Clarion Hotel Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport

On By Little Miss TravellerIn Finland, Northern Europe, Recommended Stays

Hotel Review

Location:

The Clarion Hotel is the newest of the airside hotels at Helsinki Airport, Finland.  It’s located a 20 minute walk from the terminal in the tranquil Aviapolis district, an area largely home to aviation offices and the Finnish Aviation Museum.

Clarion Hotel, Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport
Clarion Hotel, Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport

The hotel is 30 minutes by train from Helsinki city centre (trains I and P) and just one stop from the airport terminal, taking two minutes.  Aviapolis station is literally outside the door of the hotel so heavy luggage doesn’t have to be carried far.  For guests arriving by car, parking is free for the first two hours with charges thereafter.

Arrival and check-in: 

The hotel has a large lobby which is decorated in dark shades enhanced with splashes of colour with bright chairs and lampshades.

Hotel Lobby and Front Desk, Hotel Clarion, Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport
Hotel Lobby and Front Desk, Hotel Clarion, Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport

The reception operates 24 hours a day and despite being a large hotel with all 258 rooms fully occupied at the time of our visit, we were attended to very quickly and soon taking the lift to our rooms on the 6th floor.

Clarion Hotel Aviapolis, Lobby
The lobby and lifts up to the rooms

The monochrome theme continues towards the lifts which speed guests up to their rooms in the blink of an eye.

The room:

The rooms have been designed with a scandi chic theme in shades of muted grey and charcoal.  This dark effect is enlivened with a bright yellow armchair and light from the floor to ceiling windows.

Clarion Hotel Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport - Room
My room at the Clarion Hotel

My room had a view overlooking the Aviation Museum which was pleasant but I was slightly disappointed not to be offered one of the runway view rooms which come supplied with binoculars for plane spotting.  There’s no need to be worried about aircraft disturbance though as all rooms are triple glazed and sound-proofed ensuring a good night’s sleep.

Clarion Hotel Aviapolis, room view
The room was brightened by the yellow chair and lamps

The rooms are generously proportioned and feature king size beds with deep, comfortable mattresses, a wooden dressing table/workstation and plenty of charging points with a master switch to turn off all the lights and lamps.

Clarion Hotell Aviapolis, hospitality tray with Marimelkko mugs
I adored the Marimekko mugs on the hospitality tray

To be expected, there’s a large flat screen TV, self-illuminating wardrobe, kettle, coffee maker, mini-bar and safe.  I adored the design of the Marimekko mugs and my only slight niggle was that there wasn’t any milk for my tea or coffee but as there were some green tea bags I was able to drink that instead.

Clarion Hotel Aviapolis, Guest Room
Ample working space in the bedroom

The bathroom was shiny and spacious, tiled in monochrome black and white which worked well with the luxuriously thick matching bath towels.  I actually thought that having towels of two colours was an excellent idea as when travelling with someone else you would know to whom they belonged.  The walk-in shower was divine with its powerful rainfall head and the Rituals fragrant toiletries a pleasure to use too.

Dining:

We arrived too late to eat dinner in the Kitchen and Table restaurant which serves meals and snacks.  As breakfast was also served there I got a chance to check it out the next morning and was impressed by its Nordic design.

Kitchen and Table Restaurant, Clarion Hotel, Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport
The hotel’s Kitchen and Table Restaurant

All room rates include breakfast which is a bonus for hotels these days and with such a vast spread, there’s enough to set you up for the day.

Refreshing non-alcoholic breakfast shots at the Clarion Hotel, Aviapolis
Refreshing non-alcoholic breakfast shots at breakfast

Diners are welcomed with breakfast shots of mango and ginger and then able to help themselves from the buffet as they wish.  I feasted on fresh berries, yoghurt, salmon, dill and rye bread not to mention the croissants I went back for when I topped up my coffee cup.

Breakfast buffet, Clarion Hotel, Aviapolis
Breakfast buffet, Clarion Hotel, Aviapolis

Breakfast starts from 6.00 a.m. weekdays and 7.00 a.m. at weekends but for those with early flights a scaled down selection is available from 4.00 a.m. which is a bonus.

The Facilities

The hotel has a large but cosy lobby bar with a range of seating styles from deep sofas to tables and chairs.  Children are well catered for with a stack of board games and a large table football next to the lifts.

