Music: “Far Away” by INOSSI

Our story

We wanted to sleep where the view is

Polar Inn started with a pretty simple thought.

You arrive somewhere beautiful. The evening light is moving across the water, the lake is completely still, or the city is glowing on the other side of the bay.

And then it's time to leave. You walk away from the water and back to a hotel room somewhere else.

We kept thinking: why does the best part of the place have to be the part you leave behind?

We had that feeling on Finnish lakes, by the sea and along city waterfronts. We wanted to stay right there — close enough to step outside for a morning swim, sit with a coffee by the water or simply watch the view change from the bed.

So we started asking a different question.

What if the room could float? Instead of building another cabin on the shoreline, what if the place itself could sit on the water?

That question turned into years of sketches, calculations, prototypes and plenty of conversations that started with “what if…”. Eventually, it became Polar Inn.

We're not trying to make a houseboat or a novelty hotel. We simply want to create places where staying by the water feels effortless — warm, comfortable and private, with the water becoming part of the stay rather than something you look at from a distance.

Because underneath the whole idea is one very personal belief: a water view is hard to beat. The weather changes it. The light changes it. Sometimes it's completely still and sometimes it really isn't. And somehow you never get quite the same view twice.

That's the part we want you to wake up to.

What staying at Polar Inn feels like

Wake up by the water

Not somewhere near it. Open the curtains and the water is right there. Step outside with your morning coffee, go for a swim if you feel like it — or stay exactly where you are. There's no correct way to enjoy it.

A place of your own

No hotel corridors. No reception queue. No neighbours through the wall. You arrive, open your own door and the space is yours for the stay. Simple.

Comfortable in every season

We love the outdoors. We just don't think you should have to be cold to enjoy it. A proper bed, your own bathroom and shower, and a warm place to come back to after being outside. Adventure is much better that way.

Stay somewhere a little unexpected

Some of the most interesting waterfronts aren't places where you can build a traditional hotel or cabin. That's part of why we float — it lets us bring stays to places you'd usually walk past, sail past or stop to look at. And suddenly you can wake up there.

More than a room

A late-night swim. Coffee outside while everyone else is still asleep. Sauna steam followed by cold water. Rain hitting the windows while you stay inside. Or doing absolutely nothing for a while. Those are the moments we built Polar Inn for.

Light on the shoreline

We want to enjoy waterfronts without taking away the thing that made them special in the first place. Floating means the accommodation sits on the water rather than occupying more of the shore. We're guests here too.

The two of us

Polar Inn is a small Finnish company built by two people with different backgrounds, but a shared idea of what staying by the water could be. Here's how each of us ended up here.

Saku Hiltunen
Co-founder & Entrepreneur

For me, the story goes back to 2004, when a group of friends and I built a sauna raft. There was something special about being out on the water with your own little place to sit, relax and spend time together. Ever since then, I've had this idea in the back of my mind: what if that kind of experience could be made easier and accessible to more people?

It took a long time before that thought became Polar Inn. There were plenty of moments when the idea seemed too difficult, the resources weren't there or we simply hit another wall. At some point I decided that was no longer a good enough reason not to try. So we started building it.

My role is mainly on the business side — turning the idea into something people can actually come and stay in, finding the right locations and partners, and figuring out how we get from an idea on paper to a real place on the water. Before Polar Inn, I worked as an entrepreneur and in sales, purchasing and key account management in the automotive industry. It's a very different world, but one thing has stayed the same: I like turning ideas into something real.

Eemeli Siikaoja
Co-founder & Entrepreneur

For me, Polar Inn has always been about figuring out how an idea like this can actually work in real life. A floating room sounds simple until you start thinking about everything behind it — the structure, heating, water, energy, ventilation and all the other things you normally never have to think about when you walk into a hotel room.

That's the part I enjoy. My role is to make sure the things you don't see are doing what they should, so that when you arrive, you don't have to think about any of them.

