Viru Backpackers Hostel

I stayed here while visiting Tallinn for sightseeing and had a mixed experience overall. The biggest advantage of this hostel is undoubtedly its location. Tallinn's main attractions are concentrated within the historic walled Old Town, and this hostel is located right inside that area. Most museums, restaurants, and major sights can be reached on foot, making it an excellent base for exploring the city. Considering the savings on transportation and the convenience of being able to walk almost everywhere, the value is quite good. Unfortunately, the arrival experience was one of the most frustrating I encountered during my Baltic trip. I arrived in Tallinn at around 7 a.m. after an overnight bus journey from Vilnius. Naturally, I was hoping to store my luggage and perhaps rest a little before beginning my sightseeing. However, by the time I arrived, I had received no check-in instructions whatsoever. After calling the phone number provided (fortunately I had a European SIM card that allowed me to make calls), I discovered that this hostel was not actually staffed on-site. Instead, guests needed to go to a sister hostel approximately ten minutes away. After dragging my luggage there, I was initially told that luggage storage might incur an additional charge, although I ultimately declined and was able to leave my bags. I then asked how I would gain access to my room later in the day and was told that the check-in details would be sent to me. By 3 p.m., I still had not received anything, so I walked back to the sister hostel again. It turned out they had attempted to send instructions through Booking.com, despite my reservation being made through Agoda. Eventually, the correct information was sent and I was finally able to access my room, but the entire process created unnecessary stress and confusion. Once checked in, the accommodation itself was fairly straightforward. The room contained a bed, table, and chair, which was sufficient for my needs. Bathrooms and toilets were shared and generally acceptable. The hostel advertises laundry facilities, but the machine cannot simply be operated with coins or a card. Guests need assistance from staff, which may be inconvenient because staff are not always present, especially during evenings when many travellers would typically want to do laundry. In practice, I would not rely on the laundry facilities unless you can confirm staff availability in advance. There were also a few comfort issues. Like many places in northern Europe during late spring and summer, daylight hours are very long. The curtains were unable to completely block sunlight, making sleep more difficult. The room could become warm when the windows were closed, yet opening them introduced noise from tourists outside. Additionally, although there is a lift in the building, the first stop is on the fourth floor while the hostel itself is on the third floor, meaning luggage still needs to be carried up and down a flight of stairs. Overall, the location is excellent and probably the property's strongest selling point. Once settled in, the room was perfectly adequate for a short stay. However, the confusing check-in arrangements, limited staffing, and a few practical inconveniences prevent me from rating the experience more highly.

Stayed in an ensuite double room. The room was clean but not for fussy travellers. There are coffee, tea and kettle to boil water if you need. There were guests who cooked up a storm and you can smell it in the room. We don't mind that at all. The location is close to all tourist attractions. We didn't have to take any public transport, it is enjoyable to walk everywhere even in the cold. There are instructions given on checking in. Just follow it and you will be fine.

Nothing fancy, good spot to rest your head. A couple of facility issues like broken toilet seat but these were minor! I was here for two nights and only saw one other person once (although I was only in the hostel to sleep). Good place to rest in the center of city and it’s also surprisingly quiet for being on such a busy street!

The toilet is too small and only one. The location is good. I just don’t like the toilet and there’s no elevator. Do not avail this if you have medium to large luggages. This is suitable literally for backpackers(as its name says).