Top Helsinki Private Sightseeing Tours

Great tour, a lot of interesting history shared about Finland and Helsinki. Very much enjoyed exploring Suomenlinna and learning about the history of the defense of Helsinki and the role of the islands. Glen (our guide) encouraged us to explore and take our time when needed. He kept a good pace and had a wealth of knowledge to share.

Our driver picked us up from our hotel and dropped us at the ferry terminal. He did not speak to us and was initially abrupt when I asked if he was picking us up for the Tallinn trip. When he dropped us off I had to ask him where to go. This should not put you off as soon as we met our guide Anastasia the trip really started when we got off the 2 hour ferry crossing. Anastasia was knowledgeable and friendly. The places we visited were lovely and interesting to understand the history of Tallinn. Once the tour was over Anastasia made sure we all knew where our driver was picking us up from to get back to the ferry and which terminal we head to make our way to. We had a good length of time to enjoy the streets of Tallinn and explore on our own. We were promptly picked up on time and made on way back the ferry. When we arrived our driver sent a message to let us know he was on his way. He greeted us with a friendly smile. He asked about our experiences in Tallinn and in Finland. He was very pleasant and polite which ended the trip for us incredibly nicely. We would definitely recommend the Tallinn trip.

A shuttle from the cruise terminal is necessary to meet the local tour guide in the center of Helsinki especially if you have a set meeting time. Luckily, there was a free port shuttle that took us to a spot not too far from Senate Square, our appointed meeting spot. Unfortunately, our tour guide, Kerstin, had different instructions from Viator, so I had to text Kerstin after we had waited for 15 minutes or so. She replied that she was about 5 minutes away, and once she arrived, we set off on a whirlwind tour of Helsinki highlights. Senate Square with the pastel colored Cathedral, Umiversity and Parliament buildings was the best square in Helsinki. Close by was the artisan’s and food open market next to the smaller harbor. We strolled through the open market and tasted the specialties of Finland on our way to the Old Market, the beautifully preserved wooden structure with equally impressive wooden stalls that now hold food stuffs from around Finland as well as the world rather than the fruits and vegetables and fish and meat that used to fill the stalls. We walked through Esplandi park right in the center of Helsinki and ended up at the Central Train Station which has been maintained and whose dining area is now restored to its former glory as a restaurant with Finnish specialties, and NOT Burger King. Kerstin was informative and conscientious. We told her we wanted to return to the ship by shuttle, so she made sure to route the tour, so we would end up at the shuttle stop within 2 hours time. Thank you, Kerstin, for making our brief stop in Helsinki worthwhile!

Our tour of Helsinki with Olga was absolutely incredible. From the moment we began, she tailored the day perfectly to fit our large group and our shared interest in Helsinki’s unique architecture and design. Her knowledge was outstanding—not only did she provide fascinating history and details at every stop, but she also brought the city to life with stories and insights we never would have discovered on our own. Olga did an amazing job balancing the needs of a larger group while keeping the experience personal, engaging, and fun. She made sure we saw the most beautiful and interesting parts of the city, with a special focus on the architecture and design that make Helsinki so unique. She also went above and beyond to make sure we experienced the local culture, including making sure we had the chance to try reindeer and local licorice! It was such a thoughtful touch and made the day even more memorable. If you are visiting Helsinki, I cannot recommend Olga highly enough. She made our day truly special and unforgettable.

Vagif was a wonderful guide- picked us up on time, was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. He gave us great insight into Finnish culture along the way sharing notable sites on our ride to the Alpaca farm. Once we were there Vagif accompanied us to get the experience started and even took pictures and videos of us so we could capture our family experience. The interaction with the animals was great, super interactive, just long enough. We could engage with the animals for as long and as much as we wanted. I would highly recommend this experience especially with children, but was fun for all ages! Vagif went above and beyond, giving us restaurant recommendations, and ideas for experiences. Also the door to door pick up and drop off was super helpful.

Michail met us at our apartment where we are staying in a suburb. We have been here for a few days so we have walked around and seen most of the 'tourist' attractions so it was a bit more of a challenge to show us things we hadn't previously seen, but he managed to very well for 4 hours. His knowledge of Finnish history and life was very extensive and we got a very good overview of the way of the Fins. I would highly recommend this tour and Michail as a guide.