One of the most stylish capitals in Europe, Helsinki is brimming with innovative museums, thought-provoking art galleries, and architectural wonders wherever you look. Despite being a culture-packed urban center, dynamic Helsinki is surrounded by magnificent natural landscapes that you can easily escape to from anywhere in the city.

An excellent place to embrace the great outdoors, the neighboring green spaces offer countless opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and wandering in the summer. In the winter, the snow that blankets the city creates the perfect environment for ice skating, skiing, and snowshoeing. Plus, due to its unique location, Helsinki is where you’ll find the northernmost vineyard in the world!

The stunning countryside is also free for everyone to enjoy as much as they please. According to Finnish law, anyone living in or visiting Finland can explore the countryside, forage for berries and mushrooms, fish in streams and lakes, and use the recreational areas – all for free!

Stay in one of the best Helsinki hotels, and you’ll be able to enjoy all the remarkable diversity the city has to offer during the day and have a luxurious place to rest your head at night! Luckily, Helsinki is home to all kinds of incredible accommodation options, from warm and cozy lodges to super-cool boutique hotels.

In fact, there are so many fantastic places to stay in Helsinki that you might find it almost impossible to pick just one. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of the top 12 boutique hotels in Helsinki!

Don’t forget to check out our web story: 12 Cool Boutique Hotels in Helsinki, Finland

Where to Stay in Helsinki

Despite being comparatively compact in comparison to Europe’s other capitals, Helsinki is bursting with wonderful places to stay.

If this is your first visit to the charismatic city, we suggest staying in the Helsinki City Centre. This neighborhood is easily explored on foot and is home to a number of fascinating landmarks, excellent museums, intriguing art galleries, and a huge choice of places to eat and drink. It’s also where you’ll find some of the best hotels in Helsinki.

Kallio is a great choice if you want to be close to all the action, but you’ve got a small budget to work with. Located just north of the Helsinki City Centre, Kallio is mostly residential, but it boasts a few hidden gems. You’ll find the last wood-burning public sauna, a retro theme park, and a fantastic food market here.

For a neighborhood with a really cool vibe, consider Punavuori. Part of the stylish design district, this area of the city is full of designer boutiques, independent cafes, and trendy restaurants that dish up unique takes on traditional Finnish classics. You’ll be spoiled for choice with amazing Helsinki boutique hotels if you stay in this part of the city, too.

The 12 Best Boutique Hotels in Helsinki

1. Hotel Finn

Ideally located in the very heart of the city, Hotel Finn is a fantastic choice if you’re planning on doing a lot of sightseeing. Hidden away on the upper floors of a historic stone building, the hotel is just minutes away from various shopping malls, restaurants, cafes, bars, museums, churches, theaters, and galleries, giving you absolutely loads to do!

The hotel features just 37 guest rooms, making it a peaceful haven you can return to at the end of a long day. Ideal for groups of every size, the rooms come in Single, Twin, Triple, and Quadruple sizes. Whichever category you opt for, you’ll be treated to stylish Nordic decor, beautiful views of the courtyard or street, and top-quality soundproofing, so you’re guaranteed a great night’s sleep.

While you’re spoiled for choice with excellent places to eat in the surrounding areas, we suggest you make a reservation at Restaurant Carelia. The hotel’s sophisticated restaurant has a casual brasserie atmosphere and dishes up a simple yet delicious menu of Finnish classics.

2. Lapland Hotels Bulevardi

One of the coolest hotels in Helsinki, Lapland Hotels Bulevardi is a wonderful choice if you’re in desperate need of some rest and relaxation. From an indulgent spa onsite to a luxurious bathtub in every room, this hotel goes all out to make sure you leave feeling like a whole new person!

Designed for the ultimate Nordic wellbeing experience, the carefully-curated spa packages will make you feel better than ever before. If you don’t feel like going all out on any pampering, you’ll be glad to know that almost every guest room includes its very own private sauna where you can relax in complete solitude.

You’ve got to visit the Kultá Kitchen & Bar at least once during your stay. For breakfast, this beautiful dining room dishes up oven-warm pastries alongside a selection of fresh seasonal goodies that will fill you up for the day.

Return in the evening to treat yourself to the surprise menu – a selection of tasting dishes that pay tribute to the world’s purest ingredients hidden away in Northern Europe. We definitely recommend splurging on the Kultá wines. They’re incredible!

3. Hotel Lilla Roberts

Tucked away in the trendy Kaartinkaupunki neighborhood in Helsinki’s design district, Hotel Lilla Roberts definitely stands out from the crowd! Offering you the best of both worlds, the hotel combines eccentric 1930s Art Deco and memorabilia from a time gone by with ultra-modern facilities and an upbeat, on-trend vibe.

