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Helsinki Islands

Helsinki Islands: Our most recommended tours and activities

Helsinki: Evening Archipelago Cruise

1. Helsinki: Evening Archipelago Cruise

Blending nature, historical sights, and Finnish fare, the sightseeing cruise journeys through Helsinki’s extensive archipelago of islands. The boat ventures past UNESCO’s fortress Suomenlinna while you cruise along the waterways and taste local dishes. After departing from Market Square in the city center, the cruise will head towards Helsinki’s historical parts and continue along the capital’s shore to neighboring islands. The voyage will let you contrast the urban landscape with the wilderness of more than 300 islands and 130km of shoreline. This cruise is a chance to go beyond the city center and discover the intricate archipelago of islands and nature reserves. A snippet into the Finnish seaside lifestyle, the island neighborhoods boast summer cottages, groves, boulders, and tiny coves that can be seen along the shore. The tour will then make its way to Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage site and famous sea fortress of islands bursting with nature and history. Refreshing drinks are available during the tour from the bar. Sundeck seats included in the ticket are non-covered space outdoors. Finally, take in the unique sights while you sit back and delight in some local delicacies. Book a table in advance, table booking is subject to availability.

From Helsinki: Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Suomenlinna

2. From Helsinki: Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Suomenlinna

Frs Finland brings you to the fortress island of Suomenlinna which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the number 1 must see tourist attraction of Finland with its historical sea fortress and lovely museums and restaurants. Vessels leave from Helsinki Market Square, Lyypekinlaituri-pier next to the Old Market Hall. Watch out for our Frs Finland-signs, choose the Suomenlinna-pier and the priority queue. Please note: there is only one queue available at the islands. Many flexible departures per day and snacks and drinks available for purchase onboard. Enjoy a cup of coffee or cold beer on our sun deck and let yourself be pampered by our friendly staff. The duration of the ferry ride is about 20-25 minutes and there are several departures per hour. Exact schedule available at https://www.frs-finland.fi/suomenlinna-lonna/ - Maximum departure frequency from the Market Square and the island: 30 minutes. In addition the restaurant island of Lonna can be visited with the same ferry.

Helsinki: Archipelago RIB Boat Tour with BBQ Lunch and Sauna

3. Helsinki: Archipelago RIB Boat Tour with BBQ Lunch and Sauna

Meet our crew at Café Marina Bay, Kanavaranta 4, 00160 Helsinki. Depart after full passenger equipments and explore the vast archipelago located east of the capital. Discover some of the 170,000 islands by boat as your guide provides more information about local nature and wildlife. See the beautiful islands as we cruise and speed into the archipelago. Near the outskirts of the archipelago, reach the recreational island where you will disembark the boat and go ashore. Explore the island on a short walking tour and learn more about local flora and fauna. Overlooking the sea, hear more about how the archipelago developed after the last ice age. Then, enjoy a snack lunch outdoors if the weather allows. After lunch, enjoy some free time to explore the island. Visit the public sauna for a bath, swim in the sea, or enjoy the peace and tranquillity of your surroundings. Finally, hop back on the boat for the journey back to Helsinki. Drop-off is at the same location from where we started.

Helsinki: City and Outer Islands Guided RIB Boat Tour

4. Helsinki: City and Outer Islands Guided RIB Boat Tour

Meet our crew at Café Marina Bay, Kanavaranta 4, 00160 Helsinki. After a short safety briefing, depart by rigid inflatable boat for a cruise along the coastline of Helsinki. Admire the most beautiful parts of Helsinki from the sea, including the Presidential Palace, the City Town Hall, the Market Square, the Uspenski Cathedral, and the Allas Sea Pools. Listen to your guide as they tell you about the city and its history. Continue to pass by the ferries to Sweden, the 19th-century villas of the Valkosaari yacht club, and the residential area of Kaivopuisto, where many of the embassies are located. Then you will be able to see the islands of Harakka, Särkkä, Uunisaari, and Liuskasaari. Travel past the Kaivopuisto Boulevard with its boat marina, yacht club, and seaside cafés. If you are lucky, you may be able to spot locals cleaning their carpets, a true Finnish summer tradition. Cross the small bay and make a stop near the new public sauna and the Löyly restaurant, with its award-winning design. See locals dressed in swimming suits jumping into the water, along with casual coffee drinkers sitting on the terrace. You will also see some of the old Hernesaari shipyard, where Finnish icebreaker ships are built. After leaving the city limits that have a speed limit, the driver will go full-throttle so you can experience the true power of a rigid inflatable speed boat. The Helsinki archipelago with its 300 islands will then start to appear in front of you. Pass through the passage between Vallisaari and Suomenlinna. Spot the historical dry dock of the old shipyard, the submarine Vesikko, and the King's Gate. Continue past the islands of Vasikkasaari, Koivusaari, and Saunasaari. Admire views of summer cottages, saunas, and the military island of Santahamina. From here the boat will cross the bay of Kruunuvuorenselkä and head for the fleet of icebreaker ships on their summer holiday. Learn about why Finland is so well-known for its icebreakers, how the ships work, and where they are being operated. Drop off is at the same spot we started from.

