helsinki tours

THE 10 BEST Helsinki Tours & Excursions

Tours in helsinki.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Walking Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Helsinki to Tallinn Guided Tour with return Cruise tickets

2. A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki

3. Helsinki and Suomenlinna Sightseeing Tour

4. Helsinki VIP City Tour and Medieval Porvoo by Private car with Personal Guide

5. Porvoo tour from Helsinki or Vantaa

6. Magical Taiga Forest Hike with Lunch and Transportation

7. Tip-based Free Walking Tour Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA TOURS

8. Half Day Guided Archipelago Exploration from Helsinki

9. CITY Tour with Food Tasting in Helsinki

10. National Park Hike & Finnish Smoke Sauna Experience with Campfire Lunch

11. Helsinki in Nutshell: Suomenlinna & City Highlights by Eco-Friendly Ways

12. Helsinki to Tallinn Self-Guided Day Return Voyage MyStar/Megastar

13. Half-Day Nature Adventure to Nuuksio National Park from Helsinki

14. Helsinki walking tour with a city planner

15. Helsinki Canal Cruise

16. Helsinki Like a Local: Customized Private Tour

17. Tallinn Day Cruise from Helsinki

18. Hiking Experience in a National Park with Backpacker Helsinki Tour

19. PRIVATE Helsinki and Medieval Porvoo VIP Tour

20. Porvoo All-Way Guided Sightseeing Tour from Helsinki

21. Private TukTuk guided Tour in Helsinki 2,5 hrs

22. True Crime Walk in Helsinki

23. Helsinki Highlights Sightseeing Guided Tour, Small Group

24. Happy Helsinki Walking Tour

25. Helsinki tram tour with a city planner

26. Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour

27. Helsinki City Highlights Cruise

28. PRIVATE Tour to Oldest Capital Turku from Helsinki

29. City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

30. Helsinki architecture tour with a city planner

What travellers are saying.

• A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki
• Helsinki to Tallinn Guided Tour with return Cruise tickets
• Historic Helsinki Walking Tour
• Helsinki to Tallinn Self-Guided Day Return Voyage MyStar/Megastar
• Porvoo tour from Helsinki or Vantaa
• Taiga Times
• Paulo's Tours
• Ataman Tours
• Lomatka Travel Company
• Green Cap Tours
• Feel The Nature
• Day With A Local Helsinki
• Finland Local Guides
• Lomi Nature Travels
• Vino Tours and More
• Red Umbrella Tours Helsinki
• Stromma - Sightseeing By Boat
• M/S J.L. Runeberg
• HELtours - Helsinki Bike Tours
• Cozy Nosey Tours
• REDRIB Experience
• Finnish Friend
• Natura Viva
• Norman Travels
• Moose Safari
• Burn Out City Events
• Hakuna Matata Sup Rental
• Adventure Park Korkee

Explore the best of Helsinki with a local guide.

Hi i'm jonna, founder of this cool project and your new friend from helsinki. i love helsinki and i'm looking forward to show you the best of it join  on a walking tour with me and you'll get to  feel the vibe of the city , and  see places that others will miss .  whether you decide to join to the popular helsinki walking tour or tailor your very own p rivate tour , you'll get to discover helsinki in an authentic , exclusive , and memorable way always small groups to assure the best experience  .

Helsinki Walking Tour

Forget those big and crowded tours and join my best-seller walking tour  to explore the major sights of Helsinki while hearing stories about Finland's history, culture, and society . A maximum of  8 people in a group guarantee you more interaction and flexibility. 

Read here more info.

Every day 10:00 & 14:00 Price 47€/person Max 8 people on a group

Helsinki private experience.

Explore Helsinki in a flexible and exclusive way with a personalized  private tour . Book either my famous Helsinki Walking Tour for your group or send me a message and I'll tailor you a unique tour according to your own interests. Get off the beaten path and discover what Helsinki has to offer. 

Get inspired and s ee here

what kind of tours we have

done with other travelers.

Digital Tours Rento x Reveel

Rento Helsinki Tours has started a collaboration with a new Helsinki-based start up  Reveel. I have created and recorded a cool audio tour, that introduces you the highlights of Helsinki in an hour.  This is a perfect option for anyone wanting to get a quick introduction to Helsinki and Finland!

Just download Reveel (Android or iOS)  and start exploring Helsinki on your own pace!

WHAT OTHER TRAVELERS SAY

My name is Jonna, the person behind Rento Helsinki Tours . I have six years experience in tour guiding. I started my career in 2016 when I was living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I moved to Helsinki 2018 and continued leading tours, but this time in the city that I love the most . 

In spring 2021, I decided to take a big step and started my own walking tour business, Rento Helsinki Tours. Rento is my favorite word in Finnish, it means " easy-going, relaxed, chill ", and that's the word that describe me and also my tours. For 2 years now I've been offering unique, local experiences in Helsinki in four languages, English, Finnish, Spanish & Portuguese.  

I'm interested about history and culture , and on my tours you'll hear many anecdotes about the Finnish society . I was born in a small town two hours north-east of Helsinki, and that's where my love towards nature comes from. 

When I'm not touring Helsinki with travelers, I enjoy going to the forest, sip craft beer with my friends in some cool pub in Helsinki, or going to one of Helsinki's many public saunas. 

Hope to see you in Helsinki soon!

PHOTO GALLERY

Did you take a cool picture on one of my tours? Remember to tag @rentohelsinki to get featured.

• Oct 27, 2023

Local tips to Helsinki

• Feb 17, 2022

Best places to eat & drink in Helsinki!

CONTACT 

+358 465575195 [email protected] business id - 3207397-6.

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Helsinki Tours & Trips

Find the right tour for you through Helsinki. We've got 173 adventures going to Helsinki, starting from just 2 days in length, and the longest tour is 32 days. The most popular month to go is July, which has the largest number of tour departures.

173 Helsinki tour packages with 558 reviews

• Christmas & New Year

Metropolis Meets Wilderness: Experience a vibrant Helsinki and the serenity of Finnish nature.

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Helsinki - Turku - Tampere

• In-depth Cultural
• Sightseeing

Jewels of Scandinavia End Helsinki

Tour was enjoyable. Major major let-down in failure of arrival pickup within contracted time of 90min after aircraft arrival. Told to wait when contacted before asked to pay and make my own way to hotel. Not the faults of the guides who were excellent.

Central Baltic

Unser Reis war sehr spannend und mann konnte vieles sehen. Ihn 3 Tagen, waren wir ihn 3 Länder. Die Unterkünfte waren immer Zentrum nah. Über diese Bookingseite würde ich wieder buchen.

Rovaniemi: The Northern Lights - 2 days

• Northern Lights

Midnight Sun – 7 Days in Lapland

Lorenzo was a fountain of knowledge when it came to the nature (which was 99% of the tour). Super interesting listening to his facts about everything in sight. He was super friendly and accommodating throughout the whole tour.

Scandinavia Explorer

Hi... Home too soon and reflecting on how great our trip with Intrepid was. We usually make our own arrangements when we travel. Though older, we do NOT enjoy the big bus experience. However, as we slip into our 70s, it's tougher to arrange all complexities of a trip. Since we are explorers at heart, we thought we'd try a small group trip. So...signed onto Scandinavia Explorer with Intrepid. How wonderful to be so independent yet not have to make all the arrangements. Hrvoje, our guide, was a walking encyclopedia about the sites and both fun and informative. And enjoyed meeting an Aussie lady to share our experiences. A very relaxed sort of trip. We will book another. So 5 stars!!! A little disappointed about the bike ride cancellation, but soon realized that street construction and other circumstances were the cause. One tip, however. On the small cruise part of our trip, we ended up in separate rooms. Not our guide's fault (he was the best), but perhaps with prior forewarning, we could've paid a little supplement to be in the same room even with separate single beds. We've been all around the world yet found ourselves wide-eyed with discoveries on this trip. Small trips like this allow one to meet the locals, too. Can't believe it's over. Although memories aren't. Thank you. What a charming almost fairy tale intro to Norway, Sweden, and Finland! Tom and Sherry Miller from U.S.A.

