Tallinn is Estonia’s capital and a bastion for a load of cool cultural sights. I mean, the place looks like it’s from a Disney film: all old cobbled streets, princess-like towers, medieval buildings, churches, all sorts of stuff that make this like a fairytale to wander around.
And if you like food, there’s a lot of tasty stuff here. That’s without even mentioning the party scene here, which – by the way – is super on point. The nightlife is strong.
Umm… but isn’t it like one of those Eastern European cities where cruise ships rock up and loads of stag and hen parties go and get completely wasted? Is it, like, ok to actually stay there? Are the hostels… nice?
YES! Of course they’re nice! And we’ve gone through and selected the best hostels in Tallinn so you can easily find the right place for you when you’re planning your Estonia trip.
So without further ado, let’s see what this cool medieval city has to offer you!
Quick answer: The Best Hostels in Tallinn
- Best Party Hostel in Tallinn – Lai 22
- Best Cheap Hostel in Tallinn – Old Town Munkenhof
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Tallinn – Fat Margaret’s
- Best Hostel with a Private Room in Tallinn – Capsule Hostel Tallinn
Best Hostels in Tallinn
If you’ve got Estonia on your Europe backpacking list, then you’ll likely end up in Tallinn at some point. In order to enjoy the trip to the fullest, you need to stay at the right accommodation. That why we’re here to help! Check out the best places to stay in Tallinn below.
Best Party Hostel in Tallinn – Lai 22
- $
- Bar
- No Curfew
- Amazing Location
For all the party enthusiasts and night owls, we’ve found the perfect hostel for you! Lai 22 isn’t just super affordable and in a great location, it’s also offering great common areas with games, loads of space to hang out and their own selection of tasty beers. Since you’re pretty much in the city centre, pubs, bars and other hotspots aren’t far away either.
To cure your hangover, you can spend the day after in the comfortable dorms or private rooms. Ask the reception for free earplugs to have an even better sleep at night. With only the best reviews, Lai 22 has definitely earned the spot on our best hostels in Tallinn list.
Best Cheap Hostel in Tallinn – Old Town Munkenhof
- $
- Communal Kitchen
- Bicycle Hire
- Games Room
Set in the old town and surrounded by pretty sick medieval buildings, this budget hostel in Tallinn can be found down a quiet street so you won’t have to contend with drunk backpackers trying to find their hostel in the middle of the night.
However, it’s also surrounded by bars and restaurants, so YOU could be one of those drunk backpackers, too! How fun. The old town of the city really offers a lot of hotspots and activities. The affordable room rates, affordable kitchen, nice vibes, games and common room… all add up to one of the best cheap hostels in Tallinn. Very nicely looked after as well.
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View on Osprey View on REIBest Hostel for Digital Nomads in Tallinn – Fat Margaret’s
- $$$
- Bar
- Laundry Facilities
- Indoor Pool
The name literally made us lol. Like actually. Why is it even called that? Anyway, this place is located at the gates to the old town and close to the port, so staying here means you’ll be spoilt for choice with cafes, bars and restaurants right on the doorstep.
Stylish and with a bit of a grown-up edge (no moldy showers here) – featuring a stainless steel kitchen, exposed brick walls, a sauna and a pool (!), it feels like the whole package. And one of the best hostels in Tallinn for digital nomads; there’s plenty of cool cafe-esque hangout spaces for you to get your head down. And everyone’s favourite: ping pong.
Best Hostel with a Private Room in Tallinn – Capsule Hostel Tallinn
- $$
- Complete privacy
- Brand new kitchen
- Individual Smart TV’s
It won’t get more private than this – the Capsule Hostel Tallinn offers 45 cool capsules which are all individually ventilated. You can hang out and socialize in the big common are or relax in your own personal space. If you don’t feel like being around other people, just close the door, turn on your built-in flat TV and forget about the world.
Each capsule has a memory foam matress, a safe locker for your belongings, earplugs and private headphones – what else could you want?
Best Overall Hostel in Tallinn – Old Town Backpackers
- $$
- Laundry Facilities
- Board Games
- Common Room
You might guess from the name that this Tallinn backpackers hostel is located in the city’s old town… and you’d be right of course. That means being able to wander about and gawp at all the picturesque streets and historical monuments that Tallinn has to offer.
