Welcome to My Best Helsinki
- Hotels & Travel Services in Helsinki
Anna Arthur Crowne Plaza Cumulus Fabian Glo Glo Art Grand Marina Haven Klaus K Kämp Paasi Radisson Blu (Hilton) Strand Torni
Boutique Five Star Four Star Three Star List of Apartment Hotels & Hostels List of Hotels Closed Hotels Bicycling Transit/Travel Lond distance travel
These hotels, in different price ranges, are mostly located pretty close to the very center, shopping,restaurants, the Esplanade, the Market Square, Senate Square, etc. This selection is just to give you and idea of some hotels in Helsinki. For more hotels, see the hotel lists further down the page.
A personal note: The only Helsinki hotel we have truly loved (for so many reasons), Palace Hotel, closed years ago, to our great disappointment. I think it was a 4 star hotel: not the newest, not the fanciest or "coolest", but it had such friendly service; the best views any hotel in Helsinki could have (of the South Harbor and nearby islands, and the Market Square, flanked by historic buildings, of Katajanokka, etc.) - and hands down the best breakfast spread of ANY hotel in the world that we have visited. Superb. And the room service came from their main restaurant, which made some seriously good food.
Hotel HAVEN
Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Address: Unioninkatu 17, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)9 - 681 930
Email: sales@HotelHaven.fi
"Designed to provide homely warmth, exclusive comfort and high-quality services for the discerning guest."
We visited Haven and got a tour of the hotel. We loved the sleek, yet calm & cozy rooms and were delighted by the super friendly staff.
This might be the next hotel we stay in when visiting Helsinki next time.
We might very well consider this hotel for our next trip. The only big minus we would give the hotel is that the bathrooms are not equipped with double sinks - not even in the large suite. There is a small gym but no sauna or a spa: the hotel guests get to use the nearby 'Siluetti" Spa.
Hotel KLAUS K
Address: Bulevardi 2, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)20- 770-4700
Email: rooms@klauskhotel.com
Good, central location.
New York's "own" top chef, Markus Samuelsson (Aquavit, NY Times 3-star), is acting as a consultant at Klaus K 's Restaurant ILMATAR.
HOTEL FABIAN
Fabianinkatu 7, 00130 Helsinki
Tel +358 9 6128 2000
sales@hotelfabian.fi
58-room boutique hotel "with a uniquely welcoming atmosphere". Fabiaan is in a nice neighborhood, close to the Esplanade Park and the Market Square.
Hotel KÄMP
Address: Pohjoisesplanadi 29, Helsinki
Phone: 358)-(0)9 - 576111
Email: hotelkamp@hotelkamp.fi
Great, central location in a beautiful, restored historic building by the Esplanade Park. We like the handy location and we also like Kämp's rooms and roomy bathrooms.
The breakfast is served in their Yume Restaurant (a Japanese restaurant during other hours) on the ground floor. Breakfast consists of an all you can eat smörgåsbord for a flat rate of around 27 Euros with some lower priced choices, such as omelets or Continental breakfast, available. There is also room service breakfast available but it is even more expensive.
Kämp is sometimes called the Ritz-Carlton of Helsinki. While we like Kämp, it is no Ritz-Carlton. When we arrived at the hotel, no one came out to help us with our luggage. We had to schlep it to the reception ourselves. We repeatedly saw this happen to fellow guests.
Other guests confirmed this and also confirmed our experience that it often took 10-20 rings for the front desk to answer a call from the room.
There was no dedicated concierge; the reception desk clerks performed concierge duties, such as making restaurant recommendations and reservations.
Getting our bouquet of flowers out of their flower storage room took a painfully long time.
During our week long stay used glasses were many times not replaced when the room was cleaned. Neither was the shower gel that we ran out of on the second day. There were broken, wooden curtain poles, dust on some surfaces and more of it under the bed. There was no alarm clock in the room, and after asking for one, it took until the next day until the hotel was able to locate an "available one" for us.
Despite being a little ragged around the edges,
the executive room was spacious and comfortable, decorated in a Ritz-Carlton like design with an "olde Scandinavian" twist, with for example lighter colors and some Gustavian style seating in the room.
Some staff members were friendly and helpful, while others seemed not as helpful as one would expect from the staff of a 5-star hotel.
At times, we found ourselves missing the service (and the wonderful, free breakfast spread) at (the now closed) Palace Hotel. While "only" a 4-star hotel, Palace treated their guests to a strong 5-star service. Professional, efficient yet warm hospitality that made us want to return year after year.
But Palace is gone, so despite the defects and the broken points on each of Kämp's "5-stars" we would happily go back to Kämp.
Kämp has been on the Conde Nast Traveler's "Top European Hotels" - list for many years
Hotel HILTON STRAND
Address: John Stenbergin ranta 4, Helsinki
Phone: 358)-(0)9 - 39351
Email: helsinkistrand@hilton.com
24 h room service. Good services.
