Incarcerate yourself in luxury...

It may be hard to believe, but the Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokka used to welcome a very different kind of guest. From 1837 to 2002, the property was the main prison of the "big village," as the locals like to call Helsinki. Then in the space of just 12 months in 2005, the penitentiary underwent a fabulous metamorphosis into a super-stylish hotel.

There is no mistaking the hotel's past life. The imposing entrance is set in high red brick walls. What is today a beautifully landscaped garden with a terrace bar was once the prison yard. The leafy garden wraps around the cross-shaped main building, its high walls dotted with strangely small windows. In the shade of one of the prison's wings sits the prison chapel, the second oldest in Helsinki, which has been preserved in its original state (and is available for weddings and other gatherings).The prison buildings, including the chapel, are protected by the National Board of Antiquities.

Inside, elements of the hotel's historical identity have been preserved and the architects have turned the prison's American penitentiary-style layout to the hotel's advantage. The spacious landings are bathed in warm daylight that pours in through the high windows at the end of each block. Rough concrete stairs and iron walkways make it easy to access the different levels, from the top floor to the basement.

The softly lit Jailbird restaurant is situated in the central corridor of the basement. The wooden tables bear scratches that evoke the coarseness of prison life. Meals and beverages are served in tin plates and cups. The function rooms, which are also located in the basement, have been fashioned from interrogation and interview rooms. They have kept their prison-era names, and one of the cells has been preserved in its original condition.

There's nothing coarse or frugal about the guest rooms, however. Each of the 106 spacious, luxury rooms has been created from two or three cells. Upon entering through the original cell door opening you are treated to thoroughly Finnish interior design complete with orange, cream and black furnishings, clean lines and stylish functionality. The beds are incredibly comfortable, and in keeping with Finland's high tech image, the rooms are equipped with flat screen televisions.

If you dare "escape" from the hotel, you will find yourself on the lamb in the art nouveau splendour of the surrounding neighbourhood. The hotel takes its name from the island on which it is located. Katajanokka is just one in a string of small isles draped around the city of Helsinki like a necklace.

A short walk or tram ride from the heart of capital, the Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokka is an oasis of calm. It sits near some of the city's main sights, including the Russian Byzantine-style Uspenski Cathedral and the colourful Kauppatori open-air harbour market. The city's multi-cultural past and modern history have made fascinating architecture the hallmark of Helsinki. And the Hotel Katajanokka is no exception, thanks to its rich past and eye-catching design. So what better place to "do your time," no matter how long your sentence?

Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokka

Vyokatu 1, Helsinki, FI, Helsinki, Finland - 00160

Phone: +358 (0) 9 686 450 Fax: +358 (0) 9 670 290