Other than that, it’s a small lil’ hostel with a whole lot of heart (doesn’t that sound cute?) – but this is what makes this place easily the best overall hostel in Tallinn. And besides the old town, it’s in walkable distance to pretty much everything you wanna see in Tallinn, too. Chill in the common room to meet like-minded travellers and make new friends!
Old Town Backpackers is one of our favourites in Tallinn but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Tallinn – Tallinn Backpackers
- $
- Laundry Facilities
- Games Room
- Bar
Lively and comfortable, this is a highly recommended hostel in Tallinn for you to meet other travellers. In fact, it’s probably the best hostel for solo travellers in Tallinn. It IS a fun party place… but you DO have to be quiet after 11, after which you can hit the streets with new friends or just hit the hay.
This place is also secure and clean, which is a plus. The staff arrange activities, so you can get to know your fellow guests. If you like that sort of thing, then this place is the perfect place to socialise for you.
Tallinn Backpackers is one of our favourites in Tallinn but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Hostel for Couples in Tallinn – Tabinoya Travellers House
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Communal Kitchen
- Book Exchange
This Tallinn backpackers hostel also offers a private apartment in the middle of the old town, which for us makes it the best hostel for couples in Tallinn. The apartment is housed in a traditional building and feels like a posh Airbnb.
The home away from home atmosphere is perfect for couples, basically. There are nice spaces here to have a cup of tea (or something) and read a book (or check Facebook). If you feel like spending the day outside, exploring the old town is definitely worth it.
Tabinoya Travellers House is one of our favourites in Tallinn but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
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Hide Yo’ Money!More Best Hostels In Tallinn
Still not quite satisfied with the hostel selection? Don’t worry, we’ve got more of the best hostels in Tallinn!
Knight House
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Luggage Storage
- Communal Kitchen
Wow! This Tallinn backpackers hostel is located in an actual UNESCO World Heritage building! We’re not even sure if that goes against the whole UNESCO thing, but wow – that really does make this one heck of a cool hostel in Tallinn.
Aside from the architectural creds, they offer free walking tours, free breakfast and there are some really friendly staff here on hand to help you with getting around town, recommendations and local knowledge (like, why is this a UNESCO building?).
Red Emperor Bar & Hostel
- $
- Laundry Facilities
- Games Room
- Free Parking
As you might be able to tell from its name, this top hostel in Tallinn comes complete with a public bar. Meaning it’s not just backpackers here, but locals too at nice cheap local prices. It’s also open till dawn! Amazing!
The hostel itself… is quiet. There are a whole load of chill areas here with some quirky ‘urban’ design features like skateboards hanging on the walls and stuff. Basically, it’s a great party hostel in Tallinn, thanks mainly to the bar downstairs, we’d say.
Red Emperor Bar & Hostel is one of our favourites in Tallinn but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Euphoria
- $
- Communal Kitchen
- Music/Jam Area
- Book Exchange
You might think this is a super party hostel in Tallinn. But that’s not actually the case. It’s actually a mad chill place with a very comfortable lounge and a little music area where you can get chatting with other guests over the drone of someone strumming a guitar.
Aside from those hostel tropes, this place is pretty nicely located. Very close to the old town, with a load of nice shops and stuff nearby. Some areas of this Tallinn backpackers hostel could do with a bit of a spring clean. But it’s one of those… typical hostels. Don’t expect to be posting pics to your timeline, basically.
Euphoria is one of our favourites in Tallinn but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
What to Pack for your Tallinn Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from us, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art we have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Tallinn
Those were the best hostels in Tallinn. And wow – aren’t there some cool places to stay?!
Yep, from boutique style, very design-y hostels to places that are a bit more typical of the European hostel scene, there’s something for everyone on our list of the top hostels in Tallinn.
We hope you can find something on our list: whether you’re looking to stay in the old town and party like there’s no actual tomorrow, or if you wanna just chill and wander around in awe of all the cool buildings.
And if you can’t decide? No worries!
You should go ahead and book Old Town Backpackers – that’s our best overall hostel in Tallinn and literally a great choice for almost anyone!
FAQ about Hostels in Tallin
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Tallin.
Travel Safety Tips for Tallinn
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Tallinn has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
