Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 23, Helsinki, Finland | (618) 248-8274
City center location, close to a metro station
Eye-catching interiors throughout with details by Finnish designers
Contemporary rooms with flamboyant artwork, smart TVs, and minibars
On-site restaurant and lobby bar with a cigar room
Sauna with men's and women's sections free of charge
Free Scandinavian breakfast buffet with local touches like Karelian pastries
Free wine with dinner and use of bicycles (for Premium Rooms and Suites)
Free Wi-Fi throughout
On-site parking (for a fee)
Pets allowed
No business or fitness centers
Rooms lack coffee- and tea-making facilities
Wall-mounted soap dispensers instead of toiletries in bathrooms
The Hotel Helka is an upper-middle-range landmark property located in the center of Helsinki, and it's famed for being featured in the 1983 film "Gorky Park." Owned by the Finnish YWCA, part of this chic, contemporary hotel's profits goes toward maintaining a women's shelter. The 149 guest rooms are comfortable, with standard amenities like air-conditioning, 32-inch flat-screen smart TVs, free Wi-Fi, and minibars, but no coffee- and tea-making facilities. Adding to the property's appeal, the Scandinavian-style breakfast buffet is free, and so is use of the on-site sauna. Travelers looking for more amenities may want to consider the similarly priced Hotel GLO Helsinki Kluuvi, which includes a spacious fitness center, but charges extra for breakfast.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Landmark hotel with plenty of splashy design accents
Located on a busy city street, this stylish hotel is set in a refurbished 1920s building that used to house the Finnish YWCA. The hotel was opened in 1969 by the YWCA, and a percentage of its profits goes toward maintaining women's shelter. It's considered a landmark hotel, having featured as “Hotel Budapest” in the 1983 film "Gorky Park." The most recent renovations were completed in 2006 which unveiled bright and contemporary interiors. The lobby is decorated in tones of black, white, and gray, and features plenty of splashy decorative accents, including tripod lamps, bright-red rugs, and trendy furniture like zebra-striped armchairs arranged in several cozy seating areas. Contemporary artwork by local artists decorates the walls, and there are floor-to-ceiling photographic murals depicting nature scenes next to the elevators. Furniture and textiles found throughout the hotel are by Finnish designers, including Alvar Aalto, Artek, Marimekko, and Iittala. Hotel Helka will appeal to travelers looking for an alternative to the usual corporate hotel chains and attracts both business and leisure travelers.
Location
On a busy street in Helsinki city center, within walking distance of major museums
The Hotel Helka has a great location in Helsinki's city center, in walking distance of many attractions. There are several museums and galleries in the neighborhood, as well as plenty of cafes, bars, and restaurants. The Kamppi metro station is just a few minutes' walk away, with good connections throughout the city.- Four-minute walk to Helsinki Art Museum
Rooms
Comfortable guest rooms with bold Scandinavian-design accents
Rooms at Hotel Helka are decorated in paired-down Scandinavian style that's set off by a few bold details. A subdued color palette of neutrals sets the backdrop, with black floorboards, white walls, and curtains and bed runners in an even gray. But large canvases of nature scenes suspended on the ceilings over the beds keep things from getting snoozy. Finished in light wood tones, furniture is by well-known Finnish designer Alvar Aalto. Half of the rooms are street-facing, while the other half face the courtyard. Standard in-room amenities include air-conditioning, 32-inch flat-screen smart TVs, and minibars – but no coffee- or tea-making facilities. The simple and functional bathrooms are tiled in black and white and fitted with walk-in showers with wall-mounted soap dispensers, magnifying mirrors, towel warmers, and hairdryers. Premium Rooms and Suites come with extra amenities, including bathrobes, slippers, and laptop pillows. Guests staying in these rooms also get one free drink from the minibar per person, two hours of free bicycle rental (during the summer only), and free glasses of sparkling wine with dinner at the on-site restaurant.
Features
Free breakfast, restaurant, lobby bar, sauna, on-site parking, and bicycles
Hotel Helka offers a few extra features, including a Scandinavian breakfast buffet that's included in room rates with a variety of hot and cold breakfast foods, plus local specialties including rye bread and Karelian pastries. It's served at the on-site Helkan Keittio Restaurant, which is also open for dinner and offers a menu of Finnish cuisine based on fresh, local ingredients. The lobby bar is open from late afternoon, and has its own cigar room. There are also men's and women's saunas located on the top floor and bicycles for rent. The hotel also has three on-site meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 60 people, plus free hotel-wide Wi-Fi. Parking is available on-site for an extra fee, and pets are welcome if requested in advance.
