If you’re heading out for city break in the Finnish capital, you are spoilt for choice for hotels. But which ones are the best? We’ve outlined 12 of our favourites – applicable for a variety of budgets – all of which are exclusively selected our Helsinki city guide. Find the right hotel for you, then download the free English language guide to your iPhone.
Hotel Finn
Hotel Finn has a good location and is one of the cheaper hotels in Helsinki
Small, charming and affordable, the boutique Hotel Finn provides the perfect accommodation for a weekend getaway. If partying is your forte, the hotel is located right next to some of the busiest and most popular bars and nightclubs in town.
In the daytime, you can visit dozens of design shops and delightful small cafés just on the other side of the block. The staff are also very familiar with the city’s sights and attractions, so if you wish to jump on one of the trams that pass the hotel, just ask them for some tips.
Rooms can be on the smaller side, but they’re clean, comfortable and well designed, and the price is good for a hotel smack in the middle of the centre.
Where: Kalevankatu 3 B
Tel: +358 96 844 360
Station: Ylioppilastalo (tram)
Hotel Kämp
Hotel Kämp is one of the best hotels in Helsinki and offers old world elegance
Famous for hosting world-class stars and visitors from top-level global companies, Hotel Kämp has a reputation for luxury and reliability. Timeless elegance and European old-school glamour mix with the latest trends of full-service hotel accommodation.
Over the years, Hotel Kämp has become a sort of a legend in its own right, thanks to all the stories circulating around its high-profile guests.
Rooms range from deluxe to suites and all come with top-class amenities, select antique interiors and luxurious marble bathrooms. Executive rooms include workspace, and you’ll have two hotel restaurants at hand for the busy days.
Where: Pohjoisesplanadi 29
Tel: +358 95 761 11
Station: Aleksanterinkatu (tram)
Sokos Hotel Vaakuna
The playroom at Sokos Hotel Vaakuna comes in handy for travelling families
If you love active holidays in the city and staying right in the midst of the buzzing shopping district and close to most major sights, Sokos Hotel Vaakuna is a brilliant pick.
Built for the 1952 Olympic Games, the hotel has a long history of providing international guests with a full selection of top-level amenities. Its soundproof windows ensure peaceful dreams right in the city centre, and the terrace restaurant on its top floor has a magnificent view over the city.
For the youngest guests, meanwhile, the hotel offers a playroom and a video game room, coming in handy for travelling families.
Where: Asema-Aukio 2
Tel: +358 20 123 4610
Station: Rautatieasema (tram)
Find a room at Sokos Hotel Vaakuna
Klaus K Hotel
Klaus K Hotel is one of the most luxurious hotels in Helsinki city centre
Placed in the heart of Helsinki, Klaus K Hotel is close to many of the city’s major attractions and aims to convey the soul of Finnish poetry.
This modern-style design draws inspiration from the national epic, Kalevala. The décor is based around the central emotional themes of mystery, passion, desire and envy, resulting in some highly dramatic spaces. On the practical side of things, Klaus K is also within walking distance from all the sights and delights of the city centre.
Just around the corner, you’ll find the Erottaja tram stop and the Stockmann department store. Rooms range from small rooms to rooftop apartments with balconies, depending on your budget, but all have a luxurious feel, and no single detail is left to chance.
Note that prices are at the top end of the scale.
Where: Bulevardi 2-4
Tel: +358 20 770 4700
Station: Erottaja (tram)
Hotel Anna
Hotel Anna is a boutique hotel in Helsinki with a long-serving, dedicated staff
The contentment of the staff might be a good indicator of the success of your stay, and at Hotel Anna, four out of five receptionists have served for more than 20 years.
The hotel has operated since the 1920s in the district of Punavuori, watching the area become famous for its small atmospheric diners, designer boutiques and culinary delights.
Thus, rumour has it the staff at Hotel Anna know all the best places for coffee, dinner or a night out, so make sure you pick their brains. If you’re looking for a quiet, affordable stay within tolerable walking distance from the key features of the city centre, Hotel Anna is a nice and steady choice.
Where: Annankatu 1
Tel: +358 96 166 21
Station: Johanneksen Kirkko (tram)
Hotel Cumulus Kallio
Cumulus Kallio is children-friendly and is located close to outdoor sport activities
When you wake up at Cumulus Kallio, the first thing you’ll probably hear are the cheers of kids on the nearby ice-skating rink, which doubles as a football field in the summer.
Easy-going, simple, yet delightfully modern in their operations, this hotel is a good choice for families looking to spend time enjoying local outdoor attractions such as the Linnanmäki Amusement Park.
And if you like sports, there’s also a swimming hall and a basketball court just across the street. It’s a peaceful location, but if you’re looking for bars and parties, the wild nightlife of Kallio is just a few blocks away.
