We stayed at this hotel for a weekend. The hotels has 2 buildings: the castle and the the spa building. We had to live at new spa building since the castle was fully booked. I do not regret about that since castle rooms are more expensive and less cozy. Anyhow the breakfast room is located at the castle building, so you may enjoy the imperial Art Nouveau atmosphere during breakfast time.

The castle itself is the main attraction in Imatra. It was build by Russian Tsars in Art Nouveau style for Russian aristocracy tourists and originally had the name of Grand Hotel Cascade d'Imatra. The castle is located by Imatrankoski Rapids. Unfortunately it is not easy to see the water in the rapids because the power company makes water flow in summer only for a very limited time.

Hotel features a free sauna with small swimming pool. The sauna is quite large. The spa building is located almost in the forest with pine-trees touching your room windows. That's very relaxing. We stayed in August and slept with open windows. It was a very healthy and relaxing sleep!

You may rent a bike from a hotel reception and have a great biking in the park close to the hotel. The park offers bike roads and picturesque views. Free internet, free parking. The breakfast was plentiful, nothing to complain. Definitely Imatra is a nice place for a relaxing or sporty weekend.

I stayed here for one night in the old building. The building is really nice and full of nice details at least if looked from outside, almost like a small castle. Also the public areas inside create a nice, traditional and decorous atmosphere. The food in the restaurant was delicious. The location is perfect if you want to see the Imatrankoski rapids, which is located just next to the hotel (Note: the power company lets the rapids run free only 15 minutes per day in summer)

But the place was, however, far from perfect. The standard rooms in the old building are quite Spartan, and thus overpriced. The elevator door (the is only one elevator) is creaky. The spa, that is included in the room price, is located in the new building which is connected by a tunnel to the old one. Unfortunately the spa is nor really a spa, just a sauna with a couple of pools.

Anyway, I think this is the best hotel in Imatra, but mostly because of the historical value of the building....

There´s not much to do in Imatra, but Valtionhotelli ("State hotel") is a perfect place for few days vacation. Clsssical hotel and modern spa.

Book a room in the old side. The old hotel is a magnificent. You can feel the history. The rooms are big and clean. The restaurant is a good. The dining room is overlooking the Imatra white water. In the hotel has a ok spa.