I'm originally from Kuusamo and have lived in Helsinki since 2013. The idea of creating something like Polar Inn had been sitting in my mind for a long time before we finally decided to start building it together. For me, the goal is pretty simple: make something unusual feel effortless to stay in.

Polar Inn is a small Finnish company founded by two people who have spent a lot of time thinking about how this slightly unusual idea could actually work. And yes, we still answer messages ourselves.

One waterfront at a time

Polar Inn started in Finland, and that's where we want to get the idea right. Our first locations are being developed around waterfronts such as Sompasaari in Helsinki and Koskenranta in Rovaniemi, with more places to follow.

But we're not interested in putting a Polar Inn somewhere just because there happens to be water. The place has to feel right. A view worth waking up to. A waterfront with its own character. And a reason to stay there instead of simply passing by.

We'd rather create a smaller number of places people genuinely remember than a hundred that are merely available. And wherever we go next, the idea stays the same: sleep where the view is.

Come and see what we mean. Wake up somewhere different.

Book a stay →

Have a waterfront where you think Polar Inn belongs? Partner with us →

Contact

Say hello

Questions about a stay, a booking or a waterfront of your own — a real person reads every message.

Guests & bookings

Anything about an existing booking, arrival times, keys, or a question before you book.

hello@polarinn.fi
We reply within one business day. During your stay, you'll also have a direct number in your arrival message.

Partners & cities

Waterfront owners, marinas, municipalities, developers and tourism operators.

partners@polarinn.fi
Tell us roughly where and how many units you're imagining, and we'll come back with what's realistic.

Press & everything else

Media requests, photography, collaborations and the questions that don't fit a box.

hello@polarinn.fi
Press kit and high-resolution images available on request.

Company details

Company
Polar Inn Group Oy
Business ID
3504871-7
Founded
2025, Finland
Office
Helsinki, Finland
Help centre

Frequently asked questions

Everything people usually want to know before their first night on the water.

Staying with us

What exactly am I sleeping on?

A purpose-built floating cabin, moored to a pier. It's a proper building on a stable pontoon base, not a boat you have to steer. It's connected to shore electricity, clean water and sewage, so it works like a small waterfront house — with the view of a boat.

How many people fit?

Our standard cabin sleeps up to four adults comfortably, with around 20 m² of interior space plus a private deck. Larger group setups combine several units side by side on a shared terrace.

Is it warm in winter?

Yes — this is the part we're proudest of. The cabins are insulated for Nordic conditions with 150 mm insulation, low-emissivity windows, underfloor heating and an air-source heat pump. Winter is many guests' favourite season: dark water, snow on the deck, and a very warm room.

Does it move or rock?

Barely. The pontoon base is wide and the cabin sits low on it, so you get a gentle sense of being on water rather than any real motion. Most guests say it's the best they've slept in years.

Is there a real bathroom and shower?

Yes. Every cabin has a private bathroom with a shower and a flushing toilet, connected to the municipal sewer — no chemical toilets, no carrying water.

Do all stays have a sauna?

Not all — sauna is available as a private module at selected locations, either wood-fired or electric. Look for the Sauna Escape stays, or add a sauna module where it's offered.

Booking & arrival

How do I check in?

There's no reception desk. A few days before arrival you'll get everything you need by message: directions to the right pier, your smart-lock code and how everything in the cabin works. Arrive when it suits you within check-in hours.

What time is check-in and check-out?

Check-in from 16:00, check-out by 11:00. If your travel plans are awkward, just ask — we'll accommodate where we can.

Can I cancel?

Yes. Cancellations made at least 14 days before arrival are refunded in full. Within 14 days, the terms of your specific rate apply and are shown clearly before you pay.

Where do I park?

Parking depends on the location and is described in your arrival message. Our city locations are chosen for good public transport connections, so many guests arrive without a car at all.

Practical things

Are pets welcome?

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at most locations for a small cleaning fee — please let us know when booking so we can put you in a pet-friendly unit.