Where: Läntinen Brahenkatu 2
Tel: +358 20 048 109
Station: Urheilutalo (tram)
Find a room at Hotel Cumulus Kallio
Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa
Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa is all about world leaders and Finnish disco, with a seaside view
If these walls could talk, what stories they could tell: few hotels in Finland carry such prestige and history as Kalastajatorppa in western Helsinki. Over the years this protected building has played host to important figures and world leaders from the fields of business and politics.
That’s not to say it’s stuffy, the Hilton knows how to let its hair down. Other noteworthy events include beauty pageants and the first Finnish disco. And you’ll have plenty of entertainment at hand with a fitness room, jogging track, pool, tennis court, and even a beach right outside.
Make sure you ask for a room with a seaside view, amazing when you take into account that you’re just 15 minutes from the city centre.
Where: Kalastajatorpantie 1
Tel: +358 94 581 1
Station: Saunalahdentie (tram)
Find a room at Hilton Kalastajatorppa
Hotel Haven
Hotel Haven has an excellent location for those who want to explore Helsinki
Whether you’re on business, going shopping or looking for cultural experiences, the appropriately named Hotel Haven is a great spot to enjoy the delights of Helsinki.
The location of the hotel gives you easy access to anywhere around the city, just by walking or catching one of the trams that often stop nearby. There are several top-level bistros and eateries in the neighbourhood so you won’t get hungry; in fact, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
For a little added luxury on your business travels or vacation, Hotel Haven is a good choice: here the staff go out of their way to look after you and guide you in your explorations.
Where: Unioninkatu 17
Tel: +358 96 819 30
Station: Kauppatori (tram)
GLO Hotel Kluuvi
GLO Hotel Kluuvi is a good choice when booking hotel in Helsinki
Modern and cultivated, Glo Hotel is an up-to-date lifestyle hotel with all the amenities you can imagine. A major plus is the central location, with attractions like the Helsinki Cathedral, The Ateneum National Gallery and the main Market Square just a five-minute walk away.
There are also plenty of shopping and culinary opportunities just next door, and if you’re looking for a party, the nightlife is just around the corner with both small pubs and nightclubs open until dawn.
GLO is good for a short business trip or for a longer, luxurious vacation in the most central area of the capital.
Where: Kluuvikatu 4
Tel: +358 10 344 4400
Station: Aleksanterinkatu (tram)
Find a room at GLO Hotel Kluuvi
Park Hotel Käpylä
Park Hotel Käpylä is a Helsinki hotel with an old world feel
All about the golden days of old times, the Park Hotel Käpylä offers a great place for a peaceful stay in the idyllic wooden house district of Käpylä. The houses here were built in the 1920s, and look more like something out of a romantic Scandinavian postcard than a modern-day setting.
This makes the surrounding area perfect for long walks, exploring the unique architectural styles. The hotel includes a gym, sauna, swimming pool, a restaurant and the possibility of breakfast.
Rooms are modest, but homely, and if you need a pick-me-up from the peaceful neighbourhood, jump on a tram and in just five minutes you can join the commotion of the Kallio district.
Where: Pohjolankatu 38
Tel: +358 97 997 55
Station: Pohjolanaukio (tram)
Find a room at Park Hotel Käpylä
Crowne Plaza Helsinki
Relax at the pool at the Crowne Plaza Hotel — one of the best hotels in Helsinki
This is, quite simply, a high-end hotel with a brilliant location, easy accessibility and great services. Set in its iconic building, the Crowne Plaza’s sleek white façade towers over the busy Mannerheimintie.
Welcoming you with its signature service, this place is suitable whether you’re on a business trip, a family holiday or a solitary adventure. If you’re looking for a bit of nature, head straight to the lovely Hesperia Park and Töölö Bay, just across the road.
Meanwhile, both the lively restaurants and bar scene of Kallio and the shopping opportunities of the city centre can be reached in less than 10 minutes by tram.
Where: Mannerheimintie 50
Tel: +358 20 048 101
Station: Hesperian puisto
Find a room at Crown Plaza Helsinki
Hotel Fabian
Fabian is a small boutique hotel close to many of Helsinki’s most popular sites
One wonders if the 19th-century General-Governor of Finland, Count Fabian Steinheil, was as warm and welcoming as the unassuming little boutique hotel that took his name. Whether you’re looking for a place to relax after a long day at the office or touring the city, well-appointed Hotel Fabian is an excellent choice.
It lies just a few minutes’ walk away from all the hotspots of the city, and if you’re planning to take a ferry to Sweden, the passenger terminal is just around the corner. Set on a moderately quiet street, this is a great spot for those who want to see the most popular sights and catch some fresh sea air.
Where: Fabianinkatu 7
Tel: +358 96 128 2000
Station: Eteläranta (tram)
