Day With A Local Helsinki
Day With A Local Helsinki
5
City Tours • Cultural Tours • Walking Tours • Private Tours
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Day With A Local Helsinki provides customized private tours and local experiences in Helsinki area from a local's point of view. The price is based on the length of your day, not on the size of the group (1-8 persons).
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Day With A Local Helsinki
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5.0
92 reviews
Excellent
85
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6
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Celine799
122 contributions
Dec 2021 • Solo
I came to visit Helsinki for 3 days and experiencing this city with Liisa (owner of Day with a Local) was the BEST! Liisa is very passionate about her job and cares a lot about her clients. She was even available to answer questions on WhatsApp, send directions, etc. at the end of the night after our tour for the day was over. I learned so much about Helsinki, Finland, and Finnish people through her. She just goes above and beyond - for arrival she always kept up with the new Covid rules/restrictions/forms for me, picked me up from the airport, and gave me a first day introduction to the city. She already had a list of her favorite dinner restaurants in mind according to my food preferences and a list of concerts & shows I could see at night. She had even called all the restaurants prior to my arrival to make sure they would accept my American vaccine card. I had told her my interests in advance and she already had a set plan for me to be able to see & do what I was curious about! Liisa always picked me up from my hotel every morning and dropped me back off at night. If I was going to dinner or a concert afterwards, she sent the most detailed directions on WhatsApp on how to get there and return to my hotel. No one goes as above & beyond as Liisa does for her travelers!! Make sure you experience Helsinki with her!!
Written 22 December 2021
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.
Thank you for your detailed review. It was my pleasure to help you throughout your stay and to make your travel experience as smooth as possible during these unexpected times.
Written 20 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mpettersch1
Avon, IN173 contributions
Sep 2019
Everything about this tour was perfect. We had a long layover in Helsinki and Liisa just made it perfect. We had been on a whirlwind tour in Russia before hand and were exhausted. Liisa provided the most chill experience! Exactly what we needed. I went from dreading a day in Helsinki to having the best memories, thank you Liisa!
Written 23 September 2019
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.
Thank you for your review! It was great to offer you an experience that you enjoyed.
Written 20 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
EvelynNorway
Eastern Norway, Norway3 contributions
Jul 2019
I had a weekend in Helsinki and booked a tour with Liisa. I booked the tour on her own website. She was so helpful.
She met me at the hotel before a very informative trip around beautiful Helsinki. I had to let her know beforehand what I was interested in. I was traveling solo so I needed to know where to eat and drink solo. I also wanted to know what the locals do on a Saturday and Sunday. She also give me tips where to run. She was very well prepared with interesting information. Any question asked was answered. She really let me feel welcome and what it was like to be a local in Helsinki.
I would not hesitate to recommend here to anyone! It was my first trip to Helsinki, but not my last.
She met me at the hotel before a very informative trip around beautiful Helsinki. I had to let her know beforehand what I was interested in. I was traveling solo so I needed to know where to eat and drink solo. I also wanted to know what the locals do on a Saturday and Sunday. She also give me tips where to run. She was very well prepared with interesting information. Any question asked was answered. She really let me feel welcome and what it was like to be a local in Helsinki.
I would not hesitate to recommend here to anyone! It was my first trip to Helsinki, but not my last.
Written 21 July 2019
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.
Thank you for your review! It was great to host you on your solo trip!
Written 20 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marta S
New York7 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
We were in Helsinki for a layover between flights and were able to book a tour with Liisa. It was amazing! She was so helpful and maximized the limited time we had. We had some issues with our flights and she was extremely accommodating, even changing our tour date with no issues when we weren't able to make the first scheduled time.
She made it so easy, from meeting us at the airport to a very informative train ride back to the City to a grand tour of all of Helsinki's beautiful sites. We had let her know beforehand we were interested in architecture so she was VERY well prepared with an itinerary, relevant facts, and interesting information. Any question we asked, she knew the answer. She really let us feel what it was like to be a local in Helsinki. The farewell panoramic view was an especially nice way to finish the tour. She even accompanied us back to the airport.
One of the best tour guides we've ever had, I would not hesitate to recommend here to anyone!
She made it so easy, from meeting us at the airport to a very informative train ride back to the City to a grand tour of all of Helsinki's beautiful sites. We had let her know beforehand we were interested in architecture so she was VERY well prepared with an itinerary, relevant facts, and interesting information. Any question we asked, she knew the answer. She really let us feel what it was like to be a local in Helsinki. The farewell panoramic view was an especially nice way to finish the tour. She even accompanied us back to the airport.
