The best accommodations Finland

Budget & Tips

Finnish hotels are comfortable, clean, functional and generally warm, with an increasingly frequent Scandinavian design touch. Chains such as Scandic, Sokos, Cumulus and Omenahotelli will give you a good idea of the Finnish hotel scene. However, a few stand out from the crowd, such as manor houses (Kartano) or state houses (Valtionhotelli). While rates are generally quite expensive due to the predominance of business clientele, prices can quickly drop during vacations and weekends.

Count on a minimum of €60 for a small budget accommodation in an establishment with basic comforts, between €80 and €100 for a mid-range establishment and more than €180 for a superior hotel. A more economical solution is to stay with a local or rent a cottage. For smaller budgets, youth hostels are a good compromise. Last but not least, there's the classic low-budget camping (from €12 to €15 a night in a tent), often with a communal kitchen and access to a sauna.

Some fifty Finnish youth hostels (Suomen Retkeilymajajärjesto) cover the whole country. Some are set up in farms, boats or even mansions. You can choose to stay in rooms of 2 to 4 people, or in dormitories of 5 to 10 beds. All have family rooms, washing machines and saunas. Breakfast is often a solid Nordic buffet. Unfortunately, they are often only open in summer, and are often basic, characterless buildings. Average overnight rates vary from €10 to €50 per person, depending on the type of accommodation. This is clearly the most economical way to travel around Finland on a budget. For more information, please contact Hostelling International Finland (+358 45 156 2152 - www.hostellit.fi/en - [email protected]). The site lists the country's forty or so youth hostels (with photos) and sites where you can get discounts with the international youth hostel card.

Campsites. 350 campsites, almost all affiliated to the F.I.C.C. (Fédération Internationale de Camping et de Caravaning), are open in summer or winter for those who also have chalets and bungalows. These well-equipped campsites are often located on the banks of lakes, rivers or even by the sea. Kitchens, full sanitary facilities, washing machines and saunas make for a comfortable stay. The Finnish Tourist Office in France provides a list of Finnish campsites - www.camping.fi - You can expect to pay between €14 and €17 for a tent pitch in the south of the country, and between €2 and €4 per person. The Camping Key Europe card (www.campingkeyeurope.com) offers interesting discounts. It can be purchased on the same website and costs just €15 for one year. Unauthorized camping is tolerated due to the right of free access to nature, known as jokamiehenoikeus. On private land, it's best to ask permission from the landowner for more than one night, and pitch your tent away from dwellings. In nature parks, camping areas are always provided for visitors. On the Internet: www.metsa.fi - This is the most pleasant and least expensive way (because it's free) to visit the Finnish wilderness. Grilling makkara (sausages) by the fire, it's a good time to swap travel tales with the locals.

Britain has its "bed & breakfasts", France its "chambres d'hôtes" and "gîtes ruraux"... and Finland its cottages(mökki) by the water or in the forest. Some 10,000 private cottages are available for rent in Finland, ranging from simple cabins to luxurious log cabins. Often located on the water's edge, they feature a sauna and a rowing boat. An excellent way to spend a very "Finnish" vacation. Prices range from €50 to over €200 per night, depending on equipment and size. Accommodation in cottages is generally cheaper on weekdays, especially in remote areas, ideal for those on a budget and travelers looking for peace and quiet and total immersion in nature.

Summer tip: university campuses often rent out their rooms during the school vacations.

A new type of accommodation is also booming in Finland: farm stays, particularly in the south. This is a great way to get to know the locals and their way of life (sustainable organic farming...), in addition to the activities offered on site. You can expect to pay at least €30 per night, including breakfast (and sometimes dinner). For more information on how to book one of these types of accommodation, check out the Visit Finland website, which also lists some, or Discover Finland (https://www.discoveringfinland.com/accommodation/farm-holidays-nature-vacations/). Best of all, contact your local tourist office!

Finnish guesthouses, known as matkakoti, offer good value for money in modest, comfortable accommodation, often with shared bathroom facilities and breakfast included.

To be booked

To benefit from the best prices, it's best to book in advance, especially in Helsinki and in very touristy areas.

During tourist periods, such as Christmas in Lapland or summer by the lakes, booking is almost compulsory. Even youth hostels are often fully booked.

If you're planning to attend the Savonlinna Opera Festival in July, make arrangements well in advance. The town is literally packed. Prices for hotels near Olavlinna Castle can almost double.

What's very local

In Lapland, accommodations with large windows/roofs let you see the Northern Lights from your bed!

Most Finnish hotels include sauna and pool use in the room rate.

For food lovers

Breakfast is always hearty and often served as a buffet. Most hotels offer a continental option with bread, pastries and jams.