Located in Hakaniemi, a bit outside the center. Not convenient if you want to be a short walk from main shopping & restaurants, and want to explore the neighborhoods closest to the center by foot - which we recommend.
Hotel TORNI
Address: Yrjönkatu 26, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)20- 1234 604
Email: torni.helsinki@sokoshotels.fi
SECOND LINK to HOTEL TORNI
Central location.
The Tower Bar, with terrific views over Helsinki is a "must", even if you do not stay at the hotel.
Yup, you guessed it: Torni = Tower in Finnish
HOTEL GLO ART
Address: Lönnrotinkatu 29
00180 HELSINKI,
Phone: (358)- 10 -3444 100
Email: art@glohotels.fi
The 2012 renovated hotel occupies a gorgeous, century-old Art Nouveau (or Jugend-style), granite "castle".
The exterior & the interior design of the public spaces are bustling with national romantic motives, worth to take a look at even if you are not a guest at the hotel. Images
Castle = Linna in Finnish.
Hotel CROWNE PLAZA
Mannerheimintie 50, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)9 - 2521 0000
Fax: (358)-(0)9 - 2521 3999
E-mail: helsinki.cph@restel.fi
In Töölö neighborhood, a few tram stops from the very center.
Big hotel. High floors have good views.
Close to the Opera, National Museum, Finlandia Hall.
Hotel GLO
Address: Kluuvikatu 4, 00100 Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)9 - 5840 9540
Email: glo@palacekamp.fi
Located "behind" Kämp, between Pohjoisesplanadi (North Esplanade) & Aleksanterinkatu (Alexander Street).
Very central location. Close to trams, railway station, etc. Personally, for the money, I need better views. But the hotel is promising a "service package yet unseen in Helsinki" ...
Other Glo hotels
Hotel RADISSON BLU
Mikonkatu 23, Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)20 -1234 703
Fax: (358)- (0)20 -1234 704
Email: info.plaza.helsinki@radissonblu.com
Center of Helsinki, the hotel is close to the central railway station, theFinnish National Theater, Ateneum Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Short walk to the Esplanade Park.
HOTEL PAASI
Paasivuorenkatu 5b, 00530 Helsinki
Phone: +358 9 2311 700
E-mail: paasi@scandichotels.com
Paasi opened in August 2012. It is located about 2.1 km (1.3 miles) from the city center, in the Siltasaari neighborhood.
Hotel GRAND MARINA
Address: Katajanokanlaituri 7, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)9 - 16661
Email: grandmarina@scandichotels.com
In historic Katajanokka seaside neighborhood,
A bit outside the center and "a couple of tram stops" from the the Market Square, in the pretty south Harbor & the Presidential Palace & the Dome.
HOTEL KATAJANOKKA
(Best Western Premier)
Address: Merikasarminkatu 1a, Katajanokka, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)9 -686 450
Email: sales@bwkatajanokka.fi
"The oldest part of Hotel Katajanokka dates back to 1837 and the main part to 1888.
The building originally served as a county prison and pre trial detention center.
The open central corridor, red brick outer walls and the high wall around the park are protected by the National Board of Antiquities and serve as a reminder of the building's long and colorful history."
Their restaurant is called... wait... yes: "Jailbird."
Hotel ANNA
Annankatu 1, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-09 - 616 621
Fax: (358)- 09 - 602 664
E-mail: info@hotelanna.fi
Comfortable & practical hotel in a good, central location. Take a look at (scroll down) Anna's terrific location page, with a map & a good aerial shot of the neighborhood, showing parts of the center and the Railway Station in the background.
Hotel CUMULUS KAISANIEMI
Kaisaniemenkatu 7, 00100 Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)9- 172 881
Fax: (358)- (0)9- 605 379
kaisaniemi.cumulus@restel.fi
Located on a heavily trafficked street, but very close to the center and a short walk to Aleksanterinkatu & the Esplanade. z
The Cumulus chain has 4 hotels in Helsinki and one by the airport. You can check them out on their website.
Hotel ARTHUR
Vuorikatu 19, 00100 Helsinki
Phone: (358)-09 - 173 441
Fax: (358)-09 - 626 880
Email: reception@hotelarthur.fi
Central location, good prices.
HOTEL LIST: Star rated hotels, provided by Helsinki City Tourist Office / VisitHelsinki.fi.
Second HOTEL LIST
List of SOKOS HOTELS in Helsinki.
APARTMENT HOTEL GELLA: Offers apartments in various sizes, from studios to 4BR apartments, scattered around town.
Be sure to find about all additional fees before booking an apartment. For example: Is cleaning included? How often?
Eteläranta 10, 00130 Helsinki
Closed on Nov.1, 2009
We loved Palace for its terrific views and wonderful service. Palace was our home away from home.
