Best Christmas Hotels in Helsinki: Holiday Magic in Finland
As the holiday season approaches, many hotels in Helsinki offer Christmas packages that include more than just a place to stay. They promise an added dose of festive charm – the scent of gingerbread, visits from Santa Claus, and other Christmassy delights.
In this article, we’ve gathered a selection of hotels that go the extra mile to infuse your stay with the magic of Christmas.
Christmas has always been the most cherished tradition in Finland, the home of Santa Claus. In Finland, Christmas is celebrated on the 24th, making the 25th a holiday.
Top Christmas Hotels in Helsinki for Travelers
Discover the best Christmas hotels in Helsinki for a memorable holiday experience. Enjoy cozy stays and festive celebrations in Finland’s capital city.
1. Lapland Hotels Bulevardi
A Lapland-Inspired Christmas Retreat in Helsinki
This family-owned hotel chain based in Finland brings a touch of Lapland’s magic to the heart of Helsinki.
Opened in 2019, Lapland Hotels Bulevardi boasts spacious rooms, creating a tranquil and mysterious atmosphere with decorations like reindeer antlers.
Located on Bulevardi in the city center, it’s near everything you need in Helsinki’s finest area, less than a 20-minute walk to Senate Square and the Christmas Market.
The hotel’s reception sells a range of Lapland products, ensuring you get a taste of the North. So if you can’t make it to Lapland, Lapland comes to you here.
Some room types even offer a private sauna and bathtub. You can imagine we had a warm feeling from this short hotel visit and would return here gladly.
Now, onto their Christmas specialties.
The hotel gets a lovely winter and festive atmosphere during Christmas with candles, lanterns, and subtle lighting – a perfect place for a Christmas getaway in Helsinki.
- The Christmas package includes a stay in their spacious rooms. Breakfast featuring Northern flavors is included.
- On the 24th of December, you’ll enjoy a festive dinner in the warm glow of candlelight.
- There is a Finnish sauna in the morning and evening.
- Additional nights can be added for a special price from the 21st to the 28th of December.
Tips: Reserve your spot for the festive dinner in advance, especially during the popular hours of 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. If you’re a light sleeper, choose a room facing the courtyard to avoid tram noise.
Budget range for the Christmas package? Prices start from around 400 euros per night for two persons (24.-25.12).
- Website
- Address: Bulevardi 28
- Location: Google Maps
2. Hotel Katajanokka
A Unique Christmas Retreat in Helsinki
This unique spot used to be a prison, so you can expect a historic atmosphere.
Tucked away in a quiet residential area, right next to the tram stops, you can still easily walk to the heart of Helsinki, passing by some beautiful Art Nouveau buildings on the way. It is an easy 15-minute walk to the Market Square and Christmas Market.
Inside, the nearly one-meter-thick prison walls ensure that the outside world’s noise remains distant, making it ideal for a peaceful staycation.
The hotel underwent renovations in 2016. As you step into the lobby, you’ll feel like you’re in a stylish countryside manor with its wooden panels and cozy carpets. The three-story central atrium pays homage to its prison heritage.
If there’s anything to improve, the restaurant isn’t quite as classically elegant as the lobby area.
Now, onto the Christmas specialties: their Christmas package includes a lot:
- You can enjoy a morning and evening sauna in the hotel’s saunas (separate for women and men),
- savor warm mulled wine and gingerbread, and
- watch a centuries-old Finnish Christmas tradition – the Tiernapojat play on Christmas Eve.
The Christmas table in the restaurant will be set on Christmas Eve (24.12) and Christmas Day (25.12).
Plus, you’ll have the chance to meet Santa Claus on Christmas Eve and attend the midnight mass.
Budget range for the Christmas package? Under 250 euros per night for two persons in the Classic room and under 300 euros in the Superior room.
- Website
- Address: Merikasarminkatu 1a
- Location: Google Maps
3. Hotel Marski by Scandic
A Festive Christmas Getaway in the Heart of Helsinki
Hotel Marski by Scandic is in the heart of Helsinki, just across from the Stockmann department store, and an easy 10-minute walk from Christmas Market on Senate Square.
