Helsinki, Porvoo and Countryside

Helsinki, Porvoo and Countryside
Price: $162.00
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Summary
Shore Excursion Size ? Standard
Shore Excursion Type Cultural, Scenic
Shore Excursion Duration 5 Hours 30 Minutes
Activity Level ? Moderate
Shore Excursion Leaves From ? Cruise Ship Pier
Food/Beverage Provided Not Included
Recommended Dress We recommend wearing comfortable, seasonal, weather appropriate clothing and walking shoes.
Restrictions Guests must be able to get in and out of the the transportation and walk a fair distance, approximately just over a mile in total. Guests may be required to climb steps and walk on cobblestone streets and uneven surfaces. This tour can accommodate a collapsible wheelchair. If a guest is in a wheelchair, someone who can assist this guest should also be on the tour to provide help.

Helsinki, Porvoo and Countryside

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is famous for the Nordic Jugendstil/Modern architecture of the early 20th century. Being a part of the Russian Empire for more than a hundred years, Helsinki is a multi-religious city with two dominant buildings of Lutheran and Orthodox cathedrals in the city center.

Finnish composer Sibelius is world-known, as well as the legendary architect Eliel Saarinen, whose son, Eero Saarinen constructed the St. Louis Arch and several airports in the USA.

After meeting your local, friendly and knowledgeable guide and driver, you will make your way to the city center. You will be shown the most charming parts of this area such as the embassy quarter, Rock Church, Sibelius Monument, and more. See both main cathedrals and the main railway station, which is a unique piece of architecture on its own.

View the main street of the city and visit Senate Square. Learn how Helsinki was founded on the oldest square of the city center, Kauppatori, the Market Square. Walk along the Esplanade, which serves as the main boulevard of the city center and a favorite place for locals to come for an evening walk.

Re-board your comfortable transportation and drive to the old merchant town of Porvoo, located only 30 miles away, to discover the enchanting Finnish countryside.

Admire Mother Nature's magnificence and explore the small, cozy and very authentic old merchant town of Porvoo. View the historic red colored storehouses along the riverbank, see the early 1800's Town Hall and walk the historic streets of Old Town.

Your guide will advise you about places to visit on your own, such as restaurants, museums, and interesting sites, and show you the location where you'll meet for your return to the port.

Please Note: The entrance to the Rock Church is optional, and should cost approximately 3 EUR per person.

5 Stars4.8 / 5  |  4 ReviewsReview This Tour
Chilly
November 17, 2019
It was a very chilly day, however, the tour operator was great and we had a good time.
Reviewer: Lynn Chorley
4 Stars
Helsinki Review
July 04, 2019
This was an excellent excursion. Our guide’s knowledge and enthusiasm was the highlight.
Reviewer: Lynn Chorley
5 Stars
Helsinki
September 10, 2018
Excellent tour guide. Porvoo was very interesting and picturesque.
Reviewer: Dorothy Brovedani
5 Stars
Wonderful tour and fabulous guide!
June 25, 2018
We were extremely fortunate to have a private tour - we were the only two who signed up for this trip! Vladimer, our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the history, was fluent in English and flexible re: the time we spent at various locations. If we return to Helsinki, I'll ask for him specifically and will recommend him to friends traveling there. He took us to a chocolate shop in Porvoo - after we tried the samples we bought four bags of the most delicious chocolate (which our family and friends have swooned over back at home). We enjoyed the ride through the countryside to Porvoo; the city was very old and interesting. The only negative was that the two hours RT ride cut short the additional time we'd like to have spent exploring Helsinki.
Reviewer: Sandy Smith
5 Stars