Helsinki: Summer Night's City Canal & Archipelago Cruise

5. Helsinki: Summer Night's City Canal & Archipelago Cruise

Enjoy the beauty of the Helsinki Archipelago like the locals do - on a midsummer night's cruise from the city district of Vuosaari to the city centre of Helsinki (Kalasatama district). From the city centre, it is a about 25 minutes metro ride (3,10€) to Vuosaari and from there a 1 km walk to the pier "Hiekkalaituri". Alternatively, take an uber or taxi directly to the pier. The ferry passes and calls several islands, makes its way through a canal and reaches finally the city centre of Helsinki. Seating is available inside and outside and snacks and drinks can be purchased from the cafeteria onboard. The duration of the cruise is about 1 hours 45 minutes. The ferry stops at several islands, but cruise passengers can remain on their seats and do not need to leave the vessel during the cruise at any point. Cafeteria and WC is available onboard.

Helsinki: Floating Experience in a Survival Suit

6. Helsinki: Floating Experience in a Survival Suit

Try a unique experience on your visit to Helsinki as you float on top of the water's surface in a survival suit. Slip in a neoprene survival suit and feel totally warm and dry in the water. Learn about sea rescue and what to do in a real survival situation with qualified instructors. Learn about hypothermia and the benefits of starting winter bathing. Relax while floating on the water or try jumping around the ice rafts during the frozen sea season. During the open water season you can learn more about rescue at sea and enjoy a relaxing meditative experience. We have ice in Helsinki during the months December to April. During the summer period May to November we focus on floating around, relaxing and rescue at sea. Close your eyes, breathe, and lose yourself in the silence, even in the heart of Helsinki.

Helsinki: RIB Tour to Summer Cottage with BBQ and Sauna

7. Helsinki: RIB Tour to Summer Cottage with BBQ and Sauna

Spend a day with some locals at their summer cottage and enjoy the best that Finnish summers have to offer – barbecues, sauna time, and hiking in a beautiful natural setting. Meet the crew at Café Marina Bay, Kanavaranta 4, 00160 Helsinki 15 min before departure. After a short safety briefing, you'll be geared up and ready to go. Cruise through the archipelago on the west side of the city, passing summer cabins, boaters, and wildlife on the way to your destination. On the 45-minute cruise, chat with the guide about the history and traditions of the area. Your afternoon hosts will be waiting for you on their small private island, owned by their family for over 100 years. If you're lucky you may even bump into more than one generation of the family, as it is their place to escape the city and spend their long summer days. Learn how part of the islands was leased as a Soviet naval base following World War II and how it is today. Leave the language-learning app at home, as your local hosts can accommodate you in English, French, German, Danish, Finnish, or Swedish. Your hosts are happy to take a break from their everyday lives to welcome you and show you how their days are spent in the archipelago. Take a nature walk and learn about which berries to eat and which mushrooms to pick. Take in views of the surrounding water and imagine the moose that occasionally swim from one island to another. Enjoy the Scandinavian design cottage and, together with your hosts, light up the genuine wood-heated sauna. If you're feeling adventurous, you may even combine the sauna bath with a refreshing dip in the sea, just like the locals do. After the sauna, the hosts will prepare a homemade lunch which you can share in the warm summer sunshine. At the end of the 2-hour visit, it's time to head back to the city, either cruising back among the islands or checking out the open sea. Drop off port is the same one as the departure port.

