Skip navigation

How to sleep at Helsinki airport? Helsinki named the best airport to sleep at in 2017

Article published
8.11.2018 at 11:00
Archived
A lounge with wooden furniture.
Travel
Whether your flight is delayed, or you have an overnight layover, you may find yourself having to sleep at the airport. Such a situation is hardly ideal, but there are ways to stay comfortable and actually get a few hours of much-needed rest at Helsinki Airport when this happens.

Not all airports are created equal as far as sleeping in them is concerned. Some provide sleeping facilities or lounges where weary travelers can catch some shuteye. Others, at least, have an abundance of quiet corners or seats without armrests that make it possible for you to lie across them.

The aptly named Sleeping in Airports is a website that features airport guides and airport reviews from travellers who have survived “the dreaded airport sleepover.” According to a survey it conducted, voters have named Helsinki Airport as the Best Airport in Europe and the 4th Best Airport for Overall Experience in 2017.

Rest-friendly features

“Helsinki Airport offers numerous options for sleeping, with accommodating staff, clean facilities, good security, and comfortable furniture that includes armrest-free benches and reclining chairs,” notes Sleeping in Airports. “Features like flawless connections into the city centre further enhance the travel experience and introduce a little bit of luxury into an otherwise functional space.”

Head to the lounges

The good news is that airline lounges aren’t limited to first-class passengers. At Helsinki Airport, there are three lounges that are open to airline member-card holders or for an entrance fee. Kainuu-lounge gives relaxation opportunities free of charge.

The Finnair Lounges (Gates 22 and 50A-M) provide a relaxing space adorned with classic Finnish design pieces. You can find more Northern elegance in the SAS Lounge (Gate 13).  These are open for member-card holders and for an extra fee for passengers travelling with the airline.

The Aspire Lounge (Gate 27, upstairs) comes with birdsong that is sure to transport you back to nature.

The Kainuu Lounge is a 24/7, forest-inspired free space available to all passengers (Gate 31). 

Hotels for uninterrupted sleep

Of course, it’s not uncommon to find popular hotel chains inside airports around the world. At Helsinki Airport, for example, GLO Hotel Airport is located on the ground floor of Terminal 2, so there is no need to hop on a minivan in the middle of the night to get there. It takes only a few minutes to walk to the check-in and security check desks of Terminal 2, and Terminal 1 is easy to reach via an indoor corridor. 

In addition, the Scandic Helsinki Airport is the latest full-service hotel to open at the airport. It is located right next to Terminal 2 in the so-called Operation Centre that also houses Finavia’s permit services, airport police, a medical centre and private companies.  

Last, Hilton Helsinki Airport is another full-service hotel next to Helsinki Airport, approximately 100 metres from Terminal 2. Due to construction work, however, the passageway between Terminal 2 and Hilton Helsinki Airport hotel has changed and the ground floor elevator leading to the hotel is closed. The hotel can only be accessed from the terminal by using the stairs. Therefore, it is recommended that guests with heavy luggage or with mobility aids take a taxi between the terminal and Hilton Helsinki Airport hotel. The new elevator will open in spring 2019. 

Source: Sleeping in Airports

Read about the new Plaza Premium Lounge opening at Helsinki Airport in 2019