The hotel boasts a fantastic selection of guest rooms, each of which is stylishly decorated and appointed with oversized beds, large flat-screen TVs, and plush bathrobe and slipper sets. If you’re celebrating a special occasion or you want to treat yourself, consider staying in the Suite.

Overlooking Kasarmitori Square, this stunning room comes with incredible views that you can get lost in for hours. There’s also a fabulous lounge with a velvet sofa and dining table, plus a 55-inch flat-screen TV and Geneva Bluetooth audio system. Plus, the lofty ceilings really let you know that you’re in a grandiose building from 1909.

There’s an excellent restaurant onsite (we definitely recommend making reservations for the weekend brunch!), as well as a wonderful outdoor terrace where you can relax with cool drinks during the summer.

4. Hotel F6

Offering a home-away-from-home experience with a little hint of luxury, Hotel F6 really is a unique hotel in Helsinki. The staff at the family-run property go out of their way to make sure you feel welcome, comfortable, and relaxed.

The hotel’s 76 gorgeous rooms are equally stylish and cozy, decorated using top-quality and sustainable materials. A great choice for eco-conscious travelers, all the electricity in the hotel is produced via water and wind power.

There’s an excellent gym onsite with free weights, bicycles, treadmills, and a cross trainer, which is open 24/7 and free for guests to use. You can also rent free bikes directly from the hotel and use them to zoom across the city whenever you like.  

Hotel F6 is located on a peaceful side street in the city center. Everything from cafes, bars, and restaurants to boutiques, museums, and art galleries is just a short walk away. If you’d rather not leave your room, the hotel works closely with Wolt, through which you can order hundreds of dishes from nearby restaurants to be delivered to your room.

5. Hotel Fabian

A wonderful place to base yourself, Hotel Fabian is surrounded by fascinating things to see and do. The bustling Market Square, exciting Design Museum, and manicured gardens of the Esplanade are all just a short walk away.

An excellent breakfast buffet is dished up each morning, featuring fresh seasonal fruit, smoked salmon, oven-warm bread, and loads of little Nordic extras for you to discover. There’s also a chilled-out lobby bar where you can relax with a drink after a long day of sightseeing. 

If you’d rather explore further afield, you’ll be spoiled for choice with an eclectic range of cafes, lounges, dining spots, and nightclubs in the local area. There’s also a tram stop just steps away from the hotel that can whisk you to any part of the city. 

Guest rooms come in three categories – Comfort, Style, and Lux. Whichever option you choose, you’ll be treated to ample space, an ultra-comfy bed, a large TV with Chromecast, a spacious bathroom with eco-friendly products, and high-speed Wi-Fi access.

6. Hotel St. George Helsinki

If you’re looking for where to stay in Helsinki that promises luxury, pampering, and culture, look no further than Hotel St. George Helsinki. Tucked away inside a magnificent historical building, this hotel is in a peaceful area but just a short walk away from all the exciting activities that the city has to offer.

The accommodation comes in the form of 148 superb guest rooms and five marvelous suites. Each room is decorated in muted pastel shades with abstract artwork to provide a refreshing contrast to the building’s classic architecture.

Whichever option you choose, you’ll be treated to a cozy bed with luxurious DUX linens, a Spanish marble bathroom with a rainwater shower and LA Bruket amenities, an in-room entertainment system, your own personal SodaStream, and a custom minibar with healthy options.

When you need to work off all the excess calories you’ve enjoyed discovering the local food, check out the Playground gym. If you’d rather take things easy, book yourself a relaxing massage or unwind in the swimming pool, sauna, or chill-out space you’ll find in the hotel’s spa.

7. Noli Katajanokka

Located in one of the most lively parts of the city, Noli Katajanokka rewards guests with wonderful sea views, as well as a convenient location near downtown Helsinki. Set inside a red brick building that dates back to 1940, the trendy hotel is just a short walk away from peaceful parks, buzzing nightlife, world-class galleries, and excellent shopping spots.

Here you’ll find a stunning selection of modern studios, ranging from compact spaces that are perfect for a couple of nights to huge apartment-like rooms that come with complete kitchens. If you want to soak up the city’s compelling atmosphere without having to leave your studio, choose one of the many accommodation options with a balcony or roof terrace.

Noli Katajanokka offers everything you could ever need for your vacation in one single place. There’s a well-equipped state-of-the-art gym, relaxing sauna, innovative Italian restaurant, and creative co-working space. If you need anything else, you’ll likely find it on the hotel’s doorstep.

8. GLO Hotel Art

For a truly unique Helsinki hotel, choose GLO Hotel Art. An unbeatable combination of traditional history and modern sophistication, this standout hotel is set inside a majestic Art Nouveau stone castle.

