Keila
The historic small town 25 km west — an impressive waterfall, a medieval church, and easy trains to the city.
Keila waterfall on a wooded river gorge
Why people stay in Keila
Keila is a town of 10,000 that predates Tallinn — the stone church of St. Michael dates to the 13th century — and now functions largely as a commuter suburb. The Keila waterfall (Keila juga), the third-largest by volume in Estonia, sits 4 km north of town on the Keila River. There's a small manor at Keila-Joa nearby (Schloss Fall, an 1830s neo-Gothic estate) and access to Lohusalu peninsula and coastal beaches. It's an easy 30-minute train from Balti jaam.
Recommended as a day trip rather than a stay. Families or couples with a rental car might use Keila as a base for a week combining Tallinn day trips with the Pakri peninsula, Paldiski, and the western coast. Skip for a short city trip. The waterfall and Keila-Joa manor are genuine attractions and can occupy a full afternoon; the town itself is functional rather than charming.
Two or three small hotels and guesthouses cover the local business trade at $55-$90 a night. Keila-Joa itself has a manor-based hotel (Schloss Fall) at $110-$170 offering a memorable stay in a restored neo-Gothic estate. Airbnb is thin. Best pick: if you want to be in Keila at all, stay at Schloss Fall for the manor experience. Otherwise treat Keila as a day trip from Tallinn.
What to see
Hotels in Keila
Getting around Keila
The elektriraudtee train from Balti jaam to Keila runs every 20-40 minutes, 30 minutes' journey, $3. Bus 143 also runs from the Tallinn bus station. Keila-Joa itself is 4 km from Keila station — a 10-minute drive, 20-minute cycle, or occasional local bus. From the airport, Bolt is $30-$40 direct or use bus 2 to Balti jaam then train.
Questions about Keila
With a rental car, yes — Paldiski, Padise, and the coast are 20-40 minutes further. Without a car, stay in Tallinn and day-trip out.
Train to Keila (30 min), then a taxi or local bus to Keila-Joa village (10 min). Or drive direct — 30-40 minutes on Paldiski road.
