Private Tour
Helsinki private tour with a city planner
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
We will walk together in and around the city center for three hours, discovering Helsinki's secrets, learning its history, culture and traditions. Why do Helsinki people have picnic on top of graves? What was the meeting point of the bohemian people of 1880s in Helsinki? How did they build a church inside a giant granite rock? Where did Lenin hide when he was running away from the Tsarist Russia? Which statue is the one that seagulls hate the most? Where did they bury thousands of bodies during the plague? Why is the largest Orthodox cathedral located in a Lutheran country? Where can you eat the best salmon soup of your life? Why Finnish people still cheer for the opponents of the Swedish national football team? How did a Finnish architect influence generations of American architects and skyscraper designs? We will find answers to all of these questions and more, while visiting each of these less known yet important locations in Helsinki.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Local guide
Food and drinks
Transportation to/from attractions
Gratuities
What To Expect
Senate Square
.
Helsinki Cathedral
.
Options
Private Tour
Reviews
50 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent tour and guide!
Amy W,
Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent tour and guide! He did a great job keeping us informed and entertained. The guide was very knowledgeable and great humor. I was engaged the whole time and learned a lot.
Walking tour of Helsinki (4 squares that relate to the history of the city)
Brettne,
Sep 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a very interesting and educational tour of Helsinki. Emek was friendly and super knowledgeable. We enjoyed his company and the tour information!
Best architecture tour ever (and I lead architecture tours myself!)
389lancef,
Aug 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Emek’s tour was exceptional and fascinating. He went far beyond describing buildings by putting them in historical context, enabling us to learn about Finland’s surprising history and the people who helped create it. His passion for all of this comes through emphatically. Any question we asked brought forth an expansive response that illuminated areas we’d never thought of. I am a lifelong architecture fan, have gone on architectural tours around the world, and lead architecture tours in my home city of Chicago. This was the best architecture tour I’ve ever experienced.
Intensive 3 hour tour tailored to your interests
debstrong,
Aug 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent overview of Helsinki and Finland by a very well-informed guide who tailored the experience to our interests and included extensive historical background. Loved this tour!!
An essential tour with a knowledgeable expert
SJtravellers,
Aug 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My tour with Emek two days ago was really quite wonderful. I’m traveling solo in Helsinki and I really wanted to do an architecture tour so I splurged and opted for a private tour. It was expensive and worth every euro. Emek is highly qualified to lead an architecture tour and very passionate about what he shares with you. He’s extremely articulate and animated as he explains the underlying details of what we are looking at. Our tour started with a short history of Swedish and Russian rule in Finland. We then started walking around, and we stopped in multiple places, each of them accompanied by an extensive analysis of how the building was actually built, the aesthetics, how it fit into the overall scheme of things in terms of the history of the time, and how the design had to accommodate the local conditions in Finland. All very fascinating information. We went to approximately six different places with stop at each. Emek knew that I was interested in Art Nouveau and made sure to include some examples. Each building that we went to was brought to life by his explanations. Our last stop was the central library. What an amazing place! It is a classic example of form and function marrying together in an absolutely wonderful and successful way. I’ve been raving about it to friends ever since this visit. This tour was probably the best guided tour that I have ever taken, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. To have a true expert explain hidden intricacies is a real pleasure. If any of what I have said, strikes a cord with you, please make sure to book a tour with Emek when you are in Helsinki next.
Relatable, knowledgeable and engaging tour with Ataman Tours
AMW1234,
Jul 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were very impressed with Emek as our guide through Helsinki. He possesses an abundance of knowledge about the historical and contemporary elements of Finland. He was engaging and very relatable. We highly recommend Emek as your guide!
A Wonderful Experience
Hanmei C,
Apr 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was amazing. I learned so much about the city and culture. The guide was pleasant and informative. We had a wonderful time.
Great historical city tour of Helsinki
Yana B,
Sep 22, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide Emek was very knowledgeable about the history of Finland. We had a great time and enjoyed our tour 100%.
Well worth your time
Valerie R,
Sep 15, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00What a wonderful tour! We learned so much about the history and architecture of Helsinki in a short amount of time. Well worth your time.
Great Private Tour
Ashley A,
Aug 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Emek was a fantastic tour guide. He took us across the key areas of “downtown” Helsinki and spent plenty of time pointing out key landmarks and explaining the city’s history. He also answered all of our many questions about the city and life in Finland. Would highly recommend that you book him for small, personalized groups tours.
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Operated by Ataman Tours