The structure of this post

1. My experience of Tallinn – An Introduction
2. Affordable hotels for a (solo) traveller – A Review

My Experience of Tallinn

On my first visit to Tallinn, the old town looked like a magical medieval labyrinth compared to the younger Finnish cityscape I was used to.

Then, I moved to Helsinki, and a trip to Estonia became an easy day journey, or sometimes a simple weekend getaway or so.

Last year, Tallinn was my resting place between boarding a ship and hopping on a bus, as I travelled overland to countries I had not yet explored.

Over time, I accumulated many places to stay. These are my reflections on my hotel stays in Tallinn in 2025 and 2026.

Affordable hotels for those travelling solo (or together)

Here’s my review of a few Tallinn hotels and hostels I have stayed at.

Instead of star ratings, the reviews are built around different moods of staying in Tallinn.

When I want my own space – but also a social atmosphere

Fat Margaret’s hostel (private room)

When I only had a few hours of sleep before an early morning ferry, I stayed in an all-female dorm at Fat Margaret’s. I felt somewhat exposed in the open dorm bed, and I didn’t completely understand why the place had received such good reviews. Then I stayed a night having my own room for a night, and I realised the hostel had what hotels and airbnb’s didn’t. I had my own little private room to escape the world, and when I was ready, I could walk downstairs to a comfortable common area and have a conversation with fellow travellers.

Works well if: You want to meet others while having your own space.

Might not suit you if: You want a full hotel experience, and a more central location.

When I want to stay modern in the old town

Rija Old Town Tallinn

The Rija Old Town hotel was on the edge of Tallinna Vanalinn, the old town. Out of my window I saw the night sky, and below it, a round tower guarding the old city walls. I stayed for one night, but could easily imagine opening my laptop and combining a holiday with work.

Works well if: You are looking for an affordable, work-friendly hotel in the old town.

Might not suit you if: Indoor air quality matters to you, then you might want to look for a bit pricier place.

When I want to do some work and to visit Telliskivi Creative City

The City Hotel

Although I had to get the key from neighbouring, fine looking hotel, and walk across the street to a much more modest building, I think City Hotel delivered. The room was clean and compact. It was a bit of a walk to get there, but it’s still close to the old town and Telliskivi creative area, where, for example, Fotografiska can be found.

Works well if: You are looking for an affordable hotel experience in the city.

Might not suit you if: Indoor air quality matters to you, or if you want a more central location.

End notes

This is how I choose a place to stay when I travel alone: sometimes I want peace and solitude, sometimes a shared space, sometimes my focus is on finding a suitable place to work. Tallinn has had good solutions for all of these needs.

I’ve stayed in several other affordable hotels in Tallinn — I’ll write about those in a separate post later on. Some posts on this site may contain affiliate links. This never affects the price you pay.

What do you look for in a hotel when you travel alone?