• Walking Adventure

Baltic Beauties: Helsinki and Tallinn Tour

Small Group Helsinki and South Karelia in 5 days (Guaranteed departure)

This was a lovely tour that I would recommend to anyone who is new to Finland. Everything was easy. Transfer drivers were on time at each stop. Alex, the tour director, made everyone feel welcome and important. His knowledge of the Nordic and Baltic states is amazing. And he seems to be fluent in just about every European language. The local Helsinki guide (I’m embarrassed to say I forget her name) was also knowledgeable and very happy to answer questions. The train rides to Lappeenranta and back were very comfortable. In Lappeenranta I was particularly spoiled as I was the only person for this leg of the tour, so I had the guide to myself. Arja was a delight. As a long time resident and business owner of the town, she knew it inside out. We strolled like old friends through the streets and pathways as I soaked up the beautiful scenery, culture and history of the this beautiful land. I would highly recommend this tour for the relaxing and informative time it provides.

Northern Europe Explorer (Tallinn, Helsinki And Stockholm)

Highlights of Helsinki & Lappeenranta - 5 Days

Baltic Experience

The Baltic Experience tour was a lot of fun! Our Tour Leader, Agata, was superb! The small tour size (we had six participants) meant we got to know each other well. The tour had a perfect mix of planned group activities and time to explore the sites on our own. The on-line tour description was accurate and extensive. Three cautions: Travel insurance is MANDATORY, somewhat expensive, and not included in the tour price. Many, like me, will commit to the tour not knowing this additional cost will be tacked on. Second, the tour sometimes involves significant walking (up to 30 minutes) from transportation facilities to hotels while carrying your own bags (two weeks of baggage), as well as walking tours that sometimes involve climbing as many as 800 steps. This is a tour for fairly young and fit participants. Finally, European hotels and home-stay facilities generally don't have air conditioning or screened windows, meaning sometimes in the summer you will have to choose between sleeping in hot, stuffy rooms or opening the windows for mosquitoes to enter. All that said, this was a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable experience and I would highly recommend it for fit, adventurous people with positive attitudes who can tolerate occasional less-than-luxurious accommodations.

Baltics and Scandinavia in 10 Days (Guaranteed Departure)

Alles war sehr gut organisiert. Auch Vorinfos und Erinnerungen waren prima.

Helsinki & South Karelia Express - 5 Day

• Coach / Bus

The Best of The Baltics + Helsinki in 10 days (Guaranteed departure)

The trip was awesome! The people in the major cities speak english very well and are really friendly. I’ve really enjoyed the cities, they have something special about them. The tour was carefully planned – we had just enough time to explore everything we wanted. The hotels are not the most expensive ones, however they were neat and comfortable. Would repeat this trip again!

What people love about Helsinki Tours

We had a awesome and blast time touring Central Baltic. All hotel accommodations and ferry cabin were good and excellent. We learned about culture , history, architecture, food and so on. Wonderful walking tour. Highly recommend. Gina Tellez and Ray Bradley.

Our experience with Nordic Unique was great. As a little older group some tours did not appeal to us and they were great about rearranging the itinerary. There could have been a little more communication prior to the trip. I would also suggest some kayaks at the lake. Our guide Matthias (Niales) was awesome!! He was patient, kind, knowledgeable and a great cook.

Tours starting from Helsinki

• for 10 Days (21)
• for 7 Days (12)
• for 2 Weeks (6)
• to Europe (43)
• to Finland (23)
• Finland Travel Guide | All You Need to Know

YOO-HOO! TO GET YOUR GUIDE IN HELSINKI

Active tours.

With Yoo-hoo! Tours you explore Helsinki in an active way with a local and native authorized Helsinki guide. This gives you truly an insider’s view to the city and its fascinating places and stories. The personal service and long experience from travel industry guarantee you a great Helsinki experience!

Easygoing feeling

With our authorized guide your tour will always be informative but with an easygoing way. Our goal is to provide you fun and relaxed tour, as it is an important part of your visit and vacation – and vacation never should be too serious! 

Sustainability

Yoo-hoo! Tours is a Sustainable Travel Finland company and awarded by a Green Activities certificate. We are in partnership with different organizations and all our business partners are local companies. Read more about the sustainability here.

LGBTQ -friendly

The company is gay owned and we want to emphasis the inclusivity in our business. We are part of We Speak Gay community and we are committed to welcome all our guests regardless of age, religion, sexual orientation, race or nationality.

Let Yoo-hoo! Tours host you!

We are a local company operating in and around Helsinki area. Our specialty are sustainable walking and biking tours for small groups. We also provide bus sightseeing tours by bus with our partners and island tours in Helsinki archipelago. We always aim to be innovative and as a good example of this we do city tours by 100% electric TukTuk vehicles.

Whether you visit Helsinki by yourself, with your loved one or even in a bigger group, we can tailor you an individual tour. This provides you personalized service and lets you and your group to explore the city just as you want!

For groups and private bookings

Go ahead, feel free to contact us with your wishes and lets build a memorable tour for you! We have also put together some ideas which you can find useful when planning your activity – just follow the link below!

We also have some scheduled tours for the general public to participate.

Please see more info about them on the our Scheduled Tours page!

Baltic Sea – Our sea

Helsinki, the daughter of the Baltic Sea, was founded by the sea and the city has almost 140 km of coastline around our beautiful and unique sea. The Baltic Sea is an important part of Helsinki because of its nature, maritime culture and connections. In addition, the sea, the harbors and the archipelago are a…

Sustainable Travel Finland

We are super happy and proud for our achievement of Sustainable Travel Finland label! STF run by Visit Finland is the program collecting the sustainable and responsible travel services together. To achieve the label naturally means lot of work and many challenges, and even after having received this to work continues further. We are glad…

We are now Green Activities certified!

From our beginning sustainability and responsibility have been our core values. On all of our tours we want to present also these themes. Naturally, we do our own business following them too. It is a pleasure for us to be nominated as Green Activities certified activity. With this certification we have proved to fill the…

ARE YOU READY FOR A TOUR?

Contact now.

Juho Rautio

Founder and a YooHoo! Guide

+358102126180 | +358503977221

[email protected]

Yoo-hoo! Tours was founded on 2019 by Juho Rautio, an authorized Helsinki Guide with a long background in the travel industry, for example in the cruise and airline business. Our goal is to offer easygoing, professional and sustainable guided tours in and around Helsinki. I graduated as a tour guide and authorized Helsinki Guide on the summer 2019 and have guided regularly since then. I was born and raised in Helsinki, so this is truly my hometown and it has a very special place in my heart. I wish you can get part of this feeling on Yoo-hoo! Tours activities. The corner stones of the company are exceptional service, sustainability and diversity. All of our tours are covered by a liability insurance.

– Juho

Yoo-hoo tours.

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Tallinn Tours

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Helsinki Tours

Copenhagen tours, amsterdam tours, bruges tours, vilnius tours, klaipeda tours, gdansk tours, tallinn to helsinki private day trip and walking tour.