One of the best tour guides we've ever had, I would not hesitate to recommend here to anyone!
Written 16 July 2019
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.
Thank you for your review! I am delighted about your feedback. It was great to host you during your stopover according to your interests.
Written 20 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael M
New York City, NY5 contributions
Sep 2018 • Solo
Most people travel places to see the sights, take lots of photos, etc.
When I signed up for a one-on-one guided tour of Helsinki with Liisa, I let her know via email the day before that my interests would probably be different from that of many; that I was interested in everything connected to the Winter War with the Soviet Union and with the entire WWII period. Being a linguist and a former opera singer I wanted to know about how FInland's languages multiple languages worked in their society, and also wanted to talk about classical music in Finland.
Well, Liisa really nailed it! She not only knows her history, she also brought on her i-pad with photos of scenes of the 1940-1945 period. She included lots of factual information but also personal anecdotes.
Yes, you can of course read a lot of history on Wikipedia, but Liisa added a lot more from a variety of different perspectives.
Liisa knows her city exceptionally well and helped me with every logistical hot tip I could ever hope for:
She showed me how to get everything in I wanted to in the short 24 hours I had. Bus/tram, ferry schedules, the works.
Food options - I like variety but only eat healthy food. She recommended a GREAT salad bar in the downtown area.
Shopping: she actually took me to a store that sold unusual items of a personal interest.
Travel: How the shave off minutes from the already fast trip back to the airport.
Where the shortest security lines at the airport would be. (She was right - I whizzed through).
Plus, finally, I am talking about a genuinely nice human being. Yes, I wanted a smart, knowledgeable person who could tailor the tour to my very particular interests. And yes, her English is super.
But also, she is a genuinely nice human being.
Liisa made my very short and very first experience in Helsinki a total pleasure.
I cannot recommend her services highly enough.
When I signed up for a one-on-one guided tour of Helsinki with Liisa, I let her know via email the day before that my interests would probably be different from that of many; that I was interested in everything connected to the Winter War with the Soviet Union and with the entire WWII period. Being a linguist and a former opera singer I wanted to know about how FInland's languages multiple languages worked in their society, and also wanted to talk about classical music in Finland.
Well, Liisa really nailed it! She not only knows her history, she also brought on her i-pad with photos of scenes of the 1940-1945 period. She included lots of factual information but also personal anecdotes.
Yes, you can of course read a lot of history on Wikipedia, but Liisa added a lot more from a variety of different perspectives.
Liisa knows her city exceptionally well and helped me with every logistical hot tip I could ever hope for:
She showed me how to get everything in I wanted to in the short 24 hours I had. Bus/tram, ferry schedules, the works.
Food options - I like variety but only eat healthy food. She recommended a GREAT salad bar in the downtown area.
Shopping: she actually took me to a store that sold unusual items of a personal interest.
Travel: How the shave off minutes from the already fast trip back to the airport.
Where the shortest security lines at the airport would be. (She was right - I whizzed through).
Plus, finally, I am talking about a genuinely nice human being. Yes, I wanted a smart, knowledgeable person who could tailor the tour to my very particular interests. And yes, her English is super.
But also, she is a genuinely nice human being.
Liisa made my very short and very first experience in Helsinki a total pleasure.
I cannot recommend her services highly enough.
Written 4 October 2018
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.
Thank you for your detailed review! It was my pleasure to show you Helsinki according to your interests.
Written 20 April 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ian G
Brisbane, Australia22 contributions
Sep 2018 • Family
Liisa was our proud Finnish hostess and guide on our Helsinki day tour. Greeting us at our hotel we set off walking to the nearby Rock Church and visited there. We continued walking into the city centre with Liisa pointing out historical buildings and sites of interest. Most helpful was Liisa’s assistance to navigate the public transport system throughout the day so we could continue exploring Helsinki during the week. Food market was a treat to taste local foods. Liisa continued to make contact with us during the week to make sure we had plenty to see & do. Thank you Liisa for a lovely day in your beautiful city!
Written 1 October 2018
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.
Thank you for your review! It was my pleasure showing you around Helsinki. Day With A Local offers assistance for the whole stay if wished, you to have as pleasant and worry-free stay as possible!