Bar/Lounge, Clarion Hotel, Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport
The hotel’s bar/lounge

Wi-Fi connects automatically and is extremely fast and reliable as is usually the case everywhere in Finland.

Hotel lobby bar and lounge, Clarion Hotel, Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport
The hotel’s attractive bar/lounge

There’s a sauna and fitness centre available solely for guests use.  I would have liked to have used the sauna but morning sauna sessions ended at 10.00 a.m. so sadly I didn’t have time to make use of it as I’m certain it would have been really nice.

Out and About:

It’s likely that most hotel guests will either be taking flights from the airport the next day or enjoying a short stopover in Helsinki.  With a rail station on the hotel’s doorstep and frequent services into the city centre, only a few hours layover is needed to enjoy a taste of the beautiful capital city.

Helsinki Central Railway Railway Station
Helsinki Central Railway Railway Station

Helsinki is compact and from its central railway station is just a short walk to the market place. From there you can take a stroll along the beautiful waterfront and pick up some Finnish delicacies both from the old market hall and the outdoor vendors.

Helsinki Market Square
Helsinki Market Square

Other highlights include Senate Square designed by Carl Ludvig Engel and dominated by the majestic Helsinki Cathedral.  The Uspenski eastern orthodox cathedral and the presidential palace are also nearby and if time allows, stop off at one of the delightful cafes along the esplanade to enjoy coffee and cinnamon buns.

Overall:

The shiny new Clarion Hotel Aviapolis is so much more than just somewhere to rest pre or post flight as I discovered between flights from Lapland to Manchester.  I really enjoyed my stay there and the overall experience was a pleasing finale to my Finnish trip.

Lobby, Clarion Hotel, Aviapolis
The hotel’s lobby

 

For more inspiration of things to see and do in Helsinki you may like to check out the following:

Helsinki – A guide to the perfect weekend break

Helsinki – Free things to see and do

Making the most of the Helsinki Card

 

During my visit I was a guest of Visit Finland and Finnair and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.

 

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48 thoughts on “Clarion Hotel Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport”

  1. ThingsHelenLoves

    The Aviapolis has really elevated the airport hotel experience. It looks like a lovely place to begin or end an Finnish adventure. I’d love to make it to Finland one day- the more I see and read, the more drawn to the country I become.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. I like that yellow chair in the room – it surely ‘lights’ up the room! The breakfast options sounds great (I’m always happy to find croissants in my plate) and, like you said, definitely a bonus that breakfast is included in the stay!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. That’s quite true Leighton. It was only recently that I was in an airport hotel with a room rate that included breakfast but as I had to leave at 6.00 a.m. I couldn’t have it as it only started then. You’d think they’d at least do grab and go bags wouldn’t you for the prices they charge.

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  17. What a lovely place to stay – I love the vibe. The views from your room are fantastic, Marion! The airport hotels have long been a necessary evil — soulless, cookie-cutter, and price-gouging — purgatory for the poor souls who’s got an absurdly early a.m. That’s why I love airport hotels designed to provide a warm, homely and exclusive atmosphere for those staying especially as the travellers are conditioned not to expect too much from one. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

    Liked by 1 person

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  18. Colour alternated towels is a great idea, and I always ask at check-in for fresh milk. I’m finding in Australia many hotels/motels now have small long-life cartons in the room fridge, which is okay be me too. It’s those tiny capsules of milk that I don’t like. Takes too many to make a decent coffee.
    Love the art deco statues at the railway station. x Gwen

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’m totally with you with those tiny milk capsules. I need several both in my tea and coffee and they are so fiddly to open. Fresh milk or UHT (which I also find acceptable although I never buy it myself) is frequently to be found in UK hotels that come with fridges these days.

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  19. Staying in a hotel at an airport reminds me of my stays at Heathrow, week after week, for business reasons. It’s convenient when arriving and departing but everything else in between is complicated by the distance from real lively places. However, the Clarion Hotel Aviapolis that you describe seems to have a lot of qualities.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I agree wholeheartedly with you about most airport hotels around the world, Heathrow being a good example due to its distance from central London. However this hotel works well for a short stopover but obviously I’d recommend somewhere in the city centre for a longer stay. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.

      Liked by 1 person

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  20. What a beautifully-modern hotel! And even better that it’s right near Helsinki Airport for a convenient to and from during travel…the breakfast options look delicious and healthy, and it’s great you had a comfortable stay. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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