This tour was very nice! We went to places I wouldn’t have found in my own. I would highly recommend this to my friends!
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Non-alcohol drinks
- Professional local guiding service
- Local taxes
- TASTING menu sample: Salmon canapés, Smocked reindeer, Fish delicacies, Bread cheese, Soft drink, Traditional bread and pastry, Local Chocolate
Excludes
- Local beer/cider be added for extra cost
- Lunch is not needed, if you had breakfast before the tour.
- Gratuities
- The admission to the cathedrals can be purchased on sight
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Start at Aleksanterinkatu 26, at Café Engel on Senate Square
Return
- Start at Aleksanterinkatu 26, at Café Engel on Senate Square
Itinerary
Here we will learn about Senate Square, the Government Palace, the University of Helsinki, and the Sederholm House.
Helsinki Cathedral is an iconic symbol of the capital. Visitors can explore it for a fee.
A distinctive group of houses designed in the Finnish Art Nouveau style.
A marine front sauna is an oasis of urban culture in the heart of the city.
The Market Square is Helsinki's oldest and most famous market, located on the harbor.
The Old Market Hall has all sorts of cheese, fish, shellfish, and meat. Here is the smallest Alko shop for wines and beverages, cafes, and restaurants.
It's the oldest park in the green heart of Helsinki.
Aleksanterinkatu the commercial centre of Helsinki, Finland.
Uspenskiy Cathedral in Helsinki is the biggest in Western Europe Orthodox Cathedral.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Our guide, Lara, was very knowledgeable about Finnish history, which they certainly don't teach in the US, and the interplay between neighboring countries towards the development of Finnish independence in the early 20th century. Also, she knows the best food stalls in the market and where to get the best caviar which was much appreciated. Would highly recommend as her personality seemed to match ours of being somewhat laid back but being passionate about what she does.
Lara was wonderful, detailed with tons of facts. The food was amazing I really love all of it. Thanks Lara
For only having one day to explore Helsinki this was the perfect blend of history and our love of local food. Lara is kind, considerate, knowledgeable and passionate about her home city.
Come with curiosity and an appetite! You will spend a few hours walking around the city and learning about Helsinki's history. Then you will visit a market and try various Finnish delicacies including salmon, caviar, and cinnamon buns. You will not leave hungry!
A great walk around the city, a lot of history and architectural information. It was fascinating. And then the food was amazing – and there was so much of it! Our guide was terrific and did a great job. Highly recommend.
Lara started with a walking tour of the Senate Square and Cathedral area to explain some Finnish history. We also visited the Orthodox Cathedral- quite a contrast to the Lutheran- and a beautiful Art Deco area. The food tour had a nice selection of Finnish specialties including fish, meat, breads, and sweets. Some of the vendors expected us to make a purchase, but we couldn’t take any perishables. Overall, a fun and informative afternoon.
My small family and I had a private tour with Larisa Doty and it was spectacular. She was very patient with me, even though I was having some walking issues. The tour not only included great food but a lot of Helsinki history. The variety of food was vast ranging from fresh local strawberries to two different types of caviar, including black caviar, and reindeer. I highly recommend this tour!
I absolutely loved this tour with Larisa. It was a great mix of overall city/history information and the food tasting. All of the food provided was so good (and genuinely local!) and really well thought out. I would definitely recommend and would for sure do another tour with her in the future.
This walking / food tour was great! Larisa was our guide and she gave us a great Helsinki experience. We walked the city and saw historic sites. The food offerings were a great sampling of Finnish foods including reindeer, bear, elk, caviar, herring and salmon. Our guide took us to local chocolate and licorice shops in the city center. This is an easy and efficient way to see Helsinki.
This was a great introduction to Helsinki. I learned a lot of local history and tried delicious foods that I wouldn’t have found on my own. Who would have thought I’d like reindeer enough to buy some to take home? There were also plenty of food options for less adventurous eaters. Lara was an excellent guide - knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. If possible, I recommend doing this one of your first days in the city because it’s a great way to get a feel for where things are and ideas for where to eat later.
Wear some comfortable shoes and if you get cold easy a jacket. Hope you get a guide like mine that knows a lot about the architecture
Lara was an amazing guide! She shared lots of history about the locations and the food. The tour was a great way to orient myself to the city and help plan additional activities. Great experience! Totally recommend!
Excellent way to see the major tourist sights in Helsinki and try some of the local food. We felt there was plenty of food to eat- but we are not fussy! Lara was lovely and very knowledgeable. We think these tours are worth the cost- this tour very much equivalent to others we’ve taken in New York, Iceland and krakow.
Lara was a very knowledgeable guide. The tour balanced historical information about Helsinki with an interesting range of food. It was a great way to orientate myself in a new city.