Completely renovated in 2019, Hotel Marski boasts over 300 rooms, making it one of the largest in Helsinki. Some rooms even come with their own saunas.
While there might be some traffic noise in the rooms facing the street at other times, come Christmas, Helsinki quiets down for the holiday celebrations.
The hotel’s bar is a local favorite, drawing guests and city dwellers looking for a night out. You can enjoy DJ nights and occasional live performances in a cozy cocktail atmosphere on weekends.
Now, let’s talk about the Christmas offerings:
- On December 23rd, start your day with sauna yoga, and in the afternoon, get into the festive spirit by decorating gingerbread cookies and the Christmas tree.
- Christmas Eve features a traditional Finnish Christmas sauna, cozy holiday movies, board games, kids’ crafts, a visit from Santa Claus, and a festive Christmas evening buffet.
- Christmas Day offers more of the same, including a relaxing Christmas sauna, movies, kids’ activities, and another delicious Christmas buffet.
All these days, breakfast is available until noon, ensuring you can sleep in. Plus, the bar is open in the evenings, with a DJ setting the mood.
Please make a table reservation for the Christmas settings in advance, as Christmas Eve seatings are often fully booked.
Budget range? Room prices start from around 150 euros per night for two persons (24.-25.12). Christmas evening buffet is about 50 euros per person.
- Website
- Address: Mannerheimintie 10
- Location: Google Maps
4. Christmas Elegance at Hotel Haven
Your Festive Stay in Helsinki
Hotel Haven is known for its elegance and style and feels like a cozy country house hotel.
This boutique hotel opened in February 2009, and back then, it became Finland’s first member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World chain.
Located near Helsinki’s South Harbor and Market Square, Hotel Haven is just a short walk from the Esplanadi shopping streets and Senate Square. It’s about 1 km from the railway station.
Hotel Haven boasts 137 spacious rooms, a welcoming bar, three restaurants, stylish lobby areas, and a gym.
The cozy lobby bar also attracts locals taking a break from city strolls. Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, stopping by the bar for a peaceful break is recommended.
Breakfast is served in Helsinki’s second-oldest stone building, connected to the hotel by an inner courtyard.
For Christmas, Hotel Haven offers a special package.
- It includes a stay in your choice of room.
- A Christmas Eve dinner at Restaurant Haven on December 24
- A delicious breakfast buffet is served until 11 a.m.
- Guests also enjoy the convenience of a late checkout at 2 p.m.
Even though Hotel Haven’s Christmas package offers only an overnight stay and dinner, it draws visitors with its lovable atmosphere. According to the hotel, some guests return yearly with their families to celebrate Christmas.
During our visit a week before Christmas, we found the hotel fully booked, indicating its popularity. It’s no wonder we also felt a cozy atmosphere there.
Budget range for the Christmas package? Starting from 340 euros for two on December 24-25. Additional nights with the package start at 165 euros per night for two, including breakfast.
- Website
- Address: Unioninkatu 17
- Location: Google Maps
5. Hotel Kämp
A Luxurious Christmas Getaway in the Heart of Helsinki
Hotel Kämp is a luxurious gem in the heart of Helsinki, along Pohjoisesplanadi, a few blocks from the Christmas Market. It has a rich history, dating back to its opening in 1887, and exudes the grandeur of a bygone era.
As Finland’s most renowned five-star luxury hotel with a historical “Grand Hotel” ambiance, Hotel Kämp is an iconic establishment in Helsinki.
During Christmas, it offers relaxation, delightful dinners, and a serene ambiance within its historical setting.
The Christmas package includes a stay in Kämp’s spacious rooms. You can enjoy a traditional Finnish Christmas sauna experience at Kämp Spa.
You can savor a special Christmas porridge on Christmas Eve (a Finnish tradition).
