Where to stay in Jyväskylä: our favourite hotels

Yöpuu is Jyväskylä’s only boutique hotel, and every room has a character of its own. Would you prefer to stay in the Marimekko or Aalto room, or perhaps soak up English, Haitian or Gustavian vibes? Despite its central location, the hotel is peaceful, with the quietest rooms facing the courtyard or Kansakoulukatu.

Here, a touch of everyday luxury comes as standard: every room rate includes a welcome drink and a private sauna slot. Breakfast also comes with a glass of bubbly. This is a perfect choice for a romantic weekend break or a staycation.

Time Out tip: Pair your pampering getaway with a dose of culture or sport. Yöpuu has season tickets to Jyväskylä Sinfonia concerts and JYP’s ice hockey league matches – book them in advance and you’ll get free entry.

Address: Kansakoulukatu 2

Expect to pay: Single rooms from €116.10 per night; double rooms from €144.90 per night

Getting there: A 10-minute walk from Jyväskylä Travel Centre. The hotel has 11 free parking spaces; advance reservation costs €20.

Scandic Laajavuori’s brutalist concrete exterior tends to divide opinion, but inside, its freshly renovated spaces are guaranteed to charm. The new interiors channel the original 1969 spirit of the hotel – look out for the vintage Artek armchairs that have been there since day one.

This spa hotel is a great pick for families and lovers of the outdoors. It sits surrounded by nature, about five kilometres from Jyväskylä city centre, with walking trails and ski tracks starting right nearby – but you can still get into town easily. Beyond the spa, there’s plenty to do both inside and out, including a bowling alley and play areas for different ages.

Breakfast is classic Scandic: plentiful and varied. There’s also an Italian-style restaurant on site, and rumour has it they’ve just got a brand-new pizza oven.

Time Out tip: Book a room facing the forest. On a good morning you might catch the sunrise glinting through the trees onto the lake. From the upper floors you’ll get wide views; from the lower ones, you might spot squirrels or hares hopping by.

Address: Laajavuorentie 30

Expect to pay: From €156 per night

Getting there: Around 15 minutes by car or 25 minutes by bus from Jyväskylä Travel Centre. Free parking is available, and there’s a bus stop right next to the car park.

Sokos Hotel Paviljonki has a prime location for many of Jyväskylä’s biggest events. During Suomipop Music Festival and the Finnish Rally Championship, it’s always fully booked – the event area is practically on its doorstep. The neighbouring Paviljonki halls host a steady stream of fairs and concerts, too.

The hotel is close to Jyväskylä’s harbour, and rooms facing the lake offer beautiful views – it’s worth asking reception for one overlooking Jyväsjärvi. Views of the city from the upper floors are lovely too. The rooms are currently being refurbished, with tasteful new interiors. Guests can also take in the scenery from the ninth-floor saunas and gym. The hotel’s breakfast is a favourite even among non-guests, as it’s served until 12.00. There’s also an Italian restaurant on site.

Time Out tip: The nearby harbour is a lively hangout in summer – stroll along the lakeshore, grab a burger at container restaurant Morton, an ice cream at Sataman Kahvila, or a drink on one of the floating bars. In winter, an ice-skating track is ploughed on the frozen lake.

Address: Lutakonaukio 10

Expect to pay: From €161 per night

Getting there: About a 5-minute walk or drive from the Travel Centre. On foot, head to the second floor of the Travel Centre and cross the railway bridge towards Lutakko. Paid parking is available in the underground car parks below the Paviljonki complex.

The highlight of Hotel Alba is its panoramic restaurant, where it feels like you’re floating above Lake Jyväsjärvi. From the restaurant’s large windows, you get a picture-perfect view across to the illuminated Ylistön Bridge and the harbour shimmering in the distance. The residents’ sauna heats up every evening, and from the hotel’s own pier you can take a refreshing dip in the lake.

The rooms have been recently refurbished, though the 1989 building still reflects its era. It’s worth asking for a room facing the lake – some even come with a private sauna. Alba is popular with business travellers and particularly with the university crowd, as it’s right between the Mattilanniemi and Ylistö campus areas. The hotel also has small single rooms that are very reasonably priced for the city.

