Activities in Helsinki

Private Walking Tour of Helsinki

An authorized local guide will join you for a 3-hour guided tour by foot. You will see some of the most important sights in Helsinki. The historical center of Helsinki around the Senate, and in the immediate vicinity you will find the Presidential Palace, the city Hall and the harbor area with Market Square and Uspenski Cathedral. You can stroll through the Esplanade Park and the most important shopping streets towards the parliament, the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and finally to Temppeliaukio Church, also known as the rock church. If time allows continue to the Finlandia Hall and the Opera along the Töölönlahti seaside

Availability: Daily

Duration: 3 hours

Includes: 3-hrs private guide

Explore Helsinki with a private Guide and Driver

A private guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel for a 3-hour private sightseeing tour of Helsinki. The guide takes you around Helsinki, providing you with an idea of the pulse of the city and giving you tips on what to visit, where to shop and where to eat. The freedom of having your own car and driver during your visit to Helsinki is wonderful! You can decide yourself which sights and museums you would like to visit.

Availability: Daily

Duration: 3 hours

Includes: 3-hrs private guide and 3-hrs vehicle and driver

Private Walking Tour of Suomenlinna Sea Fortress

The World Heritage Site Suomenlinna is a cultural treasure. Its construction began in the mid-18th century, when Finland was still part of Sweden. Today, the fortress and its museums, restaurants and events are a memorable experience for visitors of all ages. Suomenlinna is a popular visitor attraction and also a home of 800 residents. The guide will take you to the most important sights of the fortress, such as the Great Castle Courtyard, Piper’s Park and the Dry Dock, which in its days was among the largest in the world. During the guided walking tour an authorized guide will tell you about the 260 years of eventful history of the island under the rule of three different states as well as the life on the island today.

Availability: Daily

Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours

Includes: 1 – 1,5 hrs private guide, return ferry to fortress

Private Finnish Sauna Evening

During this three-hour evening program, you will visit a Finnish home where you can absorb the typical Finnish way of living. You will have the possibility to try a real Finnish sauna, the host will tell you everything about the sauna habits. A light sauna-meal or sauna-coffee is served. Available all year round/ excursion not refundable in case of cancellation

Availability: Daily

Duration: 3 hours

Includes: 3-hrs hosting in a private home, Light sauna-meal or sauna-coffee

Note: No transfers included, we highly recommend public transport – the network in Helsinki is vast and reliable.

Private Finnish Food Walk

We start the tour in front of the Old Market Hall (Vanha kauppahalli), where you will have a great overview about the local cuisine. You can sense the aromas of cured salmon, local cheese and smoked reindeer among others. After that your guide will give you some local´s tips at the Market Square (Kauppatori). On this about 2 hours long walk we stroll the most beautiful streets of Helsinki center like Esplanadi and Bulevardi, pass through the Design District Helsinki as well as the idyllic art nouveau neighborhood of Punavuori to finish the tour at the Hietalahti Market Hall. Over there you can enjoy an after-tour lunch or just shopping of organic and local food delicacies. On the way you will get a taste of local specialties from selected special stores! We will taste the fish and get you some coffee with local pastries. Reindeer will be included as well as salmiakki (Finnish salt liquorice), chocolate, local cheese, fresh bread and healthy treats with good vitamins.

Availability: Daily

Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours

Includes: Private Guide, food Samples

Private Sunset Sauna Cycle

This tour shows you what this sauna-frenzy nation of Finns is all about! We learn about sauna and the culture behind it while cycling around the recreational areas and islands close to the center of Helsinki. On a magical evening of the setting sun, we will get in touch with the Eastern side of Helsinki center along with such neighborhoods as the hipster district of Kallio, atmospheric Kruununhaka full of Finnish history and functionally modern area of Merihaka / Hakaniemi. We will also make a visit to one of the famous public saunas for a real bathing!

Availability: On Request

Duration: 3 – 4 hours

Includes: Guide, entrance to Sauna, bike, helmet, snack

Private Helsinki Highlights by Bike

Helsinki Highlights by Bikes is an entertaining and easy-going orientation to the major attractions of Helsinki. We visit the market places to meet the local people and let you hear the history of our nation through the beautiful and unique architectural mix that only Helsinki can offer. We cycle through our city giving you time for sightseeing and shopping. Quiet green spaces are also not forgotten, that is what Helsinki is all about!

Availability: On Request

Duration: 3 hours

Includes: Guide, bike, helmet, snack

Helsinki by Kayak

The sea is an essential part of the soul of Helsinki. The city is located right at the Baltic Sea and you can find a beautiful archipelago at its door step. There is no better way to get as close as possible to the real personality of Helsinki then by kayak. This 3-hour guided paddling trip will take you to the archipelago of Helsinki, characterized by clear water, rocky islands and sandy beaches. The trip takes place at the Vuosaari Paddling Center and suits beginners and experts alike. You will be picked up in the center of Helsinki. The kayaks are easy to handle and very stable. You will be provided all necessary kayaking equipment.

Availability: 01. June – 31. August, daily

Duration: 3-4 hours

Includes: Transportation from the city centre of Helsinki, Guide, kayak, paddle, life jacket, spray skirt, water bottle and snack.

