The Finns are proud of their heritage, and Helsinki is an excellent example of well-preserved Finnish culture - from its thoughtful museums to Art Nouveaux buildings and elegant, old world cafes. Take a Helsinki tour with a personal guide and let a local show you their favourite parts of this beautiful coastal city.

Stroll through the Kiasma and Ateneum museums with their fine collections of Finnish art. Join the locals by taking a ferry across the bay for a picnic on the grounds of World Heritage Site Suomenlinna Castle. Ask your guide to recommend a concert at Temppeliaukio, where you can appreciate amazing acoustics in an underground church hewn from solid rock. If you're lucky enough to be in Helsinki during its gloriously long summer days, make sure to spend some time relaxing in the late evening sun on one of the city's many excellent beer terraces.

Your guide is keen to personalize a Helsinki tour to suit your personal travel interests - come prepared for a great time!

Helsinki

Helsinki Contemporary Architectural Shore Excursion in a Classic Car

Did you know that Supercell's sustainable headquarters in the Wood City of Jätkäsaari district is the largest wood office building in Finland as measured by the amount of wood used? This amount of wood binds the CO2 equivalent of a year's driving for 600 passenger cars!

Come with me and let's explore the contemporary Helsinki by your choice in a classic convertible car. You may find the suggested sights in the itinerary, like Oodi Library, Kiasma Contemporary art museum, Kaisa House, Archtia Shipping Headquarters, Kamppi Chapel, Tripla Mall, Wood city and Youth Houses in Jätkäsaari district along the Art Hotel Ax designs by Stefan Lindfors.

We will discover the main historic sights along the tour route as well! In 2012 Helsinki was nominated as a design capital of the world due to the worlds most famous architects and designers and I'll show you all about it!

If wanting to have more or less time in the city or any other special needs, please message me for a customized tour.

Supercell's sustainable headquarters is the largest wood office building in Finland as measured by the amount of wood used!

On this tour, several historic architectures, designs and arts of Helsinki are to be discovered as well!

Many historical architectures have been carefully preserved so that they fit into modern Helsinki! The historic Seurahuone will soon be transformed into a 5-star Grand Hansa hotel.

Explore Modern Helsinki in the unique Classic Convertible Buick Electra 1966 with a private chauffeur

Private Helsinki Design Uncovered Walking Tour

Helsinki is home to some of the greatest names in modern architecture and design: On this gently-paced walking tour tour we will explore this heritage. Marvel at the eclectic mix of architecture in a city dotted at every turn with beautiful parks and stunning Baltic Sea shoreline.

On our walk we will admire the city's abundant and varied architecture ranging from Neoclassical and Art Nouveau through to Functionalist.

The creations of Aalto and Saarinen can be found all around the city within easy walking distance. Did you know that Finnish-born US Architecht Eero Saarinen was also an acclaimed interior designer?

The Esplanadi area, home to the classical Design District, showcases the works of great Finnish interior design names such as Aalto, Saarinen, Aarnio, Wirkkala and Sarpaneva. See how many of the classical Finnish design classics you can recognize!

During this tour there will also be time for a relaxed coffee break.

Welcome!

Those famous stone statues at the Railway Station, courtesy of Emil Wikstrom

The National Museum, designed by Eliel Saarinen and partners

The Olympic Stadium Tower by Lindgren and Jantti , pure 1930's functionalism

The Tank Chair from 1937 by Alvar Aalto , as stunning today as back then

The Tulip chair by Eero Saarinen, 1950's. A pure expression of modernism

The House of the Estates from the 1890's in neo renaissance style

'Vitrine' by Anu Penttinen, a new Finnish design name at Iittala

The Senate Building by Engel, flanked by corinthian columns and in neoclassical design

The Rock Church by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen, 1969. Pure Modernism

One of the world's most famous glass objects, the iconic Aalto or Savoy vase at Iittala

The Chapel of Silence, an oasis of tranquility and the city's newest landmark

The fabulously modern public library, Oodi

Cakes galore at one of Helsinki's many coffee shops.

Private Helsinki Design and Architecture Walking Tour with Private Guide

Interested in Architecture during your time in Helsinki… Then this ARCHITECTURE TOUR is for you! We will reveal the unique stories of the city, through a walk around some of Helsinki's most famous and unusual buildings. I will teach you about the most famous Finnish architects - and take an Architectural walk through time - from the 1750's - right through to the modern day. Learn about how architecture has changed the mind-sets of the Finnish people, about how the architecture will always fit into the natural Finnish landscape, learn how the famous Finnish Epic Kalevela has influenced the architecture, and much more.

This fascinating tour promises to turn you into a Helsinki Architecture Connoisseur!

Pohjola Insurance Company Building - Ornaments

Private Walking Tour of the main Architecture Highlights in Helsinki

Helsinki Architecture Tour

Architectural Helsinki and Medieval Porvoo - Full Day in the Finnish Winter Wonderland !

Let's discover the most significant architectural sights while experiencing the magic of the Finnish winter & Christmas time! We will start touring Helsinki city center, the Senate Square, the Market Place, the Rock Church, the Art Nouveau Eira Villas and Katajanokka district along the Sibelius monument. This tour will pass by the most beautiful historic churches in several districts. Christmas time is full of surprises and happening everywhere, especially for children!

Next we will drive 40 min to Medieval Porvoo and walk in the old city to discover the extraordinary history and sights of this second oldest city of Finland. Here we will have a lunch or a dinner in one of the fascinating and historic restaurants, have time for shopping the Finnish artefacts and souvenirs. During the Christmas time, Porvoo is must to see and feel!

