Helsinki Tours
Helsinki architecture tour with a city planner
5

Helsinki architecture tour with a city planner

By Ataman Tours
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Ages 3-99, max of 6 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Local guide
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Transportation to/from attractions
  • Gratuities


Start:
  • Aleksanterinkatu 9, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
    Meeting point address: Aleksanterinkatu 9B, 00100, Helsinki. The meeting point is the corner of Aleksanterinkatu street and Kluuvikatu street, in front of Aleksanterinkatu no 9B, Nanso Clothing Store (outside). Guide will be waiting for you at this point.
End:
  • Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Töölönlahdenkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki, Finland

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Pushchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 105445P1

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travellers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 105445P1

From
€60.00
per adult (price varies by group size)
Select date and travellers
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • Aleksanterinkatu 9, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
    Meeting point address: Aleksanterinkatu 9B, 00100, Helsinki. The meeting point is the corner of Aleksanterinkatu street and Kluuvikatu street, in front of Aleksanterinkatu no 9B, Nanso Clothing Store (outside). Guide will be waiting for you at this point.
  • 1
    Pass by
    Helsinki Cathedral
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
    Pass by
    Rautatalo
  • 7
    Pass by
    Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
    Helsinki Music Centre
  • 8
    Pass by
    Finlandia - Talo
  • Töölönlahdenkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • Ataman Tours
    251
    Helsinki, Finland
    Joined in May 2019
  • kaylend2025
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must-try!
    This Helsinki tour was amazing! From modern architecture to unique historical sites, we loved exploring the city’s culture. The guide was engaging and full of local knowledge.
    Written 3 February 2025
  • skym523
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful experience
    Helsinki’s minimalist design and modern architecture shine through the tour. The city's coastal beauty is mesmerizing, though the cold can be a factor if you're not used to the chill.
    Written 28 January 2025
  • Anton S
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A curious and chill tour
    The guide is very friendly and chill. I enjoyed learning about Helsinki history and facts about Finnish culture. I also like the we spent time discussing languages and the history of Finnish and Sweden in this country.
    Written 30 August 2024
  • ElandTi
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highlight of our Helsinki trip!
    I cannot praise this walking tour with Emek highly enough. His extensive knowledge of the city and of Finland, both past and present, provided a depth to our visit that we would never have had otherwise. Emek's open and engaging personality, and the small size of the group, made the experience not only incredibly informative but also really fun. The three-plus hours just flew by. Very highly recommended!
    Written 25 August 2024
  • whitekey
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dive into the Beauty of Helsinki with a Great Guide
    We had the real pleasure to join the tram tour with Emek this August. The tour was definitive one of our highlights during visiting Finland, Sweden, and other countries of the Baltic Sea. Emek gave us remarkably interesting insights into life, culture, and history of Finland and Helsinki. Emek will guide you to remarkable places and show you also the beauty of the buildings and places that Helsinki can provide to you. And we will never forget the visit of the central library in Helsinki - not only because of its architecture, but also because of the wise concept behind it (be surprised, what Emek can tell you about it). Also because of the wonderful experience made with the tram tour we fell in love with Finland and Helsinki. We plan to return to Helsinki in near future. And if we arrive, we will surely book Emek for another tour! So, join Emek and let hin guide you through Helsinki. Helsinki and Finland are far more than (the great band) "Nightwish" (this is an insider for Emek :-) ).
    Written 20 August 2024
  • Traveler27351471929
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Finland is not Scandinavian. Finland is different. Finland is fun and you know because of this tour
    The gentleman hosting the tour is super funny, nerdy and ensures every query of how Finnish people live their life in and all about Finland gets resolved. My trip to Helsinki honestly couldn't have been more memorable without him because he goes above and beyond to make sure you have the most of your trip. To be precise, I asked him about nature soaked spots which are noteworthy truly and not just touristy spots. He texted me all the cool spots along with restaurants where I can experience the Nordic spirit. In addition, the day trip pass is an extra bonus which you can utilize for travelling throughout the city whether it be ferry to island or tram to your accomodation. I would definitely recommend to join the tour which he gives at a competitive price.
    Written 14 August 2024
  • Ashley A
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Private Tour
    Emek was a fantastic tour guide. He took us across the key areas of “downtown” Helsinki and spent plenty of time pointing out key landmarks and explaining the city’s history. He also answered all of our many questions about the city and life in Finland. Would highly recommend that you book him for small, personalized groups tours.
    Written 10 August 2024
  • mary a
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tram rides
    Very easy access. You have to purchase a day ticket which is available from the blue ticket machines then hop on hop off any tram. They are very frequent and very clean.
    Written 4 August 2024
  • EricaB402
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic Experience!
    Emek was an incredible tour guide! We thoroughly enjoyed all the history and knowledge he shared with us. We just wish we could have spent longer with him. Next time we are in Helsinki, we'll do another tour with him. HIGHLY recommend!
    Written 25 July 2024
  • 583nancyw
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Terrific city tour
    A city planner doing a tour is absolutely genius! One of the best tours I've ever been on. Emek has a wealth of information and presents it in such an interesting way with his perspective as a city planner. The tour is perfectly paced and you're able to ask as many questions as you'd like. Highly recommend!
    Written 22 July 2024
  • Escape47447540675
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Delightful introduction to Helsinki
    The tour was outstanding. The guide is extremely well learned but not pedantic. The format is perfect (for me): small groups and informal chats allow for flexible and adaptable discoveries. We walked for a good 3 hours, taking very short standing breaks to let the guide answer our questions or discuss a place or topic. The path seemed improvised, adapted based on our interactions, but it flowed coherently. It is obvious that Emek knows his town, and he loves his town. I’d walk with him for days. A delightful introduction to Helsinki, a surprising and fascinating city. Highly recommended.
    Written 8 July 2024
  • 337alliep
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Engaging and knowledgeable tour guide
    Emek was extremely knowledgeable and lead a very engaging tour. Definitely one of the best city tours I've ever done. A great price-value!
    Written 5 July 2024
  • dawnjohnpow
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tram/ walking tour - best tour I have ever been on
    Amazing. Best tour I have ever been on. So much info packed into a short time in a fun and interactive manner Loved that he discussed issues in a respectful manner while giving us information on the present day situation. The modern library is a must see and he is so excited to show it off.
    Written 4 July 2024
  • megancY8024QK
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful wander around Helsinki
    We had a wonderful morning learning all about Helsinki and Finland. My favourite stop was the library which I never would have thought to visit otherwise. Loved every minute. Guide was fantastic.
    Written 2 July 2024
  • Fortheloveoftravel7
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing!!!!
    AMAZING!! A must do. Our guide was excellent, very knowledgeable, and friendly. Went to the most important sites and he knew a lot about it. Afterwards he even texted us restaurant recommendations, etc.
    Written 1 July 2024
See all 251 reviews
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles35 reviews
Excellent
34
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0

