Freezing Week 2025

All participants to Freezing Week book their own accommodation directly from the hotel/hostel/Airbnb.  We have negotiated some hotel discounts that you can take advantage of. 

All the hotels are in the town center.  The railway station is just two kilometres away, easily reached either by foot, taxi or bus. The walk from the bus station takes only about five minutes. The distance to the Hämeenlinna University Centre is three kilometres. 

Scandic Hämeenlinna City

Check more options on the website. Hotel is in the city center.

The Freezing Week participants can get the additional discount by paying their bookings with the discount code. The bookings need to be made according to the booking situation at least 10 days prior to the arrival to Finland.  The Scandic Friends members can also check out the loyal customer discounts. 

Discount code: CCON 

Hotel Emilia

Hotel Emilia is a cosy, small hotel in the centre of Hämeenlinna, along the promenade Reska. Renovated in spring 2023, it is an atmospheric, family-run hotel.   

Standard single room 105€/night 

Standard double room 114€/night 

Breakfast, wireless internet connection, sauna availability, 10% discount to the restaurant Piparkakkutalo.

Bookings to the hotel telephone number +35836122106 or email [email protected].  

The bookings need to be done on Jan 16 at the latest. 

Discount code: FreezingWeek2025  

Matin ja Maijan majatalo

Matin ja Maijan majatalo is a hospitable bed and breakfast, where the clients will be accommodated in a century-old Villa with luxurious rooms right in the centre of Hämeenlinna city. It is located in Eteläkatu in the town center.  

Small double room’s price is 130€/night. 

Big double room’s price is 165€/night. 

The bookings can be made from the web page with the discount code ‘Freezing Week’. There are only 3+3 rooms, so the offer is due only for as long as there are rooms available.

Email: [email protected].  

Discount code: Freezing Week

Other options

Airbnb Private accommodation, the prices vary.  

Sokos Hotel Vaakuna is under renovation

Freezing Week is organized in Hämeenlinna University Centre at Visamäki (Visamäentie 35 A, Hämeenlinna).

HAMK wireless visitor network

A wireless visitor network is available in all HAMK campuses.

Tap water

Finland has pure and healthy tap water, which is available almost anywhere free of charge. Tap water in Finland is among the highest quality in the world and needs no treatment in many areas. If you carry your own reusable bottle with you (and hopefully you do), you can fill your own bottle from the tap.

Suitable clothing and footwear

Always check the weather forecast before your trip: Foreca or Finnish Meteorological Institute

The average minimum temperature (usually the minimum temperature is noted during the night) in Hämeenlinna in February is -11.0°C. The average maximum daytime temperature lies around -4.0°C.

For most of the year, the key to a perfect Finland outfit is layers. Visitors travelling to Hämeenlinna should definitely plan on bringing a warm sweater and winter jacket as well as winter shoes since there will be periods of snow. Also pack warm gloves and warm, preferably windproof hat.

Living with allergies

If you have allergies or special diets, you certainly do not need to worry! Finland and HAMK follow the EU regulations that require certain allergens to be always mentioned in the food tags. For more detailed information, please read here.

Shopping

S-group markets and K-group markets are the two most common supermarket chains in Finland, from which you can shop for everyday groceries. There are also Lidl and Tokmanni. R-kioski is the convenience store chain.

Money and paying

ATM = OTTO or NOSTO. ATMs are available in many central places, and you can withdraw cash with internationally recognised credit cards.

In Finland, the most common method of payment is a debit or credit card. Foreign debit and credit cards can be used in Finland, but it is best to check with your card provider before arriving in Finland.

Healthcare

If you need to visit the pharmacy during your visit, the place is called Apteekki in Finnish. If you need other health services, you can find information here.

Emergency number 112

There is only one emergency number in Finland – 112. Please do not call the emergency number unless you have a genuine emergency for which you need urgent assistance from the authorities (police, paramedics, firefighters, or social services). Please refer to Emergency Response Centre Agency Finland for more detailed information on calling the emergency number. You can also download the 112 Suomi application.

Travelling to Hämeenlinna

Hämeenlinna campus is in Visamäki, 2 km from the Hämeenlinna city centre.

The nearest airports are Helsinki-Vantaa and Tampere-Pirkkala. You can take a bus or a train to Hämeenlinna from both airports.

Travel by bus: Matkahuolto I Onnibus

Travel by train: Finnish Railways VR (You can also download an app called VR Matkalla)

Bus connection from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Hämeenlinna:

The bus connection from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport to Hämeenlinna is the easiest way to get to Hämeenlinna.  A bus to Hämeenlinna sets off several times a day and takes a little over an hour. The prices vary from around 11€ up to 19€. Express buses to Hämeenlinna depart right outside the airport terminal. The ticket can be purchased from the bus driver or beforehand online. Please note that you may have to change buses in Keimolanportti Service Station, about 10 minutes’ drive from the airport. It is best to consult the driver about the possible change. For more information about the bus schedules and travel details, please visit Matkahuolto or Onnibus.

Train connection from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Hämeenlinna

The train station is located at the airport on the arrivals floor, at the corridor between Terminals 1 and 2. The total journey from Helsinki-Vantaa airport to Hämeenlinna takes about 1,5 hours depending on the changing time in Tikkurila. I and P trains cover the Ring Rail between the city centre and Helsinki Airport. Nearly all long-distance and most commuter trains stop at Tikkurila, where you’ll have to change trains to get to Hämeenlinna.

Make sure to buy a ticket from the airport all the way to Hämeenlinna (it is cheaper like that). On commuter train (Commuter train I, P and R) you can sit anywhere and on InterCity/Pendolino trains you’ll get an assigned seat.

Make sure to buy a ticket before entering the train – no tickets are sold on trains. Tickets can be bought from Finnish Railways VR or VR Matkalla app.

VR Railways

VR Matkalla (app)

Bus Connection from Tampere to Hämeenlinna

Tampere-Pirkkala airport is located 6 km for the city centre. Bus line 103 operates between the airport and city centre.

You can take a bus from Tampere city centre to Hämeenlinna (you can find the timetables at Matkahuolto and Onnibus). The ride will take an hour.

Trains from Tampere to Hämeenlinna

Tampere-Pirkkala airport is located 6km for the city centre. Bus line 103 operates between the airport and city centre. The walk from bus station to the railway station is little under 1km and takes around 10 minutes. From Tampere you can choose either a commuter train or Intercity/Pendolino train to Hämeenlinna. This will take about an hour.

Make sure to buy a ticket before entering the train – no tickets are sold on trains. Tickets can be bought from Finnish Railways VR or VR Matkalla app.

By taxi

Usually there are taxis waiting on in front of the railway station, bus station or city centre marketplace. In Hämeenlinna there is no Uber service. You can also call a taxi from Taxi Häme (+358 200 55 111).

By bus

Local buses stop in front of the railway station as well. For the local bus route info and timetables you can visit this website. Bus number 2 goes from railway station and city centre all the way up to Hämeenlinna University Centre (bus stop is called Korkeakoulu P). Bus tickets can be purchased directly from the bus driver by cash for 3,20€ (they do not accept bills over 20€ and prefer the exact change), by card for 2,28€(contactless payment– they accept most of the debit/credit cards, you can only pay your own bus ticket) or via Waltti – a mobile app.

Convenient bus stops for you:

Railway station (stop B) 

Scandic Hämeenlinna City, Hotel Emilia, Matin ja Maijan Majatalo -> Bus station (stop D) 

Hämeenlinna University Centre -> terminus at Korkeakoulu P 

Route 2

Route 2 U