Live Like a Finn – Experience Local Everyday Life at Hotel Matts

What would it feel like to live like a Finn for a while? Located in Matinkylä, Espoo, Hotel Matts offers the perfect base for experiencing the local way of life. Around the hotel, you’ll find many things that are part of everyday Finnish life: nature is close by, the sea is within walking distance, the metro runs right next door, and nearby grocery stores are full of Finnish treats to try.

Here are our tips for spending a day or a longer stay. Like a local in Espoo!

1. Visit a Local Grocery Store and Try Finnish Treats

One fun way to live like a Finn is to visit a local grocery store and pick up some Finnish flavours. There are several grocery stores near Hotel Matts: Alepa Matinkylä is located close by, and in Iso Omena Shopping Centre you can shop at K-Market, K-Citymarket or Prisma.

Fill your basket with Finnish treats that are also perfect for a picnic along the Espoo Waterfront Walkway or in Nuuksio National Park. Try ready-made rye bread snacks, Karelian pies, cinnamon buns, salmiakki and Fazer chocolate. Karelian pies are often eaten with egg butter, but they are also delicious on their own. Salmiakki, Finnish salty liquorice, is definitely worth trying at least once! It divides opinions, but it is an essential part of the Finnish flavour world.

If you are staying in one of Hotel Matts’ apartments, make the most of your own kitchen and prepare an easy Finnish evening snack at your own pace. Try rye bread with butter, cheese and cucumber, oatmeal with berries, or a classic coffee break with a cinnamon bun. Finns drink a lot of coffee, and coffee breaks are an essential part of local everyday life.

2. Take a Trip to the Espoo Waterfront Walkway

One of the best ways to explore Espoo is to head towards the sea, either on foot or by bike. You can borrow a Jopo bike from the Hotel Matts reception and explore the surrounding area at your own relaxed pace. For Finns, free time often means simple things, such as spending time in nature and enjoying the scenery.

The Espoo Waterfront Walkway is one of the city’s most beautiful outdoor routes. It follows Espoo’s coastline and offers seaside views, green parks, small harbours and pleasant places to stop along the way. The route is designed for pedestrians and cyclists, and it offers a wonderful way to experience Espoo’s maritime atmosphere all year round.

Located along the Waterfront Walkway, Nokkalan Majakka is a perfect place to stop and enjoy the sea view over coffee and a cinnamon bun, lunch or a relaxed dinner. A traditional Finnish favourite, salmon soup with rye bread, is also served at Nokkala.

3. Head Out on the Water and Experience the Espoo Archipelago

One very local way to enjoy Espoo in summer is to head out to sea. The archipelago of the Helsinki metropolitan area offers a wonderful opportunity to see the city from a completely different perspective – from the water and among beautiful island landscapes. From Hotel Matts, it is easy to start your archipelago adventure, as you can hop on a waterbus at Nokkalan Majakka, which is about a 10-minute ride from the hotel by city bike or around a 30-minute walk.

During the summer season, scheduled archipelago boats connect Espoo with its nearby islands, making it easy to explore the city’s maritime nature. Regular services run to five popular outdoor recreation islands: Iso Vasikkasaari, Pentala, Gåsgrund, Rövaren and Stora Herrö. Read more about Espoo’s archipelago boats here.

When staying at Hotel Matts, you receive a 15% discount on FRS Finland’s Western Archipelago Route day and family tickets. You can get the discount code from the Hotel Matts reception and purchase your ticket in advance directly from the FRS Finland online store. Discover the Western Archipelago Route here.

The Western Archipelago Route is an easy and memorable way to explore the maritime side of Espoo and the Helsinki metropolitan area. With a day ticket, you can also use routes departing from Market Square to Suomenlinna, Lonna, and Vallisaari. For example, you can travel from Espoo to Vallisaari via the red route and return to Market Square via the green line after your island visit.

Pack your sunglasses, a light jacket and a small picnic, and experience the capital region’s archipelago like a local.

4. Hike in Nuuksio National Park

When you want to experience the Finnish forest, head to Nuuksio National Park. Nuuksio is one of the most beautiful nature destinations in the Helsinki metropolitan area, and it is a wonderful place to spend the day hiking, enjoying a picnic, taking photos or simply soaking in the peace of the forest.

In summer and early autumn, you can also pick berries for your own use in accordance with Finland’s everyone’s rights (jokaisenoikeudet). In Finland, everyman’s rights allow you to pick berries and mushrooms in most places, although there may be restrictions in nature reserves, so it is always worth checking local guidelines before your trip.