Can I bring children?

Absolutely, and our Family Stays are built for it. Children must be supervised on the deck at all times — there's water on the other side of the railing, and no substitute for an adult paying attention.

Is it accessible?

This varies by location, since it depends on the pier as much as the cabin. Some sites have step-free access from shore, others don't. Contact us before booking and we'll tell you honestly what to expect at the site you're considering.

Can I swim from the deck?

At many locations, yes, and there's a ladder for exactly that. Swimming is always at your own responsibility, and we'll tell you where it isn't advisable.

Is it safe?

Every unit has life-saving equipment on deck, fire detection and extinguishing equipment, and is inspected and maintained on a regular schedule. Electrical work follows the SFS 6000 standard, and technical systems are monitored remotely so we usually know about a problem before you do.

Can I smoke?

All cabins are non-smoking. Smoking is permitted outside on the deck, using the ashtray provided — never over the water.

Still wondering about something?

Contact us →
Sustainability

Light on the water, lighter on the shore

The places we love are the product we sell. Protecting them isn't a policy for us — it's the business model.

Travel that damages the place you came to see makes no sense to anyone. We designed Polar Inn around that idea from the first sketch: capacity that can be added where people want to be, without concrete, dredging or a permanently altered coastline.

Here's exactly what that means in practice — no vague promises, just what we do and how.

Renewable energy

Our units run on shore power supplied as certified renewable electricity. Heating comes from air-source heat pumps rather than combustion, which means a warm cabin in February with a fraction of the energy — and no emissions on site.

Nothing goes into the water

Every unit connects to the municipal sewer network. Wastewater and greywater leave through pipes, exactly as they would from a house on land — never into the lake or the sea. Clean water comes from the same metered mains supply as the neighbourhood.

No permanent marks on the shoreline

No excavation, no fill, no foundations poured into a seabed. Our units float, moored to an existing pier. If one ever leaves, the shore is left exactly as we found it — which is more than most buildings can say.

Movable by design

Because a unit can be towed, a location isn't a life sentence. Sites can be adapted as cities change, moved out of sensitive areas seasonally, or relocated entirely if that's the right thing to do. Buildings usually can't follow circumstances. Ours can.

Built once, built properly

Units are assembled almost complete in a workshop and towed into place, which removes months of construction traffic, deliveries and noise from the neighbourhood — and produces far less waste than an on-site build. They're designed to be maintained and upgraded, not replaced.

Homes stay homes

A growing share of tourism demand lands on ordinary housing, tightening rental markets in exactly the places people most want to visit. Purpose-built capacity on water welcomes visitors without competing with residents for somewhere to live.

Water-efficient by default

Low-flow fittings, efficient appliances and a heat pump for hot water. Small choices, repeated by every guest, every night.

Room for life below

Floating structures create shade and shelter, and pontoon fields can offer habitat for aquatic life. We plan mooring, lighting and deck design with what lives underneath in mind, and keep light spill low so the dark stays dark.

Local, in a real sense

Our locations sit within walking or public-transport distance of the places around them, so a stay doesn't require a car. What we buy, we try to buy nearby — and the money a stay generates stays in the area it came from.

What we're still working on

We'd rather tell you what isn't finished than imply everything is. We're working towards the Sustainable Travel Finland programme and label developed by Visit Finland for tourism companies, and we're measuring energy and water use per stay so that future claims come with numbers behind them. Accessibility varies by pier, and we're improving it site by site as we build. We'll publish progress here as it happens, including the parts that take longer than we'd like.

Questions about any of this? We'll answer honestly.

Contact us →
Legal

Terms & conditions

The practical agreement between you and us. Written to be read, not endured.

Polar Inn Group Oy (Business ID 3504871-7), "Polar Inn", "we". Last updated 18 August 2026.

1. Booking and payment

A booking is confirmed when you receive a confirmation from us. The price shown at booking includes VAT and the services listed in the confirmation. Payment is made as described during booking; for some rates, payment is taken in full at the time of booking.