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Tallinn to Helsinki Private Day Trip & Panoramic Sightseeing Tour

Helsinki private highlights tour, porvoo private tour with helsinki highlights, helsinki private sightseeing tour with fazer chocolate museum visit, helsinki private panoramic tour, helsinki private walking tour, helsinki private walking tour & suomenlinna fortress visit, helsinki private accessible city tour, reviews of our tours, helsinki to tallinn private day trip with old town tour & city sightseeing.

Nordic Experience organized a great tour of Tallinn at the last minute when one day during my Helsinki business trip freed up. All the logistics were perfect, with a super-knowledgeable guide in Tallinn, Ylena. Highly recommended.

Italy, September 2023

I had approached Nordic Experience for two short tours from Helsinki – To Porvoo and Tallinn. The response with recommendation of tours for query was very prompt – I sent the request in the midnight and morning by 07 I got the proposal. We selected Porvoo Private Tour with Helsinki Highlights and Helsinki To Tallinn Private Day Trip with Old Town Tour & City Sightseeing. The response from Eva ( I believe the Managing Director) was impeccable and all the arrangements were made in a swift manner. The driver and guide were on time and took all the possible efforts to keep us comfortable while explaining the importance of each places we visited. Due to unforeseen situation we thought to cancel the trip to Tallinn that was scheduled on our second day, however we tried for a possible reschedule. Even though it was a last minute request, they were able to accommodate our request and we could visit Tallinn. The guide and driver who accompanied us in Tallinn were also excellent with their wide knowledge of the history of the country and importance of each places.

United Arab Emirates, April 2023

It was a rainy cold day when we headed to Tallinn from Helsinki. Even the ferry crossing was dark & a bit on the rough side.

What a change when we were greeted at the Tallinn terminal by our guide Alexander. A bright & bubbly contrast to the weather outside & boy did he know his stuff. From the get go he was pleasant, accommodating, knowledgeable & absolutely loved his job & his country. He had a sense of humor too which is always a bonus. We had a running commentary as we drove through & around town. Alexander not only pointed out the highlights outside the car window but shared some of the complex & at times quirky history of Tallinn & Estonia. We stopped & walked around parks, palaces & outdoor ampitheatres before even heading to the old town, all the time being educated & entertained by Alexander & our driver. I couldn’t recommend this day trip enough. Sure it was a long, LONG day but it was so worth it. Its has put Estonia on our Go To list for future holidays. Many thanks to Triin, Alexander, our driver whose name I cant remember & the team at Nordic. We had an absolute ball.

PS, loved the coffee, sandwich & apple pie break. It was an unexpected inclusion & that apple pie was to die for!!

Lynne Maynard

New Zealand, December 2019

Helsinki is a quite familiar city for me. Or, actually, I thought so. This time tried a private tour of Helsinki with Porvoo and was truly impressed by Nordic Experience guide – Ritva. Very professional, knowledgeable, loves her country with all her heart. We’ve got an absolutely another picture of this severe beautiful city. Ritva knows here really everything: history, gastronomy, best places to avoid crowds and ways to wake up interest of each member of the group. Thank you, “Nordic Experience”, we’ll come back and ask you for new adventures for sure! 🙂

Russia, December 2018

My family of 6 were on a 10-day trip to Finland, but had a free day in Helsinki and was looking for something to do. A lot of blogs were recommending a day trip to Tallinn, so I started looking around for a suitable tour agency. I chose Estonian Experience almost at random, because they appeared to provide a comprehensive package for a reasonable price. I didn’t have high expectations, but was completely blown away by the amazing experience we ended up having. Our guide Eva-Maria was friendly, engaging, and most of all you could feel her palpable passion which was contagious. We learnt so much about Tallinn, the culture and history, about the Singing Revolution, and how Estonia became a proud republic. This day trip to Estonia ironically turned out to be the highlight of our family’s 10-day Finland trip, topping even the husky rides, aurora chasing and Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi. In fact, we are now seriously considering coming back to Tallinn next year to experience the 150th anniversary of the Estonian Song Featival. That’s how impactful this tour was! I can’t recommend them strongly enough. Our only regret was that we couldn’t stay longer in Estonia.

Singapore, December 2018

Things to do in Helsinki

Colourful architecture, rich history and reindeer salami: discover the city of helsinki, best art galleries in helsinki to explore & discover, what to do during your christmas time visit to helsinki, private accessible baltic shore excursions and tours.

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Home » Travel Guides » Finland » 15 Best Helsinki Tours

15 Best Helsinki Tours

Founded in the mid-16th century, Helsinki is a city that encompasses the old and new worlds like few others.

Located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland in the country’s southern portion, it is Finland’s capital and most populous city, with about 650,000 residents.

Helsinki is often referred to as the ‘Daughter of the Baltic,’ and in the early 19th century, it was largely rebuilt to mimic St. Petersburg.

Over the years, it has been featured in a number of Cold War-era movies, and it’s also considered one of the region’s hottest culinary, art, and design centers.

Below are 15 of the best tours of Helsinki.

1. 90-minute Helsinki Canal Boat Sightseeing Tour

Though they’re not as extensive as the more well-known ones in Venice, Italy, Helsinki’s canals are a great way to get a unique view of the city from a different perspective.

Tour guests will pass a number of the city’s premier sites, like the Maritime Fortress at Suomenlinna, the Helsinki Zoo, and the fleet of majestic ice breakers in the port.

Photo ops abound, and along the way, you’ll learn about the city’s history and culture, as well as discover things you’ll probably want to check out on your own when the tour is officially over.

Coffee, tea, cold drinks and pastries are available in the boat’s canteen.

2. Panorama Coach Tour

This Panorama Helsinki Coach Tour is a great way to get your bearing in the city without spending a ton of money or wasting needless hours of valuable vacation time.

The tour lasts just less than two hours, is available in nearly a dozen languages, and drives past many of the city’s iconic attractions, like the Parliament Building, Presidential Palace, Sebelius Monument, and Temppeliaukio Church.

You’ll likely see a number of attractions that you’d like to explore on your own in the following days, all while ensconced in a comfy seat in an air-conditioned bus that costs peanuts compared to other tours.

View Prices & Reviews

3. Jean Sibelius Live Music Experience

It’s okay; admit it – you’ve never heard of famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.

So now that the uncomfortable part is out of the way, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy a one-hour performance of the old master’s works performed by the professional musicians at the Balder Music Hall.

Built in 1813, the music hall is impressive and features impressive acoustics.

The performance is a short, powerful, and family-friendly event that includes complimentary non-alcoholic beverages

It’s a truly immersive and awe-inspiring activity, even for those who aren’t necessarily classical music fans. Each guest gets a free CD to take home with them.

4. Private Tour with Local Guide

Finns are passionate about their country. For those visiting Helsinki for the first time, it’d probably be a good idea to hook-up with at least one guided tour before striking out on your own.

This private guided tour can range from two to six hours depending on the interests and schedules of its participants and generally begins with meeting your guide and getting familiar with the neighborhood in which you’re staying.

In addition to visiting a number of the city’s highlight attractions, guests may choose to learn about places to eat, shop, and experience the city like a local.

5. Private Food and Beer Tour

Helsinki’s food and beer scenes are often described as vibrant, trendy, and unique. There’s no better way to experience them from street level than by participating in a private guided tour.

A knowledgeable and experienced guide will lead the way as you sample local produce, traditional dishes, and tasty beers featuring a variety of flavor profiles.

Stops include a brewery, restaurants, and cafés. In addition to making your taste buds happy, you’ll learn about the city’s history and culture.

Each tour can be customized to fit the needs and interests of guests, so contact the operator before booking.

6. Hop-On Hop-Off 48-Hour Ticket

For harried travelers who prefer flying by the seat of their pants to long stretches with rigid tours, hop-on-hop-off bus tours are great choices.

