Things to Do in Helsinki
Moi 👋
Join my Finntastic walking tour to learn about Finnish culture, history, and lifestyle in a fun but also informative way!
Can’t wait to meet you!
‼️Notes:
* Groups of more than 6 must contact me before booking
* Not suitable for strollers, wheelchairs, or those with walking difficulties
* Ability to take steps and walk 4km is required
* Not suitable for people with hearing difficulties
* A good English language level is required
* Provide a phone number with WhatsApp for communications
* A kind note to students and backpackers: This is a high-quality, professional tour, and my only source of income. If you do not intend to tip fairly, please consider different options.
Tour commentary and route ©Finntastic Tours. Trademark protected.
👇Check below for a detailed itinerary👇
On this excursion to Sipoonkorpi National Park, we'll enjoy a hiking route and a relaxing experience in a Finnish smoke sauna.
ENGLISH - 6TOURS A DAY in summer!
Español - Generalmente dos veces al día. Más en verano.
Auf Deutsch - 11:00 Uhr, 5. und 6. September
Welcome to Helsinki, the capital of the happiest country in the world for 8 years in a row!
On our tours, you will get to know the history of Helsinki and Finland in a dynamic and fun way, walking through the most emblematic parts of the city. We start at the famous and historic Senate Square - where the Helsinki Cathedral, the University of Helsinki and the old Senate are located. We will learn about the country's past and how Helsinki went from being a small fishing village into a great capital.
We explore the National Bank of Finland and the House of the Estates. We will also reflect on the evolution of the local language, Finnish.
Before reaching the port and the Market Square, we will walk through the oldest quarter of the city, and see the largest Orthodox cathedral in Western Europe.
In the Market Square we will talk about Finnish food culture, and Finnish cultural heritage: the sauna. Next to the market square is the famous promenade de la Esplanade, inspired by the Champs Elysees in Paris. Past the park, we will visit the statue of the poet of Finland's national poet and the connection it has with Tolkien.
Finally, the tour will conclude at the most modern part of the city - where we will explore a modern office building, Sanamatalo, see Helsinki's most recently built architectural buildings, and we will discuss Oodi library - the perfect place to grab a coffee after the tour!
Finland is known to the world for its education system, welfare state, and generous taxes. We will be covering these topics during tour stops as well as giving clues as to why Finland is the happiest country in the world, and exploring other cultural nuances and anecdotes.
We look forward to showing you all that Helsinki has to offer!
This is an informal, and fun way to learn all the main things about Helsinki, the Capital of Finland. This is the longest running Free Tour in Helsinki and we have been perfecting this every year.
Highlights:
- Senate Square
- Helsinki Cathedral, the big white
- What Finns like and hate?
- Tales from the Swedish and Russian past
- Story of how Finland broke free of Russian rule.
- Market Square
- Who has been born in a Sauna?
- What and how do Finns really eat?
- Uspensky Cathedral
- Presidents castle
- Helsinki University.
- Esplanade Park
- Fazer
- Kämp Galleria
- The Central Railway Station
- Stockmann Department store
- Why the Finns don't know the City Center shopping mall?
- Locals hints on where to shop, eat and drink.
- The Citizens Square
- The Parliament House
- Musiikkitalo
- Modern Helsinki and Oodi.
You will find your guide with a green cap and green umbrella in the middle of the Senate Square. And just in case, our number: Green Cap Tours +358 45 783 63357 (no sms)
In case it is not possible to start from the indicated address due to specific events or celebrations, the alternative starting point will be outside the main entrance of The National Library of Finland, Unioninkatu 36, Helsinki.
For groups of more than 10 people, please contact us for a private tour.
Design, Architecture, arts, lifestyle and local legends.
Helsinki is divided into the historical and modern center. In the historical center we conduct the Dynamic Helsinki Free tour focusing on the history of Helsinki and Finland. This Modern Helsinki Walking Tour shows you the rest. The modern Helsinki Walking tour focuses on present and future of the development of our Northern smart city and every day of its people. Many less know sites are visited and you will gain impressive insight of Helsinki as a living city rather than a museum.
Highlights of the tour:
- Oodi library and Citizen Square - Beautiful modern arquitecture
- The Parliament - Let's see what is the protest about today?
- Old Market Square - the Helsinki coastline and Archipelago, Vallisaari Biennial.
- Kasarmitori - Ministry of Defence - Nato and Finnish military traditions.
- Design Museum - Classics of the Finnish design
- Iso-Roobertinkatu - The oasis of night life in Helsinki
- The Plague Park - Beautiful and popular park with grim past
- The place to go for naked swimming
- Awards winner architectural masterpieces: Chapel of Silence, Amos Rex, Oodi
The tour starts in the Citizen Square, in front of the new central library of Helsinki called Oodi. It is a flagship of Finland's esteemed library system and a good place to start discovering what the city of Helsinki and its society are about.
Your guide with green cap and umbrella will wait outside next to the sharp south corner of the library. And just in case, our number: Green Cap Tours +358 45 783 63357 (no sms)
See something different, hear something new!
To see the real story of Finland you need to get away from the busiest most touristy spots. Everyone goes to see the architecture of the Russian Empire in the senate square but to see the most beautiful spots in a truly Finnish Helsinki you need to look just outside the busiest tourist destinations to discover something different.
Finland has been sandwiched between two of the great powers of Europe for hundreds of years. Traded and occupied, through oppression and rebellion the unique culture and language of Finland survives and thrives. From the birth of the Grand Duchy of Finland the independent Republic of Finland emerges through the fires of civil war and the savagery of the Eastern Front. Come hear the story of Russian Military Officers and Swedish Royalty, from the assaination of Finnish Statesman to the ghosts of the sanatorium. Through revolution against an Empire, the invasion of the Soviet Union and a flirt with dictatorship, modern Finland emerges as a unique social democracy in the modern world. The tour will have a focus on Finnish national identity and how the modern political landscape and values were shaped by a history of war, revolution and social responsibility.
This tour will take you to some beautiful parts of Helsinki you would otherwise miss. Starting around Oodi library we will walk towards Töölö to see some unique Helsinki architecture as it changes from Art Nouveau to functionalism where we will also walk past one of Europe’s most prominent music schools.
As we move further from the busiest parts of Helsinki and into some greener spaces we will see where the city centre meets nature and walk round one of Helsinki’s most beautiful bays.
The tour will end directly at a metro and tram stop only a few minutes journey or a short walk back to Kamppi in the city centre. As well as this the tour will end 500m from some highly recommended bars and restaurants for any hungry customers who require immediate sustenance after a good walk. This includes my personal favourites for local Finnish food, the balkan corner for lunch and fine wines, some more exotic cocktails or just a game of pool.
Why was there a car bombing in Kamppi?
Why was the minister of the interior assassinated?
How did the widow of a Russian Military Officer shape Helsinki forever?
Why was the national author in the sanatorium?
And... is Finland really the happiest country in the world?
Book your tour today!
