Top Helsinki Bus Tours

This was soooo fun! We were only in Helsinki for four days but we really wanted to get out into nature but with guidance and had no interest in traveling with a large group. Our tour guide Lydia was lovely. There were five of us in the tour total. We drove to an amazing location, the hike was not hard but not easy if you cannot navigate uneven ground. The lunch was spectacular and the views were stunning. I would do it again and highly recommend as a way to also learn a bit more of Finland’s history.

Overall, the experience is 5 stars. I appreciate the ease of being picked up at the hotel and then being dropped off as well. The tour guide at Tallinn, Roman, was pretty good. It was hard to understand him at times, but he did a good job overall pointing things out to us. It was nice being in a small private group tour. I will say that I was a little surprised that he didn’t meet us after our free time to make sure we got on the right van / mini bus, but the meeting point was easy to find so I guess that’s okay.

Ed our guide was brilliant. He took us to places we would not have even thought of including the Oodie library which was such an eye opener and what all libraries should be. Helsinki is a lovely city with friendly and obliging people. Our tour included the sea fortress of Suomenlinna with a long history and well worth a visit.

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.

It was wonderful to get out of the city and into the countryside and national forest. Our guide led us on an easy path through the forest with frequent stops to explain the plants and geology. She provided a delicious hot traditional soup for lunch. The forest and lakes were breathtaking. We definitely enjoyed this outing.

Great experience! Mikhail is very knowledgeable. We would not have been able to see as much of Helsinki, let alone understand what we were seeing, if it weren't for Mikhail. Harbors, markets, residential neighborhoods, and Helsinki's modern library are just some of the highlights.

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 guide Sergei was very knowledgeable and we did learn a lot about Estonia. Our group did appreciate the extra time we had at the end of the tour. He recommended grabbing a bite at Olde Hansa (medieval restaurant). It was a trip back in time. Highly recommend this tour.