Tickets for this Helsinki tour are good for 48 hours from the time of purchase and include nearly 20 stops at some of the capital city’s most important and often-visited attractions.

The Olympic Terminal built in the ‘50s, Compass Square, the Ateneum Art Museum, and Hietalahti Flea Market are among the most popular attractions.

Guests are free to explore the things that interest them at their own pace and skip the things that don’t entirely.

7. Small Group Walking Tour

Looking for a more intimate experience than you’d get with a large tour?

Prefer walking to riding in a cramped minivan?

If so, this small group, three-hour Helsinki tour deserves a coveted spot on your itinerary.

You’ll see an abundance of city landmarks and learn about the area’s history, culture, customs, and food.

The city is particularly well-known for its majestic cathedrals, stunning architecture, and contemporary design, all of which are represented on the tour.

You’ll also see amazing views of the Baltic Sea and have the option of setting out at either 10:00 am or 2:00 pm.

Tours are limited to ten guests.

8. 5-Hour Helsinki and Suomenlinna Sightseeing Tour

Helsinki has a lot going for it.

It’s full of friendly people, impressive historical attractions, chic food and art scenes, and some of the region’s most stunning natural beauty.

This value-packed five-hour sightseeing tour includes visits to many of the capital city’s premier sites, like the Upenski Orthodox Cathedral, the Jean Sibelius Monument, and the Olympic Stadium that hosted the summer games in 1952.

The coastal fortress at Suomenlinna is another of the tour’s historical highlights, and pretty much everything is included in the cost, like an English speaking guide, hotel pick-up, transportation by both coach and ferry, and all applicable taxes too.

9. Helsinki Highlights and Porvoo Old Town Shore Excursion

Getting around on your own in downtown Helsinki is relatively easy, but for those who want to distance themselves from the urban setting and explore the countryside, it’s best to hook-up with a tour.

This shore excursion was designed with cruise ship passengers in mind and includes portions both in and out of the city.

You’ll see all the city’s centerpieces listed in the tours above, but will also leave the city skyline in your wake as you head out to explore more rural attractions too.

The quaint town of Porvoo and its interesting Rock Church are ever-popular and particularly photogenic.

10. Half-Day Nuuksio National Park Tour

Finland is dotted with amazing National Parks. As luck would have it, many of them are less than an hour away from the capital city of Helsinki.

Nuuksio National Park is known for its idyllic and undisturbed forests that are home to a number of unique animals, and even a few endangered species.

Tours begin and end in downtown Helsinki and include round-trip transportation, the services of an English speaking guide, and relatively easy walks through the park’s most scenic areas.

Guests will have time to ask questions, take photos, and relax with a cold drink or a light snack before making the drive back to town.

11. Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour

After a long international flight or being confined on a cramped cruise ship, it might be a good idea to kill two birds with one stone by getting an overview of Helsinki while stretching your legs at the same time.

This highlights and hidden gems tour is self-guided; when payment is made, you’ll receive an email with all the information you need to make the most of your limited time.

It’s an interactive experience, making it an excellent fit for those traveling with kids in need of engaging and entertaining activities.

Along the way, you’ll solve riddles via the phone app that’ll lead you to your next site.

12. Sipoonkorpi National Park Half-Day Trail Tour

From Helsinki’s city center, Sipoonkorpi National Park is just slightly more than 20 kilometers away.

It’s a popular day-trip destination for those who long to see the country and breathe the fresh Finnish air.

The park is most well-known for large tracts of towering pine trees, unique geological formations, primordial bogs, and abundant lakes.

This tour includes the services of a guide, who’ll lead guests on a hike that lasts approximately three hours. Along the way, you’ll hear tales of forest lore and local history and culture as well.

Consult with the tour provider about physical fitness and age requirements before booking.

13. Redrib Archipelago Fast Boat Experience

The waters of the Baltic Sea around Helsinki are dotted with tens of thousands of islands that are amazing places to explore by boat with a guide.

The island chain is called the Redrib Archipelago and is best reached quickly by speedy powerboat.

The wind often howls off the coast, creating rough conditions, but since safety is the utmost concern, all guests get full-body suits, life jackets, and speed-rated goggles to ensure a safe and exhilarating time.

Tours include narration, a light lunch, and a trip to a traditional Finnish sauna before rocketing back to the city after four hours.

14. Winter Archipelago Excursion

For lovers of the great outdoors, Finland offers a variety of year-round outdoor recreation activities.

When winter descends on the northern country, its natural wonders are often awash in snow and ice, making for amazingly breathtaking views.

This half-day, four and a half-hour excursion takes hearty guests to the Porkkala Peninsula, where they’ll walk among pristine forests. With a little luck, you’ll see a variety of animal species, including fox, moose, and birds of all stripes.

Tours are limited to eight participants and include abundant photo ops, hikes appropriate for most ages, and lunch and coffee by a campfire overlooking the sea.

15. Tallinn Day Cruise from Helsinki

Though it makes for a long day 12-hour day, visiting the Estonian Capital of Tallinn from Helsinki is a popular excursion.

After being picked up from their city center hotels, guests will board a ferry and set out across the Gulf of Finland.

Upon arrival, it’ll be time to explore the city’s preeminent attractions, like the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Old Town area, and the waterfront.

Guests will have both guided and free exploration time before the comfortable ride back to Finland.

Ferries include in and outdoor seating, heating, and air conditioning, and onboard dining options as well.

15 Best Helsinki Tours:

• 90-minute Helsinki Canal Boat Sightseeing Tour
• Panorama Coach Tour
• Jean Sibelius Live Music Experience
• Private Tour with Local Guide
• Private Food and Beer Tour
• Hop-On Hop-Off 48-Hour Ticket
• Small Group Walking Tour
• 5-Hour Helsinki and Suomenlinna Sightseeing Tour
• Helsinki Highlights and Porvoo Old Town Shore Excursion
• Half-Day Nuuksio National Park Tour
• Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour
• Sipoonkorpi National Park Half-Day Trail Tour
• Redrib Archipelago Fast Boat Experience
• Winter Archipelago Excursion
• Tallinn Day Cruise from Helsinki

Unique Walking Tours

Check out these unique Helsinki walking tours that will show you the city from different perspectives. You can book your private/public tour with the Book Now button below. Click on pictures to get more information about the tours on their dedicated pages.

Helsinki City Tour

(48 euros per person (230 euros per group), duration 3 hours, max. 6 persons; let me know if you have a larger group)

Private Walking Tour

The customized itinerary on this tour will be designed according to your interests and preferences. Only you and your group will join the tour and you will find answers to all cunning questions about Helsinki. Click for more info

(230 euros per group, duration 3 hours, max. 6 persons; let me know if you have a larger group)

Architecture Tour

Helsinki is a gem for architecture enthusiasts. It is impossible to find another urban space that houses a wide range of architectural styles like Helsinki; Neoclassical, Neorenaissance, Art Nouveau (Jugendstil, National Romanticism), Nordic Classicism, Modernism, Functionalism, and contemporary styles in a compact city centre. Click for more info

(60 euros per person, 260 euros per group, duration 3 hours, max. 6 persons; let me know if you have a larger group)

This is the city where things work, and public transportation system is ranked among the best in the world. We also have one of the oldest tram systems in the world that dates back to 1891! Choose this tour to enjoy Helsinki like a local and discover parts of our city not included in standard itineraries. Click for more info

(60 euros per person, 300 euros per group, duration 3 hours, max. 6 persons; let me know if you have a larger group)

See as much as you can in half a day, visit all the major attractions, lesser known but important places, and use public transportation. Flexible itinerary arranged according to your preferences. Tour lasts 6 hours; includes a day ticket valid for 24 hours for public transportation and entrance tickets to the Temppeliaukio Church (aka Rock Church). Click for more info

(500 euros per group, duration 6 hours, max. 6 persons; let me know if you have a larger group)

Church Tour

Helsinki has so many churches from different eras where you can meditate, join events and concerts, or just marvel at the architectural styles. This Church Tour is for guests who wants to see the various beautiful cathedrals and churches located in Helsinki, learning about their significance for the Finns. Click for more info

(65 euros per person, 300 euros per group; duration 3 hours, max. 6 persons; let me know if you have a larger group)

BUY A GIFT CARD!

