In the coastline of Helsinki there is an enormous abandoned military fortress site Vallisaari. The construction was started during the time Finland was an autonomous Russian Grand Duchy from year 1809 to 1917. This site has been a secret military site until year 2016 when it was opened for public. This tour takes you to a privately guided tour to this enormous nature site. The tour starts at your hotel and will include a short ferry trip from the Market Square of Helsinki. Includes light meal.
At Your Hotel
Meeting at the lobby of your hotel. Start short walk (depending on the location of your hotel) to the Helsinki Market Square. From the Market Square we will have the opportunity to buy things to eat during the day.
Ferry trip from the Market Square to the Vallisaari Torpedo Bay.
Walking around the Route of Russian Emperor Alexander. This route is approximately 1,5 - 2,0 hours of walking on sand-covered paths around the island. Nowadays the islands are open to public, and kept in good and safe condition by Finnish Forestry Government. Our guides are authorized and educated by them, and we have a lot of exiting history to tell about the rebellion of Sveaborg year 1906, headless colonel Mr Notara. and see the enormous nature. Tour is divided into two parts.
Tour price includes light snack at local restaurant in Vallisaari Torpedo bay.You will hear about the history of Helsinki town,
We will return to the Torpedo Bay to enjoy an included light lunch at the local restaurant.
Starting the second part of our day, we walk to the other island called Kuninkaansaari. This island has also old military constructions from the Russian time, artillery batteries and beautiful fortress buildings. We will also go the seashore cliffs, to admire the magnificent view to the Gulf of Finland. If you are brave enough, you will have the opportunity to swim also.
The ferry trip back to Helsinki Market Square will take longer than entering, as the ferry will sail to the Suomenlinna Fortress during the return to Helsinki.
Helsinki Market Square, tour ends If required, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.
At Your Hotel
guide fee, ferry tickets, outdoor meal
Personal expenses
All days available.
Only available when ferry operates May - June - July - August - September - October 15
The weather conditions in Finland are sometimes fast changing, so please prepare for walking in rain and hard wind - take weather dependent clothing with you. Good shoes are a good choice.
Timo is knowledgeable, flexible and clearly enjoys being a guide. I told him the things we wanted to do and he customized the day, adding in highlights about Finland I didn’t know about. He is a native Fin and knows a lot about nature as well as the history of Finland. You can’t go wrong with Timo!
Thank you for being my customer, I really enjoyed being your guide!
We went with Mr Timo for our tour of Suomenlinna Fortress on the 25th of December. We had our seven-year-old boy with us on tour. Our meeting made it very apparent that Mr Timo belongs to Helsinki and knows the city properly. He knew a great deal of history and geopolitics. He kept the tour lively, with just enough history and a good deal of Finnish culture. Conversation with him was relevant and we never got bored. I strongly recommend him as anyone's tour guide.