vividventures

Location:

Hotel Tapiola Garden is a four star hotel located in the garden city of Tapiola and is only 15 minutes by metro or car from the centre of Helsinki.

We arrived by public transport from Helsinki International Airport which was very easy as trains run at 10 minute intervals into Helsinki central railway station and from there we took the metro to Tapiola.

Arrival and check-in:

Check-in time is 3.00 p.m. which fitted well with our flight arrival and it was just a three minute walk from the metro station to the hotel.  The Tapiola Garden was built in 1974 and has recently undergone a major refurbishment programme.  It commands a scenic position overlooking the town’s central pool and fountains.

The main entrance lobby leads into a large open plan area which is bright and airy with large picture windows making the most of the beautiful lakeside views.  On arrival, we were greeted by a friendly member of the front desk team who checked us in quickly.

We were booked in for a two night weekend stay and as the hotel was going to be fully occupied on the Saturday night we were requested to select a time for breakfast for the Sunday morning only.

The Room:

We took the lift up to our room on the second floor which came with a balcony overlooking the lake.  The room was styled in neutral shades with a wooden floor, wall mounted TV,  armchair, desk and fridge.

The hospitality tray came stocked with the usual teas and coffees and several sachets of delicious Fazer hot chocolate.

Moving into the bathroom there was a plentiful supply of thick towels, two bathrobes, a selection of fragrant Lumene toiletries and a hairdryer.  On both mornings the shower worked well and there was plenty of hot water.

Dining:

All room rates include breakfast which is a bonus and something that I wish other hotels would follow.  This is served buffet style in the spacious breakfast room overlooking the central pool.

I always enjoy a Finnish breakfast and the one here at the Tapiola Garden was up with the best with a vast selection of cold meats, fresh fruit, yoghurts, fish, salads, pastries and hot dishes.  There’s also a ‘porridge of the day’ on offer which I enjoyed on my second morning to set me up for the day.  Along with a selection of fresh juices, smoothies and hot drinks we started each day in the best way possible.

Adjacent to the breakfast room is the Grill-It restaurant where dishes are cooked on a wood fired grill using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

The Facilities:

The hotel has 154 rooms, most with balconies either overlooking the central pool to the rear or with views across Tapiola to the front.

The large open-plan lobby bar has cosy seating areas and we spent time relaxing on the comfortable sofas each day catching up with the news on our iPads.  One thing that I’d never seen before was this intriguing Subsoccer football table game we came across in the hotel lobby.

This Finnish designed game is ideally suited to hotel lounges and fun for both adults and children.  I had a game with my son and soon discovered as I was losing that it’s beneficial to have bigger feet and longer legs to be successful but great fun nonetheless!

Snacks and drinks can also be enjoyed from the Garden Bar with its outside terrace which is lovely and sheltered.  In summer, guests can watch people ride SUP boards and in wintertime Tapiola Pool becomes an ice skating rink which must be gorgeous to see.

Bicycles can be rented free of charge from reception and with so many seaside and parkland walking and cycling trails around its a great way to get some exercise.

Additionally, there’s an attractive sauna suite comprising  two saunas, a good sized swimming pool and relaxation room with outdoor balcony.

These facilities are open from 4.00 p.m. and at breakfast time each day for morning saunas.  For those seeking even more exercise, a well equipped gym can be found on the floor below.

Parking is available in an underground car park close to the hotel at an additional cost.

Out and About:

Explore Tapiola which was designed in the 1950’s as a garden city.  It’s development at that time made Finnish urban planning world famous with its natural, parkland setting.

More recently, the new Ainoa Shopping Centre has opened with a range of quality shops, cafes and restaurants.

Enjoy seaside walks starting close to the hotel.  Espoo boasts a waterfront path that extends to 40 km’s which can be explored in small sections, all easily accessible from the hotel.  In addition to swimming beaches and boat harbours, there are nature trails and bird watching towers to explore.  Here are my suggestions:

Haukilahti: Either a 10 minute drive or a short bus journey from Tapiola bus station (Bus 112) takes you to the picturesque marina at Haukilahti.

Spend time wandering around the marina and seaside beyond and then relax with a coffee and cinnamon bun at the lovely Cafe Mellsten overlooking the sea.  Feeling more energetic, follow the seaside path towards Matinkylä along forest paths where there are stunning views at every turn.

The winding path crosses a wooden bridge over a creek and continues along the water’s edge through the trees.  The scenic walkway meanders along the shore and within 40 minutes you will have reached another beautiful cafe, Nokkalan Majakka.

This cafe/restaurant has a very attractive open-air rooftop restaurant for sunny days.  Their creamy salmon soup is absolutely delicious and available each weekend 12.00 – 3.00 p.m. Return by metro from Matinkylä, a short walk away.

Villa Elfvik: Take the metro one stop from Tapiola to Aalto University in Otaniemi and from there follow the scenic Laajalahti nature trail along well maintained boardwalks.

This leads through one of the best bird habitats in southern Finland with wooden bird hides and towers along the way.  The trail leads to the historic Art-Nouveau Villa Elfvik (free admission).

Overall:

Spending the weekend at the Hotel Tapiola Garden had been lovely.  A stylish interior coupled with friendly staff and good food resulted in a faultless stay.

The hotel’s location just beside the Tapiola metro station couldn’t be beaten as it offers the best of both world’s being both a base to explore the natural beauty of Espoo and the urban delights of Helsinki.

Details: Original Sokos Tapiola Garden, Tapionaukio 3, 02100 Espoo

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