Give your loved ones a great gift; a splendid tour with an expert, in one of the most beautiful and safest cities in Europe; Helsinki!

Now you can buy tours as gift cards and they are redeemable anytime you want.

Helsinki TukTours

HELSINKI TUKTOURS

EXPLORE HELSINKI IN

ELECTRICAL TUKTUK

Our guided tours are unique, fun, and eco-friendly way to experience Helsinki! All our tours are private, the whole TukTuk is reserved for your group only and your driver is also a local and authorized Helsinki guide. With a small group, maximum 4 people, we provide an excellent way to communicate with our guides during the tour, have time to discuss about the subjects and sights that interest you and be able to tailor the tour according to your wishes whenever possible. The live audio guiding in our silent electric vehicles provide a great way to enjoy the vibes of Helsinki around you! You can take your own snacks and refreshments with you and even dogs are welcome. 

Check out more info about our different tours in the link below!

PRIVATE TOURS AND EVENTS

If you want to organize something completely different for your group, we can arrange it! Perhaps a longer tour in Helsinki where you could get more info about a certain subject you really are into?

TukTuk Info

TukTuks are silent and environmental friendly vehicles because of the 100% electrical power.

The Helsinkituktours guides are multitalented local guides. Your guide is also your driver, and therefore it is easy to make the decisions regarding the tour.

Sustainability

Our aim is to offer different, interesting and also environmentally sustainable tours. TukTuk with 100% electrical use is a perfect tool for these goals and using these vehicles is our most important action towards sustainability.

FEEDBACK FROM OUR CUSTOMERS

Unique – Naturally!

Our goal is to provide ecofriendly, relaxed and unique tours in Helsinki. Now we are really happy to let you know that we have been awarded …

Baltic Sea – Our Sea

Helsinki, the daughter of the Baltic Sea, was founded by the sea and the city has almost 140 km of coastline around our beautiful and …

Sustainable and fun

We have some great news! Our partner Yoo-hoo! Tours who is responsible for our tour operations has received a Sustainable Travel Finland label last month for its sustainable and responsible …

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+358 50 397 7221

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Beautiful Canal Cruise Helsinki

Guided boat sightseeing tour.

• Experience the charming Degerö Canal
• Café/bar on board and large sun deck
• Free cancellation 24 h before departure

About this tour

Explore Helsinki's archipelago on the Beautiful Canal Cruise! Enjoy 1.5h tour with sights such as the Suomenlinna Fortress, Helsinki Zoo, icebreakers and the Degerö Canal. Multilingual commentary, café/bar onboard.

Select & book

Classic 1,5 h sightseeing cruise in Helsinki archipelago

Departure point:  Market Square, by the yellow flags. Please arrive 15 min. before departure time.

Highlights:  Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Degerö Canal & icebreakers

Good to know:  Audio commentary in 4 languages, written commentary in 12 languages. Choose seating on the sun deck or indoors. Café/bar onboard.

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On this popular boat sightseeing tour you will get to see the beautiful archipelago and shorelines of Helsinki. From May to September our sightseeing boats take you daily to enjoy the refreshing sea air while experiencing Helsinki from a new point of view.

1,5 h cruise with famous Helsinki sights

During the cruise we pass by many famous sights, such as

• the historic Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
• the Helsinki Zoo on Korkeasaari Island
• the impressive fleet of icebreakers
• the picturesque Degerö Canal

Remember to watch your head when we sail under the Hevossalmi bridge! When the sea water level is high, we get so close that you can almost touch it. The bridge is a swing bridge, so don't worry, we wait for it to be opened if the water level gets too high.

Guided canal cruise in several languages

Along the way you will hear fascinating stories about the archipelago. Recorded commentary is available via loudspeakers in Finnish, English, German and Swedish. Written information is available also in Russian, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Estonian, Japanese and Chinese.

Café with beverages and snacks onboard

To make your cruise enjoyable, we always have friendly staff and experienced captains on board. Our ships’ cafes offer beverages and snacks. Check the menu here >> .

Choose your preferred seating

On our cruises you are always welcome to choose your seating freely. Whether you wish to enjoy the 360 degrees view on the sundeck or rather the cosy atmosphere in the café, the choice is yours (and changing your mind during the cruise is OK too!). In every case our pro tip is to wear layers and sun screen - that way you are prepared for any Finnish summer weather.

Book your tickets in advance online

The Beautiful Canal Cruise is perfect programme for families, friends and groups of all sizes. To ensure your seat on the cruise, get your ticket via the green "BOOK" button or, if you are traveling with a larger group, please contact our sales team for payment by invoice option. 

Fostering responsible tourism with our Beautiful Canal Cruise

To support our commitment to responsible tourism, we at Stromma have integrated eco-friendly practices to bolster the sustainability of our tours and services. Opting for forward-thinking solutions like interactive online maps, which replace traditional printed brochures, and choosing to showcase your pre-purchased tickets and vouchers on your mobile device screen instead of printing them, are just a couple of the ways you as our guest can actively contribute to a more positive impact.

For our dedication to sustainability we have been awarded with the Travelife Certified status. This reward extends to both our Beautiful Canal Cruise and the Helsinki Sightseeing brand. Come join us in exploring the stunning Helsinki archipelago!

Departures from Market Square, by the yellow flags. Season: May-September. Timetable available below.

In case of the Degerö canal not being accessible for our boats for example due to too low water level, the City Highlights Cruise acts as an alternative route.

Where does this boat tour start?

The departure point of the Beautiful Canal Cruise is located at the Market Square. Just look for the yellow flags with the text "SIGHTSEEING" on them.

Is the Beautiful Canal Cruise included in the Helsinki Card? Do I need to reserve a seat?

The Beautiful Canal Cruise boat tour is included in your Helsinki Card. You don't need to make any seat reservations. Please present your Helsinki Card at the departure point when boarding the boat.

How do I choose my tour language?

This sightseeing cruise has recorded commentary through loudspeakers in four languages: Finnish, English, Swedish and German. You don't have to choose a language. There are printed route maps with written commentary in 12 languages available in the boat's cafe.

Is the Beautiful Canal sightseeing cruise accessible?

- The Beautiful Canal Cruise is operated by a variety of vessels. Especially if you are a wheelchair user, please contact our sales department in advance to check the specific conditions on your preferred departure date and time. - With the EU Disability Card an adult assistant accompanies the card holder for free (the card holder pays normal price). Please present the card at the departure point to get the free ticket for the assistant. - There are seats both in the cafeteria/indoor area of the boat as well as on the sun deck - There are unisex toilets available on each of the boats. The toilets are located downstairs in the ship's cafe. The toilets are not wheelchair-accessible. - Children's prams and pushchairs are allowed on the boat. Please note that you will have to carry the pram/puschair a few steps up or down the stairs. - Assistance dogs are allowed on the boat - The cruise commentary is available through loudspeakers. Written route information is available in the ship's cafe in several languages. - The water level affects the accessibility conditions especially at the departure point and the conditions might change unexpectedly If you have any questions regarding accessibility on our tours, please contat our customer service at [email protected] or tel. +358 9 2288 1600.