A festive Christmas dinner is served on Christmas Eve and Day at either the magnificent Mirror Room or the charming Kämp Brasserie. Peilisali offers a traditional Finnish Christmas dinner, while Brasserie serves a three-course meal.
Note: Make a reservation well in advance, especially for the popular Christmas Eve dinner.
Additionally, you can enhance the Christmas spirit in your room with a cozy Christmas decoration package, including a Christmas tree, various decorations, mulled wine with gingerbread, and a small gift.
The historic Kämp Bar is a classic among Helsinki’s evening spots. It may be filled with locals celebrating their pre-Christmas parties in the evenings during the Christmas season.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the historic Kämp Bar is often bustling with locals engaging in their pre-Christmas celebrations.
Budget range for the Christmas package? Christmas for two in a Deluxe room with a festive dinner in Mirror Room starting from 540 euros, and with a festive dinner at Kämp Brasserie starting from 490 euros.
- Website
- Address: Pohjoisesplanadi 29
- Location: Google Maps
6. Hotel St. George
Luxury Christmas Retreat in Helsinki
Hotel St. George is a beautifully restored gem on a prestigious property. It graces one of Helsinki’s most charming streets, across from the historic Old Church Park.
With its superb central location, Hotel St. George is just a few minutes stroll from the city center, making it an excellent choice for a staycation.
This luxurious hotel is everything you’d expect, with a touch of high-class design.
While it might be pricier than other central Helsinki hotels, it’s worth every penny. In the heart of Helsinki, you’ll find two true five-star luxury hotels: Kämp and St. George. St. George is the way to go if you prefer a more contemporary interior.
So what is included in the Christmas package?
- It consists of an overnight stay on the 24th and 25th of December and a Christmas dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.
- Additionally, you can relish a delightful buffet breakfast and take advantage of a late checkout at 1 p.m.
- Guests aged 16 and above can access the hotel’s gym and spa area, which includes a swimming pool and saunas.
Budget range for the Christmas package? Prices start at 480 euros for two in a Serenity room. Additional nights with breakfast from the 21st to the 27th of December begin at 220 euros for two in a Serenity room.
- Website
- Address: Yrjönkatu 13
- Location: Google Maps
7. The Hotel Maria
An Opulent Christmas Escape in Historic Helsinki
The Hotel Maria is a luxury hotel in historic buildings from 1885-1930, opened in December 2023.
While Hotel Kämp and St. George have long been Helsinki’s premier luxury accommodations, Maria reaches even greater heights.
The founder, a three-time Winter Olympic champion, has shifted his focus to business and investing after his sports career.
The Hotel Maria is impressive with its lavish interiors and meticulous attention to detail. It boasts 117 generously sized rooms, many of which are suites.
The hotel has two restaurants, two bars, a large hall, a chapel, a spa and wellness area, and a boutique celebrating Finnish designers.
It is also part of the esteemed Preferred Hotels & Resorts collection. It has been recognized by Forbes as one of the best new hotels in 2023.
The hotel caters to a high-end clientele, including international luxury travelers and local holidaymakers seeking an extraordinary experience.
Now, let’s talk about their Christmas packages:
- The first package includes accommodation in a double room or suite, breakfast, a hearty and traditional Christmas porridge lunch, and a Christmas gift.
- Additionally, this package offers a Christmas Eve program featuring a visit from Santa Claus and a Christmas morning moment of reflection.
- For the more indulgent package, it also includes a festive dinner.
Walking through the peaceful Kruununhaka residential area takes just under ten minutes from the hotel to the Christmas Market.
Budget range for the Christmas package? Prices start at 420 euros per night for two without dinner. With festive Christmas dinner from 640 euros per night for two. Additional nights start from 360 euros.
- Website
- Address: Mariankatu 23
- Location: Google Maps
The Bottom Line
Hotels in Helsinki let you experience Christmas magic and Finnish Christmas traditions.
Celebrate on the 24th in Finland, the home of Santa Claus, and enjoy cozy atmospheres.
