Helsinki Market Square, Kolera-allas (by the yellow SIGHTSEEING flags)
Description
The Helsinki City Highlights Cruise shows you the urban shorelines of Helsinki. During the cruise you will see summer terraces, beach cafés and beautiful parks as well as both older and newer city architecture. The boat passes by the many residential areas and offers a nice way to see different districts of Helsinki by the sea.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
11:30 AM and 3:30 PM
Adult (ages 16+)
$33
Youth (ages 6–15)
$16
Infant (ages 0–5)
Free
In demand: 60 of the next 60 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Helsinki City Highlights Cruise
Itinerary
Kauppatori
30 min
Departure point, the boat arrives 30min before the departure.
Old Market Hall
Pass by
Old Market Hall
Kaivopuisto
Pass by
Kaivopuisto area
Loyly Sauna
Pass by
Löyly
Pass by
Eiranranta area
Sea Fortress Suomenlinna
Pass by
Suomenlinna sea fortress
Pass by
Vasikkasaari
Pass by
Kruunuvuorenranta
Pass by
Kalasatama
Pass by
Mustikkamaa
Korkeasaari Zoo
Pass by
Korkeasaari
Katajanokka
Pass by
Katajanokka
What's included
Included
Free WiFi on-board
Onboard commentary via loudspeakers in English, German, Finnish and Swedish
Not included
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
3.9
17 reviews
5
6
4
5
3
5
2
0
1
1
How it compares in Helsinki
Starting price $33 is 70% below the typical $109 for tours of similar length in Helsinki
Excurgo comparison of 417 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The boat arrives at the pier about 30 minutes before the departure time.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Helsinki City Highlights Cruise take?
Helsinki City Highlights Cruise lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 12 stops.
How much does Helsinki City Highlights Cruise cost?
Prices start at $33 per person for this Helsinki experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Helsinki City Highlights Cruise run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Does Helsinki City Highlights Cruise sell out?
It can: 60 of the next 60 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Helsinki City Highlights Cruise for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Helsinki Market Square, Kolera-allas (by the yellow SIGHTSEEING flags). Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Helsinki City Highlights Cruise offered in?
The experience is available in DE, SV, FI, EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 100 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Helsinki City Highlights Cruise worth it?
Travellers rate it 3.9 out of 5 across 17 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Strömma Finland Oy Ab.
Reviews(17)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
I
Isabel_C
July 23, 2026 · via Viator
The boat wasn’t very...
The boat wasn’t very comfortable and the r seats were a bit squashed in.
The commentary was a bit brief. They did offer a more in depth commentary via smart phone - but we didn’t know in advance so had no headphones - this probably would have improved the experience.
A nice cruise - but really needed more comfort and a better commentary.
Operator response
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We're glad you enjoyed the cruise, although we're sorry to hear that the seating felt cramped and that the commentary did not meet your expectations. Your feedback is valuable and helps us improve both the onboard comfort and how we communicate about our audio guide service.
O
Ovingdean4
August 28, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Okay
It was okay. Mostly just a ferry ride to see luxury houses . Boat was comfortable. Opportunity to buy drinks. Snacks on board,
E
emma78904638
August 7, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Great way to see the city
We completed both the Helsinki city highlights tour aswell as the Beautiful Canal Tour as both of these tours are available on the Helsinki card. Both tours were extremely enjoyable and both provide great photo opportunities achieved by being out on the water. The Beautiful Canal tour was a more scenic route taking you round the islands of the archipelago which are further away. The commentary was informative and there is sheltered covering on the lower deck. Excellent trip!!
C
CultureVultureCamb
June 23, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Don't go in the rain!
I'd booked ahead for what should have been a nice afternoon. Not the fault of the company that the weather turned out grey and wet. You can sit inside and I enjoyed the cheapest glass of wine of my Helsinki trip.
It was diffcult to see much and I reasoned that another time I should just turn up. Maybe it is packed in the summer but there are plenty of sailings and presumably I could have just bought a ticket from the booth on the day (once the weather was certain).
Commentary is via speakers that they promote as meaning you can move around, go to the bar and then even so they have an interval so you can visit the cafe!
D
DayTrip12719866979
June 16, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Helsinki - from the water
Interesting boat tour with all the highlights! Good service on board and extensive explanations. Definitely recommended.
R
Rahul_K
June 8, 2025 · via Viator
Pathetic cruise
Not at all recommended. No great sighting just seat and take big shots of chill air with nothing much to do, not even any good views for pics.
If you have too much free time & some money to waste then do this cruise
Better to do a cruise with dining atleast it will be some good time pass.
D
davidhJ1018MK
September 24, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
City Highlights
I liked seeing the city from the water, a different perspective. Hearing the narrative in so many different languages was annoying, but I enjoyed the tour.
P
Patrick_M
June 30, 2024 · via Viator
Very comfortable
Great experience. Only 4 stars because it was a taped info tour w/out a live guide, but we'll worth the trip 💯%
L
Linda E
June 8, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Nice boat ride, could not hear audio
Boat was fine, personnel were friendly. We could not hear the recorded guide information at all. Though the views were nice, we had no idea what we were seeing without the commentary. That was unfortunate. Perhaps more speakers? Headphones available?
D
Daniel_K
May 14, 2024 · via Viator
Great tour!
Very nice, informative tour with excellent viewing from inside and outside the boat. The tour was very extensive, traveling through a large section of the archipelago and an exciting canal. If you get cold, you can go in and enjoy a coffee while the tour continues. What a great way to start our stay in Helsinki! I wish that the volume had been a little higher on the speakers--it was challenging to hear the "guide" at times. The two couples sitting near us were speaking amongst themselves very loudly (not listening to the guide) and it was hard to hear over them.
Compare similar tours in Helsinki
Lowest price: Sightseeing Cruise in Archipelago of Helsinki — $32
Best rated: Helsinki to Tallinn Guided Tour -cruise ticket & pick up included — 4.5 (582 reviews)
Shortest: Helsinki City Highlights Cruise — 1h 30min