* Coffee or tea, a bun or a sandwich
* A lunch or dinner with a drink

Finnish Sauna belongs to the Unesco Intangible Heritage Culture - Inguire your private sauna experience!

During the Christmas time Helsinki's beautiful decorations can be found all over the city - I will guide you to all these special sights!

This tour will guide you to explore the interesting history and designs developed when Finland was under the Swedish and Russian empires

We will discover the Senate Square and the Cathedral, Railway station by Eliel Saarinen, the City center and the Market Place!

Magic of the Helsinki city during the day and late evening.

We will discover all the magical sights and happenings during the Christmas time!

Helsinki offers plenty of the high class cafés and restaurants for all tastes. We have time for a coffee or tea along a Finnish bun or a sandwich!

Christmas Market is open during December and closes just before the Christmas eve!

Exceptional Rock Church is one of the most visited sights in entire Finland!

During your excursion we will pass by different areas to discover the architectural pearls of Helsinki!

Next we will head towards Medieval Porvoo, see the famous red storage houses and the Cathedral in the old town!

Medieval Porvoo is the most beautiful place to photoshoot magical pictures during the winter time!

You will have a chance to taste famous Runeberg's tarts or cinnamon buns, Porvoo chocolate or mulled vine "glögi".

During the Christmas time and winter, Old Porvoo is a real winter wonderland with it's historic houses, boutiques and restaurants!

We will visit the medieval Porvoo Cathedral and all interested sights around the old city!

Helsinki is surrounded with the exceptional nature: I will show you the most beautiful places and the photogenic views!

In the city center there is a Christmas market and many historic buildings to be discovered!

I will tell you about the historic buildings and life during various periods of the Old Porvoo.

Albert Edelfelt painted his the most famous art works here!

In the Old Porvoo you are able to find nice Finnish presents and souvenirs to bring home!

Explore the best highlights, architectures, nature and Finnish culture with a private chauffeur!

I will meet you at the Senate Square the Neo Classical area of Helsinki. But we can meet at your hotel or the cruise ship harbour.

We enjoy the work of the Preussian ( German ) architect Carl Ludwig Engel. The buildings by this square are from the time Finland was part of the Russian Empire. We continue to the Katajanokka area know from its art nouveau buildings. We can have a look into the Orthodox Church Uspenski, it is probably the biggest orthodox church in western Europe. There is about 2 % of the Finnish people belonging to the Orthodox Church. Most of us in Finland are Lutherans. We will walk through our main railway station design by Eliel Saarinen.
Then we will visit Oodi library and it became famous already during its first year 2018. In Oodi you can lend books or use a sewing machine and a lot of other activities. Opposite from Oodi we have some other interesting building like the Finlandia house that is a work of Alvar Aalto.

Neo Classical, Art Nouveau and modern architecture

Architecture in Helsinki and daily life

Helsinki- Hvittrask-Private- Architecture- Design-Tour

Combine a tour of Helsinki with Hvittrask, birthplace and childhood home of legendary US architecht and designer, Eero Saarinen, the man behind many of America's iconic landmarks such as the Gateway Arch in St Louis.

The former home of famous Finnish Architechts Eliel Saarinen (father of Eero Saarinen ) , Lindgren and Gesellius was built in 1902 on a hill overlooking a lake and is an outstanding example of Finnish National Romantic architecture. A short drive from Helsinki, the stunning residence is located on the shores of a lake surrounded by picturesque countryside and magnificent forests. After a tour of this unique residence you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of its delightful grounds.

On our return to Helsinki we will explore the citys architectural heritage with a special emphasis on the works of Saarinen and other great architechts.

NOTE: This Tour runs only from Wednesdays to Sundays. There are NO TOUR departures on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Swedish Theatre, the exterior was designed by Eero Saarinen upon his return to Finland

Hvittrask- South Wing Residence, home of the Saarinen family

Architechts Eliel Saarinen and Hermann Gesellius each designed their own homes within the complex

Archway entrance leading to that fabulous dining room....

And THE stain glass window scene depicting the events of Hvittrask's scandalous love story

The Black Villa with its National Romantic style tower , residence of Gesellius

Final resting place of Eliel and Loja Saarinen plus Hermann Gesellius, colleagues and friends to the very end

The neoclassical Senate Square , potent symbol of the period of Rusian rule

Interior copper dome of the Rock Church with its 16 miles of copper cable. A timeles design.

The famous stone men at the Central Railway Station. Building courtesy of Eliel Saarinen. Statues by Emil Wikstrom.

Interior of the fabulous Public Library OODI

Pastries galore at the famous Cafe Esplanad coffee shop

Helsink- Hvittrask-Private-Design and Architecture Tour

This tour takes you to Hviträsk , the artist home of three Finnish architects Eliel Saarinen, Herman Gesellius and Armas Lindgren. After a visit in Hviträsk you visit Tarvaspää, the Atelier home of Akseli Gallen-Kallela. You'll also see buildings designed by Alvar Aalto and Eliel Saarinen ( Finlandia Hall, Railway Station and National museum ) in Helsinki city center. You'll also visit the famous Rock Church designed by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen.

Suomenlinna tours

Explore with 7 tours and 5 guides.

Nina P.

$ 940 (USD)

Maria H.

$ 493 (USD)

Anna S.

$ 483 (USD)

Nina P.

$ 841 (USD)

Ralf L.

$ 367 (USD)

Maria H.

$ 1,669 (USD)

Susanna A.

$ 1,439 (USD)

Meet your local guides in Suomenlinna

Customize your tour