Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
60/75; )
Helsinki's most characterful and laid-back hostel occupies the top floor of a building in a
lively street of bars and restaurants. Forget curfews, lockouts, school kids and bringing
your own sleeping sheet - this is more like a guesthouse with (crowded) dormitories.
Shared bathrooms are new; private rooms offer more peace and there's a great lounge and
friendly folk. HI members get 10% off; breakfast is extra.
Hotelli Helka
HOTEL
€142-162; )
One of the centre's best midrange hotels, the Helka has competent, friendly staff and ex-
cellent facilities, including free parking if you can bag one of the limited spots. Best are
the rooms, which seem to smell of pine with their Artek furniture, ice-block bedside lights
and print of a rural Suomi scene over the bed, backlit to give rooms a moody glow.
Premium rooms are €20 extra and somewhat larger. There's a good restaurant, and bike
hire is available for guests in summer.
Hotel Finn
HOTEL
(
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
;
09-684-4360;
www.hotellifinn.fi
;Kalevankatu 3B;s €59-119, d €109-199;
)
High in a central-city building, this friendly two-floor hotel is upbeat with helpful service
and corridors darkly done out in sexy chocolate and red, with art from young Finnish pho-
tographers on the walls. Rooms all differ but are bright, with modish wallpaper and tiny
bathrooms. Some are furnished with recycled materials. Rates vary widely - it can be a
real bargain.
Browse its website well ahead for the best deals. Breakfast, in a nearby cafe, is extra.
Hotel Carlton
HOTEL
(
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
;
09-684-1320;
www.carlton.fi
;Kaisaniemenkatu 3;s/d €139/165;
)
On a busy street near the train station, and very handy for trams and metro, this friendly
small hotel has rooms in several shapes and sizes, all with decent-sized bathrooms and not
