Accommodation in Finland
Introduction
Whether you are looking for a good place to stay at your Finnish holiday destination, or a temporary home during your short-medium term employment contract in Finland, there are a multitude of hotels, holiday cottages and cabins, spas, holiday
villages, hostels, bed &
breakfasts, camping sites, and more throughout the country. Rates and availability at seasonal destinations, whether it be a log cabin in Lapland or a lakeside cottage in summer, are considerably affected by the time of your visit. Some destinations are virtually closed in the off-season. Accommodation in central Helsinki is generally 30-50% more expensive than other destinations in Finland.
Holiday Homes, Serviced Apartments & Aparthotels
If you'd prefer a temporary home rather than a hotel, a short-term apartment or holiday home rental is a great option. Apartments and aparthotels are somewhere between hotels and long-term rentals, both in style of living and price. They are available immediately, in good condition, furnished and decorated, with internet access, modern appliances and full kitchens. Electricity and water are included in the price. In the cities they are centrally located, and many offer services such as cleaning, laundry, and/or airport transport. Unlike hotels, short-term apartments don't usually have reception desks, bars, restaurants et cetera, but these are generally available in the immediate neighbourhood. Prices depend on factors such as location, length of stay, and level of services required.
If you are visiting Helsinki for a couple of weeks, for example, a short-term apartment will probably be significantly cheaper than a hotel and, to my mind, much more comfortable.
Short-term Apartments & Holiday Homes
Comodo Apartments
Comodo means comfortable and convenient in Italian, and Comodo Apartments' ethos is to justify the name. Comodo provides ease, comfort, and a home away from home, with warm personal service and a hassle-free stay. High-quality centrally located fully furnished apartments, from short to long-term, in Greater Helsinki, Tampere and Turku.
From small studios and one-bedroom apartments to family apartments, all are well equipped with modern conveniences, clean and fresh, and nicely decorated. All include Wi-Fi.
Apartment search & booking in English
Noli Studios
Noli Studios offers a unique alternative to Helsinki hotels and hostels. Serviced studios for any length of stay, with the comforts of home, a sense of community and the services and amenities of a hotel. Choose from contemporary move-in-ready studios or lightly furnished rooms with just the essentials. Bookings include access to the location's shared spaces and facilities, such as lounges and game rooms, cooking and dining areas, meeting rooms and workspaces, saunas and gyms, and laundries. Biweekly cleaning of your studio is included in the 'flexible stay' basic rate.
Noli Studios are located in:
Katajanokka, downtown Helsinki next to Allas Sea Pool and the harbour.
Katajanokka II, next to K I, in a fully renovated 1929 historical building.
Sörnäinen, a hub of Helsinki's hip urban culture and nightlife.
Myyrmäki, in the heart of Vantaa - sports, art, and transport connections.
Malmi, in northeastern Helsinki, easy access to city and airport.
Herttoniemi, in eastern Helsinki - green, spacious and cosy.
Gella
With over 25 years' experience, Gella offers a full range of quality serviced apartments in Helsinki and Espoo, from studios to large apartments and a selection of luxury apartments in prime locations such as Kamppi, Eiranranta, Kellosaarenta and Tapiola. As well as short-term accommodation, Gella can arrange long-term rentals for up to several years - please contact Gella about your needs. All apartments are well equipped, with free Internet. Gella aims for exceptional service, providing for example key delivery to airport and '24-7' assistance in case of trouble. Housekeeping can be arranged at your request. Rated Excellent at booking.com
Map
Norden Homes
Why stay in a hotel when you can have a temporary Nordic home? Norden Homes offers comfortable and inviting furnished homes in Turku and the Greater Helsinki region, and strives to share the Nordic way of life in a stylish, ecological, and cosy way.
Business and private guests alike can book apartments from short to long-term, at a reasonable price and with an eco-conscious mindset. Supplemental cleaning and linen services are available, as well as payment terms which suit you best.
"We want to act as a bridge to the Nordic way of life for our guests. Experience the Nordics, beyond the norm."
Jooa Leonamaa, Founder of Norden Homes
Cottages & Cabins in Finland
For a truly Finnish experience you have to try taking a break in a kesämökki (summer cottage) during the hot months, and if you are very lucky a log cabin in winter. Both experiences are fantastic! Summer cottages are usually only a few metres from a lake, and have wood-burning saunas. As a newly arrived foreigner in Finland, don't be shocked to see a bunch of naked Finns come running out of the sauna and jumping into the lake! Also omnipresent are Finnish vegetables (sausages) and beer.
In winter, villages like Luosto and Pyhä in Lapland are postcard-perfect and something truly remarkable to those of us from hotter climates, There are no apartment buildings or other eyesores, just log cabins in snowy forest settings. The small village centres have restaurants, hotels, a few shops and "activity centres" (ex. snowmobile safaris). Plus of course the ski slopes! At the end of the day, it's magical to sit by a roaring fire in your cabin and drink a hot chocolate (perhaps with some Minttu liqueur - an excellent local tradition). The cabins usually also have saunas, and instead of jumping in the lake you can roll in the snow! And if you are very fortunate indeed you can see the Northern Lights. Other winter destinations with log cabins for rent include Levi, Ruka, and Kuusamo.
Cottage & Cabin Rental
The key to getting a cottage or cabin is to book WELL in advance!