Wade J
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
Emek was a great tour guide of Helsinki! Emek has great insight to the architecture, the city history and key places to show us that we would not have found on our own. He is funny and good spirited and answered our many questions not only about architecture but also about city life and the interesting history of Helsinki with the many Russian, Swedish and German influences along the way. We had very bad weather on our actual tour date and we were able to postpone one day and avoid the cold rain. Emek was easy to correspond with and timely! We highly recommend a tour led by Emek!
Written 17 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Deepak P
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
We are a group of 12 tourists who booked a private tour with Emek Ataman. It is the best decision we made to learn about Helsinki. Emek is knowledgeable, articulate and experienced guide. We have the most amazing 3-hours with him. For anyone visiting Helsinki, I would highly recommend booking a tour with Ataman Tours to get an excellent understanding of this city and country
Written 31 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janet H
Sydney, Australia43 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Emek is an excellent guide with expertise who gave us a thoughtful overview of architecture, history and life in Helsinki. As we walked through the city we were shown interesting buildings from the 1800s to now. Several times we entered buildings and learnt about the interior design which was often innovative. We appreciated his city planning expertise and depth of knowledge.
Written 11 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KAP245
Mishawaka, IN168 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
My husband and I just returned from Helsinki and Walk with Emek, former City Planner- the tour was excellent. We only had 4 travelers- so had lots of opportunities for questions and explanations. We did the tour after 4 days in the city and learned so much about the history, the Classical architecture of Senate Plaza and University, the Art Nouveau- Finn adaption in early 1900’s, the impact of Swedish, Russian and German movements and architects on the the layout and building styles that now characterize Finland’s capital. Emek is friendly, professional and full of knowledge of history as well as the contemporary issues facing the city.
Written 21 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ziyue J
World5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Friends
Emek is an absolutely professional tour guide with broad and profound knowledge that greatly enriched our entire journey. The entire trip is very well designed, so we didn't feel tired at all, even though it's a three-hour journey in freezing winter conditions. If we were to explore on our own, Helsinki might have left us with the impression of a seemingly unremarkable city, lacking clear points of interest. However, Emek skillfully weaved together historical insights and architectural highlights, making the tour both informative and engaging. That’s very fascinating! And I truly enjoy his humor hahahahah! For anyone seeking a quick but comprehensive overview, this trip is definitely the best choice.
Written 11 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kate J
Minneapolis, MN5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
Emek Ataman wove together Finland's history, insights into the values of the people, their pride in architectural civic "statements,"and the importance of stories and characters from the Kalevala as they appear in the ornamental programs of major buildings. Emek is extremely personable, boundlessly energetic, and a great listener as well as a great story teller. We enjoyed our 4 hours with him (and two others) immensely! Emek's tour of Helsinki's architecture was recommended to us by friends/neighbors who had visited Helsinki a few months earlier and said they learned so much not only about Finland, but also about architecture in general. My husband and I (an architect and an art. historian) were familiar with much of the history, but Emek brought it right up to the moment, with the fabulous Ode, Helsinki's amazing new library...and so much more!
Written 17 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janet C
Sacramento, California, United States19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Amek was very knowledgeable about Helsinki and Finnish history. The buildings he toured/discussed were different styles and from different eras. He had extensive knowledge of the architecture and the architects. It was all very fascinating. These were not buildings we would have discovered or toured on our own. We shared a wonderful afternoon with Amek exploring and hearing about Helsinki architecture.
Written 7 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Celia L
Sandbach, UK56 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Thoroughly enjoyed our architecture tour of Helsinki with Emek. He knew loads about Helsinki in general as well as the buildings, structure and development of the city. He was helpful, informative, entertaining and a great host to this wonderful city.
Written 23 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Erin P
Philadelphia, PA27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We wanted to do something different for a city tour and this experience did not disappoint! Even with challenging February weather, this tour was delightful and gave a unique perspective of the main city highlights. Emek was a wonderful, knowledgeable, and fun guide. All in all, a great time!
Written 19 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RobbieSing
Sydney, Australia100 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
This tour was the best thing we did while in Helsinki. Out tour leader was so knowledgable and professional, as well as being a very nice person. He couldn't have been more helpful. He really gave us a terrific overview of the history and conditions leading up to the establishment of the city, as well as a good understanding of contemporary Finland. We enjoyed our time immensely and would recommend this tour unreservedly.
Written 8 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

Helsinki architecture tour with a city planner provided by Ataman Tours

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