Built in 1903, the property may look old and tired on the outside, but step through the entrance, and you’ll discover a whole new world. The rooms are strikingly modern, some of which even come with motorized beds, so you can find your perfect sleeping position.

If you’re celebrating a special occasion, we suggest splashing out on the Glo Suite. This remarkably spacious room boasts a large four-poster bed, sumptuous pillows and bedding, and a stunning bathroom with a big walk-in rain shower and exclusive GLO bathrobes, slippers, and amenities.

Not wanting to totally transform the place, you’ll still find a few remnants of the original castle, too, such as century-old wooden carvings, hand-painted arches, and wooden beamed ceilings.

9. Hotel Kämp

A long-established hotel that has been in the business for generations, Hotel Kämp is a fabulous place to stay if you enjoy the finer things in life. Set in the beating heart of the city, this property provides an incredible wellness zone that will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world.

The Kämp Spa & Fitness is located on the 8th floor of the hotel, stories above the hustle and bustle of the busy streets down below. You can push yourself to your limits in the gym, which is open 24/7, before retiring to the spa for some pampering. 

Relax your muscles in the Finnish sauna, relieve stress in the eucalyptus-scented steam bath, or splurge on one of the many tempting massages and treatments.

There are two excellent restaurants to choose from, one French brasserie and one traditional Japanese eatery. If you want to treat yourself to something special, make a reservation for an afternoon tea. With a refined selection of sweet and savory treats that look like they belong in an art gallery, this snack will definitely be one to remember.

10. Hotel Helka

Easily one of the coolest Helsinki hotels, Hotel Helka looks unlike any other hotel you’ve seen before. Boasting bright pops of color, an incredible wellness zone, a cozy bar, and incredible accommodation, this hotel is one you’ll want to return to time and time again!

The highlight of this cool Helsinki hotel is its permanent art exhibition – Purkutaidevaltaus. Put together by talented and daring street artists, the exhibition flows throughout the hotel’s lobbies and corridors. 

The strikingly modern work covers three floors and has even worked its way into six hotel rooms. If you’re lucky, you may be able to stay in one of them!

When you need a little “me” time, visit the hotel’s spa. Here you’ll find traditional wooden saunas, with one for men and one for women. If you need a little extra pampering, there’s also a massage studio on the hotel’s sixth floor.

At the end of the day, the hotel’s bar is also a fantastic place to unwind. With a cozy, friendly atmosphere, this spot encourages you to relax and chat about the highlights of your day while enjoying classic Finnish drinks and cocktails.

11. Go Happy Home Apartments

If you can’t wait to visit Helsinki, but don’t want to be confined to a hotel room, consider staying at Go Happy Home Apartments. These apartments are scattered throughout the city, from the center to the beach. But whichever one you choose, you’ll never be far from where you want to go!

Ideal for a long stay, these apartments have everything you need to feel at home. From spacious bedrooms with comfy beds and large lounges with sofas for the whole family to well-equipped kitchens for making your own meals and roomy balconies from where you can admire the view, these apartments have it all.

Each apartment even has its own color scheme you can choose to match your style. Whether you prefer subtle neutral shades, colorful hot pinks, calming sea-inspired turquoise, or passionate pops of red, there are loads of different options to choose from. You’ll find an elevator in each building, making it easy to move your luggage, as well as free Wi-Fi access throughout the apartment.

12. Hotel Haven

Just as its name suggests, Hotel Haven is a tranquil oasis in the middle of a busy capital city. Situated next to Market Square and South Harbor, the hotel boasts everything you could ever want for a relaxing, elegant, and sophisticated stay in Helsinki.

An excellent choice for foodies, the hotel boasts three high-class restaurants you’ve got to try. Delivering deliciousness in the form of Northern Italian cuisine, Southern American comfort food, and decadent Finnish breakfasts, you definitely won’t go hungry here.

If you’re just in the mood for a drink, you’ll find an unbeatable selection of beers, wines, spirits, and cocktails available in the dignified surroundings of Bar Haven.

Whichever room you choose, you’ll be spoiled with a king-size bed with down pillows and duvets; a large smart TV with Chromecast; a stunning bathroom with plush bathrobes, slippers, and a GHD hairdryer; and thoughtful extras, such as fresh flowers.

We recommend booking the Town Square Suite if you’re celebrating a special occasion. The best room in the hotel, this suite boasts spectacular views of the square, a gorgeous lounge with a fireplace, and a luxurious bathroom with an individual shower and bathtub. 

That completes our list of the 12 best hotels in Helsinki! Did we miss any cool boutique hotels in Helsinki? Comment below so we can add them to the list!

Didn’t find the perfect Helsinki hotel? Try searching here:

Planning a trip to Finland? Check out our favorite books and travel guides!

SHARE THIS ON PINTEREST