Helsinki architecture tour with a city planner
Description
Helsinki is a gem for architecture enthusiasts. It is difficult, if not possible, to find another urban space that houses a wide range of architectural styles like Helsinki; neoclassical, gothic revival, (largest collection of) Art Nouveau, Jugendstil, Nordic classicism, modernism, functionalism, and contemporary styles in a compact city centre. Different historical periods left their marks on Helsinki, however it is easy to miss these great works of world renowned architects, from Engel to Saarinen, from Aalto to Siren and Revell in ordinary city tours. Join us in a great architecture tour with a small group to visit and enjoy the architectural wonders Helsinki offers, such as the National Library of Finland, Central Railway Station, new public library Oodi, Chapel of Silence, Kiasma modern art museum, The Rock Church, Finlandia Hall and more.
Tour Options
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Highlights
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Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- 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
Reviews(64)
Emeck provided a fascinating, well-organized introduction to the history and development of architecture in Helsinki. His discussions addressed politics, economics, and social history, and we ended our tour with a deep understanding of the history of Helsinki architecture. One of the best tours ever!
Emek is a gem of a tour guide. He led us through Helsinki history, life and architecture. He was generous with his time and knowledge. This is a terrific introduction to Helsinki! Don't hesitate to book with Emek!
Fun and very informative, not just about architecture but also Finnish history and culture and the relationship between form and function across various eras and contexts. Our guide did a great job of explaining things to a small group of Americans and Brits with no relevant technical training, and several of the spots we visited were memorably beautiful. Just a heads up to guide dressing/packing, we were standing or walking for almost all of the 3 hour tour, and one of the sites we went inside required all bags to be left in free lockers.
This was a wonderful tour! Emek was a great guide and very knowledgeable! Second time in Helsinki but we saw more in this tour than before. Highly recommend!
A very educational and exciting guide and city hike. One of us attended for the second time and it was still engaging and interesting.
Really interesting explanations of the city architecture and history. We very much enjoyed learning more about Helsinki this way.
Emek provided valuable insights into Finland’s history, along with the origins of Helsinki’s architecture and the underlying principles for their design…and, he also touched on town planning. The depth of information made me look at things through a different lens and increased my understanding and appreciation greatly. The three hours passed remarkably quickly. Thank you so much. It was a memorable experience.
Our guide Emek Ataman offered us an extremely interesting city tour. He embedded the story in various ways - interweaving architecture, history, politics. Again and again with flashing humor. I could have listened to him hours longer. He could answer questions very knowledgeably. I have very high demands on tours in terms of complex information content, and this exceeded my expectations. In addition, Emek Ataman has also reached us absolutely on a personal-emotional level.
Emek was very knowledgeable, confident and yet friendly. Learnt a lot from him during the three hour walking tour as he convincingly shared about how architecture and urban planning in Helsinki was influenced by political, social and economic factors. He effectively addressed questions as well. Engaging experience since this was a small group. An enjoyable learning experience.
It was an enriching and interesting experience, there was not a single question that Emek left unanswered, he has a wide knowledge of architecture, engineering, history and general knowledge about Finland that is so useful for a tourist. In addition, he has a personal charm and great patience. It is recommended to schedule the tour at the beginning of your visit to Helsinki.