Can I bring my (service) dog with me?

On our sightseeing cruises, dogs are allowed on the sun decks of the boats if they do not cause any inconvenience to other customers. Service and assistance dogs are always permitted also in the indoor areas.

Is there a café on the boat?

Yes, all our sightseeing boats have cafés onboard. You can purchase hot and cold drinks and sweet and savory snacks. The cafés are fully licensed.

Is there a WC/restroom on the boat?

Yes, all our sightseeing boats have WC/restroom in the boat's cafe.

May I bring my own food or drinks onboard the boat?

We kindly ask guests to consider purchasing refreshments from our onboard cafes, where a variety of hot and cold drinks, as well as snacks, are available. Supporting our onboard services helps us maintain the quality and cleanliness of our vessels for everyone's enjoyment. Please be aware that our boats are licensed to serve alcoholic beverages. Therefore, in accordance with licensing regulations, guests are not permitted to bring their own alcoholic beverages onboard.

Are there any stops during the boat tour? Can I get off at the Suomenlinna Fortress?

This boat sightseeing tour starts and ends at the Market Square. There are no stops during the cruise.

Will the tour be cancelled if it rains?

No, the cruise is available also on bad weather. There are seats available indoors in the boat's café.

Season: May 1 - September 30, 2024 Daily departures from Market Square, by the yellow flags

May 1 - May 24, 2024 Daily at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, Saturdays also at 16:30

May 9, May 13, May 15, May 20, May 23, 2024 at 10:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30

May 25 - June 23, 2024 Daily at 10:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, Saturdays also at 16:30

June 24 - Aug 24, 2024 Daily at 10:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 16:30, 17:30, Mondays and Tuesdays also at 18:30

Aug 25 - Sep 14, 2024 Daily at 10:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, Saturdays also at 16:30

Sep 15 - Sep 30, 2024 Daily at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, Saturdays also at 16:30

  The boat arrives to the pier ca. 30 min before departure time.

Click 'BOOK' and check the booking calendar to see the available departure dates. You'll see the departure times after you've chosen the date, how many persons and clicked 'Next'.

EXCEPTIONS ON ROUTES & TIMETABLES

Please note! Delays or changes on tour routes and timetables are possible due to public events, road works, etc. 

Helsinki Panorama Sightseeing

Hop On-Hop Off

Beautiful Canal Cruise

City Highlights Cruise

Pizza Cruise & Evening Cruise  

Beautiful Canal Cruise departure point:

Market Square departure point The departure point for the sightseeing cruises and evening cruises is at the Helsinki Market Square, Kolera-allas. The ticket kiosk is open May-Sep according to the cruise departure times. The departure point is indicated with yellow SIGHTSEEING flags. Read about Departure Points & Ticket Shops Address: Eteläranta, 00170 Helsinki

Cafeteria onboard

Indulge yourself with a hot or cold beverage or some tasty snacks. Our ships’ cafes are at your service! Check the menu here!

You might also be interested in

Helsinki city highlights cruise.

Boat sightseeing along the shorelines of the city

Helsinki Pizza Cruise

Dinner cruise in archipelago

Helsinki Hop On-Hop Off bus + Beautiful Canal Cruise

Bus and boat sightseeing combination ticket

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Many airlines have 'stopover' programs that let travelers tour a city between connecting flights, and some will even pay for a hotel — here's how to book them

• Many people intentionally book flights with long connections so they can explore the layover city.
• Airlines capitalize on this trend with "stopover" programs, some even offering free hotels and food.
• These stopovers benefit travelers, airlines, and the carrier's home country by boosting tourism.

A special segment of adventurous travelers will purposely book itineraries with long connections in layover cities just to leave the airport and explore for a few hours or days between flights.

Airlines have jumped on this growing trend with built-in "stopover" programs, which can come with free or discounted hotels, excursions, transportation, and food at the layover destination.

It's basically a vacation within a vacation.

Although it sounds too good to be true, stopovers benefit everyone involved. Travelers get more choices and don't have to be confined to an airport, airlines gain customers who may have otherwise chosen a nonstop option on a competitor, and the carrier's home country sees a boost in tourism.

Plus, the cheap or complimentary accommodations typically come at a small cost to airlines, thanks to partnerships with local hotels or tour companies.

Not all stopover programs are structured with an emphasis on tourism, though, as some were created simply to offer conveniences during long layovers. Still, they are a way to secure a free hotel and explore an extra city.

Here are 22 global airline stopover programs, each lasting anywhere from hours to months.

Many carriers allow stopovers to be added to a regular cash booking, but some are only available via award tickets . This means the flight was paid for using points/miles or a combination of points/miles and cash.

Air Canada has a stopover option built into its Aeroplan loyalty program. It allows customers booking award flights to add a stop on international journeys and explore practically any city the airline flies to outside the US and Canada.

The add-on costs 5,000 Aeroplan points each way and can only be booked if the stop is at least 24 hours, capping out at 45 days.

Air France/KLM

Air France and Dutch carrier KLM's Flying Blue loyalty program offers a stopover of 24 hours or more in a connecting city on either carrier or their airline partners.

The option is free to add to award tickets, and passengers can stay up to a year in the stopover city.

China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines offers a free one-night hotel stay for transfer passengers with connection times lasting between six and 30 hours, though there are some time and route restrictions.

Breakfast and transportation are included for eligible travelers.

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines' Panama stopover program allows customers to spend anywhere from 24 hours to seven days in the nation's capital, Panama City, on their outbound or return trip.

The option is free for the first stopover, but a second stopover can cost up to $250 plus taxes. Copa offers discounted hotels and tours that can be booked via its stopover website.

Emirates allows a stopover in Dubai with the option to add discounted tours or hotel bookings to the itinerary via its website.

The UAE carrier also has a " Dubai Connect " program that gives passengers with layovers between 6 and 26 hours, depending on the cabin, a complimentary hotel, transfers, meals, and any needed visa.

Dubai Connect only triggers if the customer takes the next available flight. Essentially, you can't intentionally book a longer layover to quality for the free stopover hotel.

Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines' transit program gives customers flying via Addis Ababa a free hotel, transit visa, and transfers during layovers lasting between eight and 24 hours.

The hotel on the airline's website is the Ethiopian Skylight In-Terminal Hotel, located inside the airport.

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways offers a stopover in its Abu Dhabi hub, which comes with an undisclosed discount at select three-star hotels for up to two nights.

Two and four-night stays can be booked at more luxurious four and five-star hotels at a 40% discount. The minimum stay is 24 hours.

Although Etihad's website says it is temporarily unavailable, the airline used to allow eligible travelers to use a so-called Transit Connect Package that provided a free hotel near the airport for layovers lasting 10 to 24 hours. It is unclear when or if the program is returning.

Fiji Airways

Fiji Airways offers a stopover program in Fiji for those traveling to and from Australia, New Zealand, and other South Pacific nations.

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Hotels and activities like ziplining and beach resorts can be booked through the airline as part of the stopover package.

Finnair allows passengers to book 6, 12, or 24-hour layovers in Helsinki at no additional fare charge and outlines itinerary ideas and information on its website , like transportation, free walking tours, and restaurants.

Customers can book a hotel through the airline and earn Finnair Plus points.

Iberia customers can plan a stopover in Madrid to or from an international destination for one to six nights at no extra cost.

Discounts on hotels, excursions, and transfers in the Spanish capital are available through Iberia.

Icelandair offers a stopover option for one to seven days in its capital city of Reykjavik on transatlantic itineraries for no additional charge.

