SHORE EXCURSIONS

OVERVIEW

See two of Helsinki’s most avant-garde buildings and gain a deeper appreciation for their innovative designs and unique stories. The façade of the Oodi Central Library features a striking wave-like shape that celebrates Finland ’s world-renowned literacy rates. While only a third of the library is dedicated to books, the rest is designed as public spaces, including a recording studio, movie theatre, restaurants, and the top-floor Citizens’ Balcony, which offers panoramic views of the city. The innovative use of steel beams allows for an open middle floor with unobstructed views from one end to the other. You’ll also explore the Helsinki Music Centre, known for its exceptional acoustic design. The vineyard-style concert hall, crafted by acoustic expert Yasuhisa Toyota, allows the audience to surround the musicians for an immersive experience. Much of the structure is built underground to harmonize with the surrounding cityscape. Additionally, the tour includes external views of iconic landmarks such as Senate Square, the National Museum, and other key sites that showcase Helsinki’s rich cultural and historical heritage. This journey blends cutting-edge design with a deeper connection to the city’s past, offering a unique perspective on Helsinki’s vibrant identity.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Gain an insider’s perspective into the designs of two modernistic buildings in Helsinki.
• Discover how the Oodi Central Library was brilliantly designed for much more than books.
• Hear about the design challenges in creating the Helsinki Music Centre’s extraordinary acoustics.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Helsinki, many of them iconic attractions that define the cities. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie tutor will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways.

As you walk and ride through Helsinki, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:
• Sibelius Monument
• Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
• Kamppi Chapel
• Helsinki Central Railway Station
• Senate Square
• Uspenski Cathedral
• Old Market Hall

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Helsinki.
• Follow tips from your selfie tutor to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Pose like a star at the focal point of numerous cultural events and gatherings, Senate Square stands as a testament to the city's rich history and architectural grandeur.
• Capture the essence of Uspenski Cathedral in any season, every moment is a selfie-ready memory waiting to be framed.
• Immerse yourself in the serene ambiance of Kamppi Chapel, capturing moments of peace against its minimalist wooden architecture, a perfect backdrop for contemplative and stylish selfies.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.

OVERVIEW

Explore modern and traditional aspects of Helsinki and come away with a remarkably complete overview of the capital city. For a historical perspective, you will pause at the monument to beloved Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and at the stadium used during the 1952 Olympic Games, a landmark of national pride. You will get a look at Helsinki’s vision for the future at the Oodi Central Library, whose avant-garde design boasts a striking undulating shape that celebrates Finland having one of the world’s highest literacy rates. A tasting of Finnish seasonal delicacies in the Lapinlahti steeped in fascinating history and rejuvenated as a cultural center. Similarly, free time in Old Market Hall will offer a glimpse into the past as it has been a hub for locally sourced foods since the late 19th century. Still, no venue is more historical than Senate Square, which several iconic buildings have framed for more than 200 years.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the monument to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and the 1952 Olympic Stadium.
• Gain a deeper historical perspective at Senate Square and Old Market Hall.
• Behold the striking avant-garde design of the Oodi Central Library.
• Enjoy a sampling of Finnish seasonal specialties.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Experience the joy associated with taking a sauna, a Finnish ritual that archaeological evidence shows to date as far back as 7,000 B.C. The sauna tradition is so characteristic of Finland that UNESCO recognized it on its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, describing the sauna as a sacred place, a church of nature. As you will discover, relaxing in a sauna is more about cleansing the mind than the body. Saunas are also popular places for socializing in the Finnish culture. Health benefits may include relieving stress, reducing hypertension and improving respiration. Plus, spending time in a sauna just feels good. You will discover more about Finnish life while pausing at Senate Square, an expansive plaza dominated by four neoclassical buildings that lend insight into Helsinki’s past. An enlightening drive through the capital city will present more architectural treasures, giving you an overview of the sights that this city has to offer.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Spend hours relaxing and socializing in a Finnish sauna.
• Reap the potential health benefits of the sauna experience.
• Browse Senate Square, a popular plaza known for its neoclassical buildings.
• See other iconic architecture on a panoramic drive through Helsinki.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit and towel.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Begin your tour by sightseeing boat and pass by Suomenlinna, a series of small interconnected islands near Helsinki that are popular with area residents because of their museums, parks and gardens. In 1748, a fortress was built on the islands and was dubbed the ‘Gibraltar of the North’. As your guide describes Helsinki's unique relationship to the sea, continue past waterfront houses and old villas in this unique urban archipelago. Also pass by several other points of interest, including the icebreaker fleet docked for the summer season and Helsinki Zoo. Disembark the boat and enjoy a short visit to Market Square, where you can shop for local handicrafts, sample Finnish berries or just enjoy the friendly atmosphere.

In warm weather, the square is a popular spot with both locals and tourists. Rejoin your sightseeing coach for a leisurely panoramic tour of some of the main highlights the city has to offer. Pass the Presidential Palace and Uspenski Cathedral, make a photo stop in Senate Square and continue on to Mannerheim Street with the Parliament House, National Museum and Finlandia Hall. The Olympic Stadium and new Opera House will also be seen before arriving at Sibelius Park for a final photo opportunity of the monument of over 600 steel pipes which honor the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.

