a few minutes’ walk from Town Hall Square. I love the warm interiors, the combination of historic architecture and modern comfort, and the fact that there’s even a small spa where you can unwind after a day of exploring. The breakfast gets fantastic reviews too! With rooms starting at around €60 in winter and €140 in late summer, this is a lovely choice if you’re looking for a little luxury and a great location without spending a fortune.

The Three Sisters Hotel is set in three 14th-century merchant houses at the northern end of Pikk Street. With just 23 individually shaped rooms, including some with beautiful canopy beds, this is anything but your average hotel. There’s also a bar with an impressive cognac collection, and the ferry harbour is only a 10-minute walk away.

Luxury places to stay in Tallinn Old Town

Schlössle Hotel fills 13th and 14th century buildings on Pühavaimu street, 150 metres from Town Hall Square. Stone walls, 23 spacious rooms, 1 Michelin Key and a free sauna. Breakfast comes with sparkling wine. Not a bad start to a day in the Estonian capital in an historic building. From around 170 euros in winter, more than double in summer.

The Burman Hotel With just 17 rooms and an impressive two Michelin Keys, The Burman Hotel is one of Tallinn’s most exclusive places to stay. Reopened in March 2025, this luxury hotel on Rataskaevu Street has thought of the finer details, from handmade mattresses to a spa and a champagne breakfast. Despite being part of a casino complex, the hotel itself feels discreet and private. Rooms start at around €300 a night, making this one for a special occasion.

The old town Vanalinn, Tallinn

Best hotels in the Tallinn city centre

The city centre is the practical area to stay in Tallinn, a 5 to 20 minute walk from the Old Town. Think modern architecture in the Rotermann Quarter and the business district around it. Sadama, the harbour area, keeps you close to the ferry terminal for Helsinki.

During my visit I stayed at the perfectly located Hotel L’Ermitage. My room was comfortable and well equipped and the breakfast was great. The check-in was a little slow, but other than that we had a basic, but good stay. The location is ideal: close to the old town and within easy reach of Telliskivi.

It has since been renamed ibis Styles Tallinn and redone with a photography theme; some rooms now have a private sauna. Same address on Toompuiestee. Outside summer, often under 60 euros.

Bob W Kesklinn is my budget pick: 58 apartments, from studios to spacious 3 bedroom units, in a new building in the Arter Quarter on Veski street, a 17 minute walk from Town Hall Square. Full kitchens, a self service laundry, mobile key check-in and a 9.6 guest score. A really nice place!Expect around 50 euros a night.

Kalamaja and Telliskivi: best hotel by the sea

Kalamaja is the old fishermen’s quarter of wooden houses; Telliskivi Creative City is the former factory complex next door, filled with street art and craft beer. It is home to Fotografiska, where I saw exhibitions by Jimmy Nelson and Anja Niemi, and which also hosts DJs and live music. I loved every minute here. Stay here for cocktails at Sveta Baar, lunch at F-Hoone, the best nightlife outside the Old Town and the sea nearby.

Iglupark is the odd one out, in the best way: igloo shaped huts on the Noblessner waterfront, 400 metres from Lennusadam, the Seaplane Harbour. Kitchenette, private bathroom, terrace and a morning sauna included, with the Baltic Sea for a cold dip. 80 to 150 euros a night. Pro tip: ask for a hut with sea views and send your arrival time in advance.

Kadriorg: best hotel near the park and the sea

Kadriorg is the green option, about 3 km east of the Old Town around the palace park of Peter the Great. Think 19th century wooden villas, art museums such as KUMU and plenty of fresh air. It suits a second visit or anyone who sleeps badly above a bar.

Oru Hub Hotel sits next to the Song Festival Grounds, a 5 minute walk from Kadriorg Park. Bright rooms by an award winning Estonian design studio, a coworking lounge, free parking and a beach 500 metres away. It probably is the best value design hotel on this list. Restaurant NOA, where I had the best cocktails of my whole Estonia trip, is a short taxi ride along the coast.

Restaurant NOA, Tallinn

Where to stay in Tallinn as a solo traveller

For a solo trip I would stay in the Old Town or close to its walls, so the walk back after dinner is short and lit. Arriving late? Bob W Kesklinn has mobile key check-in, so nobody has to wait up for you. More solo city trips are on my Instagram.

Best things to do

The best things to do in Tallinn are a walk away from any hotel here. 3 I would book: a guided walk through the Old Town for the stories behind the towers, a day trip to Lahemaa National Park an hour east, and a food or Soviet history tour for a rainy afternoon. Add Fotografiska and the historic ships of Lennusadam, then spend the rest of your time exploring on foot.

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Practical tips 

Tallinn airport is about 4 km from the centre, 15 minutes by car or a ride on tram 4. Landing late? A private airport transfer waits at arrivals. Public transport covers the rest of the city.

Pick up an eSIM before you leave and you are online the moment you land, without queuing at the airport for a SIM card. Winter can hit minus 30 degrees, so sort your travel insurance before you go. Pack flat shoes: the climb to Toompea is steeper than it looks on the map. Travel light too, since rolling a heavy suitcase over cobblestone streets is no fun. Many Old Town hotels sit in medieval buildings, so check for an elevator if accessibility is important to you.

My tip for December: the Christmas market fills the Old Town hotels first, so book early.

Where to stay in Tallinn: Frequently asked questions

Is Tallinn safe for solo female travellers?

Yes, Tallinn is generally considered very safe for solo travellers, including women travelling alone. The old town is well-lit and busy in the evenings and the locals are friendly and helpful.

What is the best area to stay in Tallinn?

The Old Town is the best area to stay in Tallinn for a first trip of 2 or 3 nights. For a local feel pick Kalamaja, for quiet nights and good value Kadriorg.

How much does a hotel in Tallinn cost?

A hotel in Tallinn costs roughly 50 to 60 euros a night for a budget option such as Bob W Kesklinn or Oru Hub Hotel, up to 150 euros for a boutique hotel and 170 euros or more for 5 star luxury in the Old Town. Prices peak in summer and during the Christmas market in December.

MY TALLINN CITY GUIDE

How many nights do you need in Tallinn?

3 nights is the sweet spot. This gives you enough time to explore the old town, visit Telliskivi, see a museum or two and still enjoy long dinners at the best restaurants without rushing. Add a 4th night for a day trip to Lahemaa National Park.

When is the best time to visit Tallinn?

The best time to visit Tallinn is from May through September, when the weather is pleasant and the city is at its most lively. Summer evenings are long and the festival calendar is packed. Avoid deep winter unless you love extreme cold, though a snow-covered old town is admittedly beautiful.