Location, location, location! And fabulous style, too. Both combine in Scandic Grand Central, adjacent to Helsinki Central Station. With its stylish Art Nouveau mood, the hotel offers unparalleled access to the city’s top attractions, cultural landmarks and buzzing streets.
Location
Right next to Helsinki Central Railway Station, the Scandic Grand Central occupies the former office buildings of Finnish Railways (VR). Designed by the renowned architect Eliel Saarinen in 1909, the station and offices are landmarks in their own right. Today, the historic offices have been transformed into a stunning hotel, complemented by a new wing that brings the total number of rooms to 491, including 37 accessible ones.
As the Railway Station is a major entryway to Helsinki (even if you fly in, taking the train from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport to the railway station is easy), Scandic Grand Central is a great base for exploring the Finnish capital.
Are you travelling to Saimaa Lakeland region in Finland? Check out this rural floating cottage and sauna!
Style
The hotel’s design masterfully blends the original Art Nouveau charm of Saarinen’s 1909 offices with the sleek modernity of its 2021 renovations. Of the hotel’s 491 rooms, 118 are located in the building’s new part facing the Kaisaniemi Park.
Protected architectural features, such as the façade, main entrance hall and staircases, have been meticulously preserved. The long corridors, including an impressive 156-metre stretch, retain their period character. Here and there, you can spot furniture designed by Eliel Saarinen as well as some original features harking back over a century.
Are you interested in hotels in Tallinn, too? See my guide to tried and tested stylish stays in the Estonian capital in this link!
My visit to the Scandic Grand Central Helsinki
As a train travel enthusiast, it was a long-time dream for me to stay in Grand Central. The hotel’s name alone evokes the golden age of rail travel, and I half expected to encounter some Agatha Christie -like characters here.
Although I live on and off in Helsinki, I booked a room at Scandic Grand Central to experience its elegance. It also proved a practical choice, as I needed to visit a lot of sights for work, and then catch a train.
My room was in the historic part of the hotel, along one of the iconic long corridors. The interior design throughout is impeccable, but I was particularly enamoured with the light tones of my room.
Highlight: The hotel’s rich history, still palpable in its atmospheric corridors.
Reasons to stay
1. Fabulous Art Nouveau vibe
2 Prime location at the railway station
3. Delicious breakfast to match the stylish surroundings
Info
Scandic Grand Central Helsinki home page
Double room starts from €140
