Relaxing spas and fun-filled water parks in Tallinn

Estonia is rightfully proud of its 200-year-old spa culture, but how many people know that the cradle of Estonian spa culture is in Tallinn? Georg Witte's swimming establishment, which opened in 1813 in Kadriorg, quickly became a favourite summer holiday spot for the Russian Tsar. That year is considered the beginning of the Estonian sanatorium tradition.

Now, a few hundred years later, you can find several small, sweet spas while walking around the Old Town or the city centre of Tallinn. For a more luxurious and private experience, visit the Telegraaf Spa at the five-star Hotel Telegraaf. They offer a wide range of high-end treatments with a tranquil sauna and pool area. The spa at another five-star hotel, Swissôtel, is called Pürovel Spa, which, in addition to an indoor pool and spa treatments, boasts a well-equipped gym. The Hilton Tallinn Park hotel, known for its quality, is home to the Eforea Spa, where you can start at the gym and continue with spa treatments, saunas and swimming pools.

If you prefer to relax and enjoy the beautiful view of Tallinn's Old Town, Nordic Hotel Forum's Leisure Centre is the perfect place. The leisure centre on the top floor of the hotel is a real water paradise: there is an indoor pool, a jacuzzi, steam saunas and a gym. 

The spa centre at Metropol Spa Hotel, located in the Rotermann Quarter, is the perfect place to unwind. Guests can enjoy four different saunas, a pool and jacuzzis.

Only a short distance from the Old Town, at the foot of Toompea, von Stackelberg Hotel Tallinn welcomes its guests in a small and cosy Zen Spa. This small wellness oasis offers a variety of treatments, saunas and a Japanese-style hot tub. Park Inn by Radisson Meriton Conference & Spa Hotel Tallinn, located across the road, features the Meriton Sport sports centre with swimming pools, saunas and spa treatments. In addition to the gym and group workouts, there are also water aerobics classes, which are very popular.

Bonus tip: The beautiful Laulasmaa resort is located about half an hour's drive west from the city centre. It is a popular summer resort by the sea as well as an ideal holiday resort all year round. At Laulasmaa Hotel LaSpa, visitors can relax in the water and sauna centre with plenty of options and let themselves be taken care of in the spa and beauty centre.

When travelling with children, a nice calming sauna is just not going to cut it. If you're looking for something to entertain the younger ones, head to a fun water park with slides and kids' pools.

Kalev Spa Water Park in the Old Town and the Aqua Spa water park of the Tallink Spa & Conference Hotel operating near the port offer fun for the whole family. Over 20 saunas and several pools for the whole family can be found at Mustamäe Elamus Spa. The spa also offers a variety of health services from unique sauna rituals to water aerobics lessons and massages. The Elamus Spa also includes a peaceful SPA21+ area, which is exclusive to visitors aged 18 and up. The recently opened Ring Spa and Sauna Centre offers fun for kids and a relaxing vibe for adults.

If driving out of the city centre isn't an inconvenience, Atlantis H2O Aquapark in Viimsi welcomes you and your company. It is a water and nature discovery centre for the whole family, where you can also enjoy several slides. Tallinn Viimsi Spa is located under the same roof but is calm and separate from the water park. Recently, the sauna centre of the spa underwent a renewal; a completely new children's sauna with a lower temperature than a normal sauna has also been opened. Viimsi SPA also has a special spa and sauna centre, SPA18+, which is meant for adults only and where you can enjoy peace and quiet.