Written by: Sini Hietaharju, Master of Tourism Research & Slow Traveller
Where to stay in Helsinki for one night?
Helsinki, aka the capital of my home country Finland offers a Nordic modern lifestyle, luxurious experiences and a great Northern city holiday.
I wanted to list you the peaceful spas, best saunas and best luxury hotels in Helsinki.
By choosing one of these best places to stay in Helsinki, Finland, you won't be disappointed.
Neighborhood: Kluuvi
Vibe & Style: Classic Grand Luxury, Historic
Spa & Wellness Highlights: Kämp Spa with Finnish, Turkish, and steam saunas; ESPA treatments; full spa menu
Neighborhood: City Centre
Vibe & Style: Grand & Artsy, Modern
Spa & Wellness Highlights: Holistic wellness area with a pool, sauna, and treatments from Omorovicza and Elemis
Neighborhood: Near Presidential Palace and Senate Square
Vibe & Style: Timeless, Intimate Luxury
Spa & Wellness Highlights: Maria Spa with traditional sauna, steam room, plunge pools, and Biologique Recherche facials
Neighborhood: Bulevardi
Vibe & Style: Lapland Chic, Cosy
Spa & Wellness Highlights: In-room saunas; special Arctic-themed in-room spa packages
Neighborhood: Jätkäsaari
Vibe & Style: Modern, City Views
Spa & Wellness Highlights: Heated year-round rooftop pool with stunning city views
6. NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa
Neighborhood: City Centre
Vibe & Style: Dark, Modern, Luxurious
Spa & Wellness Highlights: Lovely Spa and Rooftop bar
Neighborhood: South Harbour
Vibe & Style: Understated Elegance, Romantic
Highlights: Near the Helsinki Harbour
Neighborhood: City Centre
Vibe & Style: Historic Icon, Art Deco
Highlights: Oldest rooftop cocktail bar of Helsinki
Neighborhood: City Centre
Vibe & Style: Design-Hotel, Lively
Spa & Wellness Highlights: Gym and spa treatments available
Neighborhood: City Centre
Vibe & Style: Scandic's Signature, Central
Spa & Wellness Highlights: Traditional Finnish Sauna
To help you choose the perfect base for your Helsinki travels, here is a closer look at the standout features and atmospheres of these exceptional luxury hotels in Helsinki.
Functional
Central
Restaurant Sandro
Marski by Scandic is a central hub of modern Nordic life right on Helsinki's main boulevard, Mannerheimintie.
This recently renovated hotel embodies a "taste of Helsinki" philosophy, blending sleek Scandinavian design with a focus on local food and drink.
The rooms offer a calm, contemporary retreat with smart design solutions and luxurious touches like heavenly beds developed in partnership with the Finnish Sleep Institute.
Dining is a key highlight here. The hotel's signature restaurant, Sandro (by renowned chef Viki Ylitalo), serves vibrant and colorful flavors inspired by world cuisines. Its unbeatable central location makes it the perfect base for exploring the city's best shops, museums, and cultural sites just steps from your door.
Modern
Central
Good, Italian hotel restaurant
Klaus K is among the 4-star hotels in Helsinki city centre.
This well-rated design hotel in the City Centre (Bulevardi) is inspired by Finnish stories, humanity and bravery. Sky Terrace Rooftop Bar and great breakfast are the highlights of this Dreamy hotel in Helsinki.
Iconic rooftop bar
Great breakfast
Central location
This oldest tower hotel of Helsinki in central location is a modern getaway in Finnish Capital. The highlights are great breakfast and awesome rooftop cocktail bar overlooking Helsinki. The place does not have a spa; however, you can utilise the Spa of two other Sokos Hotels in Helsinki; Presidentti adn Vaakuna. Ask this at the reception upon arrival.
Romantic
Luxurious
Elegant interiors
This boutique hotel offers a cozy and romantic vibe.
Harbour view, classic interior and spa-style bathrooms makes this a great stay for a weekend in Helsinki.
Super central location
Cozy room
Rooftop bar
This hotel is a top choice for wellness enthusiasts. Its Usva by Terhen Spa & Wellness is a tranquil oasis inspired by Finnish nature and the cycle of the seasons.
The wellness center includes a unique sauna section, a steam room, a cold therapy pool, and cold mist showers, allowing guests to experience the therapeutic effects of hot and cold cycles.
Access to this spa is included when you book certain room categories.
Great views
Heated pool
SkyBar
The Clarion Hotel Helsinki is a modern skyline landmark in the Jätkäsauri district. Its standout feature is the stunning rooftop wellness area, home to a heated year-round pool where you can swim with panoramic views of the city and sea. This top-floor oasis also includes a sauna and a sun terrace, while the nearby SkyRoom bar offers 360-degree vistas for evening cocktails. Inside, the 425 rooms feature modern Scandinavian design with floor-to-ceiling windows, completing this sleek, view-focused luxury experience.
