The Best Hotels to Book in Estonia
While the capital city of Tallinn may be the most popular destination for visitors to Estonia, this compact Baltic country offers more than beautifully preserved medieval townscapes. A practical, sleek and distinctly Scandinavian or Nordic cool tinges much of the accommodation and, for locals at least, sauna facilities in whatever form are almost as essential as a bathroom or TV. Spa and wellness facilities also lend a more holistic bent to the Estonian travel experience.
1. Schlössle Hotel
Hotel
2. Lydia Hotel
Hotel
In the old quarter of Tartu just below the hilltop observatory, Lydia Hotel has an austere-looking wing that almost wraps around the original 19th-century townhouse – something that will appeal to design types. Sober Baltic cool pervades the property, the sleek modern rooms bearing a muted palette of white, cream and beige brightened with subtly patterned carpets, wallpaper and headboards. Sporadic flourishes in public areas – potted plants in huge face-pots and lattice screens – lighten the mood, while the well-regarded Restaurant Hõlm revives traditional 1920s recipes.
3. Hotel Telegraaf
Spa Hotel
4. The Three Sisters Hotel
Boutique Hotel
5. Hotel Palace by TallinnHotels
Hotel
Overlooking Freedom Square, the Palace is a landmark building in Tallinn. Designed by prominent Estonian architect Elmar Lohk in the 1930s, the prized blend of Art Deco and Chicago School architecture has spurred several renovations, the last of which upped its game and now appeals to a mainly business clientele. Room decor favours clean simple lines and Scandi-style furniture; the so-called “garret floor” rooms have skylight windows and all feature reproduction landscapes by Estonian artist Konrad Mägi.
6. Arensburg Boutique Hotel and Spa
Resort
Adopting the historic name for Kuressaare town on Saaremaa Island, the Arensburg appeals to the well-travelled wellness crowd. The converted 300-year-old manor house plus modern annex mixes old-world charm and uncluttered swanky rooms. An array of treatments utilise the famed island mud, juniper oil and organic hay, plus there are the usual saunas, jacuzzi and pool. Against such virtuous cleansing must be set the decadent cigar room.
7. Spa Hotel Rüütli
Resort
Aimed at holidaying families, Rüütli has an enviable location opposite Kuressaare Castle and its splendid moat on Saaremaa Island. It’s a conspicuously unpretentious resort: straightforward practical rooms occupy a functional, almost motel-like, facade. For children, it’s probably more about thrashing about in the pools and zooming down a 52m (170ft) waterslide. The spa and treatments embrace an almost bewildering array of procedures, from multi-head showers to magnesium foot-baths, via serums, peeling, massages and mud.
8. Estonia Resort Hotel and Spa
Hotel
The ESTONIA injects a bit of style into this long-favoured stretch of the Baltic coast at Pärnu and, though popular with families, is ideal for couples. Rooms and suites are distinguished more by size than style; all feature sensible uncluttered Scandi-like decor and have unlimited access to the adjoining SPA & SAUN complex. There’s a smorgasbord of therapeutics including nine saunas, an ultra-saline Dead Sea pool, herbal baths in two-person barrels, along with spa treatments ranging from hemp oil massage to magnesium and “home beer” baths. Be brave.
9. Art Hotel Pallas by Tartuhotels
Hotel
The office-block exterior hardly suggests an arty-hipster hangout, but here on the edge of Tartu old town, the newly renovated Art Hotel comes close. “Pallas” derives from an eponymous early 20th-century arts collective that formalised the first art school in Estonia. Consequently, each room features at least one artwork ranging from demure landscapes in polite frames to raw Bacon-Esque figures and bold wall-creeping frescoes resembling urban cartoon-graffiti. Whether you find it bonkers or banal probably depends on your room and mood.
For some unique options, discover our guide to the most stunning historic hotels in Estonia and book now on Culture Trip.
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