Oodi is Helsinki's spectacular central library. It opened its doors in December 2018 and has quickly become one of the city's most beloved buildings and a model for what modern libraries can be. Located right in the heart of Helsinki, directly across from the Parliament building, the architecture is simply stunning. It was designed by Finnish firm ALA Architects who won an international competition for the project. The building has a dramatic curved wooden facade and a wave-like roofline that seems to flow. It is characterised by extensive use of Finnish spruce on the exterior, representing the Finnish tradition of using natural materials in innovative ways.
It is made up of 3 floors, with each one having a distinct purpose. The Ground floor, called the "active zone," has a café, a cinema, multi-purpose spaces, and an "urban workshop" with 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing machines, recording studios, and other maker equipment that anyone can use. You can even borrow tools and musical instruments. The middle floor is a quieter "in-between" space with meeting rooms, study areas, group work spaces, and areas for concentrated work. The top floor serves as the main library space with the actual book collection (composed of about 100,000 items). It has a gorgeous, light-filled open space with floor-to-ceiling windows offering amazing views across to the Parliament and Töölö Bay. The ceiling is undulating wood, with reading nooks and comfortable seating scattered throughout.
Finnish architecture has a distinctive character, gaining global recognition for its functionality, sustainability, and clean Nordic aesthetics. Helsinki in particular is a haven for architecture lovers, with graceful neoclassical façades, bold Art Nouveau details, minimalist design, and striking modern innovations all living side by side. The city was named a UNESCO City of Design in 2014 in recognition of its adept use of creativity and cultural industries as drivers of sustainable development, and architecture and urban design are a major part of this prestigious designation. Our private 3-hour walking tour will give you a crash course in Helsinki’s exceptional architecture and urban design via a carefully planned route around its most interesting buildings.
On your private 3-hour walking tour, you will:
Explore Helsinki’s most eye-catching buildings on a private walking tour that traces the evolution of Finnish architecture, from neoclassical elegance to cutting-edge contemporary design, in the company of a local expert guide. Your architectural adventure begins at the Helsinki Central Railway Station, Eliel Saarinen’s 1919 Art Nouveau masterpiece. With its granite façade, iconic “stone men” statues, and intricate detailing, it remains one of the city’s most beloved landmarks and a proud symbol of Finland’s national identity. From there, a short walk brings you to the Oodi Library, a bold expression of 21st-century Finnish design. This luminous, wood-and-glass structure reimagines the library as a civic “living room,” combining openness, innovation, and sustainability at the heart of the city.
Our next stop will be the extraordinary Temppeliaukio Church, better known as the Rock Church, which truly has to be seen to be believed. A rather unassuming structure from the outside, you’ll step inside and discover a paragon of engineering and imagination, carved directly into solid granite. Your guide will share the fascinating story of the Suomalainen brothers, the architects behind its creation, and explain how the rough stone walls and copper dome give the space its famously outstanding acoustics.
Continuing through the city centre, you’ll pause outside the Kamppi Chapel of Silence, a striking example of minimalist wooden architecture. Built from curved spruce battens, its warm, organic form offers a quiet retreat amid urban life, a reflection of Finnish design’s deep connection to nature. A quick tram ride carries you across town to Uspenski Cathedral, a vivid contrast in style and spirit. With its red-brick façade, onion domes, and golden crosses, this Russian Revival church stands as a reminder of Finland’s complex cultural and political ties to its eastern neighbour.
After a stroll along one of Helsinki’s most celebrated shopping streets, our final chapter unfolds in Senate Square, the elegant heart of Helsinki’s neoclassical quarter. Here, you’ll learn how architect Carl Ludvig Engel transformed a small Baltic port into a grand northern capital in the early 19th century. You’ll step inside his masterpiece, the Helsinki Cathedral, where the stark, luminous interior contrasts with the richly detailed exterior, a perfect expression of Finland’s understated beauty and Lutheran sensibility. You’ll also admire Engel’s other creations that are dotted around the square, including the Government Palace, University of Helsinki, and the lovely National Library, each a lasting testament to his vision and influence.
