Finnish Hospitality Rises as 'Coolcation' Trend Boosts Tourism
Finland is experiencing a surge in summer tourism as climate change drives travelers to seek cooler destinations, with hotel stays up 13% in 2025. The article profiles three distinctive hotels: Hotel St. George in Helsinki, a former literary society headquarters turned luxury hotel featuring Ai Weiwei's sculpture 'Tianwu' in its lobby; Hanaholmen in Espoo, a 1975 cultural center turned hotel with over 300 artworks by Nordic artists including Jeppe Hein and Kaarina Kaikkonen; and Barö in the Inkoo archipelago, a 2021 eco-conscious hotel built without cutting trees, using charred wood sourced within 100 km. Each property emphasizes sustainability and connection to nature, offering alternatives to overcrowded southern European destinations.
Key facts
- Finland saw a 13% increase in hotel stays in 2025
- Hotel St. George opened in 2018 in central Helsinki
- Hotel St. George houses Ai Weiwei's 'Tianwu' sculpture
- Hanaholmen was built in 1975 as a Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre
- Hanaholmen features over 300 artworks by Nordic artists
- Barö opened in 2021 with 18 units
- Barö used charred wood sourced within 100 km
- Barö did not cut down any trees during construction
Entities
Artists
- Ai Weiwei
- Jeppe Hein
- Kaarina Kaikkonen
- Anna Uddenberg
- Jukka Halminen
Institutions
- Hotel St. George
- Finnish Literature Society
- Helsinki Finnish Club
- Hanaholmen
- KOKO3
- Svenskt Tenn
- Barö
- Berg Restaurant
- Surface Magazine
Locations
- Finland
- Helsinki
- Espoo
- Hanasaari
- Inkoo archipelago
- Baltic Sea
- Lapland
- Sweden
- Norway
- Europe