Time Out tip: Alba sits directly on the Rantaraitti trail that circles Lake Jyväsjärvi. The full route is about 13 kilometres long, but you can shorten it by crossing either the Ylistö or Kuokkala bridge. You can borrow bikes from reception to easily pedal your way to the harbour.

Address: Ahlmaninkatu 4

Expect to pay: Rooms from €89 per night

Getting there: Especially convenient if you’re driving. It’s right next to Highway 9 and parking is free. From the Travel Centre it’s a couple of kilometres, easily reached by bus.

Glass igloos and northern lights are usually associated with Lapland, but you can also sleep under the stars right here in Central Finland. At Revontuli Resort in Hankasalmi, two Deluxe Igloos let you gaze at the night sky and watch the seasons change – and if you’re lucky, you might even catch the aurora borealis. The resort’s name comes from the nearby northern lights research station.

The real gem of Revontuli is its lakeside sauna world on the shores of Iso-Virmasjärvi Lake, featuring five different types of sauna. You can book the smoke sauna, a barrel sauna with lake views or even an igloo sauna to go with your stay. Once a week, all the saunas are fired up for public sauna nights.

In addition to the Deluxe Igloos, there are eight slightly more affordable ones closer to the shore, with less open views of the lake. The resort also offers standard hotel rooms and cottages. Revontuli’s facilities – three restaurants, a bowling alley and a golf course – are all within walking distance. There’s plenty to do nearby too, with nature right on your doorstep.

Time Out tip: The Revontuli Bowling Diner, attached to the bowling alley, is styled down to the tiniest detail like a classic 1950s American diner, serving burgers and sandwiches.

Address: Revontulentie 1, Hankasalmi

Expect to pay: Igloos from €339 per night, hotel rooms from €105 per night

Getting there: About a 40-minute drive from Jyväskylä, or a five-minute trip from Hankasalmi station. As Hankasalmi is a small town, you’ll need to pre-book a taxi from the station.

Harmooni is a beautiful Art Nouveau building right opposite Jyväskylä Travel Centre. Built in 1910, it originally housed a harmonium factory and was a cultural hub of its time, with artists and sculptors living in the upstairs studios. Today, the listed building is home to accommodation upstairs and a restaurant downstairs. (And if you’re wondering what a harmonium actually looks like, there’s one on display in the restaurant basement.)

The modernised rooms are tastefully decorated in harmony with the building’s original character. The largest apartment, Forte, even has its own sauna. The hotel’s history is reflected in the photographs and paintings on the walls. Its location is ideal for those arriving by train or bus, and despite Hannikaisenkatu being a busy street, you’ll hardly hear the traffic from inside.

Time Out tip: Harmooni doesn’t serve breakfast, but the downstairs restaurant offers a great selection of local, seasonal flavours for an evening bite.

Address: Hannikaisenkatu 39

Expect to pay: From €110 per night

Getting there: Located directly opposite Jyväskylä Travel Centre, just cross Hannikaisenkatu. Parking is available in the courtyard for an extra fee.

Opened in June 2025, Time Hotel is a brand-new aparthotel where every room is a unique work of art. The building itself was constructed specifically for the hotel, and most of the artists behind the rooms are local. They were given free rein in their designs, using a variety of techniques to transform the walls into art pieces.

Except for the beds, all the furniture and fittings are recycled. For instance, vintage Ruska tableware by Arabia was collected from flea markets long before the hotel opened. Time pays close attention to comfort and cleanliness, and it shows in the small touches – there are umbrellas for guests to borrow, and pets get their own bowls and beds.

Time is one of the most affordable hotels in Jyväskylä, keeping prices low by using keyless entry and operating without a reception. Breakfast isn’t provided, but there’s a communal lounge where guests can make tea and coffee.

Time Out tip: If you’re after an even cheaper stay, check out the same company’s hostels. Time Hostel City, on Vaasankatu, was named Finland’s best hostel in its opening year, 2019. Another, Time Hostel Nova, is located about 3km from the Travel Centre near the hospital hill.

Address: Vapaudenkatu 26

Expect to pay: From €74 per night

Getting there: Just over a kilometre’s walk from Jyväskylä Travel Centre, or a few stops by bus.