Beautiful Canal Route

This 1.5 hour sightseeing tour by boat is one of the best ways to see and discover the city of Helsinki and its naval quarters and historic sites. You will see interesting sights like the beautiful Degerö Canal, the Finnish Icebreakers and harbours, Korkeasaari Zoo and Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage site. During this tour you will get a taste of authentic coastal life in Helsinki. On board are guide services in 10 languages and you also have the possibility to enjoy coffee / tea / beverages and pastries. This 1.5 hour sightseeing tour by boat is one of the best ways to see and discover the city of Helsinki and its naval quarters and historic sites. You will see interesting sights like the beautiful Degerö Canal, the Finnish Icebreakers and harbours, Korkeasaari Zoo and Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage site. During this tour you will get a taste of authentic coastal life in Helsinki. On board are guide services in 10 languages and you also have the possibility to enjoy coffee / tea / beverages and pastries. This tour departs from the Market Square.

Availability: 01. May – 30. September, daily

Duration: 3 hours

Includes: 3-hrs private guide and 3-hrs vehicle and driver

Audio City Tour

The Audio City Tour is a 1.5 hours sightseeing tour by bus which includes the most interesting parts of Helsinki, such as the historical centre, the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Parliament buildings, Finlandia Hall and the Opera House. There will be 2 stops in the tour, at the Sibelius Monument and, when possible, at the Temppeliaukio Church (the rock church). Guiding is through individual headphones in 12 languages (Chinese, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Helsinki dialect. The tour departs from Esplanade Park (Fabianinkatu) and Katajanokka Terminal.

Availability: Daily, with the exception of December 24th – 26th

Duration: 1.5 hours

Includes: Guiding via headphones, transport by coach

Urban Helsinki Bus Sightseeing

On this tour, you will get to know Helsinki off the beaten path and discover many interesting places the Finnish capital holds in addition to its famous and well-known sights. We take you on a tour of Helsinki’s architectural history where you see the city’s modern residential areas, its buildings constructed in a particularly interesting architecture, the bustling urban districts, and the historical area where the city’s roots lie. Aboard our modern and comfortable double-decker sightseeing buses, an audio guide is available in ten languages to provide you with a wealth of interesting and entertaining stories about what everyday life in the Finnish capital looks like. Our tour even includes a 45-minute stop at the Iittala and Arabia Design Centre – a perfect chance to take a deep dive into the fascinating world of two of Finland’s most celebrated design and lifestyle brands and to get a peek into their past, present, and future. During our stop, we recommend a visit to Design Museum Arabia (floor 8, museum closed on Mondays) and stores and the café (ground floor). As our guest, you can shop with -15% discount in the Iittala & Arabia Design Centre Store!

Availability: Daily

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Includes: Guiding via headphones, transport by coach, 45-minute stop at the Iittala & Arabia Design Centre

Hop-On, Hop Off Bus Ticket (Open Ticket)

The Open Top Sightseeing Tour offers a great way to explore Helsinki on your own. The sightseeing tour takes you around Helsinki in an open top double-decker bus. You can hop on and off the bus as often as you want at the different sights along the route. You will pass interesting sights like Tempelliaukio Church, Brunssparken and The Senate’s square. In bad weather, a roof can be installed quickly to protect you from the elements. The ticket is valid 24 hours, and the guiding is done in seven different languages through individual headphones.

Availability: Daily, 18. April – 13. October

Includes: Guiding via headphones, transport by coach

Daytrip to Tallinn with a Guide

Departure by boat from Helsinki for Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, in the morning. The city tour by car with English-speaking guide will take you around the most important sights, also outside Medieval Tallinn. Walking tour of the Old Town area, a compact maze of cobblestone streets, historical buildings and breathtaking vistas. After the tour there will be free time to explore the shops and sights on your own before the transfer to the harbor and journey back to Helsinki. Optional lunch is served in one of the charming restaurants in the Old Town.

Availability: Daily

Duration: 11 – 12 hours

Includes: Return ferry Helsinki – Tallinn – Helsinki, Guided tour in Tallinn

Half Day Tour to Porvoo

Join this guided half-day (4-hour) trip from Helsinki to the idyllic town of Porvoo with its well-preserved wooden houses and picturesque cobble-stoned streets. The city’s town plan is from the Middle Ages, the low small houses, picturesque yards and narrow streets form a historically unique wooden town milieu. The symbols of Porvoo – the red warehouses on the riverbanks – tell the story of seafaring and trading. This guided half-day tour by bus begins and ends in Helsinki city centre. Porvoo is located 50 km (31 miles) away from Helsinki. The tour includes Helsinki-Porvoo-Helsinki by bus with a guide, a guided walk in Porvoo during which you will get familiar with the Old Town of Porvoo and the beautiful medieval cathedral. There will be some free time for a cup of coffee and a walk in the old town with delightful shops and craftsmen’s workshops.

Availability: 13.06. – 08.09. on certain days

Duration: 3 hours

Includes: Helsinki-Porvoo-Helsinki by bus with a guide, guided walk in Porvoo

Finnish Lakes and Forests

On this guided half day (4,5-hour) bus tour from Helsinki to Nuuksio National Park (in Espoo) we invite you to discover the Finnish nature with its lakes and forests! The tour includes a guided in the forest of the National Park with an English-speaking guide. Nuuksio is one of the top nature attractions in Finland where you can experience the Finnish nature and the peaceful wilderness. In the National Park live dozens of endangered or near-threatened animals, plants and fungi species. In Nuuksio, you can also visit Finnish Nature Centre Haltia (extra charge, free entrance with Helsinki Card). The exhibitions in Haltia let you explore all of Finland’s unique nature under one roof. In Haltia you also find a restaurant and café.

Availability: June 11 – August 31, on certain days

Duration: 4.5 hours

Includes: English-speaking guide, transport by coach, Guided walk in Nuuksio National Park