Picking hotels in Helsinki is a bit tricky. How do you balance good location, the amenities you want, and not breaking the budget?
It is confusing at first, hence this article that will help you choose the best guest friendly hotel in Helsinki – and you have 10 options to choose from, all of them top notch and in various budget categories. Take your pick!
Best Budget Hotels in Helsinki
A trip to Scandinavia will easily make you broke if you don’t watch your expenses and hotels are on the top of the list when it comes to things you will spend a lot of money on.
Not everyone likes couch surfing, but fortunately budget hotels are not a myth: the good ones are a just a bit hard to find, but we’re here to help. The cool thing about going to a country so developed, though, is that pretty much everything is nice.
You could get the cheapest option and still be sure that the place will be nice, safe, and clean. Your main concern for budget hotels in Helsinki should be the location and the price. The ones below are budget friendly, just make sure you pick the location that works for you.
Hotel Finn
This low-cost accommodation gives you a small room – but it’s very centrally located.
You are a five-minute walk away from the central station and in an area with a bunch of cool bars, restaurants, and coffee
shops.
Less than 10 minutes away you have the harbor and Helsinki’s main square where a bunch of fun events take place year-round.
All of the rooms are recently renovated and there is even artwork by local artists in them. The Wi-Fi is free and high speed. There are flat-screen TVs and cable in all of the rooms.
The downside to the Finn hotel is that the elevator is ancient. Yes, that is it! It works just fine, but people complain it looks old. Just put on a monocle, a top hat and you’ll fit in perfectly (sure, I’m just joking – it’s not that old)
I don’t know about you, but for its low price, with the awesome location, free Wi-Fi, great breakfast, and clean rooms…t he elevator kind of seems like a minor detail.
Click here to check the prices now.
Kongressikoti Hotel
The Kongressikoti hotel has pretty much the perfect location. It is less than 2 minutes away from the Helsinki Cathedral, right in the heart of the city. The central railway station and the harbour are also close by.
This Helsinki hotel has been thought out with frugality in mind. It is a cheapskate traveler’s heaven. Not only are the rooms very affordably priced and the Wi-Fi free, you also get free cookies and warm drinks in the morning.
It is not a full breakfast but it does feed you pretty well. You can also wash your clothes for free and use the communal stove, microwave, and coffee machine at all times.
Food will be one of your major expenses during your trip to Scandinavia so that is a great money-saving opportunity… plus, the rooms themselves are in a decent shape, even though a bit plain and neutral. We’ve seen better, but we also paid more for that.
In the end, what matters the most is that the rooms are clean, the beds are comfortable, the location is great and the price is low. Sold!
Click here to check it out now.
Hotel Sofia
This one is not in the center of Helsinki, but I bet you will like the location anyway. The Sofia Hotel is by the Baltic sea and offers sea views from all the rooms. The region of the city is called Vuosaari.
It is around 15-20 minutes away from the city center by car. You also have two metro stations close by so you can use that to move around. The public transport in Helsinki is quite awesome.
Guests of the Hotel Sofia get to use the swimming pool and sauna free of charge, which is a major perk in my opinion. They also have a sauna right on the beach that you can book (but you will be charged for this one).
The restaurant gives you a gorgeous view of the shore and they serve some great traditional Finnish food. Finally, the hotel is tucked into a forest and the whole area is very calm.
It is the perfect place to stay if you are going with kids and looking for a relaxed, stress-free holiday.
The rooms are nice and decently sized and some even offer a kitchenette if you want to do some cooking at home in order to keep the costs low.
Click here to check the prices.
Mid-Range Hotels In Helsinki
For the mid-range hotels, your expectations should go up a notch. We are expecting better amenities, more spacious rooms, and good breakfast.
Here are some hotels in Helsinki that give you just that (but still do not break the bank in our opinion).
Hotel Anna
The Anna Hotel is your perfect starting point to explore Helsinki. They even do a sightseeing tour of their own to show you around the city.
The hotel itself is conveniently located close to the city center – yet not smack dab in the middle of things – with the Design Museum being just a stone’s throw away.
The Anna Hotel does focus on comfort and making you feel at home, too. They have free Wi-Fi throughout the property, they clean your room daily, and the rooms are designed with comfort and cosines in mind.
There is a sauna you can use at all times and a family room for the kids. The breakfast included is rich and yummy. The hotel staff are super friendly (and they all speak perfect English).
The rooms are large and stylish, offering a lot for the money, but depending on what you pick, they can also be on the tiny side. Their Comfort rooms are better, but the Standard ones are cheaper. They all offer similarly comfortable beds and that’s all that matters, in the end.
