The Best Hostel in Finland 2026 is Hostel Bjorkenheim

Hostel Bjorkenheim in Seinäjoki has been selected as the Best Hostel in Finland for 2026. This year’s selection focused on outstanding service, which may include smooth booking processes, functional and comfortable facilities, clear communication, or a personalized customer experience. All hostels belonging to the Finnish Youth Hostel Association network took part in the competition, and a total of 1,254 votes were cast. Based on the theme, the winner was chosen by the Board of the Finnish Hostel Association, taking into account both the public vote and its own evaluation.

Opened at the beginning of 2024, Hostel Bjorkenheim is located approximately three kilometers from the city center in a culturally and historically significant area. The hostel operates in the oldest building in the area, the former main building of a district psychiatric hospital completed in 1923. The renovated and modernized premises offer a total of 18 rooms and 42 beds. The selection includes single, double, triple, and quadruple rooms, and some rooms can be combined to accommodate up to six guests, increasing the total capacity to 64 beds. Toilet and shower facilities are shared.

Guests have access to a well-equipped kitchen for cooking and dining, and the house provides organic coffee and tea, which guests are free to prepare themselves. The kitchen also features a “Good Mood Shelf,” where guests may use food items donated by other visitors. The shared lounge area offers a TV, board games, books, and magazines, and toys are available for children. The hostel also provides laundry facilities and a clothing care room.

“Outstanding service is built from many elements, such as clear communication, smooth processes, functional facilities, and genuine care. This year, we wanted to highlight hostels that succeed in offering memorable service experiences to travelers. Hostel Bjorkenheim stood out for its strong service quality, where historically respectful surroundings and friendly encounters come together in an exceptionally well-functioning way,” comments Sanni Viirto-Heikkinen, Secretary General of the Finnish Hostel Association.

“It is a tremendous honor to receive such an award after such a short period of operation. As the only hostel in Seinäjoki, Hostel Bjorkenheim would like to thank all our guests for allowing us to focus on what matters most to us – customer service – in a way that ensures guests experience their stay as safe, comfortable, and welcoming. Alongside responsibility, our top priority from the very beginning has been serving our guests, even in the middle of the night, although our operations are based on self-service accommodation. The entire accommodation concept has been carefully designed, and guests can easily contact us whenever needed. If a guest prefers to handle the entire booking and accommodation process through personal customer service, that is also possible,” says Sonya Zouiter, entrepreneur of Hostel Bjorkenheim.

Each year, the Finnish Hostel Association selects a hostel from its network that has demonstrated outstanding performance to receive the Best Hostel in Finland recognition for the following year. The award has been presented since 2004, originally under the name Hostel of the Year, and since 2019 under the name Best Hostel in Finland. In 2025, the title was held by CheapSleep Helsinki.

Published on 17 January 2026