Private tour in Helsinki Maddalena B

TASTE HELSINKI FOOD TOUR CLASSIC - Private Food Tour

5.0

(16) reviews

-
Hours icon 3 hours 30 minutes
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
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 3 hours 30 minutes
Walking
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

Maddalena B.

5.0

Guide rating

20

Reviews

Tours delivered

18 hrs

Avg. response time

Travel, wine and food are in my DNA. I grew up between two cultures, my mother being Finnish and my father Italian, and from a very young age, I travelled a lot. My paternal grandparents were from the Italian Valpolicella wine region, and quality wines and food are close to my heart, so much so that I became a sommelier in 2014. I live in Helsinki, my favorite city in the world, where I have been offering authentic local experiences since I completed the Helsinki guide course in 2013 (Suomenlinna guide 2014 and Porvoo guide 2019). I offer culinary tours, walking tours and bike tours. Additionally to the well-known sights, I make my customers fall in love with Helsinki by letting them in on some of the city's best well-kept secrets and stories. All my tours are suited for tourists and travellers, company recreation days, gatherings, birthdays and Christmas parties. Most of the tours are wheelchair accessible, and private transport can be arranged for the tours. LGBTQ+ friendly! In addition to the tours offered on this platform, I also offer personalised, custom-made tours according to your wishes. Also, any elements offered on the existing tours can be changed or added. So please, don't hesitate to contact me! Authorised Helsinki guide 2013 Authorised Suomenlinna guide 2014 Authorised Vallisaari island guide 2016 Official Helsinki Partners host 2017 Culinary tourism education, Spring 2017 Authorised Porvoo guide 2019 Board member of the Guide Association in Helsinki since 2015 Education in music and tourism I am not a driver. I can accompany you in your vehicle or I can arrange for a separate car and driver.

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Maddalena B.

Overview of your Helsinki tour

My #1 bestselling tour is a personal food journey through Helsinki’s flavours and local life with your local guide. Discover Finnish cuisine based on pure, natural ingredients – from wild berries and forest mushrooms to fresh fish, game, dairy, and rye bread. Food here reflects culture, identity, and everyday life. Along the way, we explore Helsinki’s architecture, design, and key landmarks, experiencing the city from a local perspective. We also visit two market halls: one popular with visitors and the Hakaniemi Market Hall, a local favourite and personal highlight. Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for 9 consecutive years (2026) – but the real question is: does food make Finns happy? I also share local tips on where to go, what to see, and how to experience Helsinki like a local.

Recent Reviews

William M.Portugal
July 2026

Maddalena was incredibly knowledgeable and personable. She gave us many opportunities to ask questions and provided solid answers. She made our food tour fun as well as a great learning experience with lots of different and delicious things to taste. We would highly recommend Maddalena.

Lara B.United States
January 2026

We enjoyed this tour of Helsinki’s food and culture very much! Maddelena is the perfect guide and our group had a fantastic day!

Elizabeth C.United States
August 2025

This tour was fabulous! Maddalena showed us history, culture, food and the local side of Helsinki. She was engaging and knowledgeable and terrific fun to spend the day with. Would highly recommend her for this food tour or any other type of Helsinki tour you may be interested in.

Anne R.United States
July 2025

Maddalena was a wonderful guide. We had just arrived to Helsinki and had a long layover. We used the time to see a little bit of Helsinki, having never been here before. So we were tired and hungry and Maddalena was wonderful at adapting the tour to meet our needs. She kept us entertained with wonderful stories about what we were seeing and some local history. We tasted local dishes and were able to see some really beautiful sites in the city. Making the arrangements were easy with her. She responded quickly to inquiries even during the busy season. I would recommend to anyone to hire Maddalena for a tour! 5 out of 5!

Katy W.
June 2025

This is one of several tours we booked through this company, and all have been excellent, with fantastic guides! I recommend them! Now on to our amazing tour guide Maddelena. Firstly, we really appreciated her flexibility: originally our ship was supposed to be in Helsinki on a Saturday, but with a schedule change, we arrived on a Sunday. Although most guides (and many places on her usual itinerary) don't work on Sunday, she made a fantastic tour for our group of 12 the day we arrived. It combined a fantastic mix of food and history that we all thoroughly enjoyed (even the 9 -and 11-year-olds held on until our last stop--fortunately there was a playground right outside!). We learned what a difficult language Finnish is, and also some reasons that Finland continues to be the happiest country in the world. We would highly recommend Maddelena as your guide in this beautiful city!

Peter M.Canada
May 2025

What a delight it was to spend a half day with Maddalena, touring Helsinki and tasting it's local delicacies. Maddie was a wonderful guide: warm, friendly, full of knowledge and energetic. We had a lot of fun and learned a ton about this beautiful city. We strongly recommend this tour.

Your Helsinki tour itinerary

What’s included (items may vary slightly): Visit to a market hall & tasting of game (e.g. moose, bear, reindeer) Half a Finnish meat pie (“lihapiirakka”) Traditional Karelian pie Fish plate + mushroom salad Finnish dessert & coffee (Only water and coffee included as beverages) The food served is equivalent to a light lunch. Tour Highlights: Helsinki Cathedral & Senate Square University of Helsinki Market Square & Old Market Hall Uspenski Cathedral & Presidential Palace Esplanade Park & 19th-century architecture Central Railway Station (Art Nouveau gem) National Gallery & National Theatre Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum Oodi Central Library – guided visit included! Parliament & Music Centre Urban nature of Töölö Bay The vibrant, local-favorite Kallio district Walking distance: approx. 3 km – includes some uphill sections.

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: Walking

By foot (around 3km!) * If you prefer a private transportation, I can arrange it for you. Please, inquire me for a customised tour.

What's included
Other: - Experienced, authorised Helsinki guide and local Helsinki enthusiast - Tasting of 3-4 different foods
Private Guide
Food Drinks Snacks
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses. Tips are not included in the tour price and are always appreciated but entirely optional.
Public Transportation
Private Transportation With Driver
Private Transportation
Tickets
Meeting location

Eteläranta, Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00130, Finland

The meeting point is at the main entrance of the old Market hall (Eteläranta) facing the market place/Senate square Please note that the meeting point for this tour is always the same for all guests, and hotel pick-up is unfortunately not possible, as the tour includes scheduled food stops! Ending point: Hakaniemi market hall.

Other details
Tour categories
Food And Drink
Art And Culture
Architecture
Off The Beaten Path
Shopping
Tour reference number
425407
Languages
Finnish
English
German
Italian
Activity level
Moderate
Accessibility
Wheelchair Accessible

Traveller reviews

5.0

FAQs

Who is this private tour in Helsinki best suited for?

This private tour in Helsinki is perfect for food enthusiasts who want to explore Finnish cuisine and culture through a local lens. It's also ideal for travellers interested in architecture, design, and experiencing the city like a local. With Maddalena B. as your guide, you'll gain deeper insights into Helsinki's flavours and stories.

What should I bring or wear?

Can this private tour in Helsinki be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?

How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?

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?

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 3 hours 30 minutes
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
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 3 hours 30 minutes
Walking
Private tour for 1-10 people
Your party size

1

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