As the tour concludes, your guide will offer insights into how Engel’s legacy inspired later generations of Finnish architects, from Alvar Aalto’s modernist genius to the contemporary innovators who have earned Helsinki UNESCO recognition, and give suggestions for other parts of the city you may wish to explore. This immersive experience reveals not just the secrets of Helsinki’s skyline but the story of a nation that builds beauty from simplicity and strength from nature, allowing creativity and sustainability to exist in perfect harmony.
Please note that external guides are not permitted to provide guiding services inside Temppeliaukio Church. Your guide will accompany you during the visit and continue providing commentary outside the church.
Helsinki has so much to offer, from world-famous architecture, fascinating history shaped by its strategic position on the Baltic Sea, and stunning natural landscapes. If you want to make the most of your visit, our private, extensive full-day tour is an excellent way to explore the Finnish capital in the company of a passionate local guide. You’ll embark upon a carefully planned route around the most interesting monuments, followed by an exhilarating ride on the Helsinki SkyWheel, where you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the city skyline and beyond.
On your private full-day tour, you will:
Experience the best of Helsinki in a single, inspiring day on a private guided tour that weaves together the city’s history, culture, and architecture, from centuries-old landmarks to bold examples of modern Nordic design. Beginning at a convenient central meeting point, you’ll get acquainted with your guide and make your way to one of Helsinki’s true icons: the Temppeliaukio Church, or Rock Church. Carved directly into solid granite, this extraordinary space offers a serene, otherworldly atmosphere and some of the best acoustics in the world. From here, you’ll continue past the Oodi Library, a striking example of contemporary Finnish architecture that reimagines the library as a welcoming “living room” for the city, and discover why public libraries remain so cherished in Finland even at the height of the Digital Age.
As your guide brings the story of Helsinki to life, you’ll pass the Central Railway Station, with its distinctive Art Nouveau façade designed by Eliel Saarinen, and the minimalist Kamppi Chapel of Silence, a modern wooden sanctuary that embodies the Finnish gift for combining calm and design. A stroll through Esplanadi Park follows, a green ribbon of elegance lined with cafés, shops, and street performers, before you pop into the Old Market Hall to sample the sights, smells, and flavours of Finnish food culture.
Your next stop will be the lively Market Square, with boats rocking gently in the harbour, gulls calling overhead, and the briny scent of the Baltic Sea in the air. As you take in the views across the water, your guide will share how Helsinki’s strategic location shaped its maritime history and global connections. Then it’s time to relax over lunch at a local restaurant (at your own expense), with your guide offering personalised recommendations to suit your taste.
After lunch, you’ll delve into the city’s neoclassical heart at Senate Square, where Carl Ludvig Engel’s visionary architecture transformed Helsinki into a grand northern capital in the 19th century. You’ll admire the symmetry and grace of the Government Palace, University of Helsinki, and National Library, before stepping inside Engel’s masterpiece, the gleaming white Helsinki Cathedral, whose stately domes have become an integral part of the city's skyline. Next, you’ll stroll along Aleksanterinkatu Street, Helsinki’s main shopping hub, toward the Uspenski Cathedral, the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe, where you can observe its red-brick walls and golden cupolas glint in the sunlight, an evocative symbol of Finland’s long and layered ties with Russia. After bidding farewell to your guide, your day concludes with a ride on the Helsinki SkyWheel, offering panoramic views of the harbour, islands, and city landmarks you’ve explored, the perfect finale to a full day of discovery.
Your immersive full-day itinerary offers more than just sightseeing: it’s a deep, engaging introduction to Helsinki’s past and present, guided by a passionate local who reveals the stories, style, and spirit that make Finland’s capital one of Europe’s most captivating cities.
Please note that external guides are not permitted to provide guiding services inside Temppeliaukio Church. Your guide will accompany you during the visit and continue providing commentary outside the church.
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