Finland is world-renowned for architecture that combines modern design with a close connection to nature. On this small-group walking tour, explore Helsinki’s architecture with a PhD researcher and local guide who will introduce you to both the city’s well-known landmarks and its lesser-known buildings.

Explore Helsinki’s architectural history, from Neoclassicism and Gothic Revival to Art Nouveau, Nordic Classicism, Functionalism, Modernism, and contemporary architecture. Along the way, see buildings by architects such as Engel, Saarinen, Sonck, Aalto, and others, including landmarks such as Senate Square and Helsinki Central Railway Station. We will also enter some of the buildings along the route, so you can experience their architecture from the inside as well as from the street.

The tour is not only about buildings. We will also look at the history and society behind Helsinki’s architecture and discuss how the city reflects Finnish history, culture, identity, and social change.

Walk through the centre of Helsinki and learn how the city developed into what it is today, including its role as World Design Capital in 2012 and a UNESCO City of Design.

The group is kept small, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and discuss the buildings and topics that interest you. If you have a particular architectural period, style, or building you would like to explore, you can let me know before the tour.