OVERVIEW

Watch reindeer in a private park that mirrors their natural habitat and feed the animals if you wish. The venue for this wildlife encounter will be the family-owned Nuuksio Reindeer Park, which supports a small herd of reindeer. They were brought to the park from Lapland, the vast subarctic wilderness in the northernmost region of Finland. Reindeer outnumber people in Lapland but the park is the only place where reindeer can be seen this far south. While observing the animals, you will learn about their unique characteristics and behavior. They are the only deer species in which males and females have antlers. Reindeer also have fur on the bottom of their hooves for traction on icy ground. Reindeer are integral to the Finnish culture, especially among the indigenous Sámi people in Lapland. While enjoying a snack around a campfire in a rustic Lapland teepee, you will get a glimpse into the Sámi culture.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Observe a herd of reindeer up close in a family-owned forested park.
• Learn about reindeer behavior and some of their unusual physical characteristics.
• Feed the reindeer if they approach on their own.
• Enjoy a snack around a campfire in a rustic teepee like those used in Lapland.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover the main sites of interest in Helsinki, also known as the 'White City of the North.' Along the way you'll pass Embassy Park and the Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral with its brilliant gold onion domes. Continue on to Senate Square and see important buildings attributed to the Neo-Classic architect Carl Ludwig Engel, including the famous Lutheran Cathedral. You'll pass the open-air market on your way to the Olympic Stadium where the 1952 Olympic Games were held. Then it's on to Sibelius Park where you can photograph a monument honouring the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.

Pass by the Opera House and then stop to see the Temppeliaukio Rock Church, a unique house of worship blasted into solid rock and topped by a copper dome. Then it's on to Mannerheim Street, Helsinki's main thoroughfare, and other important landmarks. At the end of the tour, you can get off in the downtown area to explore the city on your own or return by your bus to the cruise pier. Should you decide to remain in the city, you'll be responsible for your own return to the cruise pier. This option is only available for morning departures.

Your coach will take you from the pier to start your walking tour from Senate Square, with its neo-classical atmosphere. It is surrounded by the Main Lutheran Church, the Senate Building and the University. Walk by the central railway station of Eliel Saarinen and see the National Theater and Sanoma Talo. Enjoy a flavorful cup of fresh coffee and pastry served in one of the many coffee venues in downtown.

Continue your tour by walking to Mannerheim Street, Helsinki’s main thoroughfare where you’ll see Helsinki’s museum of Contemporary Art, National Museum, the new Music Hall and the House of Parliament. Then, visit the world famous Rock Church built of bedrock and quarried stone. Continue your walk towards Sibelius Park, in which the name was given to the park honoring Finland’s greatest composer, Jean Sibelius.

Enjoy the main sights of Helsinki, also referred to as the ‘Daughter of the Baltic’ or the ‘White City of the North’ from the comfort of your motorcoach. Your tour begins with a drive along a picturesque road on your way to see the great variety of Helsinki’s architecture. In Senate Square, you’ll see several buildings attributed to the Neo-Classic architect Carl Ludwig Engel. Enjoy a photo stop at the famous Lutheran Cathedral and continue on to Mannerheim Street, Helsinki’s main thoroughfare.

You’ll see the Parliament House, the National Museum, and also Finlandia Hall, designed by the famous architect Alvar Aalto. Pass the new Opera House on your way to the Olympic Stadium where the 1952 Olympic Games were held. Then it’s on to Sibelius Park, where you can photograph a monument completed of 527 steel pipes honoring the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Enjoy a view of Embassy Park and the colorful open-air market on your drive back to the pier.

Begin with a scenic drive through the main sights of Helsinki towards the picturesque town of Porvoo, the second-oldest town in Finland and a favorite of poets and artists. Porvoo was an important trading center as early as the Middle Ages. Enjoy a walking tour along its cobblestone streets lined with 16th century wooden houses. Browse in the handicraft shops before you continue to Savijarvi Mansion, a private home where the family shows you around and treats you as a personal guest.

Your hosts will serve coffee and cakes along with an assortment of Finnish berries and caramel sauce. Sit on the terrace or indoors, depending on the weather, and you’ll be able to see the riding horses and breeding farm. On the return trip to Helsinki, you’ll stop briefly in Sipoo for a visit to its 15th century church. At the end of the tour, you can get off in the downtown area to explore the city on your own or return by your bus to the cruise pier. Should you decide to remain in the city, you’ll be responsible for your own return to the cruise pier.

Drive along the road through woodlands and the lake country to Hvittrask, the former home of the famous Finnish architects Eliel Saarinen, Armas Lindgren and Herman Gesellius. Built in 1902, Hvittrask is famous for its architecture with buildings of natural stone and logs. Situated on a forested hill overlooking a lake, Hvittrask is now an exhibition center for Finnish arts and crafts. You’ll have time to explore the grounds and a guide will escort you through the magnificent home of Eliel Saarinen. Returning to the city you’ll pass by the Finlandia Hall and Parliament House.

A brief stop will be made at the Senate Square from where you’ll see the Lutheran Cathedral, the University, and Senate buildings. Passing Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral and the Presidential Palace, it’s on to visit the unique Temppeliaukio Rock Church blasted into solid rock. At the end of the tour, you can get off in the downtown area to explore the city on your own or return by your bus to the cruise pier. Should you decide to remain in the city, you’ll be responsible for your own return to the cruise pier.