Gay Friendly Hotel Klaus K
Traveling as a gay couple is not always easy. Especially important is the feeling of safety and acceptance. We as Hannu and Raul of lifeof2men want to explore Finnish gay-friendly hotels and present them to LGBT and open-minded people around the world. We are looking all the time for Finnish hotels that are welcoming and treating all guests equally and with respect.
Our first gay-friendly hotel for presentation is hotel Klaus K in Helsinki. We visited the hotel for the first time just after we moved to Helsinki in September 2016. We attended the Design District Helsinki Get Together and started talking with the management of the hotel. They invited us to stay in the hotel for a Tom of Finland weekend during the winter. These are the pictures and videos from our pleasant stay in the hotel.
This is what hotel Klaus K says on their web page.
“We are proud to call Klaus K Hotel a gay friendly hotel. We have a zero-tolerance to any discrimination and we want to take into consideration all kinds of guests. It is our honor to make you feel welcome and provide you with a high-quality service.”
This is exactly how we felt when checking in to the hotel as well as during our whole visit. We highly recommend the Klaus K for all visitors in Helsinki and especially to all LGBT people.
Design Hotel Klaus K
If you want to find a genuine Finnish hotel in Helsinki downtown with a long history it is definitely Klaus K hotel. The hotel opened its doors already in 1938. The somewhat original name of the hotel is based on Finnish folklore, the Kalevala saga. You can see a lot of details in the hotel based on Kalevala. According to the myth the world and the universe were created from seven eggs. For example the wooden reception desk of Klaus K is shaped like an egg and in the staircase leading to the Klaus K bar there is a large wall artwork depicting the Genesis according to Kalevala.
Design and art plays a very vital part in the history and story behind the hotel. But even though the hotel honors its tradition and background it is not trapped in its history. There are some very unique rooms in the hotel that are created in collaboration with some of the most famous Finnish contemporary artists. The hotel is also a member of the Design District Helsinki group. It is the very first design hotel in Helsinki and a member of Design Hotels.
Hotel Klaus in the heart of Helsinki
Klaus K is located in the heart of Helsinki, just a few hundred meters from the Helsinki railway station. The beat of Helsinki is right here. The Esplanade leading to the Helsinki market square and harbour area starts around 100 meters from the hotel. The street Bulevardi in front of the hotel is also a very lively street with many popular bars and coffee places. And if you want to visit some of the gay bars or clubs in Helsinki, they are all within a walking distance. From the roof terrace you you have a nice view over the Helsinki skyline.
Tom of Finland weekend in Klaus K
As you may know Touko Laaksonen, the artist behind the iconic Tom of Finland homoerotic figures, is from Finland. Helsinki was Touko Laaksonen’s hometown.This is where he spent most of his life. As a tribute to this great Finnish artist hotel Klaus K has created a so called Tom of Finland weekend package. The hotel donates 10% of the revenue of the Tom fo Finland weekend package to Tom of Finland Foundation to support its efforts of educating the public as to the cultural merits of erotic art and in promoting healthier, more tolerant attitudes about sexuality.
The Tom of Finland weekend in Klaus K is especially designed for gay tourists and other open minded guests. When we arrived to our room on the 7th floor we could not help noticing the theme of the weekend. Our bed was made with Tom of Finland themed bed sheets and in the bathroom we found similar towels. On the table we had a tray of Finnish specialties including a bottle of Tom of Finland wine. We also received a Tom of Finland goodie bag to take home with us.
The weekend in Hotel Klaus K was a relaxing experience for us even though we were making these photos at the same time. We definitely want to visit the hotel also in the summer, maybe in one of the unique design rooms and enjoying the view on the roof terrace with other guests.
Hotel Klaus K Speaks Gay
During summer 2018 Hotel Klaus K became the first hotel in Finland to be part of the We Speak Gay Community. We Speak Gay community is a community of open minded companies that are welcoming to LGBTQ customers creating a safe atmosphere in which you can feel valued and respected. When using the We Speak Gay sticker in the window or logo on the WEB page the companies express values of diversity and inclusivity. You can read more about the other members of the community here.
Adress: Hotel Klaus K, Bulevardi 2-4, Helsinki
Tel: +358 20 770 4700
Fax: +358 20 770 4730
Front Desk: +358 20 770 4701
rooms@klauskhotel.com
sales@klauskhotel.com
events@klauskhotel.com