Helsinki - Private Historic walking tour
ID: GYG545633-941446
Category:
Country: Finland
Duration:
02:00 hours
Description
Visit the Uspenski Cathedral, Finland's oldest indoor market, and the artistic Esplanadi. Walk by the University of Helsinki, the Parliament House and see an astonishing Church - the Rock Church.
Start your tour by visiting the Uspenski Cathedral. Built in the 19th century, the cathedral is set upon a hillside, giving a vast panorama of Helsinki. You will love this view as well as its crypt chapel. It is the main cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Finland.
Next, You will walk by Helsinki's most famous and international market: the Market Square. Located at one end of the Esplanade Park, the Market Square is full of food stalls. Here you will also find great handicrafts and souvenirs. The Market Square is a meeting point as well as a place for new wonders.
Get to see Finland's oldest indoor market often frequented by locals for purchasing their groceries. Here, you will find traditional treats sold by local vendors. The Old Market Hall is a great place to go during winter or a rainy day. From seafood to meat, delicious bread to delicacies, the Old Market Hall is a living place, ideal to taste Helsinki's most famous cuisine.
Also known under the name Espa, your next stop will be the Esplanadi which can be considered as an open-door art gallery. This urban park has been designed by the famous architect Carl Ludwig Engel, and contains Engels Teater, the first theater of Helsinki. Here you will find public art creations, plus an outdoor stage where many live music shows can be observed.
Admire neoclassical architecture at Helsinki Cathedral. The cathedral consists of a tall green dome surrounded by four smaller domes. It has been designed by Carl Ludwig Engel, just like the Esplanadi and other buildings in the city.
Next, you will see the University of Helsinki, the oldest and biggest university in Finland, you can find here 11 faculties and 11 research institutes. But more than a university, you will be able to walk by its famous libraries and museums like the Finnish Museum of Natural History. Beautiful buildings can be found here, as well as a panorama of the Senate Square.
Walk by the Central Railway Station which is the main station on the Helsinki Metro. This station is an interesting place to wander by, as it is one of the original metro stations. Opened in 1982, it was designed by three great architects: Rolf Björkstam, Erkki Heino, and Eero Kostiainen. German signs written on the walls are stating Hauptbahnhof.
Have a chance to see the Parliament house. The building shows an amazing design. It is a stripped classical style monument, combining neoclassicism and 20th-century modernism. The outside is made of a fine red Kalvola granite, and the façade is lined by fourteen columns with Corinthian letters.
As the last step of this tour, the Church of the Rock will certainly become your favorite place in Helsinki. Opened in 1969 and designed by the brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen, the Rock Church is a piece of art. The indoor has been built directly out of solid rock which gives an amazing acoustic quality to the church. You will be astonished by the beautiful rock walls and the copper dome of this church.
Highlights
- Enjoy panoramic views of Helsinki from the 19th Century Uspenski Cathedral
- Visit an an open-door art gallery known as Esplanadi
- Explore Finland's oldest indoor market and be in awe at the Church of the Rock
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
In front of the Uspenski Cathedral, your tour guide shall be waiting with a Signboard.
When should I book?
To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.
Cancellations
This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.