Old Town B&B Ida-Maria

It’s right in the town center, with easy access to both the old and newer parts of Porvoo. Our cozy, inviting room had a kitchen and a spacious living room with a nice river view. We only stayed one night, which was a shame. It’d be a lovely place for a summer trip with the family.

The staff were very accommodating and happy to help with what we needed. They let us check in a little earlier than usual and kept our luggage for a few hours after checkout while we wandered around the old town before catching the bus back to Helsinki. The apartment was even nicer in person than it looked in the pictures. We had a wonderful, comfortable stay!

Privacy was the main drawback of the Star Room. It’s a little apart from the main property, but its windows face an alley with fairly heavy foot traffic in the afternoon and evening because of the nearby restaurant. I pulled all the blinds as soon as I got in. Apart from that, the location is fantastic, right on Porvoo old town’s main strip. Inside, there’s a well-equipped kitchen, a washer and dryer that I used and found very convenient, and two bathrooms, one with a shower and one without. The shower is small and a bit confining, but works well. Kitchen chairs weren’t very comfortable, and the wifi didn’t reach the bedroom well, so it’s not the most comfortable setup if you need to spend a lot of time online. There’s also a piano in the unit. I didn’t play it and don’t know if guests are encouraged to. I used the sauna across the street from the main property. It only gets to around 60-70°C, but with plenty of water you can build up enough steam for a good sweat. Breakfast was solid. This is a very cute B&B by the river in Porvoo, Finland. I stayed in the Star Room, and the owner knocked on the door when I arrived. He apparently also owns the nearby restaurant Ranta-aitta, which has its commissary and bathrooms across from the property.

We stayed two nights in January 2021 at Ida-Maria, in “Pieni huoneisto, puutarhanäkymä”. The room was cozy, clean, and lovely, and the breakfast was delicious. Service was very good too. It’s right in the heart of Porvoo Old Town, and I’d absolutely recommend it.