Great HELSINKI Map page, also showing the beautiful public islands just off the city center. There is also an aerial photo"-option and an easy "distance measuring option. Very cool.
Our favorite way to get around in the center area of Helsinki is to walk. But sometimes you need to use something faster than our two feet. Here are a few possibilities:
Helsinki Transport (HKL): genral transportation information.
Visual Route Maps: Metro & Tram etc.
Larger PDF map for Helsinki Center Trams & buses.
HELSINKI BUSES:
Timetables, Route maps, Tickets, etc.
Journey Planner
|| Route Map
For example:
Helsinki bus timetables, stops and departing terminals. Good luck with this.
Once you get a hang of it, it's easy as pie :-)
HELSINKI TRAMS - Timetables, Route maps, Tickets, etc. Helsinki transportation customer service.
Route map, with stops. Write in the route number and hit search. You can zoom in our out.
Tram routemap. Type in the number of the tram& hit search: it will give you the route. Different tram lines
Sightseeing trips - in various forms / to various places in Helsinki.
HELSINKI METRO:
Route map, Timetables, etc.
Second link Click on the metro line you need.
Great interactive Map of Helsinki & surrounding islands. Very detailed.
"Locator" map of the Helsinki / Finland / neighboring countries / the world.
Helsinki City Transport: Helsinki transportation link, Maps, Routes, Timetables & Information, etc.
THE HELSINKI CARD
-Take advantage of it.
Helsinki Region Transport. "All" you need to know.
Check out the public transportation Journey Planner, a terrific tool to plan your commute in Helsinki. Makes getting from point A to point B as easy as pie.
Public Ferry to Suomenlinna Fortess Island(s)
Second link |
Suomenlinnan liikenne OY schedule
Great way to get around: Biking!
MAP OF BICYCLE ROUTES
Check out: CITYBIKES || CITYBIKES Helsinki info
Map with service points, like parks, dog parks, sports fields, public restrooms, etc. On the page, if you choose the option "Ulkoilukartta", you will get the explanation to the symbols on the map.
Useful Helsinki info, provided by
"Virtual Tourist".
Boating, Helsinki City.
The Boaters Guide PDF: Scroll down for English
Helsinki City's Archipelago Guide, in Finnish and in English; every Finnish page is followed by the same content in English. It is a PDF file, so loading can take a while.
Finnish is considered to be one of the most difficult languages for a non-native speaker to learn, although it is also considered one of the world's most beautiful sounding languages.
FOR SOME USEFUL FINNISH WORDS & PHRASES: SEE OUR ENGLISH - FINNISH WORD PAGE. Because Swedish also is spoken in Helsinki, we include some Swedish phrases as well.
We strive to keep all links in working order. If you notice a defect, or have suggestions or questions, we would love to receive your e-mail. We hope you enjoy My Best Helsinki.
BUS: Helsinki Bus Station, located in the KAMPPI CENTER, is one of the most modern and busiest in the world.
EXPRESS BUS at Helsinki Bus Station.
Matkahuolto Long Distance Bus. "Network covers the whole country, ensures efficient connections to destinations all over Finland."
Location & map for Kamppi center
Phone: (358)-09 - 613 6801
Link to Kamppi Center, in Finnish , has photos of the bus terminals, etc. Second link.
BOAT TERMINALS:
SILJA LINE South Harbor - Eteläsatama.
SILJA LINE West Harbor - Länsisatama.
Routes / Timetables
VIKING LINE | Second link |
Terminal, address, parking info & map to Viking's terminal in Helsinki.
Both SILJA LINE & VIKING LINE offer ferry services both to Sweden, & to the stunningly beautiful, autonomous, Åland Islands (part of the the western Finnish archipelago) and the Baltic Sea (Tallin). Silja/Tallink also sails to = Pärnu, Riga, Rostock, etc.
See Silja's DESTINATIONS page.
See Viking's DESTINATIONS page.
HELSINKI FOR BOATERS | BOAT "PARKING" info
Feel like flying?
Check out: FINNAIR or SAS.
The Finnair bus from Helsinki International Airport to the center of Helsinki (to the railway station, which is the last stop) takes about 35-40 minutes each way. To be on the safe side, reserve 1 hour each way, since especially if the trip is to be made during a rush hour. Link to time table.
Transportation / bus services to and from Helsinki Airport.
All you need to know about
HELSINKI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (which used to be called Helsinki - Vantaa Airport)
or other Finnish airports.
Things to do at the airport while you wait.
The Old Church Park, framed by buildings on Lönnrotinkatu, Yrjönkatu & Bulevardi streets. CLICK on PHOTO. Hotel Klaus K is by the far right corner.
Most photos on My Best Helsinki can be viewed in a larger format by clicking on the photos. Please see the copyright notice on the bottom of the page. Legal notice about unauthorized copying and / or posting of our images. Interested in buying our images? Please contact us. Thank You.