The airline offers itinerary help and assistance in booking excursions and tours. Hotels need to be booked separately.

Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines considers itself one of the "most stopover -friendly" carriers in the world.

The stopovers, which trigger at 24 hours, are not limited to JAL's hubs in Tokyo but can be enjoyed in places like Osaka and Kyoto using the airline's multi-city booking tool.

Latam Airlines

Latam Airlines offers stopovers for between one and three days on flights that connect in São Paulo, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Recife, Manaus, Curitiba, and Belem. Only international itineraries that connect in São Paulo.

Hotels and amenities can be booked via Latam, but the stopover booking is free.

Oman Air offers customizable stopover packages to give travelers time to explore the country's capital, Muscat, and beyond. An additional fare charge may be applicable, though the airline does not fly to the US.

Packages and a-la-carte options include discounted hotels for up to three nights, as well as organized tours, meals, and transfers.

Australian flag carrier Qantas offers its stopovers in a similar manner to JAL in that multi-city bookings can be manipulated to add extra days between flights in layover cities, like Bangkok, Osaka, or San Francisco.

This comes at no extra cost on eligible Qantas fares and can be used on its Oneworld partner airlines.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways' stopover program allows passengers with a minimum layover of 12 hours and up to 24 hours to choose from a list of deeply discounted four and five-star hotels. Certain flight itineraries allow for up to four nights.

Nightly hotel rates start at $14 per person for 1 night at four-star standard hotels, with premium five-star beach hotels starting at $30 per person for one night.

Royal Jordanian Airlines

Royal Jordanian Airlines' transit program gives economy and business-class travelers with at least eight and six-hour layovers, respectively, a free hotel room, meals, and transit, assuming certain fare conditions are met.

However, the connecting flight must be the earliest possible — meaning, similar to Emirates, passengers can't intentionally book a longer layover to be eligible for the complimentary perks.

Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines, or SWISS, has a multi-city stopover booking tool on its website that allows passengers to find itineraries with extra days in Switzerland.

The cost of hotels and other perks is on the customer, though.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines' stopover program is available via the multi-city tool, similar to other carriers, where travelers can add hotels, transfers, and activities. The stopover can last one to seven days.

Singapore also offers free transit tours to passengers with layover times between five and a half and 24 hours at Singapore's Changi Airport. It's first-come, first-serve and includes sightseeing around Singapore.

TAP Air Portugal

TAP Air Portugal allows customers to add a stopover in Lisbon or Porto between one and 10 days, offering discounts on hotels, food, and activities.

It also offers 25% off a domestic flight to a second Portuguese destination, like the Azores or Madeira islands, to take during the stopover.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines' stopover program gives economy travelers a one-night free hotel stay and business flyers a two-night free stay if the period between their connecting flights in Istanbul exceeds 20 hours.

Those traveling from the US in economy class can stay up to two nights in a four-star hotel, while those traveling in business can stay up to three nights in a five-star hotel.

Watch: Thousands of bags pile up at US airports after flight cancellations

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CCM shares 2024 alumni and distinguished service awards

The college recognizes alumni and community members for their achievements and support.

UC's College-Conservatory of Music is proud to present alumni and distinguished service awards to outstanding members of our community at the end of each academic year. The 2024 awards are presented to four accomplished alumni and one dedicated patron in a private virtual event on April 23. 

• Young Alumni Awards:  Connor Chee  (MM Piano, ’11),  J.T. Rooney  (BFA Media Production, ’11),  Brian Raphael Nabors’  (MM Composition, ’15; DMA Composition, ’19)
• Distinguished Alumni Award:  Melody Moore  (MM Voice, ’05)
• Distinguished Service Award: Jeffrey W. Thomas

“It is one of the greatest honors of my career thus far to receive recognition from the people and institution that have molded me into the artist, composer and professor I stand as today," Nabors says. " I feel prepared to do anything and I’m forever grateful to CCM for cultivating in me an artistic tenacity that will last a lifetime. One of my greatest joys is to share these lessons with the next generation of composers whose voices are wide ranging and deserving of every opportunity to create work that affirms and inspires us all.”

Young Alumni Awards

Connor Chee  (MM Piano, ’11) is known for combining his classical piano training with his Native American heritage. Chee made his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 12 after winning a gold medal in the World Piano Competition. Chee’s 2020 album “Scenes from Dinétah” features piano pieces written about elements of Navajo life and culture, accompanied by several music videos filmed on the reservation, directed by Navajo filmmaker Michael Etcitty Jr. Chee’s most recent release, ”Across the Desert: The Long Walk Home,” stands as a musical tribute to the Navajo people’s journey through adversity and the triumphant return to their cherished ancestral lands.

Connor Chee. Photo/Provided

Navajo pianist and composer Connor Chee (b. 1987) is known for combining his classical piano training with his Native American heritage. Chee made his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 12 after winning a gold medal in the World Piano Competition. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, Chee’s solo piano music is inspired by traditional Navajo chants and songs.

Chee has released 5 studio albums of original pieces and piano transcriptions of Navajo music. The Navajo Piano won Best Instrumental Recording at the 16th Annual Native American Music Awards, and his piece “Beginnings” won Best New Age Song. The Navajo Piano (Revisited), features new recordings of his original 15 compositions from 2014, as well as recordings of the traditional songs they were based on. Chee’s 2020 release, Scenes from Dinétah, features piano pieces written about elements of Navajo life and culture. It was accompanied by the release of several music videos filmed on the reservation, directed by Navajo filmmaker Michael Etcitty Jr. Chee’s most recent release, Across the Desert: The Long Walk Home, stands as a musical tribute to the Navajo people’s journey through adversity and the triumphant return to their cherished ancestral lands.

J.T. Rooney  (BFA Media Production, ’11) is a screen producer at Silent Partners Studio in Los Angeles, California. He served as Projection Designer for the Superbowl LII halftime show in 2018, has toured with Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Billy Joel, Kanye West and more. He was named to Live Design Online’s “30 under 30” list in 2018. 

Across his work on some of the largest music, corporate, broadcast, and sport projects in the world, J.T. Rooney pushes the limits of creative design and execution for live entertainment. With more than a decade of experience in the industry, J.T. leads the XR Studios team, overseeing trailblazing broadcast projects with world-renowned clients such as Twitch, Katy Perry, Snapchat, Riot Games, Billie Eilish, Viacom, Black Eyed Peas, Amazon, Tik Tok, and more.

J.T. began his career creating immersive visuals and controlled advanced systems for the New World Symphony, later joining creative agencies Lightborne and then Silent Partners Studios where he screen-produced for international artists and brands including Katy Perry’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, Kanye West’s Yeezus and Saint Pablo Tours, the Muse Simulation Theory Tour, Audi, Flume, and Taylor Swift’s reputation Stadium Tour. Utilizing his resources and valuable experience, J.T. came together with his collaborators to create, produce, and execute productions in an entirely new way, resulting in the creation of XR Studios. Specializing in live entertainment, corporate and brand events, commercial, music video, and product work, he and his team at XR Studios continue to elevate immersive experiences utilizing modern technology in extended, augmented, and virtual reality. J.T. currently splits his time across Montreal, London, and Los Angeles, where XR Studios is building the XR Studios Hollywood Campus dedicated to immersive technologies.

Brian Raphael Nabors’  (MM Composition, ’15; DMA Composition, ’19) music has been throughout the United States and at many international events, including the Lucerne and Helsinki music festivals, National Orchestral Institute (NOI), Aspen and Tanglewood Music Festivals. Upcoming projects in ‘24-25 include the world premiere of a chamber ballet (Black Iris Project), a choir and chamber orchestra arrangement for Carnegie Hall (Mid-America Productions), a co-commissioned premiere with Seattle Symphony, and a concerto for orchestra with Chineke! for premiere at Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, Germany.

