Sokos Hotel Viru

Nice clean and cheap hotel just 300meters from entrance to old town.
The wiev from the rooms show the whole city and harbour where the cruiseships from Sweden and Finland arrive and depart all the time.

This is a big and busy hotel connected to a large shopping mall with restaurants and a nightclub. If you fancy shopping you can probably stay in that mall for some hours.

Breakfast at the hotel is ok but a little boring.

Directions: Close to old town entrance at Viru street.

This is a communist masterpiece of a hotel. It was the place to stay in Soviet times, especially for visiting dignitaries, and according to legend each and every room was bugged and monitored by the KGB. Today it is a four star hotel, and an unmistakeable sight on the Tallinn skyline. Some people don't like it, but I'm a fan of brutalist architecture and I love it. I've been told it has fantastic views over the old city and out to sea, with incredible sunsets. I'll probably book a night here when I return to Tallinn just so I can sit in the room and take pictures.

Directions: Opposite Viru Gate. You can't miss it.

Viru Hotel is one of the most centrally located hotels in Tallinn. It is also one of the biggest, 22 floors tower next to the old town. The hotel is operated by Finnish Sokos Hotels chain, and it is mostly filled with Finns -- the atmosphere can be a bit chaotic during weekends, when people come there to party and booze.

The basic rooms are not very big, and they serve as a base for exploring the town -- don't plan to spend too much time in the room. The rooms are recently renovated, but very plain. The bed is good, though. There are also bigger rooms, some with saunas, and family rooms are a good choice if you are travelling with a child or two; there is an extra bunk bed for them. Amenities include a potty chair and children shampoo. A playing room can be found at the ground floor, too.

The service is from an older era - not very friendly or swift. You might end up queuing to the front desk when you check in, need some information and check out. There was always a queue except on early Sunday morning. The check-in is at 14.00, and you cannot have the room before that time -- even if the room would be ready. Fortunately, the luggage check is spacious and free.

The hotel is connected to Viru Keskus shopping center, so you can enjoy indoor shopping and dining experience. There is a good grocery store in the basement of Viru Keskus to replenish your hotel room supplies.

The breakfast is usually included in the room price, and it is pretty good. Don't expect fresh fruits, but everything else is there.

This 4 star hotel has a great location. It´s nothing special from the outside but inside is nice, clean and the staff are friendly. In the hotel there are 3 bars, 1 night club, 2 restaurants and theres a mall build around it so you don´t even have to go outside to go shopping :o) The breakfast is very good and has everything you need. There are also a beauty center and if you want to, they will come to your room and give you a massage.

Place was nice.Somebody has said that place isn´t nice,but I think it was very nice,nothing to complain!Maybe it is that old thing,witch everybody in Finland seem to remember,when this was old russian-style place,with prostitutes and all..Now it´s even owned by Finnish,so it´s very similar to Finnish Sokos-hotels.
I don´t know the price,I was at sponsored worktrip.I have no idea what it was,so don´t take that price-part so seriusly-I tried to leave it empy.

I did not stay at the Sokos Hotel Viru, but I passed by it on many occasions. It is the largest hotel in Tallinn -- and it is a central landmark that many people (including the Tourist Information Office) provide when giving directions. Also, it is the starting point of the city bus tour that is included with the Tallinn Card.

For a first-time tourist to Tallinn, I would not recommend this hotel because it is outside of the Old Town. While it is only a short walk from the hotel to the Viru Gate, I think most first-time tourists would prefer a hotel in the heart of the Old Town.

Unique Quality: In the Soviet days, this was Tallinn's premier hotel. Allegedly, every single room in the former Soviet hotel was bugged by the KGB! Today, it is a Finnish-run hotel that caters mainly to Finnish people on business or on vacation.

For the average tourist, the most important thing about the hotel is that it is a central landmark. Everyone in Tallinn knows where this hotel is located.

This is the biggest and maybe the most expencive hotel in Tallinn. Very good-quality. Location couldnt be better. You cant miss it - the whole city seems to be on the shadow of Viru.
Rooms are clean and simple. They can also be noisy if its windy. Viru is part of Finnish hotelchain.
Nice bars and club downstairs.
I have stayed here twice.

Estonia's capital looks a little more Soviet outside the city walls, as this Hotel, tram & street lights show.

Unique Quality: Soviet-style hotel, a very short walk from the historic walled city.

I would definitely recommend this hotel. Ok, Admittedly I was looking for something a little more romantic & stylish but I was impressed. The room was similar to our Premier Travel Inn's, uncharacteristic but clean & functional. The Standard looked a bit ropey, so we went for a Superior, which was by no means the best one. A walk in shower with a heated floor is also on offer, along with TV & internet connection. I booked through Easy Jet, which worked out at a very reasonable price.
It is across the road from the Viru Gates (the start of the old town) and a mere 5 minute gentle stroll to the Raekoja plats, the Town Hall square. It really is ideally placed. A large shopping centre is situated underneath the hotel, with shops that could have been in any country, which unfortunately my girlfriend dragged me around on the first day!
It is a Finnish chain hotel I believe and the staff were all very friendly and efficient. Everything was on offer at breakfast, which included both English & Continental breakfasts.

P.s. Came back again in 2007 and the hotel has gone up in my estimation even further. Just really enjoyed it, and the staff were very friendly. Don't book a standard room though, i did by mistake and when we walked in, I was amazed at the size! We went straight back down and upgraded. For the difference its definitely worth it. Went to Bogardes a few times as well, which was fun. Comfy seats and Finns belting out karaoke numbers and having a good time. Great atmosphere, enjoyed rounding off the night there.

Unique Quality: There is no pool at the hotel but there is a sauna. It is a 22 storey building, so try and ask for a high floor & a room overlooking the Old Town/ Port and not the new town area. We were on 7 but still had a good view of the Old town and in the distance, cruise ships in the Port.
The hotel has 1 bar at the front (to the left of the entrance), a pub at the front (to the right of the entrance), a bar/restaurant to the rear of the hotel and another bar on the 2nd floor. You also get free admission to the hotel nightclub as well, so there is a large choice on rounding off the night at the hotel.
The city's sightseeing bus tours start just across the road from the hotel on the Viru Valjak, outside the Venus nightclub as well.

Directions: Opposite the Viru Gates

During my stays in Tallinn I have always stayed in Hotel Viru, not because it would be the best, but it has been included in the package. The hotel was built by Finns in former Soviet Union and since then been renovated, so the rooms look much nicer now with lighter colours and more modern furniture.

On one of my visits here I was in this hotel which is very big and very nice. The best of course is its location just outside the old city.

Unique Quality: Best location in the centre

Directions: Just in the centre