In Helsinki, you can live the art nouveau life for a while, take a sauna by the seaside, travel by tram, and breathe the cleanest air in the world. That's what you want, right?

My all-time favorite hotels in Helsinki

My favorite hotels in Helsinki combine excellent location, good service, and a sense of style. They have been a part of Helsinki's life for a very long time.

I stayed in the Solo Supreme King room on the Yrjönkatu side. The room's special feature is a narrow balcony from the 1930s, from which you can watch the lively street life on a warm summer day. The room is spacious, and the wide bed is ingeniously placed in the middle to move around easily. Behind the end of the bed, there is a small vestibule space.

However, the best part is the breakfast. The breakfast service and offer are the top experience of hotel breakfasts in Helsinki. Coffee and optional fresh juice are served on the tables. Otherwise, there is a buffet selection. What makes the stand special are the unique and beautiful wind hats and other sweets the hotel's pastry chef conjures up. Breakfast time is also exceptionally long, from 7:30 to 11.

I have stayed at the Plaza in both basic rooms and suites. Some rooms facing the street are prone to night noise, especially on weekends. On the other hand, the rooms on the courtyard side are completely quiet.

​Plaza's absolute specialty is the Plaza Lounge. It is a living room-like lounge space you can access if you stay in a Business Class room or suite. The lounge is another reason to consider a business classroom. The snack buffet, which has drinks from 17 to 19, is especially excellent.

​Radisson Blu Plaza's breakfast is one of the best hotel breakfasts in Helsinki. The Plaza's breakfast area is very beautiful; the former exhibition hall is spacious and peaceful. Even if there are more people later in the morning, the chatter and chatter will not become annoying.

I spent Valentine's Day at Grand Hansa with my wife. The hotel was nearly full, with 224 rooms accommodating a highly international clientele. Despite the crowd, there was plenty of staff available even during peak hours. We had the opportunity to take a brief hotel tour and were especially impressed by the beautiful event and banquet spaces. 

Grand Hansa’s breakfast is exceptional—perhaps the best in Helsinki. Everything on offer is premium quality, the service is attentive, and the restaurant itself is beautiful and peaceful. Breakfast is served until 10:30 AM on weekdays and until 1:00 PM on weekends, making it easy to enjoy as a brunch that keeps you full well into the evening. In addition to the buffet, guests can order omelets, warm sourdough bread with toppings, fruit granola bowls, and even sparkling wine. As with the rest of the hotel, the staff is plentiful and service-minded.

As a dedicated hotel breakfast enthusiast who has experienced many top-tier breakfasts in hotels and cruise ships, I would rank Grand Hansa’s breakfast among the very best.

Helsinki City Hotels

Hotels outside the city of Helsinki