Private sauna in the room
Lapland vibes
Modern
For a taste of Finnish Lapland in the heart of the capital, this hotel embraces functional simplicity and cozy minimalism.
A key feature here is that many of the rooms have their own private saunas.
They also offer specially tailored in-room spa packages, such as the "Arctic Beauty" package with purifying products from the north or the "Magical Night" package designed to improve your sleep quality.
5-star
Located near Presidential Palace
Relaxing Spa
A relatively new but supremely elegant addition to Helsinki, The Hotel Maria spans four historical buildings near the Presidential Palace.
Its highlight is The Maria Spa, a serene vision designed for absolute relaxation. The spa features a traditional Finnish sauna ritual, a uniquely designed steam room with personal reclined chairs, and a series of jacuzzi and plunge pools.
For beauty innovations, it offers everything from Face Gym massages to LED and Radiofrequency treatments, using exclusive products from Biologique Recherche.
Instagrammable
Luxurious
Modern
Housed in a sensitively transformed 19th-century newspaper building, Hotel St. George is sunlit, grand, and filled with modern art.
The hotel's wellness area is a bright, clean-aesthetic space where you can enjoy a gentle swim in the pool or opt for treatments powered by luxury brands like Omorovicza and Elemis.
A unique offering is their 'Restorative Hand Bar,' which provides luxury manicures that include a relaxing back massage—a perfect treat after a day of exploring.
Central location
Great spa
Iconic choice
As the "grand dame" of Helsinki's luxury scene, Hotel Kämp has hosted celebrities and travelers in plush, classical surroundings for over 130 years.
Its spa is a tranquil gem, featuring three types of saunas: Finnish, steam, and a Turkish hammam.
This spa hotel in helsinki has an extensive spa menu, offering everything from tension-melting hot stone massages to high-tech facials that use a special SkinVision lamp to analyze and target individual skin concerns.
It's the epitome of classic five-star indulgence.
To make the most of your luxury getaway to Helsinki, keep these practical tips in mind:
Best Time to Visit: For long days of sunshine ideal for exploration, visit during the summer months (June to August). Autumn is also cozy time in Helsinki
Getting Around: Helsinki is a highly walkable city. Its compact center makes it easy to explore major sights on foot. For longer distances, the city has an efficient public transport system. You can also use Uber.
Neighborhood Choice: For a central base close to top attractions and shopping, the districts of Kamppi and Kluuvi are ideal. For a more laid-back, creative atmosphere just a short tram ride away, consider the Kallio district.
Planning Ahead: Luxury hotels and popular spas can fill up quickly, especially during peak season. It is highly recommended to book your stay and any spa treatments well in advance.
Your Unforgettable Helsinki Escape Awaits
Helsinki offers a luxury experience that is both deeply restorative and culturally rich. Whether you choose the historic opulence of Hotel Kämp, the modern artistry of St. George, the intimate serenity of The Hotel Maria, or the wellness-focused approach of NH Collection Grand Hansa, you are guaranteed an unforgettable stay. By blending world-class hotel amenities with the timeless Finnish tradition of sauna and spa, your visit to the Finnish capital will be a journey that rejuvenates both body and soul.
Photo by: Julia Kivelä/Visit Finland
No trip to Helsinki is complete without experiencing its authentic public sauna culture. While your hotel spa will offer a pristine experience, venturing out to a traditional sauna provides a truly local ritual.
Consider a visit to:
Löyly: A stunning architectural landmark on the waterfront, featuring public wood-fired saunas and a year-round outdoor swimming pool for a refreshing plunge.
You can buy entry ticket online here, so you don't need to queue.
Allas Sea Pool: Located right in the city center, this urban oasis offers a cold sea water pool, a warm water pool, and saunas with stunning harbor views, open every season.
Not getting enough of Finnish Sauna? Get a trolley sauna on wheels home with this Finnish Sauna builder company Finn-Projektit.
Want to know more of history of Helsinki and stroll around like a local? I recommed this walking tour with a sociologist.
Here's one of the reviews of this tour:
Zana was very personable and easy going. A good sense of humour and a vast knowledge of the area, history and sociology. A great tour.
These are my luxury accommodation recommendations for Finnish Capital Helsinki.
If you want to discover also Lapland, I recommend checking these accommodation recommendations:
Nothing to your taste?
In Booking, there are dozens of great Luxury hotels in Helsinki.
WRITTEN BY
Hey there, I'm the Author
I'm Sini, an enthusiast in slow traveling, yoga retreats, travel as self growth journey and rubbing dogs.
This is your go-to slow travel corner of the internet.
I'm here to share my best travel tips, digital nomad thoughts and photographs from the journeys.
I happen to be kind of a professional in this as well, as I have my Master's degree within Tourism Research and both my master's and bachelor's thesis are about yoga travel.
I want to share the best knowledge of hidden gem retreat and mindful destinations, as well as some deeper, honest thoughts what digital nomad lifestyle actually is.
You can read more about me here.
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