2 Best Hotels in Helsinki, Finland

Located in a quiet part of town full of fascinating art nouveau detail and close to the South Harbour, the Katajanokka is not a bad place to do time, which makes perfect sense when you realize that the building originally served as a county jail in 1888. Original remnants include actual cells in a far corner of the basement restaurant and cell bars lining small sections of the hallways. Rooms are a decent size, with stylish tiled bathrooms and oversize rain-effect shower heads (some rooms have bathtubs as well).

Housed in an early-19th-century customs warehouse in the well-heeled Katajanokka promontory residential neighborhood, the Grand Marina has one of the best convention centers in Finland. Its central, if slightly subdued location, friendly service, modern facilities, and reasonable prices have made this hotel a favorite, and it is also popular with tour groups, with the Viking Line ferry terminal further along the same quay. The sunny bar terrace is reputed to be the longest in Helsinki, and the Market Square and Senate Square are a 10-minute stroll away, although there are also nearby tram stops. Ask for a room with a view of the South Harbour. The restaurant menu features Finnish delights such as salmon, elk, and reindeer as well as more standard club sandwiches and burgers.