Helsinki: Guided Sightseeing Cruise - City & Archipelago

8. Helsinki: Guided Sightseeing Cruise - City & Archipelago

The tour will leave from the Helsinki Market Square. Sit down, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Helsinki city centre and archipelago, passing the historical sea fortress of Suomenlinna and other islands. An english speaking guide will guide you through the tour onboard and provide information regarding the city and its history. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase from our onboard cafeteria. Rest rooms available onboard. Sit outside to enjoy the fresh sea breeze or move to the cozy cabin to stay inside.

Helsinki: Helicopter and RIB Boat Adrenaline Combo Tour

9. Helsinki: Helicopter and RIB Boat Adrenaline Combo Tour

Discover the best of Helsinki from land and sea on this all-encompassing combo tour. Fly above the city in a helicopter, brave the sea with a survival suit swim, then get your adrenaline pumping with a RIB boat ride. Start the day with a panoramic helicopter flight. Fly above Helsinki and the surrounding islands whilst enjoying a glass of Champagne. See the 178,000 islands from above before landing on the bare cliffs of the eastern archipelago. On the island, get kitted out for your survival suit swim. Experience the thrill of floating in the waves whilst staying warm and dry in a survival swimsuit. Once back on dry land, enjoy a local snack before your boat ride. Hop onto the RIB boat for the thrilling ride back to Helsinki. If you're feeling adventurous, see what the RIB boat is capable of on the outer route, or enjoy a laid-back high-speed ride through the archipelago.

Helsinki: Private 30-Minute Sunset Flight with Champagne

10. Helsinki: Private 30-Minute Sunset Flight with Champagne

Take in all of the city sights on a 30-minute sunset flight over Helsinki. Fly over the Nordic landscape, see Helsinki's top sights from above, and relax with a glass of champagne. See Helsinki Cathedral, Suomenlinna, Uspenski Cathedral, and Senate Square from above. Meet your pilot in Helsinki and get situated in your own private helicopter. In the winter, enjoy a heated helicopter cabin. In the heat of the summer, relax in the cool air-conditioning. Take off into the sky as the sun begins to set over the city. As you fly, sit back and enjoy a cold glass of champagne or soft drinks. Fly over the beautiful city of Helsinki, spotting the Helsinki Cathedral, the central station, and the shining Olympic Stadium. Continue to the water, soaring over the many islands of the Helsinki archipelago. After the brilliant colors fade from the sky, return to your landing pad with a new appreciation of this beautiful city.

Other Sightseeing Options in Helsinki Islands

Want to discover all there is to do in Helsinki Islands? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Helsinki Islands

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 111 reviews

We did this excursion at the end of October ... The LIEF guide was very helpful and nice ... The rain made everything much more adventurous, we were provided with the water resistant suit, thermal gloves and goggles. .. The dinghy whizzes very fast and if you are lucky enough to find some waves then you can jump! The island where they stopped is beautiful, even the walk in the woods is very suggestive ... You get to a wooden tower, where once you get up, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Finnish sea. Then you go back to the cottage where you enter the sauna ... And if you are daring enough you can alternate the latter with regenerating dips in the cold waters of the sea ... In the meantime, the guide will prepare lunch ... Which in our case was a delicious salmon soup in the typical local tradition ... It was not possible to make the barbecue due to the difficult weather conditions ... I recommend it ...

This is the experience of a lifetime. We were advised to come a little early as the weather was cloudy and the crew did not want us to miss the sunset. They were a delight from the beginning to the end. We were even asked if we had any preferences for flying over a certain location. The timing ensured we got a beautiful evening view and an early night view as well. Would totally recommend this to everyone.

Had a great experience. Leif was a wonderful host, teaching us about sea rescue, and how to protect yourself if you ever end up as part of one. It was a very relaxing experience floating in te water, completely protected, and then trying some of the survival technical such as sitting up. Would highly recommend this experience and definitely want to do it again when it's frozen!

Had such a wonderful experience! Learned so much about ice swimming and at-sea rescues. Leif and Olli were both so knowledgeable and made sure we felt safe and comfortable at all time. Couldn’t have asked for better instructors! We are got to ride the boat as well which was enjoyable!

It was amazing and so unique would recommend in a heartbeat