Brian Raphael Nabors. Photo/Provided

Brian Raphael Nabors (b. April 10, 1991, Birmingham, AL) is a composer of emotionally enriching music that tells exciting narratives with its vibrant themes and colorful harmonic language.

Nabors' music has been performed by the Boston, Atlanta, Nashville, Cincinnati, Detroit, Fort Worth, and Munich Symphonies among others. His music has been performed at many events internationally, including the Lucerne and Helsinki music festivals, National Orchestral Institute (NOI), Aspen and Tanglewood Music Festivals.

Upcoming projects and premieres in ‘24-25 include the world premiere of a chamber ballet (Black Iris Project), Choir and chamber orchestra arrangement for Carnegie Hall (Mid-America Productions), Co-Commissioned premiere with Seattle Symphony, and a concerto for orchestra with Chineke! for premiere at Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, Germany. 

Nabors earned a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degree in Composition at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and a Bachelor of Music Theory & Composition degree from the School of the Arts at Samford University.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Melody Moore  (MM Voice, ’05) is enjoying a thriving career on the world’s leading stages, prompting Opera News to label her “a revelation,” and of her sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall to rave, “As I left the auditorium, I could only think: more of Moore, please.” She has performed with La Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera, Opéra de Montréal, Glimmerglass Festival, Lincoln Center Festival and more.

Melody Moore. Photo/Provided

Soprano Melody Moore is enjoying a thriving career on the world’s leading stages, prompting  Opera News to label her “a revelation,” and of her sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall to rave, “As I left the auditorium, I could only think: more of Moore, please.”

Ms. Moore enjoyed a triumphant return to LA Opera during the 2021-2022 season, repeating her tremendous success in the role of Amneris in Verdi’s Aida opposite Latonia Moore in the title role and tenor Russell Thomas as Radames. Concert highlights of the season included Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Minnesota Orchestra under the baton of Juraj Valčuha and the Mother in Hansel and Gretel with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, with Sir Donald Runnicles at the helm. The season also saw the release of Moore’s interpretation of the title role in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (available on Pentatone), and the recording of a critically acclaimed concert of Puccini’s Tosca, captured live in Berlin, Germany. Ms. Moore continues to remain active in the recording studio throughout the season, marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary soprano Renata Tebaldi with an album featuring selections from the Italian repertoire for which she was most famous (to be released in 2023), and singing Kathie/Linford in the world premiere recording of Gordon Getty’s opera, Goodbye, Mr. Chips. In the fall of 2022, Moore will make a much-anticipated return to San Francisco Opera as Mère Marie in the Olivier Py production of Dialogues des Carmélites.

Despite a number of postponements and cancelled productions due to COVID closures, the 2020-2021 season offered Ms. Moore an opportunity to focus on recording projects, and that season’s resulting releases of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West (both released on the Pentatone label) have been widely praised by reviewers and consumers alike.

Highlights of the 2019-2020 season included her debut as Amneris in a new production of Aida at the Houston Grand Opera. Concert highlights included her debut with the Houston Symphony Orchestra in Mahler’s Das klagende Lied under the baton of Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada.

In the 2018-2019 season, Ms. Moore returned to Houston Grand Opera to reprise the roles of Senta in the season opening production of Die fliegende Holländer led by Music Director Patrick Summers, and Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni in a new production by Kasper Holten, and returned to LA Opera for a role debut as Gertrude in Hänsel and Gretel under the baton of Music Director James Conlon. On the concert stage, she debuted with the Dresdner Philharmonie in the roles of Giorgetta in Puccini’s Il Tabarro and Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, both of which were recorded for commercial release by Pentatone. Ms. Moore also sang Senta with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Edo de Waart, enjoyed a debut with the Grant Park Music Festival for Delius’ A Mass of Life, and sang the title role in Salome in Daegu, South Korea. In the 2017-2018 season, Moore made three major role debuts: Elisabetta in Don Carlo at Washington National Opera; the title role in Salome at Florida Grand Opera; and Tatyana in Eugene Onegin at Hawaii Opera Theatre, as well as singing her signature roles of Tosca in a return to Opéra de Montréal and Senta in Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer in a new production by Tomer Zvulun at The Atlanta Opera.  Her portrayal of Desdemona in a full recording of Verdi’s Otello was also released by Pentatone.

Other recent career highlights include a house and role debut at Seattle Opera in the title role of Janáček’s Kátya Kabanová; appearances with San Francisco Opera in the title role of Tosca, Susan Rescorla in Heart of a Soldier, Mimì in La bohème, and the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro; Houston Grand Opera as Julie in Show Boat, Marta in the American premiere of Weinberg’s The Passenger, the title role in Carmen, Dorabella in Così fan tutte; Washington National Opera as the title role of Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas, Phillip Glass’ Appomatox, and in Francesca Zambello’s highly acclaimed production of Wagner’s full Ring cycle; LA Opera as Tosca, the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro and in productions of Der Zwerg and Der Zerbrochene Krug; Opéra de Montréal as Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly; Glimmerglass Festival as Lady Macbeth in Verdi’s Macbeth and Senta in Der fliegende Holländer; Lincoln Center Festival in The Passenger; English National Opera as Mimi and as Marguerite in Faust; New York City Opera as Rita Clayton in the New York premiere of Stephen Schwartz’s Séance on a Wet Afternoon and as Regine St. Laurent in Rufus Wainwright’s Prima Donna; and Austin Lyric Opera as Senta in Der fliegende Holländer. Additional performances include the title roles of Manon Lescaut at New Orleans Opera, Tosca with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte at Opéra de Bordeaux; and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with The Atlanta Opera and Opera Colorado.

On the concert stage, Ms. Moore has appeared with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for Bruckner’s Te Deum led by Music Director Donald Runnicles; Bard SummerScape Festival as the title role in Turandot; Bavarian Radio Symphony in performances and a recording of excerpts of Gordon Getty’s opera, Plump Jack, conducted by Ulf Shirmer and with the New Century Chamber Orchestra conducted by Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg.  She has joined Rufus Wainwright for gala concerts at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto.

A Masters of Music graduate of the UC College-Conservatory of Music, Melody Moore is a former Adler Fellow of San Francisco Opera and an alumni of the prestigious Merola program.

Distinguished Service Award

Jeff Thomas. Photo/Provided.

Jeffrey W. Thomas  (BBA UC, '79; MBA NKU '83) founded Jeff Thomas Catering July 1985, which has supported many special events at CCM with delicious food. After 39 years, he plans to retire in December 2024. Throughout his career, he has been deeply involved in community organizations including the CCMpower Board, the Carnegie of Covington, Kentucky Board, Caracole Board, Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky and he was a past recipient of Lighthouse Youth Services Beacon of Light Award.

"If I was making a list of most loyal supporters of CCM, Jeff Thomas would be near the top," says Elaine Cox, Senior Director of Development at CCM. "Through his own personal support of the college and his eponymous catering company, Jeff (and Kent’s) donations are closing in on $300,000."

His generous contributions to CCM and UC include 29 different funds across 8 colleges and UC areas, including: annual fund for CCM, CCMpower, CCM Dean's Innovation Fund, Innocence Project at the College of Law, Brain Tumor Center Fund at UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, Veteran’s Discretionary Fund , CCM’s trip to Carnegie Hall in January of this year, CCM TAPAA Production Fund, CCM Senior Showcases, CCM Moveable Feasts dating back to 2003 — and many more. 

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