Hidden architecture gems of Helsinki walking tour
Helsinki has a lot of architectural gems to discover. During this walking tour we will discover some of the most famous Architect works in Helsinki city area, like Alvar Aalto's buildings, jugend-style cafe's, Old Market Hall, wooden hotel, public library Oodi, Finlandia Hall and the magnificient Rock Church.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Meeting "under the clock" at entry of Stockmann department store
- "Under the clock" is often referred to old analog clock hanging above the Stockmann historical department store, address Aleksanterinkatu 52, Helsinki
Alvar Aalto's Rautatalo
Architect Alvar Aalto designed this building to a bank office. Has magnificient interior and natural ambient light manipulation. Details of Aalto's design are special illumination lamps, marble stairs, atrium-style interior and other Aalto way of thinking.
Alvar Aalto's Kirjatalo
Alvar Aalto designed this building "Kirjatalo" (Book House) and the Academic Bookstore year 1969. Inside you will find how genious architect Alvar Aalto was on creating an environment that has "spirit" and "freedom to breathe".
First public building from Alvar Aalto in Helsinki
This little staircase is often neglected by people passing by. However, the architect was one of the most known architects in Finland.
Jugend-style cafe at Northern Esplanade
This nice cafe was built for a bank, and nowadays has a beautiful jugend (Art Nouveau) style cafe.
Old Market Hall
Inside the old Market Hall you can have delicacy food and taste cold-smoked bear meat and reindeer. Some vendors also provide lunch soup and souvenirs.
Market Square, Sweden Embassy, Presidential Palace
Walking through the Market Square may take longer than 20 minutes - depending on the things you find...
Wooden Hotel and HQ of Stora Enso Pier 4
This magnificient building was built to act as a hotel and the Headquarters of wood-industry company Stora Enso. In the entry hall you will be stunned on the way how wood can be used in construction.
We will also visit to the roof terrace of the building.
Finnish government's building Senate House and the Senate Square
This is the monumental center of Helsinki. The architects for this place were brought here from Russia's st. Petersburg, that is the reason for the place to look like "little st. Petersburg".
Here we will also visit the National Library and see the old university main building.
Railway station square
Here we will see old art museum Ateneum, National Theatre and the main Railway station of Helsinki.
Public Library Oodi
Oodi is a gem within public buildings in Helsinki. This building looks like a long bridge, and is really supported only from the ends of the building.
Oodi is a public library, and here you might get the idea of why Finland is the happiest country in the world!
Finlandia Hall designed by Alvar Aalto
Finlandia Hall was built in the beginning of 1970 era to act as a concert hall and conference center.
Alvar Aalto used white Carrara marble in the outside plates of this building. That was not the best choice, and the material has had to be changed later.
Rock Church
The Church excavated inside the hill. This is the "must see this" site in Helsinki.
Ending Point
Kamppi shopping mall
Want to personalize this tour?
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/32044/99137.jpg)
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide service hours
Entry tickets to the churches, like the Rock Church 8€ / pax
Tour Important Information
This tour requires approximately 6 kilometers of walking.
Please have comfortable shoes with you, and weather-resistant clothing.
On weekends some locations may be closed and the Rock Church can have sermon on, then tourists are not allowed to come in.
Important message from the supplier
All days available.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Timo R.
Hi, my name is Timo, your local private guide in Helsinki.
I am an easy-going and open-minded person. I like to interact with people from across the world and to know about their culture, language, travel interests. I am passionate about nature. In my free time I enjoy outdoor activities of all kinds. In the summer amongst other things, I love to hike, mountain bike and go kayaking. In the winter, I love to snowshoe and watch the northern lights.
My professionality is also based on a long career in information technology, serving in an international company as a technical specialist. This has given me the opportunity to travel around Europe, the USA and Asia.
As well as being an experienced Nature and Wilderness Guide, I am also a Golden Badge Guide (the ultimate qualification in guiding in Finland). I am also a Licenced City of Helsinki and a Licenced Suomenlinna Unesco World Heritage Guide, the City of Hyvinkää and Tuusula Guide, so wherever we go you'll be in good hands. My aim is to provide you with enthusiastic informative private tours which ensure that your Helsinki and Finland experience will be the best.
My bespoke tours include walking tours or biking tours, tours by a private car, a van or a minibus. Within Helsinki we can cover the major sites or explore less well-known districts in the countryside like Nuuksio or Sipoonkorpi Wilderness areas, the picturesque small town of Porvoo, nearby towns like Tuusula and Hyvinkää are a few of the many wonderful places that can be easily reached in a day trip.
My tours are very flexible in content and timing and I can adapt easily to your preferences and suggestions.
For me, the best reward for guiding guests is the fun I have sharing the beauty of the place.
Let me be your local guide and I will share with you not only my knowledge and expertise but my enthusiasm as well.
Reviews
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/55289/f1f607c1-d619-4197-882f-ffbb472c190e.png)
Suellen A.
“Wonderful custom tour”
Timo is knowledgeable, flexible and clearly enjoys being a guide. I told him the things we wanted to do and he customized the day, adding in highlights about Finland I didn’t know about. He is a native Fin and knows a lot about nature as well as the history of Finland. You can’t go wrong with Timo!
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/32044/99137.jpg)
Timo R.
Thank you for being my customer, I really enjoyed being your guide!
