Must-see hotels in Scandinavia

  • Berjaya Reykjavik Marina Hotel

    Reykjavík

    Captivating art, cool nautical-chic decor and up-to-the-second mod cons ensure this harbourside design hotel is a gorgeous retreat. Clever ways to…

  • Icehotel

    Lappland

    Every winter, from December onwards, the Icehotel seems to grow organically from ice blocks taken from the Torne river, while international artists flock…

  • St. George Hotel

    Helsinki

    Set in a Renaissance Revival building completed by architect Onni Tarjanne in 1890, this hotel is one of the most prestigious in Helsinki. It represents…

  • Legoland Holiday Village

    Billund

    Taking everything up a notch with marvellous Lego detail, this outstanding 'village' incorporates the Pirates' Inn Motel and a huge camping ground. In the…

  • Grand Hôtel Stockholm

    Stockholm

    This is where the literati, glitterati and nobility call it a night. A waterfront landmark, with several exclusive restaurants and a see-and-be-seen piano…

  • Hotel Legoland

    Billund

    Lego is everywhere here, alongside spectacular kid-friendly detail – but there's also plenty of appeal for grown-ups at this 223-room hotel. Standard …

  • Hotel Nimb's fantastical exterior

    Hotel Nimb

    Copenhagen

    Part of historic Tivoli Gardens, this boutique belle offers 38 individually styled rooms and suites that fuse clean lines, handpicked art and antiques,…

  • Juvet Landscape Hotel

    The Northern Fjords

    This amazing complex of futuristic cabins spread along a forested river is probably one of the boldest architectural hotels anywhere in Norway. It's the…

  • Myrkdalen Hotel

    Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords

    The ski resort revolves around this large, stylish, timber-clad hotel, with great rooms in a retro-modern vibe: funky lampshades, mid-century furniture,…

  • Hotel Mundal

    The Western Fjords

    What a sight this historic hotel is. Gabled and slate-topped, it's been in the same family since 1891, and is a classic slice of late-19th-century…

  • Art Hotel Honkahovi

    Finland

    The prospect of spending a night in this wonderfully characterful hotel is reason enough for visiting Mänttä; when combined with a visit to the world…

  • Preikestolen Fjellstue

    Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords

    Completely overhauled in recent years, this DNT mountain lodge and hostel at the Preikestolen trailhead means Preikestolen finally has accommodation…

  • Eidfjord Gjestegiveri

    Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords

    Pass through the tunnel to Øvre Eidfjord and you can't miss this handsome guesthouse, an old-fashioned, whitewashed, gabled beauty with a covered porch…

  • Arctic Light Hotel

    Rovaniemi

    In Rovaniemi's former 1950s town hall, with original fixtures including wood panelling, a vintage lift and wrought-iron balustrades, Lapland's top hotel…

  • Fru Haugans Hotel

    Arctic Highway

    Don't be deterred by the bland facade that somehow slipped past planning authorities. Fru Haugans (the original owner; see her stare from her portrait in…

  • Utne Hotel

    Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords

    The historic wooden Utne Hotel was built in 1722 after the Great Nordic War, giving it claim to the title of Norway's oldest hotel, and has an interesting…

  • Hotel Brosundet

    Ålesund

    Right on the waterfront and designed by superstar architects Snøhetta, this former warehouse is one of Norway's most charming hotels. Wonderful old beams…

  • Hotel Danmark

    Copenhagen

    The revamped Danmark is a svelte boutique hideaway steps away from major sights. Though most of its 88 rooms are rather petite, they're all flawlessly…

  • Sea Hotel Mäntyniemi

    Turku & Finland's South Coast

    A little piece of Finnish paradise, this family-run haven sits on a secluded forested island (linked by bridges) between Loviisa (35km) and Kotka (32km)…

  • Finse 1222

    Central Norway

    This high-altitude hotel is pretty much the only option this high on the Hardangervidda – and luckily, it's lovely. There's a strong mountain vibe here,…

