Whenever I stay in Helsinki for work or for fun I stay in either of these hotels. They are both four-star hotels and usually quite reasonably priced. They are both chain hotels but still they have their own architectural charm and wonderful location. The other one is modern and the other one is historical. Often we stay in the airport hotels if we have an early flight. The free shuttle bus service to the airport is so convenient from the airport hotels. These two hotels are in the centre though so let’s have a look at my two favorite hotels in Helsinki.
First one is Clarion Hotel Helsinki in Jätkäsaari
This is where I have stayed a few times. The hotel is easily accessible from the railway station by the tram. There is also a metro within 10 min walk. The hotel has beautiful rooms and some with seaview.
The decor is very light and the lobby is airy with high ceilings and design furniture.
The location is by the sea so the views are nice overlooking the docks and the harbor. There is a seaview also from the breakfast room. Punavuori nearby is an area where there are exciting restaurants like restaurant Muru.
There is a swimming pool on the roof terrace, although it is not heated.
The saunas and showers there have wonderful views overlooking the harbor. The breakfast has everything you can wish for including honey you can peel yourself from the honeycomb. The hotel has a small gym as well next to the saunas and the pool. You can enjoy a drink at the rooftop bar and enjoy the view over the city and Helsinki city lights.
An interesting fact about this hotel is that it was the filming location for the Finnish version of the Apprentice reality TV show.
Second one is Scandic Grand Central Helsinki
The Grand Central Hotel was built in 1901. The best thing about this hotel is the convenient location right next to the station. If you are working outside the center, you can easily hop on the local trains at the station. The station and also the hotel are designed by the architect Eliel Saarinen. At the station you will find a restaurant that serves authentic Finnish food. While you are dining, you can enjoy the architecture and the beautiful painting by famous Finnish painters Eero Järnefelt, A.W. Finch and Ilmari Aalto. After work you can still enjoy the art museum Ateneum which is on the opposite side of the square.
The hotel is also close to the shopping areas. These are for example Stockmann, the historical department store or Sokos. Or you can go shopping in Kamppi shopping centre or Forum. You can shop for Marimekko nearby in Aleksanterinkatu or North Esplanadi. If you walk along Aleksanterinkatu, at the end of the street you will find the beautiful white Tuomiokirkko -church.
Again very close by is the President’s Castle and other important buildings.
The hotel has a beautiful interior with soothing colors. There are different sections to the hotel. I must confess it is quite easy to get lost there in those long corridors.
The breakfast is beautifully set out and there are intimate breakfast rooms where you can sip your coffee or smoothie. The rooms are comfortable size and have a calming decor.
To sum up
I hope you have enjoyed this brief representation of Helsinki and my two favorite hotels there. You should be able to book a night in either of these hotels with a budget of 150-170€. This is applicable unless it is very high season. To benefit from a discount you can use my affiliate Hotels.com link. If you are looking for a seasonal getaway, Hotels.com is offering excellent hotel prices so take a look! Just change the language on the site to your liking and you are all set to browse different hotels. Also if you want to book a cheaper holiday deal you can check out this Traveup link. With Travelup you can save up to 40% + £60 extra with code TU60. This means bookings over £1299. These are affiliate links. I may earn a commission from any qualifying purchases. There is no extra cost to you, so thank you for your support!
If you want to explore more our five favorite four-star hotels, then check out our review here.