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Although very much a boutique hotel, Hobo Helsinki isn’t quite an entirely new concept.
Its “Go Local, Get Global” concept began just across the Baltic Sea, in neighbouring Sweden, where the OG Hobo Hotel opened in Stockholm in 2017.
Hobo Helsinki – along with Hobo Oslo and Hobo Copenhagen – follows in the trails of its success, bringing the community-driven concept to the Finnish capital.
As soon as you experience Hobo Helsinki, it’s easy to see why the boutique hotel has quickly become a small family of boutique hotels across Scandinavia.
If you came across Hobo while looking for boutique hotels in Helsinki that offer something unique, don’t let the brand’s rapid growth put you off.
Hobo has no intention to become a fully fledged chain and each of the locations has its own distinctive personality based on its home city.
It is in every way a very unique Helsinki hotel and, more importantly, one that I couldn’t stop raving about after my stay there. Here’s what you need to know!
Hobo Helsinki Hotel: At a glance
In a hurry? Here are the most important things to know about this quirky Helsinki boutique hotel.
🛌 Stay for at least 2-3 nights to enjoy both the city and the hotel itself.
🚿 Rooms are compact but feel spacious, with a homely feel, clever storage solutions and thoughtful extras.
🍽️ You won’t want to miss the breakfast here – it’s incredible!
📅 Schedule some time in your Helsinki itinerary to enjoy the hotel’s bar, gym and ad-hoc events calendar.
Why stay at Hobo Hotel Helsinki
So, now you’re probably wondering, what exactly makes Hobo Hotel so special?
Well, there are a lot of things I loved (see below), but the best thing was that the whole experience felt very, very fun.
I’m a believer that where you stay can absolutely make or break a trip. At the very least, it will make your stay in a destination better or worse.
With Hobo Helsinki, it was only the former. Everything about my stay at this unique Helsinki hotel was easy, convenient and warm – which is exactly what you want when it’s -12 outside!
In some ways, Hobo Helsinki feels kind of like an upscale hostel for grown-ups.
Not in a cheap and cheerful kind of way – though the prices are some of the most affordable in the city.
But in the sense that it feels like a place of community, where everything is focused on enjoying life and connecting with others (if you wish).
It took me my first two days in Helsinki to realise that this was why I felt so happy and at home there, but as soon as it clicked it couldn’t have been more obvious.
Hobo Helsinki balances a warm and inviting atmosphere with plenty of privacy and personal space in perfect proportions – something that is very hard for a hotel to achieve.
In fact, I was so impressed and loved it so much I almost considered booking it when I got back to the city after my winter trip to Kuopio.
Checking in to Hobo Helsinki
Arriving shortly after midnight – and after my most turbulent flight ever! – I was relieved that Hobo Hotel has a 24-hour reception.
Admittedly, there were a couple of times I saw the desk unmanned, but always with a sign reassuring any waiting guests that someone would be back shortly.
Before arriving, you can fill in an online check-in to speed up the process even more. I also emailed ahead to ask if I could arrange a takeaway breakfast for my early departure, and the response was both fast and affirmative.
Once you receive your (wooden – not plastic) access card, you’ll need to navigate a maze of floors and doors to get to your room.
I was initially taken aback by just how big the Hobo Helsinki hotel is, but it’s well sign-posted and easy to get around.
It’s also incredibly secure.
Not only do you need to use your card to use the elevator, but you’ll also need it to enter the floor when exiting the elevator, and possibly again to access your block of rooms.
That’s because, it would seem, many of the rooms are locked behind an additional door in clusters of three.
I’m not sure why, but it certainly means you’ll never end up in one of those situations where you realise you’ve been trying to get into the wrong room for several minutes…
(Note: some of the rooms require climbing a few unavoidable stairs, so make sure you request a stair-free one at the time of booking if you need it.)
Rooms at Hobo Hotel Helsinki
Hobo Helsinki’s rooms are just as diverse as its people, and there’s also something for every traveller.
Surprisingly, Hobo’s Sleeper rooms are one of the most affordable places to stay in the centre of Helsinki.
