The best hotels in Helsinki: nine places to stay, by neighbourhood

The grand hotel on the Esplanadi

Hotel Kämp stands on the north side of the Esplanadi and has long been the city's best-known grand hotel. The lobby and salons have high ceilings, chandeliers and marble, and rooms are classic in muted tones.

This is the place for an occasion, a romantic weekend or anyone who wants traditional luxury. The Esplanadi and its shops are right outside the door. If modern Nordic design is what you are after, the Design District does it better. The hotel has its own spa with a Finnish sauna, well worth an hour after a cold day out.

A view of the harbour

Hotel Haven faces Market Square and the harbour, and many rooms look out over the water and the ferries. The interior is elegant and warm, with dark wood, heavy fabrics and a bar known for its gin.

For a first visit the position is hard to beat: the Suomenlinna ferry leaves from the square across the road, and the cathedral is five minutes away. It is a good fit for couples and anyone who appreciates personal service. Street-facing rooms can pick up some traffic noise. In summer, go down to the market early, before the cruise passengers arrive.

A quiet courtyard by the park

Hotel F6 is on Fabianinkatu, a side street off the Esplanadi, with rooms around an inner courtyard where you can sit outside in summer. Rooms are bright and modern with Finnish design touches.

It is small and personal, good for couples and friends on a long weekend. You are central, but the street is calmer than the main thoroughfares. There is no spa or large lounge, so evenings are spent in town, which is no hardship with some of the city's best restaurants a few blocks away.

Art beside the Old Church Park

Hotel St. George looks across the small park around the Old Church, in the middle of the Design District. The public spaces hold a large collection of contemporary art, and rooms are pale and pared back, with excellent beds and warm materials.

This is our design pick in Helsinki, and a hotel you will happily stay in on a rainy afternoon. It works best for couples and anyone interested in art. The spa and bakery are welcome extras, but rates sit at the top of the city's range. Ask for a room facing the park, which gets the most light and a view of the trees and the old wooden church.

The tower with the rooftop bar

Hotel Torni is one of the tallest historic buildings in the centre, an interwar tower with a bar at the top that looks out across the whole city and the sea. Rooms vary a great deal, from small and classic to large and modern.

It is made for anyone who wants a hotel with history and a drink with a view without leaving the building. Book one of the larger room types, as the smallest are tight. The rooftop bar is popular, so go early in the evening. The hotel sits between the railway station and the Design District, an easy walk with a suitcase.

Deep colours and art deco

Lilla Roberts occupies an early twentieth-century building on a side street in the heart of the Design District. The interior is dark and elegant, with deep colours, brass and art deco details.

It is a hotel for grown-ups who like atmosphere, ideal for a long weekend built around dinners in the neighbourhood. Rooms are not large but are carefully finished. Families will get more space elsewhere. The ground-floor bar is a good place for a drink before dinner, even if you are not staying.

Light and modern on Bulevardi

Hotel Indigo sits on Bulevardi in the western part of the Design District, with a bright, modern interior that borrows motifs from the neighbourhood. Both the Esplanadi and the sea at Hietalahti are within easy reach.

It is ideal for travellers who want a contemporary hotel with good standards and like staying where locals eat and shop. It has a little more of the chain about it than the smallest places. The Hietalahti market hall nearby is a good stop for lunch, and the Kamppi transport hub is a few minutes away.

Behind the walls of the old prison

Hotel Katajanokka occupies a former prison on Katajanokka, with rooms created by joining old cells together. The thick walls, corridors and courtyard have been kept, and the atmosphere is surprisingly cosy.

This is our value pick, offering something different for less than you would pay on the Esplanadi. It is right for travellers arriving on the Stockholm ferry and anyone who likes a hotel with a story. Market Square is ten minutes' walk, along streets with some of the city's finest art nouveau facades.

A pool on the roof

Clarion Hotel Helsinki stands on Jätkäsaari by the West Harbour, in a tall building with sea views from many rooms. On the roof there is a pool and a bar looking out over the islands and the ferries.

It gets our vote as the family pick, because the pool and the larger rooms make life with children easier. It also suits anyone catching the ferry to Tallinn. The old centre is a tram ride or a long walk away, so you are slightly outside historic Helsinki. In return, you can watch the sun set over the sea from the rooftop.