Senate Square: Our most recommended tours and activities

Helsinki: Hop-On Hop-Off City Bus Tour

1. Helsinki: Hop-On Hop-Off City Bus Tour

See the Helsinki tourist attractions that interest you most and avoid wasting time on an organized tour with this hop-on hop-off bus tour. Hop on and off as many times as you like at any of the 22 stops on the itinerary over a 24-hour or 48-hour period. You could choose to admire the unique rock architecture of the Temppeliaukio Church, visit the Parliament House, admire the neoclassical architecture in Senate Square or search for a bargain in Market Square. Enjoy an onboard audio commentary available in 10 languages and avail of excellent views from the top deck of your double-decker bus. Don't worry if the weather isn't great as the bottom deck is completely protected from the elements.

Helsinki City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket

2. Helsinki City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket

Explore Helsinki according to your own interests and schedule with a 24 or 48-hour ticket for the open-air, hop-on and hop-off sightseeing bus. Take a full loop of the route in just 90 minutes to get an orientation of the city, or jump off at any of the stops to explore the attractions that interest you the most. Drive past the Sibelius Monument, and the imposing Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Church). Jump off at the Flea Market or Market Square, and see the buildings built for the 1952 Summer Olympics, including the Olympic Stadium. Your full price ticket entitles you to discounts at participating partners, including cafés, restaurants and shops. Free Wi-Fi is available on-board the bus so you can keep up-to-date with your friends and family back home and make them jealous with social media updates of your experience. In the event of bad weather, the roof of the bus can be swiftly retracted to protect you from the rain. Free rain ponchos are also provided. You can start your tour from any stop along the route. Add on an optional cruise from the Cruise Terminal, and get a different perspective of the city from the water. Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Stops: 1. Senate Square/ Helsinki City Museum 2. Olympia Terminal (Silja Line) / Mannerheim Museum 3. Cafe Ursula/ Kaivopuisto Park 4. Compass Square 5. Eira 6. Hernesaari Cruise Terminal (stop in use only on certain cruise ship days) 7. Löyly 8. Flea Market/ Bulevardi/ Sinebrychoff Art Museum 9. Swedish Theater/ Design Museum/ Museum of Finnish Architecture 10. Market Square (departure point for Beautiful Canal Route) 11. Kiasma/ Helsinki Art Museum/ Amos Rex / Central Railway Station 12. Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) 13. Sibelius Monument 14. Olympic Stadium  15. National Opera/ Linnanmäki/ Töölönlahti Bay 16. National Museum/ Parliament House/ Helsinki Music Center 17. Ateneum Art Museum/ Central Railway Station 18. Botanic Garden

Helsinki: Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local Guide

3. Helsinki: Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local Guide

Embark on a tour of the Finnish capital, Helsinki, and watch daily life unfold with stories and history from your local guide. Visit city highlights, from the bustling Market Square where locals get their groceries to the colossal Central Library Oodi. Begin at the iconic Senate Square and admire the Lutheran Cathedral. From the square, see Helsinki University and the old Senate, and discover the meaning behind the statue of the Russian Czar. As you walk, feel free to ask your guide any questions about the capital. Next, follow your guide to the port and marvel at the Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral. Continue to Market Square and learn about Finnish gastronomy. Here, get tips on where to eat and drink after the tour. If you're lucky, you might see locals swimming and relaxing in the Baltic Sea. Make your way to Havis Amanda and learn about this statue's significance to many in the city. Stop at the picturesque Esplanade Park and see the man that the seagulls love the most. After passing by the Esplanade, walk through Helsinki's bustling Aleksanterinkatu street, and discover the "unicorn block". At the end of Aleksanterinkatu street, view the Three Smiths statue, which was damaged during the bombings of the Second World War. Hear stories about this complicated period of Finland's history and the impact that lingers to this day. Stop by the Helsinki Central Railway Station before coming to the last stop on the tour, the new Central Library Oodi. As you arrive, see the Finnish Parliament, the Music Centre, and Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum. Take a small tour inside the library and marvel at its unique architecture before finishing the tour.

Helsinki by Bus and Boat 24-Hour Combo Ticket

4. Helsinki by Bus and Boat 24-Hour Combo Ticket

Combine 2 beautiful sightseeing experiences and see the best of Helsinki by land and water. Board a canal boat to journey along the charming waterways of Helsinki and pass sights such as the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress, Helsinki Zoo on Korkeasaari Island and Degerö Canal. Along the way, learn the city's fascinating history from the recorded commentary played over loudspeakers in Finnish, English, Swedish, and German. Written information is also available in Swedish, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Estonian, Japanese and Chinese.  In addition, discover the top sights of Helsinki on land as you board the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus and travel past attractions such as the Sibelius Monument and Temppeliaukio Church, known as the "Rock Church" as it is built directly into solid rock. Benefit from 19 stops along the carefully planned route, including Senate Square, the Swedish Theatre and Market Square, the departure point for the Beautiful Canal Cruise and the site of the SkyWheel Helsinki. Your ticket is valid for 24 hours. Listen to the audio commentary (available in 10 different languages) through individual, single-use headsets. Take advantage of the free Wi-Fi to post your adventures on social media as you travel. In the event of bad weather, the roof of the bus can be quickly installed to protect you from the rain.

