We list the best hotels in Helsinki as recommended by travel experts from CNN, Lonely Planet, Frommer’s, Fodor’s, New York Times and more. All hotel recommendations have been referenced with thousands of guest reviews, and we only listed places that have at least a 4 out of 5-star guest review rating.
Best cheap hotel in Helsinki: Noli Sörnäinen
Best boutique hotel in Helsinki: Hotel F6
“The local Kamp hotel group has a property to suit most design-minded travelers, from the flagship Hotel Kamp, with 179 luxurious rooms and suites beside the grand Esplanadi park, to the Hotel Fabian, with 58 cozy rooms and a more contemporary style.”
Featured in 36 Hours in Helsinki by The New York Times.
“Independent design hotel Klaus K has a theme of Finnish national epic Kalevala quotes throughout, and space-conscious architecture. Contemporary ‘Sky Loft’ rooms offer access to the roof terrace; some also come with balconies.”
“The building is magnificent: a former printing and publishing house from the 1920s. It was reborn as a hotel in 2018, thanks to the homegrown Kamp group, which has a collection of smart hotels in the city.”
“Haven’s prime harborside location and luxury amenities place it among Helsinki’s finest hotels, and prominent guests have included Kylie Minogue and the Dalai Lama. Even Superior rooms have a second TV in the bathroom, in addition to the larger Bang & Olufsen set with nearly 100 channels in the bedroom, and stylish-yet-cozy furnishings.”
“Fabian Hotel, tucked into a courtyard in the heart of Helsinki, is a little place with a big heart which is all about service and details. What it lacks in views, it makes up for in snug, elegant interiors.”
“Stunningly designed, this 2016 hotel ranges around an internal courtyard (some rooms have direct access and patios); superior rooms come with French balconies. All 66 rooms are spacious (even the smallest are 27 sq metres) and stylishly furnished with cushion-strewn sofas.”
“From a location in the plush western Munkkiniemi neighborhood, a 15- to 25-minute taxi ride from the city center, this hotel routinely hosts statesmen and celebrities. The best rooms are in the seaside annex, but all are large and airy, with clear pine and birch-wood paneling.”
Featured as Fodor’s Choice in Helsinki.
“With tastefully furnished rooftop saunas; large, crisply decorated rooms; bathrooms with heated floors; and even a car-wash service in the basement garage, this hotel pampers you.”
Featured as Fodor’s Choice in Helsinki.
“Opened in 2015, the 120-room Hotel Indigo Helsinki is in the central Design District and features made-in-Helsinki details ranging from decorative murals painted by local artists to the Pelago bikes available for guests to ride around town.”
Featured in 36 Hours in Helsinki by The New York Times.
“On a quiet side street, this small luxury hotel distinguishes itself through a rare combination of character, consistency, and service. The front section is a handsome 1903 stone castle with wood-beam, medieval-style restaurants, lounges, conference rooms, and a cavernous banquet hall.”
Featured as Fodor’s Choice in Helsinki.
Recommended by:
New York Times, Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet
Recommended by:
Lonely Planet, Fodors, Telegraph
Recommended by:
CN Traveler, Lonely Planet, Telegraph
Recommended by:
Fodors, Lonely Planet
Recommended by:
Telegraph, Lonely Planet
Recommended by:
Lonely Planet, Telegraph
Recommended by:
Fodors, Telegraph
Recommended by:
Fodors
Recommended by:
New York Times
Recommended by:
Fodors
The best areas to stay in Helsinki are: City Center, Kamppi, Kallio, Punavuori and Kaartinkopunki. Please read our extensive guide about where to stay in Helsinki. It gives a great overview about each area, including the museums, attractions and other things, as well as the best place to stay in each neighborhood.
Helsinki is expensive but If you're looking for an affordable hotel, then book Noli Sörnäinen. It's an excellent budget hotel offering great value for money. It's in a good location, it's been recommended by travel experts and the hotel has excellent customer reviews. Also check out our list of the best cheap hotels in Helsinki.
You like some luxury but don't like the famous chain hotels. If you're looking for the best boutique hotel in Helsinki, you should check out Hotel F6. It's a very cool hotel that has been highly recommended by travelers and experts. For more cool hotels, check out our list of the best boutique hotels in Helsinki.
