Private tour in Helsinki Lesley R

Come Fly with Me! Watchmaking, Aviation and The Best of Helsinki

4.0

(2) reviews

-
Hours icon 4 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 4 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Lesley R.

4.8

Guide rating

21

Reviews

Tours delivered

35 hrs

Avg. response time

I am an Authorised Helsinki Guide (2002) and I am an author who has written a popular book about Helsinki's most famous landmark, the Church in the Rock (Temppeliaukio). I am a native English speaker and have dual nationality (British-Finnish). I have been living in Finland for nearly thirty years. I have a fun, relaxed, easy-going personality and I aim to make each tour unique so if you have any special areas of interest, let me know, so I can do some advance research for you. I am happy to tailor in any special requests or visits and base the tour around a particular theme of interest to you. It has been a great privilege to be able to share my passion for both Helsinki and Finland with visitors from around the world for the last sixteen years. During my professional guiding career, I have taken politicians, journalists, bloggers, and celebrities around the city. I treat everyone on any of my tours like a V. I. P and I aim to make all my tours relaxed and entertaining with a good dose of humor. My goal is that everyone goes home with an intimate view of what it is really like to live in Finland and how history, people and events have created the Finland of today. I want to show you what makes Finland and Helsinki so special and why I love my hometown and its surroundings. I live in the north of the city with my family and our dog Bertie Woofster. I enjoy wild swimming, the sauna and walking Bertie around some of the fabulous, urban natural areas in Helsinki. In addition to working as a professional guide, I am a qualified Social Worker and Brief Therapist. During the winter I work in child protection as a Family Crisis Worker. Through this second profession, I keep well informed about socio-cultural and current affairs in Finland. Authorised Helsinki City Guide (Finnish Guide Association). First Aid Certificate. Bachelor of Social Services (Helsinki University of Applied Sciences). Registered to work with children and vulnerable adults (European Police Register). Solution Focused Brief Therapist (Helsinki Psychotherapy Institute). Registered practitioner with the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira). None.

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Lesley R.

Overview of your Helsinki tour

An exclusive tour visiting the world famous De Motu luxury watch workshop in historic Helsinki -Malmi Airport (1936). De Motu is the only watchmaker in the world that designs and manufactures watches that are able to measure G forces and are worn by Finland's Top Gun pilots. During the tour they will show and explain how they engineer, design and assemble watches that embody the 'philosophy of flying, the aesthetics, mechanics and functionality of aircraft. ' After this fascinating tour we will have coffee and cakes in the control tower of the historic former airport. Visit to the Aviation Museum hangars which contain over 70 aircraft. The museum is focussed on the history of Finnish aviation ( see notes concerning flight simulators) Highlights of Helsinki guided tour with stops at the most interesting sites.

Your Helsinki tour itinerary

Private visit to the De Motu artisan workshop at Malmi airport to learn about the art of watchmaking. Coffee in the control tower of the airport followed by a visit to the aviation museum. Helsinki scenic drive Eira's Art Nouveau buildings and garden villas. Following along the coastline past the bustling, old fisherman's market, the Presidential Palace, the magnificent Orthodox Cathedral and the ice breaker ships. Esplanade Park, Finlandia Hall, Finnish Parliament, National Museum, the Opera House and the Unesco World Heritage Site of Suomenlinna Fortress. Stops - Senate Square in the historical centre of the city which has been the setting for many Hollywood movies. The square contains some of the finest examples of harmonious neo-classical architecture in Europe. -Inside visit to Oodi a jewel of modern Finnish architecture and innovation. Oodi was chosen as the best new public library in the world in 2019. -Photo stop at the Olympic Stadium site of the 1952 Olympics

Want to customize this tour?

Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.

Transport details
Type: Private Transportation

Fully airconditioned bus or minivan with a professional, private driver.