Bhadra T.
“A memorable experience with our personal guide”
We went with Mr Timo for our tour of Suomenlinna Fortress on the 25th of December. We had our seven-year-old boy with us on tour. Our meeting made it very apparent that Mr Timo belongs to Helsinki and knows the city properly. He knew a great deal of history and geopolitics. He kept the tour lively, with just enough history and a good deal of Finnish culture. Conversation with him was relevant and we never got bored. I strongly recommend him as anyone's tour guide.
$340/ per group
More tours by Timo R.
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5880/99394.jpg)
Day tour to Porvoo and Helsinki with private transport
Private guided day tour with transport to medieval town of Porvoo and Helsinki, the capital town of Finland. Tour includes pick-up from hotel or cruise port and 6 hours of private guide services to both Helsinki and Porvoo. Transport will be done with our private 6-seater MB Vito Van.
Day tour to Porvoo and Helsinki with private transport
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5894/99634.jpg)
Bicycle Excursion to Nuuksio National Park with FatBikes
Let's go to Nuuksio National Park! This tour gives you an experience of riding a FatBike in Nuuksio National Park. Nuuksio is situated just 1 hour of car drive outside Helsinki. Tour price includes transport with a comfortable 6-seat van. In Nuuksio we will find plenty of nature sights, old trees, swamps, small ponds and in the mid of the tour have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious mushroom soup meal at Northern side of the park, at Salmi cafe. This route is very easy to ride on a fatbike.
Bicycle Excursion to Nuuksio National Park with FatBikes
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5892/99607.jpg)
Private tour to Suomenlinna Unesco World Heritage site
This tour heads to Sveaborg-Suomenlinna fortress just in front of the harbor of Helsinki. Suomenlinna fortress is one of the Unesco World Heritage sites in Finland. We will start at your hotel and have a short walk to the Helsinki Market Square. From there we will take the commuter ferry to the islands of Suomenlinna. Suomenlinna has a remarkable history from year 1748 until today. Nowadays it is most visited site and open all-around the year.
Private tour to Suomenlinna Unesco World Heritage site
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/5891/99582.jpg)
Tour to Vallisaari and Kuninkaansaari
In the coastline of Helsinki there is an enormous abandoned military fortress site Vallisaari. The construction was started during the time Finland was an autonomous Russian Grand Duchy from year 1809 to 1917. This site has been a secret military site until year 2016 when it was opened for public. This tour takes you to a privately guided tour to this enormous nature site. The tour starts at your hotel and will include a short ferry trip from the Market Square of Helsinki.
Tour to Vallisaari and Kuninkaansaari
Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Helsinki
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/12125/172670.jpg)
Helsinki walking highlights with sustainable features
This tour represents you main highlights along with sustainable features in Helsinki City centre. Along this itinerary you will see for example Museum of Contemporary Art, Parliament House, National Museum, Music House, Central Library Oodi, Central Railway Station, Esplanade' s park, Market Square, Uspenskij Cathedral and Senate Square with Lutheran Cathedral. Along the way you will hear stories of the history of Helsinki and what kind of things we do today for sustainability .
Helsinki walking highlights with sustainable features
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/44085/adb605af-fd4d-4377-aee3-2d92c439ef78.png)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/11038/157631.jpg)
Helsinki Art-Nouveau Walking Tour
Let's take a tour of some remarkable architectural landmarks located in the heart of Helsinki's old district. We'll head towards the Art Nouveau neighborhood, enjoy a leisurely walk through beautiful parks, and take a ride on the renowned Helsinki tram. You'll be fascinated by the charming architectural district with its rich history and a variety of building styles. In the end, you'll enjoy a cup of coffee in a vibrant Jugend Hall. I'll also share valuable suggestions for your stay!
Helsinki Art-Nouveau Walking Tour
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/43997/67e1dcf7-6afb-4033-84ad-2fa5ef5cf074.png)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/480x480/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/20481/ff3ecbbd-3646-41ad-bcf2-b8b942bdb265.jpg)
Porvoo Historic Town & Riversides: Guided Tour from Helsinki
Porvoo, founded in the 14th century, is Finland’s second oldest city and a popular destination just 50 kilometers from Helsinki—ideal for a day trip. Its Old Town and the scenic Porvoonjoki River Valley are celebrated as Finland’s National Landscapes, recognized for exceptional historical and cultural significance. Visitors enjoy strolling cobblestone streets lined with colourful 18th- and 19th-century wooden buildings, where history comes alive at every turn.
Porvoo Historic Town & Riversides: Guided Tour from Helsinki
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/160x160/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/profiles/79997/86790202-7ced-4137-bf87-b148e41d664d.png)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/20518/f6ec0bde-c8f5-45a4-8958-6b48616b85d1.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/20518/5d051deb-f65e-4e84-b71c-7f9294323de3.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/20518/a894fe2c-e112-439f-ba09-7589df3ecd91.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/20518/9e620430-263c-464b-8b51-33ce0b014990.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/20518/72cc5aaf-fb59-45ea-85a9-f45f9d9d595f.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/20518/1f448483-84f6-4f45-ae5d-7d349d408192.jpg)
/filters:strip_exif()/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:quality(50)/gowithguide/tours/20518/6dd2f4fa-05b8-49df-b633-d77292c41748.jpg)