Written 3 October 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
David C
Norwich, CT178 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
We have just returned from a tour of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. We arranged to begin or trip in Helsinki on our own then fly to Stockhom to begin the tour. Day with a Local seemed like the best bet to show us around Helsinki. All the pre-trip e-mail exchanges were pleasant and productive. We signed up for a 7 hour tour of the city. The boss lady herself, Liisa, met us at our hotel at 10 AM. I had let her know that I have some mobility problems and she was very attentive to these concerns. Travel around the city was by tram or by taxi. We had pre-purchased a one day tram tickets as well as admission to the Rock Church through the company. Because of my physical problems we used taxis more than is usual with most of her clients.Those fares can add up quickly but were about what she had estimated for the day. Liisa was friendly and knowledgeable. We got a short course on Finnish history at the beginning of the day. The trip itself was a mixture of seeing the sights and experiencing the culture, e.g. lunch and samples of things like reindeer at the City market. We were lucky the there was only one small cruise ship in port on that day so things were not crowded. Before she left us back at our hotel at 5PM she recommended a nearby restaurant for dinner and made reservations for us. When we got back home there was an e-mail from her thanking us and giving a detailed itinerary of what we had done the day. All in all it was a great day and I highly recommend Liisa and her company.
She has branches in other cities namely Porvo, Talinn, and Stockholm but I can not speak to the quality of those trips. But if they are up to Liisa's Helsinki standard, they should be fine.
She has branches in other cities namely Porvo, Talinn, and Stockholm but I can not speak to the quality of those trips. But if they are up to Liisa's Helsinki standard, they should be fine.
Written 28 September 2018
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.
Thank you for your detailed review! It was my pleasure to host you in the beginning of your trip in the Nordic countries. Day With A Local is always adjusted to the pace of our guests, as well as desired amount of walking. In this case taxis were used three times during the day to save steps and an estimate is always given beforehand to this type of known additional costs (another option would have been having a car and a driver in use for the whole day which would have cost much more). Great that you enjoyed the experience!
Written 3 October 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
coloradochica8
denver, colorado8 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
Our day with Liisa was delightful. She truly has a passion for her city and she eagerly shared this with us throughout the day. We had planned our itinerary ahead of time and thus we saw all of the "major sites" but Liisa added some local ones too including the library and market for food and drink. We enjoyed using the various modes of public transport and Liisa easily navigated us all around the city. We had only a day in Helsinki and Liisa made it a memorable one. Highly recommend her services.
Written 10 September 2018
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.
Thank you for your review! It is very nice to hear that you enjoyed your Day With A Local!
Written 3 October 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BelCr
Hoi An, Vietnam6 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
I was delighted to have entrusted 5 hours of my Helsinki stay to Liisa. A seasoned local, Liisa conveys an infectious warmth and enthusiasm for her native city, its buildings, culture, cuisine and history. I would have happily carried on for more hours in her excellent company.
Aside from the wonderful and traditional sights of Helsinki, Liisa took me to local areas away from the crowds, while I thoroughly enjoyed. This included a visit to a local supermarket, where I purchased some delicious local chocolate, a food market and a great local cafe with delicious coffee. Liisa was also very helpful in making suggestions for my brother’s birthday present and helped me navigate a local pharmacy to get something for my cold. You definitely wouldn’t get this personal touch from other tour companies.
I would highly recommend Liisa and her company to anyone wanting to see the local side of Helsinki
Aside from the wonderful and traditional sights of Helsinki, Liisa took me to local areas away from the crowds, while I thoroughly enjoyed. This included a visit to a local supermarket, where I purchased some delicious local chocolate, a food market and a great local cafe with delicious coffee. Liisa was also very helpful in making suggestions for my brother’s birthday present and helped me navigate a local pharmacy to get something for my cold. You definitely wouldn’t get this personal touch from other tour companies.
I would highly recommend Liisa and her company to anyone wanting to see the local side of Helsinki
Written 1 September 2018
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.
Thank you for your kind words! We always adjust our service to your wishes and requests, you to make the most of your time! We are glad to help out with any personal needs, as going to the pharmacy, as well.
Written 3 October 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Steve K
Cleveland, TN6 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
Liisa, the owner of Day With A Local Helsinki, and her assistant, Laura, provided a wonderful day in Helsinki for our group. This was a walking and public transportation tour using buses, trams, and the subway. They met us at the cruise port as scheduled, and we hopped on a local bus to begin our journey. They showed us the highlights of the city and allowed us time to sample the local coffee and food.
They explained the history as well as the culture as we went to Sebelius Monument and park, Central Railway Station, government buildings, cathedrals, and the Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Church), to name a few sites visited. We sampled local foods in the Hakaniemi market, and we ended our day with a beer tasting at Teerenpeli Bar and Brewery.