Hotel Arthur
A couple of minutes away from Helsinki’s central railway station, the Arthur Hotel is the nicer version of our first budget pick (the Finn). It is central and affordable but offers a bit more in terms of amenities.
The rooms and common spaces are gorgeously decorated. Grab a bite at the restaurant to feel like actual royalty – chandeliers, thick drapes, and delicious food included!
They provide a lot of variety in their breakfast options, too. The buffet features Scandinavian classics along with your favorite European and/or American foods. There are options for people with dietary restrictions, too.
Even the standard rooms are nice and large, with high quality furniture, mattresses and everything’s sparkling clean there. For a mid-range hotel, it’s really, really good!
Click here to check prices for your dates.
Omena Hotel Helsinki City Centre
The name says it all! Location, location, location. The Forum shopping center is right across the street. Famous sights and cool restaurant and bar areas are a five-minute walk away, too.
The Omena Hotel is one of the more innovative hotels in Helsinki, too. They have a convenient keyless entry system in all of their rooms so you don’t have to worry about locking yourself out of the room.
The Omena Hotel does have the tiny downside that there is not a lot of (if any) staff. It is pretty much a DIY hotel.
That is convenient if you hate talking to people. Not quite as convenient if you want to ask the staff for tips and recommendations… but at least you’ve got the internet just a tap away with tons of answers.
Even more, if you enjoy wooden finishes, then you will absolutely adore this hotel since it’s offering a lot of those everywhere. You’ll feel like in a sauna up to a point (minus the insanely hot temperatures).
The rooms are large though, with comfortable beds and additional goodies for you (like microwaves) and even though a bit on the minimalist side, they are nice and comfortable.
Click here to check this hotel now.
High-End Hotels In Helsinki
Nicer things come at a price and in Helsinki that price will be pretty high compared to the rest of the world.
But if money is no issue, though, there are a few awesome options that are definitely worth the splurge – and they are made to impress both yourself and whoever joins you to your room.
Hotel Rivoli Jardin
This stylish hotel is tucked away into a calm but very central neighborhood. The benefit of booking a boutique hotel like that is it will become your home away from home.
They have a wonderful breakfast selection, the staff will know you by name, and everything will feel more personal and homey.
I know I always say ‘ask hotel staff’ but in this case, you really, really should.
Unlike some hotels where they recommend the priciest restaurants and the most extravagant clubs, the people at Next Hotel Rivoli Jardin will give you honest and friendly tips. It is pretty much like having a bunch of local friends take care of you.
The rooms are really nice too – although not as large as you’d expect the 4-star hotel rooms to be – they are still spacious enough, but also make you feel comfortable and at home.
The furniture, mattress and everything else is both in good shape and of high quality, so it’s going to be worth spending more if you choose it as your home base.
Click here to check prices now.
Hotel Helka
Perfectly located and created to help you relax after a long day of sightseeing, the Hotel Helka really has it all.
It is not the fanciest hotel (bear in mind I did not include the Radisson Blu or the Hilton for a reason), in fact, it hits the sweet spot between unnecessary luxe and perfect comfort just right. All in all, I can say that it’s my kind of hotel.
Large rooms, comfortable beds, perfect mattress for doing some exercise (ahem!) or rest well.. the rooms are both retro and modern and perfect for short or longer stays.
Hotel Helka has a SPA and wellness center on site, including a spacious gym with state of art equipment. The location, the amenities, the beautiful room design, there is truly nothing to complain about with the Hotel Helka…
Hotel Haven
If you want (and can afford) 5-star treatment while in Helsinki, prepare to feel like you’re in heaven and treat yourself to the ultimate luxury experience at the Hotel Haven!
Their gorgeous spaces, impeccable staff, and perfect location make them one of the best hotels in Helsinki. They offer a variety of services and amenities for your comfort.
That includes employees who speak your language – over 8 different languages overall, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Arabic (plus the Nordic languages of the region).
The staff is always happy to help you. The breakfast buffet has been universally praised (one traveler called it the best he has ever had), with high quality food, not just variety for variety’s sake.
Finally, rooms have stunning views of the Helsinki skyline. Ordering room service and staying in suddenly seems like a much better idea than before!
So click here to check it out now.
Hotels in Helsinki: The Bottom Line
Picking a hotel is never easy. Booking sites bombard you with options and even this article is pretty long and has a quite few of them.
My advice is: don’t go overboard. Figure out what you actually need and can afford and go for that.
If you decide a budget beforehand, you already have fewer top choices to select from – and no matter if it’s the budget, mid-range or high end category that you end up booking for, I am sure that no matter which hotel you pick from our list, you’ll be extremely happy in the end.
It’s great that you posted this info. My daughter and I are planning a trip this summer and I really wanted to know where we can stay! Great review! Thanks!