Picking blueberries in the forest is a wonderfully simple way to experience Finnish nature. Bring a small container, comfortable shoes and a calm mindset. After a day outdoors, you can return to Hotel Matts, prepare an evening snack in your apartment and add your freshly picked blueberries to oatmeal or yoghurt.

5. Travel by Metro Like a Matinkylä Local

Hotel Matts’ location right next to the metro station makes getting around easy. From Matinkylä, you can conveniently travel by metro to different parts of Espoo and Helsinki. For locals, the metro is an everyday mode of transport, but for visitors it is also an easy way to see more of the Helsinki metropolitan area without a car.

Do as the locals do and hop on the metro for just a few stops. In Tapiola, you can go shopping at the AINOA shopping centre, enjoy culture at the Espoo Cultural Centre or visit EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art. At the Aalto University stop, you can explore the Otaniemi campus area’s architecture and student life. In Keilaniemi, you can admire modern city views and the nearby sea.

If you want to continue further, the metro also takes you easily to the centre of Helsinki. After a day out, it is lovely to return to peaceful Matinkylä and the comfortable atmosphere of Hotel Matts.

6. Experience a Finnish Sauna at Hotel Matts

Sauna is one of the most beloved traditions in the Finnish way of life. It is a place for calming down, relaxing and enjoying an unhurried moment.

At Hotel Matts, you can enjoy a Finnish sauna in the hotel’s 7th-floor sauna facilities, which include separate saunas for men and women and are heated daily from 7 PM to 10 PM. Guests staying in suites and four-room apartments also have access to a private sauna.

There are a few simple sauna rules that help make the experience feel natural. Before entering the sauna, take a shower, and sit on a pefletti, a small disposable or personal seat cover, on the sauna bench. In Finland, people often go to the sauna naked unless otherwise instructed. Water is thrown onto the hot stones according to personal preference, but if there are other people in the sauna, it is polite to ask first whether they are comfortable with more steam. It is a good idea to bring water or another refreshing drink to the sauna area to stay hydrated.

7. Enjoy the Morning Like a Finn

Start the day the Finnish way with a generous breakfast. At Restaurant Freja’s hotel breakfast, you’ll find familiar Finnish breakfast favourites such as Karelian pies with egg butter, yoghurt or oatmeal with berries, fresh coffee and rye bread with various toppings. Simple, fresh and filling flavours are a great way to begin the day whether you are planning a trip to the Waterfront Walkway, a shopping trip to Iso Omena or a day in Nuuksio Natiolan Park.

Live Like a Local at Hotel Matts

Hotel Matts offers an excellent base for travellers who want to see more of Espoo than just the traditional sights. Here, you can cycle to the seaside, stop for coffee at Nokkalan Majakka, visit a local grocery store, prepare food in your own apartment, enjoy a sauna and take a day trip to the forests of Nuuksio.

The Finnish way of life is often found in small things: nature, silence, good food, coffee, sauna and unhurried moments.

Hotel Matts is a good base for travellers who want to experience local life in Espoo without a car. Welcome to live like a Finn for a while at Hotel Matts!

Good to Know Before Your Stay

How do I get to Hotel Matts?
Hotel Matts is located in Matinkylä, Espoo, approximately 230 kilometres from Helsinki Airport. From the airport, you can take a train to Helsinki city centre and continue by metro to Matinkylä. The western exit of Matinkylä metro station leads directly to the hotel’s main entrance. You can also use HSL bus and metro connections — check the most up-to-date routes and schedules with the HSL Route Planner.

What time is check-in and check-out at Hotel Matts?
Check-in starts at 3 PM, and check-out is by 12 PM. When you arrive, you can collect your keys from the hotel reception. Our reception is open 24/7.

Can I bring my pet to Hotel Matts?
Yes, pets are welcome at Hotel Matts. Please inform the hotel when making your booking so that a pet-friendly room or apartment can be reserved for you. Pet-friendly rooms are subject to availability, and a pet fee applies.

Can I leave my car at Hotel Matts and explore the city without a car?
Yes. Hotel Matts is located next to Matinkylä metro station, making it easy to explore Espoo and Helsinki by public transport. If you arrive by car, you can leave it conveniently in the hotel’s parking garage at an affordable rate and continue exploring the area by metro, bike or on foot.

Can I borrow a bike from Hotel Matts?
Yes, guests can borrow a Jopo bike from Hotel Matts reception and explore nearby areas such as the Espoo Waterfront Walkway.

Where can I experience a Finnish sauna at Hotel Matts?
Hotel Matts has 7th-floor sauna facilities with separate saunas for men and women, heated daily from 7 PM to 10 PM.