Introduction to Citybox Tallinn (a Design Hotel)
Looking for a stylish yet budget-friendly stay in Tallinn? Citybox Tallinn is a modern design hotel that perfectly blends comfort and affordability. Located in the heart of the city, this design hotel offers minimalist rooms with all the essential amenities for a pleasant stay. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with family, discover why Citybox Tallinn is the ideal design hotel for your next visit to this charming city.
The hotel features 272 rooms, ranging from single and double accommodations to family rooms with bunk beds, and includes six suites. Guests have access to shared kitchens for meal preparation and food storage. There is also a self-service laundry facility available. Citybox, which is a Norwegian hotel developer, was founded in 2006.
Please note, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own. You can rest assured that all opinions are 100% honest. In my review I will provide you with useful links and tips, so don’t forget to read it all. Also, check out my 56 tips on how to travel cheap or my other review of Hotel Saint in London.
This was our first time staying at this hotel, which was opened 1st of August 2020. For our trip one nights stay only cost 50e/ night, which was really affordable. The stay did not include breakfast or anything extra, like later check-out. We booked the room a few weeks in advance.
Check-in & Check-out
This design hotel relies heavily on self-service, which helps keep costs and prices low—something I truly appreciate. I’ve used self-service at a design hotel in Oslo before (though I can’t recall the name), and I’ve always preferred it over personal service, especially as a frequent traveler.
Using the self-service machines was very easy. The buttons are large, making them suitable for elderly or handicapped guests, as the machines are positioned at a convenient height. The hotel’s communication before our arrival was excellent; we received our check-in code, which we entered into the machine to get our keycard. If you need a second keycard, be quick to press the option on the machine. We usually travel together all day, so one keycard was sufficient for us.
There is staff available for those who might need more personal assistance. They can be found to the left, behind the check-in and check-out machines. For check-out, you simply enter the code you received before arrival, check out, and place your keycard in the slot next to the machine. That’s it!
I was impressed by the ease of the check-in and check-out process at this design hotel. It was smooth and fast, thanks to providing my passport information to the hotel in advance. The hotel will send you an email, where they will ask you for this information in advance. The design hotel’s exterior and interior looked great as well, making me feel confident about our stay.
The hotel has two glass-window elevators that move quickly between floors, so you rarely have to wait long. On the second floor, there are common areas for guests, including a ping-pong table with bats and balls. Our room was on the fifth floor, so we went straight there after check-in. Next, let’s dive into the room review.
The Room
We stayed in a small double room, which is about 15m² (approx. 161 square feet). It was just enough for the two of us with minimal luggage (one backpack and one carry-on). Not the most ideal room for hanging out, but we were mostly in the room to sleep.
Our room had a construction site view, which wasn’t the most pleasant. Luckily, during the weekend, there were no workers, so we had a peaceful and quiet stay.
The room has okay lighting, a chair where you can sit and maybe do your makeup or use your laptop. There is one large mirror in the room and some space for your jackets. Next to the bed, there is one power socket, and next to the desk, there are more power sockets. I would say there are just about enough power sockets for two people.
The room wasn’t very clean. The carpeted floor had lots of suspicious white stains, and there was dust on the shelves. However, the bathroom was clean and new. There was a floor wiper in the bathroom because the floor gets really wet when you shower. You only get two medium-sized towels, which I thought was strange, and one smaller one to dry your hands. Also, the room only has an all-in-one shampoo/shower gel/hand wash.
There is no cleaning during your stay, but for an extra charge, you can get your room cleaned. Just ask the staff on the first floor. Another thing I did not like was that the walls looked outdated/dirty, and the air conditioning did not work. Every time I tried to lower the temperature, it seemed to go up.
There is a restaurant (LouLou) in the same building as the hotel that serves breakfast, but we did not go there during our stay. As a visitor at Citybox Hotel, enjoy a 10% discount on the entire menu. The hotel’s restaurant is conveniently located on the ground floor. Let me know if you have been to LouLou and your thoughts about it.
Conclusion (updated in 2026)
If you’re planning a short stay and prioritize location and service over room size and cleanliness, this design hotel could be a great choice for you. However, if you prefer more spacious and pristine rooms, you might want to explore other options.
Positive sides:
- Cheap.
- In the heart of the city.
- Easy check-in & check-out.
- Suitable for short stays, if you do not plan to spend a long time in your room.
Negative sides:
- Small rooms.
- Rooms look worn/ dirty.
- No room cleaning during the stay.
- Views could be better (maybe fixed when the current construction site is finished).
Our recent stay in spring of 2026 was much better than the first experience. Maybe partly because we got a better room this time that was also cleaner and we knew better what to expect. I can still recommend staying here for a short period, like 1-2 nights. I also updated the rating below, based on the latest stay at the hotel.
Final conclusion is that I would give the rooms a 3/5 stars, service 4/5 stars and location 5/5 stars, which gives this design hotel a 4 stars out of 5.
To learn more about this beautiful design hotel in the heart of Tallinn, please visit their website. Maybe even join their free membership programme or as they state “Become a Friend – With Benefits” to get 10% off all bookings, early check-in and late check-outs.
Feel free to share your experiences or ask any questions about this design hotel in the comments below!
Disclaimer
This review of Citybox Tallinn is not a collaboration or paid promotion. All opinions expressed are entirely my own, based on my personal experience at the hotel.
This post has been enhanced using AI for text improvement.