What's included
Other: Note. Aviation Museum Optional There are also four different flight simulators at the museum (must be booked and paid for in advance ). The museum can also arrange experts (e.g. former pilots and mechanics) to take us around but this must be paid / arranged at least a week in advance ( minimum cost 50 euros)The museum has a free downloadable guide in English and all exhibits have detailed explanations in English. Coffee and cake is not included is paid for on the spot.
Private Guide
Private Transportation
What's not included
Other: Admission tickets for the Aviation Museum Adults 10 Euros Children 5 Euros Family ticket 2 adults and all the family children under 18 years of age 25 Euros Groups over ten people Adults 5 Euros per person Children 2.5 Euros per child Simulator ( please contact me for further details) Speical tour with Aviation museum guide 5 euros per person ( minimum price is 50 Euros)
Food Drinks Snacks
Meeting location

Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide:

  • You can request a different meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout process.
Other details
Tour categories
Museums
History
Layover
Tour reference number
529927
Languages
Finnish
English
Activity level
Minimal
Accessibility
Kid Friendly
Wheelchair Accessible
4.0

Traveller reviews for this private tour in Helsinki

2 reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who is this private tour in Helsinki best suited for?

This private tour in Helsinki is perfect for aviation enthusiasts, watchmaking aficionados, and anyone interested in exploring the rich history and culture of Helsinki. It's also ideal for those who want to connect with a local guide like Lesley R. for deeper insights into the city's highlights.

Where does the tour start and end?

Is transportation included?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

Is this private tour in Helsinki suitable for cruise ship passengers as a shore excursion?

What languages is this tour offered in?

What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 4 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 4 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
Start time
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
Explore more of Helsinki
Discover Helsinki and Porvoo 6-hours tourPrivate Excursion to HelsinkiThe Best of Helsinki 4-Hour Excursion by Nina PHalf-Day Shore Excursion to Medieval Porvoo from HelsinkiTASTE HELSINKI FOOD TOUR CLASSIC - Private Food TourMedieval Castle, Glass Art or Nature History & Winery Culture Full Day ExcursionHelsinki and Porvoo Day Tour with Guide and DriverHelsinki Island Hopping & Finnish Sauna by Baltic SeaHelsinki by foot- The pearl of the Baltic Sea Private Helsinki Heartbeat Tram TourDiscovering Helsinki on foot.Delicious Porvoo Helsinki Orientation TourPrivate Helsinki Uncovered Walking TourPrivate Helsinki Highlights Tour incl. the World Heritage Site SuomenlinnaPrivate Helsinki Highlights and Medieval Old Town of PorvooHelsinki Highlights & Visit to Porvoo Old TownPrivate Shore Excursion tour to Porvoo Medieval Town and HelsinkiHelsinki in a Nutshell – 2.5-Hour Walking TourWalking Tour in Helsinki - Best of Capital CityPrivate Helsinki Highlights with A/C car or minivanPrivate Excursion to Suomenlinna Sea FortressPrivate Helsinki Highlights TourDiscover Helsinki Private TourA Finntastic Walk in Helsinki (with Lunch)Travel like a localPrivate Helsinki City Walking Tour and Sauna ExperienceLove Helsinki TourHELSINKI KALLIO: TALES OF A BOHEMIAN DISTRICT – Private Walking Tour TourHelsinki Architectural Highlights - Private City TourTHE KING'S ROAD All-Inclusive Excursion: Raseborg Castle & Mills - Cultural Heritage of Tammisaari - Hanko Wooden Villas or Military MuseumHelsinki Highlights, Medieval River Town Porvoo - Shore ExcursionPrivate Helsinki Design Uncovered Walking TourA Finntastic Walk in Helsinki (with Lunch)Shore Excursion-The Best of Helsinki & the Olde World Charm of Medieval PorvooHelsinki Flavors - Tastings and HighlightsHelsinki Highlights and Sea Fortress Suomenlinna VisitHelsinki Tour by BicycleHelsinki Footsteps 4 hour Walking TourBest of Helsinki and Porvoo (with Lunch)