There were supposed to be six of us on the tour but my wife didn't feel well that day so she stayed on the ship. Liisa felt sorry that she missed the tour. She gave me a gift of some Finnish chocolate to take to my wife so she would not miss out on a taste of Helsinki. How thoughtful!
Liisa (Laura too!) has a passion for Helsinki which is evident as she guides visitors around the city. It was a wonderful day and we learned a lot. I highly recommend Day With A Local Helsinki. Thank you Liisa and Laura!
They explained the history as well as the culture as we went to Sebelius Monument and park, Central Railway Station, government buildings, cathedrals, and the Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Church), to name a few sites visited. We sampled local foods in the Hakaniemi market, and we ended our day with a beer tasting at Teerenpeli Bar and Brewery.
There were supposed to be six of us on the tour but my wife didn't feel well that day so she stayed on the ship. Liisa felt sorry that she missed the tour. She gave me a gift of some Finnish chocolate to take to my wife so she would not miss out on a taste of Helsinki. How thoughtful!
Liisa (Laura too!) has a passion for Helsinki which is evident as she guides visitors around the city. It was a wonderful day and we learned a lot. I highly recommend Day With A Local Helsinki. Thank you Liisa and Laura!
Written 4 July 2018
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.
Thank you for your kind words! It was our pleasure to take you around according to your wishes. As Laura had just recently joined Day With A Local team, it was great that it was ok to you, she to be hosting your group that day, too.
Written 3 October 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Shrikant75
Mumbai, India22 contributions
How do I contact and book for travel on 2nd Aug?
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hi, please send us e-mail or inquiry for through our website, unfortunately adding e-mail address to the reply message is not allowed here. I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!
ANIL WADEKAR
Thane, India
Which is the best time to travel Finland for Indians
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hello, thank you for your question. Best time to travel to Finland depends on what you want to do. Winter activities are best from December to February; summer activities & cottage life is best from June to August, and depending on the year, as this year, also in May.
Lisa D
Lakewood Ranch, FL3 contributions
Greetings. Our group of four people arrive on the Crystal Serenity in Helsinki on June 21, 2018. We would like a not-too-strenuous tour of the city, and also want to take the ferry to Suomminlina Island. Perhaps four hours in total...Is this something you can help me with? Lisa Deutsch
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hi Lisa, thank you for your inquiry! Can you please send us e-mail or inquiry form as we cannot reach you otherwise? Please visit our website and you'll find our contact form. We would be delighted to host you on 21st of June!
Belu A
Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar
How can I contact Liisa?I have plans to visit Helsinki with cruise. Thank you.
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hi, please send us e-mail or inquiry for through our website, unfortunately adding e-mail address to the reply message is not allowed here. I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!
How can I contact Liisa?I have plans to visit Helsinki with cruise.
Thank you.
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hi, please send us e-mail or inquiry for through our website, unfortunately adding e-mail address to the reply message is not allowed here. I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Vinod Nair
Kochi (Cochin), India39 contributions
Hi, We are reaching Helsinki on 9th August via Royal Caribian, our train to Lapland in by night,, We wish to see Helsinki .
We are family of three,, need pickup from the cruise terminal and drop at railways station.
send us the details to medsys at gmail
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Thank you for your inquiry! We have just sent you e-mail.
jepstein25
Seattle, WA4 contributions
Hello, I will be in Helsinki from 28th March until 31st March. Do you have any openings for a tour on Thursday the 29th of March?
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hi, yes we do still have availability on Thursday 29th of March. Please send us e-mail and we can discuss more!
Robert Y
Lexington, Kentucky15 contributions
We will arrive June 23 Celebrity Eclipse at 10AM...interested in a tour of city...6 in our group...boat leaves at 6 PM so time is important...what would tour involve...cost? Thank you very much...Bob Young
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Thank you for your inquiry! I have just sent you e-mail.
hotelesMonterrey
monterrey
Buenas tardes
Estaré llegando en crucero el dÃa 16 SEP 2017 7:30am. Hasta las3:30pm
Qué tours me recomiendas
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Thank you for your inquiry! On 16th September we have availability in English. Please contact us by e-mail for further discussion and we're happy to help!
annh0ust0n
Denton, Texas 762057 contributions
Will have Aug 6, 2017 in Helsinki docking with Windstar Cruise. What is available for tour- 2 tourists, cultural and history interests. Walking is ok.
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Thank you for your inquiry! Please send us e-mail and we can discuss more!