In the Shadow of White City; Helsinki Walking Tour

This tour has several departures everyday, depending on season.

Meeting Point

You meet your guide in the center of Senate Square. Your guide will be waiting in front of the statue of Alexander II. Note that there may be other tours starting at the same time in Senate Square, so make sure to look for the guide standing in front of the statue.

On this tour, you will learn about the intriguing history of the city of Helsinki, starting from the times of ancient Sweden with interesting details.  From the times of Russian rule to modern Helsinki, you will hear about the city’s history from your guide and see the most special sights the city has to offer.

You will also learn a lot about the religion, culture, history, cuisine and architecture of Finland and you will lose track of time during this 3-hour guided tour. Our tour is absolutely perfect for travelers who are visiting Helsinki for the first time and are excited to experience the city from a different perspective.

Your day starts on Senate Square, this unique square attracts attention with its surroundings, which constitute a unique example of Neoclassical architecture. Reflecting the dynamic spirit of the city, the square also hosts dozens of concerts and fun events such as snowboarding every year.

Senate Square was designated as the main square of the new capital of Finland in the city plan designed by Johan Albrecht Ehrenström in 1812. In the center of the square is a statue of Emperor Alexander II. Erected in 1894, the statue was created by the sculptor Walter Runeberg to commemorate the reforms for Finnish independence. At the corner of the square is the Sederholm House, the oldest stone building in Helsinki, which welcomes many visitors.

After Senate Square continuing our walk to Helsinki Cathedral, The cathedral, which sheds light on this history, has a very eye-catching appearance with its Corinthian columns and white color. There are Jesus figures on the outer walls of the cathedral, where the effects of Russian architecture are fully seen. However, there is no information about the artist who created the figures.

There are sculptures of the twelve apostles on the Helsinki Cathedral. These sculptures are located under and all around the north, south, east and west pediments. This series is known as one of the largest single-form sculpture collections. A majestic dome rises from the center of the cathedral. One of the most remarkable points of the church is the towers at the four corners. These towers were designed and added by Lohrmann after Engel. The cathedral is designed with a main dome and four domes around it.

Passing through Uspenski Cathedral, combining Russian and Byzantine architecture and dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, was consecrated on 25 October 1868.  It is the largest Orthodox church in Northern and Western Europe. Every year on 15 August, the Cathedral celebrates the Praasniekka Church Festival. Uspenski Cathedral is the main cathedral of the Helsinki Orthodox structure and is also one of Helsinki’s most famous attractions, hosting many concerts and events throughout the year. Designed by architect Aleksei M. Gornostajev, the cathedral’s structure reflects elements of classical Russian architecture. However, Byzantine influences can be seen in the interior of the cathedral. The cathedral has an impressive array of chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling.

The Market Square; Finland’s most iconic market attracts countless tourists with its thousands of products sold and its location overlooking the sea. The market area, which has been the commercial centre of the region for centuries, is also noteworthy for hosting some of the most popular events in the city today. The Baltic Herring Market, which has been organised since 1743 and is one of the oldest ongoing events in Finland, is the most popular of these. Held once a year in autumn, this event combines archipelagic traditions with modern food cultures and offers visitors a unique experience.

The Old Market Hall Helsinki Old Market Hall has been serving customers since 1889 and is the oldest of Helsinki’s market halls. In the 19th century, most of the food trade in Helsinki took place in the markets. It was only at the end of the century that work began on moving the store into an indoor hall. The main reasons for the project were the increasing awareness of hygiene in food processing and the sometimes deteriorating organisation of the market trade. The construction of the old market hall began in 1888, and in this year the southern end of the building was marked. However, due to problems with the supply of cement, the hall did not open until 1889. The building was designed by Gustaf Nyström, who was familiar with hall construction in major European cities.

The Esplanade Park, Esplanadi, popularly known as Espa, is a square and city park in the city centre of Helsinki, Finland, located between Erottaja Square and Market Square. It is bounded on the north and south by Pohjoisesplanadi (Norra Esplanaden, North Esplanadi) and Eteläesplanadi (Södra Esplanaden, South Esplanadi) streets. Aleksanterinkatu runs parallel to Esplanadi. Esplanadi is known as a popular walking area and street performances are often organised in the park. Designed by architect Carl Ludwig Engel, the park was first opened in 1818. In 1827, the Engels Teater, Helsinki’s first theatre building, was built in one corner of the park, also designed by Engel. In the centre of the park is a statue of Finland’s national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg by his son Walter Runeberg. Other public artworks include works by Viktor Jansson, Gunnar Finne and Lauri Leppänen.

After Esplanade, we will see the The Kamppi Chapel, where the Gates of Tranquillity Open, is a chapel in Helsinki, Finland. The chapel was built and organised with a particular focus on the preservation of silence. For this reason, it is also known as the “Chapel of Silence”. Apart from its silence among all the crowds and noise of the city, the chapel also attracts attention with its exterior architecture. Built differently from the classical building form, the building is a curved, wooden structure located to the south of Narinkka Square. Since there are no windows from the outside, the building is illuminated from the cavity frames in the ceiling. The chapel has a very simple appearance and solid wood was preferred for the seating areas inside. Inside the chapel there is an exhibition area, a gathering area and a glass entrance.

The last place we will see is Magnificent Architecture with Magnificent Ambience; Temppeliaukion Church is a historical place of worship in Helsinki, Finland, which was carved into natural granite stone in 1969 and is flooded with tourists every year. The construction of this famous place of worship belongs to the brothers Timo Suomalainen and Tuomo Suomalainen. This architectural structure, known as the Rock Church, is an underground church, but the entrances are made from the road level. The reason why the building is called “Rock Church” is that it is built inside a huge natural granite block located in the city square. The interior walls are made of raw granite and the ceiling is made of copper plate and has an oval shape. You can return to your hotel or continue to enjoy the city.