  • Dream Hostel

    Tampere

    With its contemporary Nordic design, switched-on staff and good facilities, this hostel is consistently ranked Finland’s best. Narrow dorms (mixed and…

  • Skjaldarvík

    North Iceland

    A slice of guesthouse nirvana, Skjaldarvík lies in a bucolic farm setting 6km north of Akureyri. It’s owned by a young family and features quirky design…

  • Villa Norangdal

    The Northern Fjords

    This enchanting 'mountainpolitan style' hotel began welcoming guests in 1885. The current owner, a descendant of the hotel's founder, began restoration in…

  • Sandösund Camping

    Åland Archipelago

    On the northern coast of Vårdö, this idyllic campground has peaceful sites, spiffy townhouse rooms and well-kept beachside log cabins. Excellent…

  • Westerås Farm

    The Northern Fjords

    This idyllic old working farm, 4km along the Rv63 towards Grotli, sits at the end of a peaceful farm track, dizzyingly high above the bustle. Stay in one…

  • Visnes Hotel

    The Western Fjords

    The Visnes, run by the same family for six generations, occupies two magnificent listed properties, each with its own character. Most rooms are in the…

  • Hotel GSH

    Bornholm

    The 'Green Solution House' is easily one of Denmark's most innovative places to stay, and gives detailed insight into the possible future of construction…

  • Elvesæter Hotell

    Central Norway

    This extraordinary old hostelry looks for all the world like something out of Tolkien's notebook. Accessed through wooden gates, the hotel's timber…

  • Fjalladýrð

    North Iceland

    Fjalladýrð is the name of the tourist service at Möðrudalur farm, and it has a wide array of excellent accommodation spread over various buildings and…

  • Hótel Laugarhóll

    The Westfjords

    Welcome to one of the Westfjords most appealing retreats. Amid mountain-framed plains, an old school has been converted into a smart but relaxed hotel…

  • Ylä-Tuuhosen Maatila

    Finland

    A rustic, historic organic farm is run by generous-hearted owners, who offer three pretty rooms (sharing bathrooms) and an excellent communal kitchen and…

  • Scandic Nidelven Hotel

    Trondheim

    A big business hotel with more than 340 rooms and the full suite of facilities including a gym. Beyond its vast atrium-like lobby, it's split into several…

  • Niels Bugges Hotel

    Central Jutland

    This old inn, set amid forest on the outskirts of town, is a destination hotel where design and gastronomy are taken seriously and the result is something…

  • Fljótsdalur HI Hostel

    The South

    It's very basic, but if you’re looking for a peaceful, remote base for highland walks, with a beautiful garden, homey kitchen, cosy sitting room and…

  • Lomamokkila

    The Finnish Lakeland

    This farmstay 12km northwest of Savonlinna is run by a genial Finnish family and incorporates a handsome century-old farmhouse, two nearby guesthouses and…

  • Walaker Hotell

    The Western Fjords

    This wonderful lemon-yellow hotel is the oldest family-run hotel in Norway. Dating from 1640, it's a historical treasure, packed with period detailing,…

  • Håholmen Havstuer

    The Northern Fjords

    This enchanting 'hotel' is in fact a small former fishing village on its own islet just off Averøy. Rooms here are 18th- and 19th-century cottages, mostly…

  • Stalheim Hotel

    Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords

    There's one reason to stay at this sprawling sky-high hotel, and it's not the dated decor. It's all about the view: vast, snowy mountain panoramas unfurl…

  • HavsVidden

    Åland Archipelago

    At the far-northern tip of the island, HavsVidden is perched on the cliffs overlooking the wild Gulf of Bothnia. This is one of the most stunning – and…

  • Hotel Aak

    The Northern Fjords

    What a beauty: a historic mountain hotel that's been given a thoughtful, charming overhaul by the young Rønning family. The decor in the rooms is sparse…