Lara combined a deep history of Helsinki with a fun food tour…..sausages, cheese, pastries, and hot lingonberry juice. While we sampled delicacies the rich history of this part of the world came alive. She is a superb guide.
This tour was well worth braving the cold weather. I had a great time with our small group learning about Helsinki and tasting its specialties.
Lara is amazing, she is passionate and knows her history. I enjoyed the tour and the food!!! Everything was perfect. Thanks Lara…
Not s lot of food here. More than half the tour is spent walking to places unrelated to food that you’ve seen already. Doesn’t provide the scoop on the best/good places to eat in town. Instead of sampling varieties of chocolates when we got to a chocolate cafe she brought (from home) ONE piece for each person. If the price of ticket was bit so high I wouldn’t be writing this review, but being what it is, I don’t think its right. They didn’t spend more than 20 euros per person. Overall disappointing.
Friendly tour guide and we got to see a lot. The guide should have realized that the Orthodox cathedral was closed in certain days. The food part of the tour was ok with trying different deli meats and caviar, but it could have involved more food.
The food tour was excellent! I would highly recommend it. The choices that were picked were unique to the city. The quality of the food and locations visited were superb. The guide was knowledgeable. She shared information and answered our questions willingly.
Great sampling of foods, with a lot of history sprinkled in. Enjoyed the short walkabout, and tips on where to eat.
Lara was a kind and friendly host. She knows the history behind the Citi, and that came out well in the way she explained through the tour. One in our party was a vegetarian - since food options were limited, she went out of the way to check and ensure no one was left without options! Our time at the old market hall was fun and we wrapped up at the Fazed store, with a touch of sweet!
Great tour! We got to see all the highlights of Helsinki and had some great food tastings. Highly recommend!
Our tour guide, Lara was outstanding, passionate, and very knowledgeable about Finnish city highlights, culture, and traditional foods. We sampled reindeer, bear, caviars, blueberry juice, ice cream, cake, candies, chocolates, and pastries from various venues around the City. We requested to end our tour at a rooftop bar and she delivered, with an excellent 360 degree view of the city...it was amazing!
Anastasia was an excellent guide. It was fun to learn from her about Helsinki and some of it’s food traditions. The tour started with an overview of the city and its history and then transitioned to trying a wide variety of local foods like salmon, prawns, reindeer, herring, bear, squeaky cheese and cloudberry jam in the oldest food hall of Helsinki. Then a little more walking to try a few more items like a traditional breakfast rice pie pastry and some chocolates.
This tour was a feast for the senses! Every stop featured incredible flavors, and Larisa made the experience fun and informative. Along the way, we learned about Helsinki’s rich history, from its founding in 1550 to its rich culinary traditions. The mix of traditional Finnish dishes and modern innovations perfectly reflected the city’s culture. Perfect pacing, delicious food, and fascinating stories—highly recommended!
Overall great experience learning about the history of Helsinki and sampling various local foods. I enjoyed walking off the main streets and learning about the not only the city but also the neighborhood and parks within Helsinki. Larisa, our guide, is very informative and attentive and offered a personal touch to our experience. Although my partner and I were the only 2 people in the group, we did not feel rushed at all. Some definite highlights were walking the streets which inspired Moomin and the tastings (the caviar options, smoked meats, pastries, and (one of my new favorites, spruce tea). We definitely recommend this tour to others!!
Very enjoyable private tour. Fun food, some history, and some interesting sites! Great way to spend 3 hours learning about Helsinki
I enjoyed this tour with interesting information about Helsinki and wonderful tastings! Very good tour guide!
Lara was great! I was solo and the only person — booking in between seasons. Lara still gave me tour and it was the perfect combination of sight seeing with historical information and food and culture. She even went out of her way to bring me to a book store i had mentioned. Would definitely recommend booking this tour! And be brave, try all the foods!
TripAdisor/Viator family. This experience was exceptional. Lara was a soft spoken but knowledgeable guide. Well balanced excursion with historical and food market tasting. A little pricey. But Lara is a registered city tour guide. We really enjoyed ourselves and the food was a great experience. We highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Helsinki, Finland.
I completely enjoyed this tour. Lara was a most delightful and informed guide. I was the most elderly of the five of us on the tour and Lara often asked if I was OK and that pace was good for me. She really cared!!! The other guests were also very lovely and caring. The sites we visited were most interesting. And the food samples at the market were enjoyable. I definitely recommend this tour.
Not the best value for money but was good to try some different places and foods. Would have liked to have food throughout the whole two hours
Lara was helpful and knowledgeable. Personable and accommodating. We learned history we didn’t know and she was helpful. Food was authentic. Loved food court.