- Lomarengas lomarengas.fi: Finland-wide search and bookings, listing almost 4,000 holiday cottages, villas and apartments. - En, Fi, Ru
- Finland Cottage Rentals finlandcottagerentals.com: Finland-wide search and bookings for summer and winter cottages. Also offers travel information and safari bookings. - En, Fi
- Archipelago Booking of Finland saaristovaraus.fi: Online booking of cottages, accommodation, excursions, boat rental and fishing packages throughout the archipelago - En, Fi, Ge, Ru, Sw
- Finnish Hostel Association hostellit.fi In some countryside hostels, cottages are available. - En, Fi, Ge
- Mossala Island Resort mossala‑island‑resort.com: Saaristo, in the heart of the archipelago, the island of Mossala. Lodges and basic cabins are available and pets are allowed. Restaurant, fishing, boat hire and other facilities
- Nationalparks.fi nationalparks.fi - In seven languages Includes information on 'wilderness huts', some of which may be reserved overnight for a fee
- Wimdu wimdu.com: Wimdu has a range of properties from countryside cottages and beachside villas to apartments and studios.
Bed & Breakfasts
By comparison with many countries, bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) are not common in Finland. Helsinki Bed and Breakfast (HBB) is an exception. Tapani Koskela has been running HBB since 2007, not as a big commercial operation but more as a friendly organiser to help guests and hosts alike. He's got together a number of hosts with whom you can enjoy a 'homestay' in a room of your own in Helsinki or Turku - there are also some entire apartments / homes available. HBB lists over 20 B&Bs. The rates are very reasonable, the accommodations cosy and the hosts friendly!
A new version of HBB's site has been launched; it has lots of info and photos for each B&B and is a pleasure to use.
Helsinki Bed and Breakfast: en.hbb.fi En, Fi
Facebook: Helsinki Bed and Breakfast
Hotels
Along with hotel chains, there are many cosy and charming privately run hotels throughout the country which will give you a true experience of 'Finnish style' in terms of both décor and cuisine. The majority of hotel websites have English versions, with many also offering Swedish, Russian, German and other languages. The bigger hotel groups, including Scandic, Sokos, Radisson and Cumulus, have hotels throughout Finland.
As a rough guide, a good three-star hotel room for two adults in Helsinki costs about €120 per night in 2022. Prices are less in most other cities; more like €90. Of course there is a lot of variation, particularly with the seasons. Lapland in peak season is comparable to Helsinki.
Finding a hotel in Finland is easy!
Rantapallo Hotel Search: Rantapallo's hotel search provides details and offers from hotels within Finland and abroad. Enter your destination and duration of stay and Rantapallo's hotel engine will offer you a wide array of accommodation options to choose from, ranging from budget to luxury. Rantapallo has a strong reputation and is Finland's most-visited travel-focused media, also offering flights, flight+hotel packages, car hire, cruises, and late deals. Site in Finnish but works great translated in Chrome browser (How?).
Alternatively use Google Translate
Web: www.rantapallo.fi/hotellit/
Finland Holidays www.finland-holidays.com - En, De, Ru: Finland-wide accommodation search engine, including articles on Finnish activities and culture.
The following sites show very general results; Searching hotels in Naantali, for example, includes hotels in Turku - another city entirely. However, some searches probably generate useful results ex. Helsinki
- Hotels.com www.hotels.com: Compare prices and book hotels+ online - Numerous languages
- Supersaver www.supersaver.fi: Compare prices and book hotels+ online - Fi, Da, Nl, No, Ru, Sw
- Ebookers www.ebookers.fi: Compare prices and book hotels+ online - En, Fi
- Expedia www.expedia.fi: Compare prices and book hotels+ online - Fi
Hostels
Finnish Hostel Association www.hostellit.fi - En, Fi, Ge
Forget crowded, dirty hostels - Finnish hostels are nice! Some countryside hostels are cottages, there are a couple of manor houses, and in Turku you can stay on board the S/S Bore - a historic vessel moored on the Aura River close by Turku Castle. Finnish hostels are operated by the Finnish Hostel Association, member of Hostelling International (HI).
Hostels include:
- City hostels
- 'Design' hostels
- Lake hostels
- Country Home hostels
- Cultural hostels
- Lapland hostels
- Sportive hostels
- Nature Hiking hostels
- Countryside hostels
- Seaside hostels
They are open to all; individuals, families, groups, holidaymakers and business travellers alike. Accommodation ranges from basic shared dormitories to large hotel-style rooms. Attention is paid to guest reception, security and cleanliness at all hostels.
Rates vary significantly, starting from about €15/person per night. Additional facilities and services like bicycle hire may be available; check individual hostels for details. Hostelling International members get a 10 % discount on accommodation in Finnish Hostel Association hostels.
Finnish Hostel Association: www.hostellit.fi - En, Fi, Ge
Camping & Camp sites in Finland
- Camping Finland camping.fi - En, Fi, Ge, Ru, Sw: Search the whole of Finland for, and book, camping sites - there are about 50 listed in total. The majority have fairly good facilities and many are by lakes or the sea. The site includes photos, information and contact details for each camp site
- Mossala Island Resort mossala-island-resort.com: Saaristo, in the heart of the archipelago, the island of Mossala. Facilities for caravans / mobile homes and camping. Restaurant, fishing, boat hire and other facilities
- Nationalparks.fi www.nationalparks.fi - In seven languages Information on camping, hiking, trekking and more, Finland-wide
- Finland, Naturally finlandnaturally.com - A great resource with information on outdoor activities throughout Finland, including camping
Sauna Tents!
A sauna in a tent? Of course - it's Finland! This must be one of the greatest camping experiences ever... Here's a Finnish manufacturer with pages in English:
Savotta: www.savotta.fi
Related Links
Links to other sites are direct to the relevant page, where possible