Knowing I wouldn’t be spending much time in my room, it’s what I booked for my Helsinki winter trip.
Hobo emailed me a couple of days before to offer an upgrade to a Hobo Room, which includes a desk, for just €10 per night.
Even though I was pretty tempted, I’m glad that I stuck with my original choice.
The Hobo Sleeper turned out to be surprisingly spacious and had more than I needed for a super comfortable stay.
There was plenty of space to open luggage as well as hooks, hangers and even a pull-out drawer under both beds to make it truly feel like home.
The bathroom was large and had the best shower I’ve ever used in Finland, complete with shampoo, hair cleanse, body wash and lotion (which you’ll need if you visit Finland in winter).
Even though I booked the room with the intention of getting out as much as possible, I was disappointed that I couldn’t spend a more time in it.
If you fancy splashing the cash a little, there are five other room types to choose between, including two penthouse suites.
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Hobo Hotel Facilities
My quick stop in Helsinki before taking the train up to Kuopio meant I only had a short time to explore the city.
Despite this, it was hard to get myself out of the door at Hobo.
That was partly because of the snowy streets outside – Helsinki in beautiful, but it’s still hard to get out in the cold! – and partly because I was loving Hobo Hotel so much.
Breakfast
Admittedly, the biggest contributing factor to my reluctance to explore was the breakfast.
Oh my. What a breakfast it was.
I think I raved about it to anyone who would listen during my Finland travels, but it really was just that good.
There was a bread station, a full hot menu – with lots of veggie protein options! – a cold section with yoghurts, fruits and nuts of all kinds, a gluten-free area, a selection of Finnish delicacies that I’d never even heard of AND some sweet treats.
When I asked about labels (to check that V = vegetarian), the lady even offered to bring me out some vegan “meats”.
I ended up savouring the whole thing for around two hours – while working on my laptop! – and really didn’t want to leave.
TRAVEL TIP | My other favourite Finnish hotel breakfast was at this gorgeous hotel in Kuopio. A completely different vibe, but equally special in its own way.
Gym
And then there’s the gym. Finland had some pretty amazing hotel gyms – especially the ones with saunas! – but Hobo easily had the best.
It appeared to be brand new and had all the equipment you could ask for. I was even able to do my usual CrossFit-style workout with bands, barbells and a med balls.
Plus, it’s open 24 hours a day and I had it all to myself.
Bar & common areas
If Hobo needed yet another selling point, the social areas on the ground floor would tick the box.
As soon as you enter Hobo Helsinki, you’re greeted by an intimate bar area that acts as a common space for residents and non-residents alike.
Next to it, in the open reception area, is a large co-working desk with tablets for self check-in, a pool table and even a hidden photo booth (for an extra fee).
Downstairs, there are luggage storage lockers where you can leave anything you don’t need before or after your stay.
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Sustainability at Hobo Helsinki
As you’d expect of any modern hotel – especially in Finland! – Hobo Helsinki puts a heavy emphasis on sustainable practices.
Your room will only be cleaned and towels changed if asked, the entire hotel is plastic-free and my takeaway breakfast even included a juice in a glass bottle.
Hobo Helsinki: Verdict
What I rated
- Free slippers with every room – amazingly useful and I still use them to this day!
- The community feel. Hobo is a hotel where you can mingle or hide away.
- The absolutely fantastic free gym (it’s better than many paid gyms!)
- How cleverly the space is used, with under-bed drawers, clever hooks and useful ways to store things. I booked the smallest room and it still very incredibly spacious and well-organised.
- The amazing shower, complete with luxurious toiletries.
What I didn’t love
- The upstairs co-working area was locked when I wanted to use it. That said, they did let me sit in a quiet hidden corner of the bar to work, and I loved that.
- The heating was loud compared to the silence I usually sleep with.
- There wasn’t really space to hang used towels, which makes it harder to not ask for them to be replaced.
- The hotel has no sauna – a rarity in Finland.
If it’s super clear already, I absolutely loved staying at Hobo Hotel and it was a highlight of my time in Helsinki.
It really is a fantastic place that pulls off a LOT.
→ Click here to check the rates and availability for your travel dates.