If money isn't a problem and you're looking for a luxury hotel in Helsinki, then go for Hotel Kämp. The hotel offers excellent service, it's in a top location, it has been rated very highly by previous guests and renowned travel critics have recommended it. For more 5-star hotels, check out our list of the best luxury hotels in Helsinki.
Looking for a good and affordable private room or cozy dorm in Helsinki? Check out The Yard Hostel. The hostel has been highly rated by backpackers. Also check out our short list of the best hostels in Helsinki, it's based on thousands of reviews from backpackers.
For a 3-star hotel you have to pay around $110 per night and for a 4-star hotel you would be looking at $150 per night. If you're after a luxury 5-star Helsinki hotel, then you can expect to pay around $220 per night.
Let's start the day with some good food. The Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa is an excellent option if you're looking for a Helsinki hotel offering great breakfast. Recent guests have given great ratings for the breakfast service at this hotel.
If you're looking for a romantic hotel in Helsinki, then check out Hotel St. George. The hotel has great reviews by couples and has been recommended by leading travel experts.
If you're looking for a room with a view in Helsinki, then check out Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa. Recent guests have been giving great reviews about the views from their rooms.
Here’s our list of 3 things you should definitely do when you’re in Helsinki:
More info.
More things to do in Helsinki
With its name translating to the word “seaport,” Helsinki is home to more than one-tenth of the Finnish population. Located on a series of abnormal peninsulas and islands, this city protrudes into the Baltic coast in the Gulf of Finland. Covering 315 islands throughout 764 kilometers, you can find most of Helsinki’s attractions, restaurants, and hotels on one central peninsula. The Helsinki metropolitan area has a population of over one million, so you could say that this capital city is booming.
Helsinki was founded in 1550 when King Gustav Vasa of Sweden commanded residents of four Finnish towns to move to the rapids of River Vantaa. He wanted to challenge the Hanseatic League’s monopoly on Baltic trade by creating a new port city. For over 300 years, Helsinki served as a trading town, and its future improved when Czar Alexander I selected this city as the new capital of Finland.
Before becoming the capital, Helsinki suffered through a massive fire, destroying most of the city’s wooden buildings. Carl Ludvig Engel, a German architect, ended up redesigning Helsinki, creating some of the most impressive neoclassical architecture in the world. In addition, Stockholm and St. Petersburg inspired Helsinki’s 20th-century Finnish design, making this city distinct from other European areas and particularly appealing to the eye.
Besides stunning architecture and design, Helsinki abounds in attractions and cultural experiences. The city center is densely packed and easy to explore on foot. Senaatintori, or the Senate Square, and the Tuomiokurkko, or Lutheran Cathedral, mark the beginning of the city center.
The central avenue, Mannerheimintie, offers plenty of things to do, including the National Museum, detailing the history of Finland. Walking down this avenue, you can see the Parliament House, Kiasma (a contemporary art museum), and Upenski Cathedral, overlooking the harbor. In Southern Helsinki, you will find a web of quieter streets; this may be a fun area to explore, but make sure to bring a map!
Helsinki also boasts many outdoor activities. Home to over 400 parks, this city has several outdoor summer bars, called “terrasit,” which makes this a great area to visit during the summer. Many restaurants offer traditional Finnish fare, with dishes made from reindeer, herring, and pike, but you can also find an abundance of global cuisine. With a strong cafe culture, going hungry while visiting Helsinki is nearly impossible.
Helsinki is known for its seaside landscape, impressive architecture, and incredible Nordic cuisine. Avenues and roads wind around bays, bridges lead to neighboring islands, and ferries can take you to more offshore areas. The population is largely multilingual, speaking both Finnish and Swedish, and is comprised of prominent Russian and Swedish populations. It’s easy to explore this compact area on foot, enjoying plenty of traditional marketplaces, vibrant nightlife, unique churches, and top-notch hotels. As a melting pot between eastern and Western Europe, you will never run out of things to do in the dynamic city of Helsinki.
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or revisiting, we hope this guide helps you get the most out of your visit to Helsinki. Please do read our guide on where to stay in Helsinki, so you get an even better idea about the city.
If you like our list of hotel recommendations for Helsinki above, then we suggest that you also check out our selection of recommended hotels in Zurich or our shortlist of the best hotels in Stockholm.