Nordic Tour: Accommodation and Hotel Reviews
🗓️2025/09/19〜2025/09/29
I traveled through 4 countries and 6 cities over 9 nights and 11 days!
Since the hotels were mainly for sleeping, I chose places that were convenient for transportation, affordable, and had decent water facilities (cleanliness, no water flooding on the floor, etc.).
Single beds in Nordic countries were quite narrow everywhere. Haha.
All bookings were room-only.
(However, the hotel in Stockholm included a free breakfast.)
🏨 Scandic Helsinki Aviacongress
📍Vantaa, Finland 🇫🇮 (near Helsinki Airport)
Since the first day's plan was only to visit a sauna facility after arriving in Helsinki and then depart early the next morning for Copenhagen, I chose this hotel near the airport. The hotel offers a free shuttle bus to and from the airport, which operates from early morning. Although it's far from Helsinki city center, there is a bus stop near the hotel that provides access to the city. The room was clean and spacious. The price was also affordable, making it a great choice for those with a similar schedule.
🏨 Copenhagen Island Hotel
📍Copenhagen, Denmark 🇩🇰
Hotel prices in Copenhagen were generally higher compared to other cities, possibly because it was a Saturday. Since I planned to take a bus to Stockholm the next day, I chose this hotel for its proximity to the bus terminal and reasonable price. The hotel is close to the station and bus stops, and it's just one stop away from the central station, making transportation convenient. Although I only passed through on my way to the station, there is a shopping mall next to the hotel. The room was clean and well-maintained.
🏨 Queen's Hotel by First Hotels
📍Stockholm, Sweden 🇸🇪
I searched for a hotel close to Stockholm Central Station and affordable. Although it seemed a bit far to walk from the central station and the hotel appeared slightly old, I booked it with the mindset that it was just for one night's sleep and it wouldn't matter much if it wasn't great. In the end, the distance was walkable even with luggage, and the roads weren't too bumpy, so there were no issues. The room was simple yet clean, with enough space to spread out luggage. The elevator was an old-fashioned manual type, which added a European charm. The free breakfast was also a nice bonus.
🏨 Ivalo River Camping
📍Ivalo, Finland 🇫🇮
For the three days of aurora viewing, I wanted to stay at a place with an aurora hut on the last day, so I chose this place for the first two nights to save costs. Although I had never stayed in a cottage before and was a bit worried about the shared toilet and shower facilities outside the cottage, they were very clean and well-maintained, so there were no issues. Note that bed linens and towels are charged separately from the accommodation fee (€12/person, quite expensive). There is also a laundry room with a washing machine and dryer (€15/3 hours, though I didn't use it as I brought my own detergent). Unfortunately, the weather was bad at night, so I couldn't see the aurora, but I was able to enjoy a beautiful sunset by the river just across the road.
🏨 Holiday Village Inari
📍Inari, Finland 🇫🇮
I had always wanted to stay in an aurora hut, so I booked this place. It is located by Lake Inari, and the room was spacious with a luxurious atmosphere. There are supermarkets and souvenir shops nearby. The room was equipped with cutlery, which was helpful for meals with food bought from the supermarket. I had a personal tour reservation that required confirmation, and the staff kindly assisted me with the phone call. Although I couldn't spend much time in the room due to a rescheduled aurora tour, I was able to see the aurora from the room after returning from the tour, making it a truly dreamy experience. 🥹🤍
🏨 Scandic Simonkenttä
📍Helsinki, Finland 🇫🇮
Located right behind the Kamppi Chapel, this hotel is directly connected to Kamppi Station and within walking distance to Helsinki Central Station. A tram stops right in front of the hotel, providing direct access to the ferry terminal for trips to Tallinn. Kamppi Station has the Kamppi Center, a large shopping mall with stores like Marimekko and supermarkets. The supermarket stays open relatively late, which was helpful when I was short on time. Near the central station, there is also a 24-hour supermarket. The location is excellent for sightseeing in Helsinki, and the hotel is stylish and charming with a Nordic vibe.