Excellent city overview and walking tour accompanied by some excellent food tastings. This was more of a historical and city tour than I thought but it worked out well. Guide was friendly and knowledgeable.
My husband and I had the most amazing time on this tour! It was the perfect way to explore the city together. Our guide was so welcoming and knowledgeable, giving us fascinating insights into Helsinki’s history, architecture, and culture. We loved how engaging the tour was — it felt like we were getting a local’s perspective on everything. The food tasting was absolutely fantastic! We got to try a variety of Finnish dishes, and each one was more delicious than the last. From sweet pastries to savory bites, we truly felt immersed in the local flavors. It was the perfect balance of sightseeing and food, and we both agreed it was one of the highlights of our trip. If you're visiting Helsinki, this tour is a must — especially for couples looking for a fun and unique way to experience the city. We can't recommend it enough!
Very nice walking tour to see the highlights and learn about some of the history in Helsinki. Then sampled variety of Finnish foods, from fish, meats, cheese, licorice and tea. Highly recommend this tour!
The CITY Tour with Food Tasting in Helsinki is a must-do experience that seamlessly blends the city's rich history with its vibrant culinary scene. The tour begins with an engaging exploration of iconic landmarks like Helsinki Cathedral and Market Square, led by the knowledgeable guide Anastasia, who brings the city's history to life. The food tasting segment is a highlight, offering a diverse array of Finnish delicacies that showcase the country's unique flavors, from savory bites to sweet treats. With well-paced timing, a small group setting, and a perfect balance of education and indulgence, this tour leaves participants with a deeper appreciation for Helsinki's heritage and culinary artistry.
Anastasia was a great guide. Full of information and chatty. It’s a great way to get around the city when you First arrive. the food stops were really good! And even gave us a few extras. 100% recommend
The tour begins with some history and visiting major buildings before progressing to the food portion. Anastasia was an excellent guide! She was knowledgeable about the country, the city, and the traditional foods. I would recommend this tour to anyone but I think it will be particularly useful for those who are new to the city (it helps you navigate the city for the rest of your trip) and/or those who want to taste a range of local foods (seafood, meat, breads, and desserts).
My group has 5 tourists: myself, two couples, and one child. Everyone was friendly and our guide politely answered all of our questions while sharing a bunch of useful information about Helsinki. We even learned a few words of Finnish! The first half of the tour was primarily walking. The second half was mostly food. I didn't even notice I had "skipped" lunch until I was looking for dinner - there are plenty of snacks to fuel you for the afternoon. The guide was also kind enough to offer suggestions for the rest of my stay in Helsinki, as well as a day trip to Tallinn I had planned. I am glad I booked this on my first day in town so I could adjust my schedule based on what I learned.
I highly recommend this tour. Our guide, Lara, is extremely knowledgeable and very caring and attentive to the group. She explained much about the history and culture of the city as we walked through various areas. The tasting part is highly under represented in the description. There is a LOT of food. More than a simple snack. We tried multiple preparations of reindeer, bear, and seafood, as well as caviar, cheeses, jams, and breads. The last stop was the chocolatier! It is really a wonderful tour and I would highly recommend it.
This is a fascinating tour that encompasses both food and architecture in Helsinki. If you want to increase your knowledge of the city’s history and learn about its food culture, this is a great tour to do.
Amazing experience and who knew you could pack so much into only a few hours experience!! Our guide was extremely friendly, caring and helpful. It was simply a fun, relaxed and enjoyable way to experience the tasty treats Helsinki has to offer while learning a lot about Finland along the way.
The food was wonderful and Anastasia very pleasant, interesting, and informative. It also seemed like a lot of food for the cost. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.
Lara was an excellent guide who showed us Helsinki's highlights, and provided a tasteful experience of Finalnd's typical food. She is knowledge and considerate. Totally ecommended.
The tour guide, Lara, was terrific--very knowledgeable, professional, polite, and helpful. Perfect weather--clear and cool--and the pastry and coffee shops were outstanding. The food tasting was a great experience, from caviar to bear meat.
Guide informative with area history and of different style of architecture. The different varieties of food tasted give you good insight of the culture.
This was my first visit to Helsinki and as usual I look for a city and food tour that will give me the lay of the land. This wonderful tour gave me both Lara as she asked me to call her was an exceptional tour guide. She had an exceptional knowledge of the history of Helsinki and Finland, the high points and key places to visit and as well and exceptional knowledge of the cuisine of the city and the country. she was a wonderful and friendly person who was concerned not only for doing a great job but also in care of her attendees. I will definitely recommend this tour to others and when I return to Helsinki, I will definitely take it again.
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