Helsinki: Helsinki and Suomenlinna 5-Hour Sightseeing Tour

5. Helsinki: Helsinki and Suomenlinna 5-Hour Sightseeing Tour

Explore the historic monuments of Helsinki with a local guide, and visit sights such as Olympic Stadium from the 1952 Summer Olympics. See the monument to the composer Jean Sibelius and explore the promenade of Esplanade Park. Go to Old Market Hall, and admire the largest orthodox church in western Europe at the Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral. Then, catch the ferry to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Suomenlinna sea fortress. Upon arrival, walk to visit the barracks and the Great Courtyard, where the memorial tomb of Augustin Ehrensvärd was designed by King Gustav III of Sweden.

Helsinki: Eco-friendly Helicopter Sightseeing Tour

6. Helsinki: Eco-friendly Helicopter Sightseeing Tour

Experience an exclusive and unforgettable air sightseeing tour around Helsinki and the archipelago. The flights are operated with highly modern helicopters, which are the most silent and environmentally friendly in the world flying with Sustainable Aviation Fuel. After your safety briefing and a photo opportunity, take off and fly above the beautiful nature surrounding Helsinki. Check out the natural state forests on the east side of the city as you fly high. Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne as you head towards the archipelago in front of Helsinki. As you get closer to the city, fly around Suomenlinna, the sea fortress island, and the city center. Grab some amazing pictures as the helicopter passes in front of the downtown shoreline to show you a beautiful scene consisting of Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral. Take a peek at why Helsinki is known as “the City of Architecture”, with many neoclassical buildings to peek at. Fly close to Löyly and, on a clear day, see if you can see the skyline of Tallinn, the Estonian capital that lies across the water. Finish off the tour by flying over the fancy neighborhoods located on the west side of Helsinki with beautiful villas owned by a few international celebrities.

From Helsinki: Porvoo Half-Day Sightseeing Tour

7. From Helsinki: Porvoo Half-Day Sightseeing Tour

You'll meet your guide in Helsinki just before noon. From here, you'll head to Porvoo to marvel at the historic Old Town, with its well-preserved historical buildings as well as a 15th-century cathedral. The Old Town is a historically and culturally significant place and is recognized as one of the important National landscapes of Finland. During the tour, you will learn about Finnish history and culture, exploring the Red Riverside Warehouses, Porvoo Castle, Porvoo Old Town Hall, and the devil's stairs, as well as many other attractions. After your guide shows you around the top attractions in Porvoo you'll have about 40 minutes of free time to explore the many cafes, restaurants, and shops in Old Town. Then you'll head back to Helsinki where the bus will drop you off in Senate Square.

Helsinki Half-Day City Tour

8. Helsinki Half-Day City Tour

Start your walking tour from the Railway Station Square, right next to one of the most beautiful Romantic buildings in Helsinki, the National Theater. From there, continue your walk through central Helsinki to get a feel for its vibrant streets, mostly built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Then, follow the main shopping street, Aleksanterinkatu, towards the city's main square, Senate Square. At the central point of the square is the magnificent Helsinki Cathedral, built in 1852 when Finland was part of the Russian Empire. Stop at the nearby seat of the Finnish Government and the main building of Helsinki University. Continue on towards the Katajanokka Peninsula, stopping at the Uspenskii Cathedral, a beautiful Orthodox cathedral atop a hill. Go up the hill and to the terrace of the cathedral for pretty views over Helsinki. Explore Market Square (Kauppatori), where you can find souvenirs and taste local specialties. Walk along the Esplanade Park and Helsinki’s main street, Mannerheimintie, before stopping by the parliament building, National Museum, and Finlandia Hall, a concert and congress hall designed by famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. After a walk through the district of Töölö, visit the unique Rock Church, carved within a rocky hill, and afterwards a have a short city bus trip to the park and monument dedicated to the most famous Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius. End the tour at the impressive granite Central Railway Station, where nearly a quarter of a million passengers pass through every day. This private walking tour allows variations in pick-up point, starting time and the route. Agree your most convenient timing and meet the guide from the port, railway station or a hotel.