2. Cancellation and changes

Cancellations made at least 14 days before the start of the stay are refunded in full. For cancellations made later, the cancellation terms of the specific rate apply; these are shown before payment. Changes to dates are subject to availability. If we ever have to cancel your stay, you'll be offered an alternative unit or date, or a full refund.

3. Arrival and departure

Check-in is from 16:00 and check-out is by 11:00 unless otherwise agreed. Access is by personal door code sent before arrival; the code is for the use of your party only.

4. Using the unit

The maximum number of guests stated in your booking may not be exceeded. All units are non-smoking indoors. Quiet hours are between 22:00 and 07:00 out of respect for neighbours, other guests and, in city locations, residents nearby. Events and parties require prior written agreement.

5. Safety on the water

Guests stay in and around the unit at their own responsibility. Children must be supervised at all times on the deck and pier. Swimming, use of ladders and any use of the water area is at your own risk. Safety equipment on board must not be removed or misused, and mooring lines must not be adjusted by guests. Instructions given by us or by the harbour operator must be followed.

6. Damage

Please tell us about any damage or fault as soon as you notice it — we'd much rather know. Guests are liable for damage caused intentionally or through negligence, and for the cost of exceptional cleaning required after the stay.

7. Force majeure

We may cancel or relocate a stay if severe weather, ice conditions, technical failure, an authority's decision or another comparable event beyond our control makes the stay unsafe or impossible. In such cases you'll be offered an alternative or a full refund; we're not liable for other costs such as travel arrangements.

8. Liability

We're liable for damage caused by our own negligence in accordance with mandatory Finnish consumer legislation. We're not liable for indirect damage, or for loss of personal property left in the unit or on the deck.

9. Applicable law

These terms are governed by Finnish law. Disputes are resolved primarily by negotiation. Consumers may also refer a dispute to the Finnish Consumer Disputes Board or contact the Consumer Advisory Service.

Something here unclear?

Ask us →
Legal

Privacy policy

What we collect, why we collect it, and how to make us stop.

Controller: Polar Inn Group Oy (Business ID 3504871-7), Helsinki, Finland. Contact: hello@polarinn.fi. Last updated 18 August 2026.

What we collect

When you book a stay: your name, contact details, booking dates and details, number of guests, payment status, and any wishes or messages you send us. When you subscribe to our newsletter: your email address. When you visit this site: technical data such as your approximate location, device and browser, collected to keep the site working and to understand how it's used.

Why we use it

To confirm and deliver your stay, to send arrival instructions and door codes, to handle payment and invoicing, to answer your questions, to meet our legal obligations such as accounting, and — if you've asked for it — to send you occasional news and offers.

Legal basis

Performance of our agreement with you (bookings), our legal obligations (accounting and statutory record-keeping), your consent (newsletter and non-essential cookies), and our legitimate interest in running and improving our service safely.

Who else sees it

Only service providers who help us operate: our booking system, payment providers, accounting, email and hosting services. They process data on our behalf, under contract, and may not use it for their own purposes. We don't sell personal data to anyone. Data is processed within the EU/EEA where possible; where a provider processes data outside it, appropriate safeguards such as the EU standard contractual clauses apply.

How long we keep it

Booking data for as long as needed to deliver the stay and handle any follow-up, and thereafter as required by accounting law (currently six years). Newsletter data until you unsubscribe — there's a link in every message.

Your rights

You have the right to access your data, correct it, have it erased, restrict or object to its processing, and receive it in a portable format. You can withdraw consent at any time. Write to hello@polarinn.fi and we'll take care of it. If you feel we've handled your data badly, you can lodge a complaint with the Finnish Data Protection Ombudsman.

Cookies

We use cookies necessary for the site and booking system to function, and — only with your consent — analytics cookies that help us see what's useful and what isn't. You can change your mind at any time in your browser settings.