Top Helsinki Day Trips - page 2

It’s absolutely true that a Finnish smoke sauna is a wonderful experience. Mari, our guide, did a fantastic job of explaining history and culture to us throughout our lovely national park hike as well as the sauna and lake experience. Don’t be afraid of the lake! I highly recommend this tour.

It was a perfect Sunday hiking in Liesarvi National Park. The travel from Helsinki was a comfortable drive. Our tour leader Alex was awesome. He greeted all the travelers cheerfully and made us feel comfortable all the time. He was attentive to all the details and to the needs and comfort of everyone. He shared all the interesting information about the forest. He prepared a delicious lunch for us. Overall it was a wonderful tour.

We had a great guide, Rachel, who had plenty to tell, and she also was pleased to get questions. The city tour gives a good sense of where you might want to return for a closer look. The Sibelius monument is wonderful, and we had enough time to enjoy it and take some pics. We were able to stroll the market, get some lunch (delicious salmon soup is available), and have a nice scenic ferry ride over to Suomenlinna. There is a lot of walking and hills there, so be aware. The weather changes quickly, so having an umbrella or light rain gear is recommended.

The town is very worth seeing. History markers plus our guide’s informative comments were great. I travel to learn, so shopping and eating are mot my priority. But Porvoo has both, too. I loved the gentle waters lined with old structures, and the abundant summer wildflowers along the walk. A nice no-hurry outing. There is a lot of cobblestone walking, and hill climbing, so be aware.

This tour was an excellent introduction to Tallinn, Estonia, and one of the highlights of my trip to Finland. The ferry ride from Helsinki was comfortable and efficient, making it remarkably easy to visit another country for the day. Once in Tallinn, our guide brought the city’s fascinating history to life as we explored its beautifully preserved UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. Walking through the cobblestone streets felt like stepping back into the Middle Ages, surrounded by Gothic churches, medieval merchant houses, ancient city walls, and defensive towers. The guide shared interesting stories about Estonia’s history, the Hanseatic League, and how Tallinn has evolved into the vibrant capital it is today. The itinerary was well paced, with a great balance of guided sightseeing and free time to wander the charming streets, browse local shops, enjoy lunch, and take plenty of photos. Despite being a day trip, I never felt rushed and came away feeling that I had experienced the very best of Tallinn’s historic center. Transportation was seamless from start to finish, and everything was well organized. If you’re visiting Helsinki, I highly recommend taking this tour. It’s an effortless way to experience two Nordic-Baltic capitals in one trip and discover one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities. It was an unforgettable experience that left me wanting to return and spend even more time exploring Estonia.

From pick up to drop off the trip was lovely. It was a small group and Annette started with introductions to everyone. The journey was not too long and the last part was through the forest which was beautiful and green. Once parked we walked through the forest with regular stops to hear about the flora and fauna. Such an interesting history. Once we arrived we had an opportunity to explore whilst our lunch was prepared. We took a short walk and enjoyed the sunshine and dipped our feet in the Baltic Sea. The water was mesmerising reflecting off the sky, the views idyllic and the peace and quiet just incredible to sit, pause and relax. We all met back for lunch. Annette explained our local delicacies, which she had carried on her back from the van. My many dietary needs were catered for and I am extremely grateful, it is not often to get to enjoy a catered picnic when thinking about your diet. The communication about this from start to finish was excellent. Thank you Kia. We headed back a different route again enjoying our surroundings. It was a lovely way to enjoy Finland’s nature and I would highly recommend this trip.

This tour had all the components of “oh no” for Daniela. Six people but two different languages and one couple who got lost and arrived late. Being a holiday, their late arrival meant not just missing the planned bus but an hour delay because the next bus didn’t have enough seats left and then closures in Provo due to Midsumner holiday. She was calm and turned the wait into a unique extra tour of the buildings around the shopping area adding to our knowledge and insight of Helsinki. The operator was also quick to compensate for delay without bringing asked. Great customer service. The tour in Provo was wonderful - sites, pace, stories, time for pictures and local treat. Paula who was in training also deserves high marks - they were an exceptional team. We appreciated the quick thinking and calm approach to a difficult start and feel like we actually got a bonus treat from it. Definitely recommend and hope you get one if our great guides.

What a fun outing end of February. Stopped each way about halfway to/from Helsinki for restroom and any snacks. Our guide was fun, lots of good info, yummy lunch, and well worth heading out of Helsinki on this guided forest tour. Even provided spikes to put over boots so less slippery on ice. Brought hiking poles but didn’t need them.