Helsinki: Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour

9. Helsinki: Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour

Terve! Welcome to Helsinki, the capital of Finland. On this walking tour, I’ll show you around the city while I share its historical ties to Sweden and Russia and fill you in on Finnish culture. Our walk begins in the shadows of Helsinki Cathedral in Senate square, the city’s political, religious, scientific, and commercial center. From there, I’ll point out some of the city’s main sites, and a few lesser-known ones too, like the Helsinki City Museum, one of the city’s oldest buildings. It’s home to approximately 1.5 million artifacts. I’ll also share a few amazing stories like how a salt warehouse was transformed into the Presidential Palace and how the Uspenski Cathedral, the largest orthodox church in Western Europe, was built. You’ll have the opportunity to stroll through Market Square, just like locals do, and hear the story of the Empress’ Stone. You’ll see Helsinki’s old market hall, and I’ll tell you how the First World War and the Finnish Civil War affected it. While you stroll through Esplanade Park, I’ll fill you in on the festival of Vappu and the story of Havis Amanda, the bronze statue that caused a splash when it was first revealed. Along the way, you can look forward to: • Decoding the symbolism hidden in the Alexander II sculpture • Taking in the impressive Allas Sea Pool and SkyWheel • Walking through the most famous park in Finland, Esplanade Park, which is also the green heart of Helsinki • Discovering the “Kappeli” restaurant, a local favorite among poets, writers, and artists in the 1900s • Finding out about Johan Ludvig Runeberg, a famous Finnish author, poet, and priest with Swedish roots • Hearing stories about the Swedish theatre, Svenska Teatern, and finding out about its current status • Passing by Stockmann, the oldest department store in Finland • Strolling down Alexander Street, one of the main shopping streets for locals This 90-minute tour is perfect for anyone who wants a taste of Finnish history while enjoying a glorious stroll in the heart of Helsinki!

Helsinki: Hop-On Hop-Off 48-Hour Ticket

10. Helsinki: Hop-On Hop-Off 48-Hour Ticket

Welcome to Hop-On Hop-Off Helsinki - a bus sightseeing tour around the city where you hop on and off as much as you like. The ticket is valid for 48-hours by your choice and entitles you to get a discount on top attractions. The tour is guided in 10 different languages through individual, single-used headsets. To make your ride comfortable, have free Wi-Fi available on the buses, fun and friendly staff and experienced drivers. In bad weather, the bus roof can be installed quickly to protect you from rain. Route stops: 1. Senate Square: Senate Square can perhaps remind you that Finland became independent in 1917, immediately after the Russian Revolution, and managed to retain its sovereignty even during the difficult times of World War II. 2. The Olympia Terminal / Silja Line: The Olympia Terminal was built for the Olympic Games in 1952 and is now used by TallinkSilja. 3. Café Ursula: A popular spot for a coffee with a splendid sea view. 4. Compass Square. 5. Eira. 6. Hernesaari Cruise Terminal: One of Helsinki’s ports. Arrival and departure point for cruise ships visiting the city (LHC, LHB, LHD). Stop only on cruise ship days. 7. Löyly: restaurant with a seaview terrace and saunas available daily. 8. Flea Market: The flea market at Hietalahti Market Square is an exciting place to visit. The market is open both during the day and weekday evenings in the summer. Here, you can meet local Helsinki residents who have hired their own table to sell their old possessions. 9. Swedish Theatre: In the heart of Helsinki, opposite Stockmann’s department store and at the end of Esplanade Park. 10. Market Square: Departure point for Helsinki Sightseeing Boat Tours and dining cruises. The new Finnair SkyWheel is located next to the Market Square. 11. Kiasma/Central Railway Station. 12. Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church): This Lutheran church has been blasted out of solid rock and is a popular tourist attraction. 13. Sibelius Monument: Dedicated to the famous composer Jean Sibelius, this monument is one of the “musts” when visiting Helsinki. 14. Olympic Stadium: Apart from being an arena for many big events, the Olympic Stadium offers a beautiful view over the roofs of Helsinki from its tower that is open to the public. You will also find the opera here as well as a statue of the world-famous athlete Paavo Nurmi. 15. Finnish National Opera/ Töölönlahti Bay 16. National Museum, Parliament House and Helsinki Music Center: The Helsinki Music Center is a concert venue and meeting place open to all. It is full of action from morning to evening. Across the street, you'll find the Parliament House and National Museum of Finland. 17. Ateneum Art Museum, Central Railway Station: Ateneum contains the most extensive art collections of Finland and is home to the most loved classic works of Finnish art. This stop is also close to the National Theatre and Central Railway Station. 18. Botanic Garden.

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Senate Square

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What people are saying about Senate Square

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 358 reviews

Rentohelsinki was very casual and cater our walking tour according to our interests. Since it was a small group, we managed to interact to other participants easily and comfortably. Our guide was friendly and knowledgable possibly because she was originally from Finland and she has a lot of experience as a guide before.

This may be the best walking tour I have been to, Emet is a experienced and informative guide, he provided more then Historical and geographical information, and also his perspective on city planning. It is the best choice if tourist want to explore and understand of the Finland culture, history and current society.

Mikhail’s tour was fantastic! I highly recommend booking - I learned so much snd he was super accommodating, he even met me at the ferry to start our tour! Book his tour now, you won’t be sorry!

Harry the guide was very friendly and helpful. He explained things in detail. Brought us to try local food which was good. Overall a very good experience.

Good activity. To see the best of Helsinki in few hours.