Day With A Local Helsinki
Day With A Local Helsinki
5
City Tours • Cultural Tours • Walking Tours • Private Tours
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Day With A Local Helsinki provides customized private tours and local experiences in Helsinki area from a local's point of view. The price is based on the length of your day, not on the size of the group (1-8 persons).
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Day With A Local Helsinki
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
92 reviews
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Celine799
120 contributions
Dec 2021 • Solo
I came to visit Helsinki for 3 days and experiencing this city with Liisa (owner of Day with a Local) was the BEST! Liisa is very passionate about her job and cares a lot about her clients. She was even available to answer questions on WhatsApp, send directions, etc. at the end of the night after our tour for the day was over. I learned so much about Helsinki, Finland, and Finnish people through her. She just goes above and beyond - for arrival she always kept up with the new Covid rules/restrictions/forms for me, picked me up from the airport, and gave me a first day introduction to the city. She already had a list of her favorite dinner restaurants in mind according to my food preferences and a list of concerts & shows I could see at night. She had even called all the restaurants prior to my arrival to make sure they would accept my American vaccine card. I had told her my interests in advance and she already had a set plan for me to be able to see & do what I was curious about! Liisa always picked me up from my hotel every morning and dropped me back off at night. If I was going to dinner or a concert afterwards, she sent the most detailed directions on WhatsApp on how to get there and return to my hotel. No one goes as above & beyond as Liisa does for her travelers!! Make sure you experience Helsinki with her!!
Written December 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your detailed review. It was my pleasure to help you throughout your stay and to make your travel experience as smooth as possible during these unexpected times.
Written April 20, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
GirlInFlorence
Florence, Italy176 contributions
Jun 2015
We had the pleasure of spending the day with Liisa, aka your Helsinki local, for the Midsummer eve festivities yesterday in town. She met us in our hotel lobby with a big smile and immediately gifted us with these very thoughtful travel bracelets, we already felt like fast friends.
She explained what we would be doing for the day and no detail was spared, I appreciated how she always asked us if walking x distance was ok and offered use of her wifi hotspot. (I'm a writer so this was brilliant).
The day was simply fantastic, we got to see the traditional bonfire on an island off Helsinki where we also had dinner (a beautiful grilled salmon with new potatoes) and Liisa was quick to provide valuable info on the history of this famous festival and points on Helsinki and the islands. She is such a wonderful person to be around, her energy is contagious.
I definitely don't think we would have gotten the same experience out of our day in Helsinki without her, she was able to navigate the transportion/reservations with ease and gave us all sort of valuable insight on local culture. I've been on many guided tours but this was more like being with a good friend, who wants to show you what they live about the city where they live.
We stayed with her until the wee hours and she even took the time to show us an incredible sunset at 2:30 am on a hidden area of Helsinki bay by the train station which was magical.
She followed up with tips and a website she mentioned she would let us know about. I would be happy to recommend her to anyone and everyone, she made our midsummer or 'juhunnus' experience once in a lifetime!
She explained what we would be doing for the day and no detail was spared, I appreciated how she always asked us if walking x distance was ok and offered use of her wifi hotspot. (I'm a writer so this was brilliant).
The day was simply fantastic, we got to see the traditional bonfire on an island off Helsinki where we also had dinner (a beautiful grilled salmon with new potatoes) and Liisa was quick to provide valuable info on the history of this famous festival and points on Helsinki and the islands. She is such a wonderful person to be around, her energy is contagious.
I definitely don't think we would have gotten the same experience out of our day in Helsinki without her, she was able to navigate the transportion/reservations with ease and gave us all sort of valuable insight on local culture. I've been on many guided tours but this was more like being with a good friend, who wants to show you what they live about the city where they live.
We stayed with her until the wee hours and she even took the time to show us an incredible sunset at 2:30 am on a hidden area of Helsinki bay by the train station which was magical.
She followed up with tips and a website she mentioned she would let us know about. I would be happy to recommend her to anyone and everyone, she made our midsummer or 'juhunnus' experience once in a lifetime!
Written June 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your review! I was honoured to share the Midsummer Eve festivities in Helsinki - Pihlajasaari island and We Love Helsinki dancing event - with you.
Written June 23, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
HotelWrockstar
Whitby80 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
We had a very limited amount of time in Helsinki as we were on a flight layover. I saw this brochure in the airport and contacted them right away.
#1: I was super impressed at how quickly Liisa replied. She was so helpful and accommodating from her very first response
#2: Liisa even met us in our hotel lobby and the time of our choosing!
#3: Considering it was the coldest day in Helsinki and we were returning from a trip in Thailand she was kind enough to bring me a scarf and gloves!!! I thought that was so considerate of her!!
#4: I only booked the 1 1/2hr tour considering our short time availability but Liisa was able to tailor an AMAZING tour catered to our interests and taught us a lot about the city and we really felt that we got the "local" treatment. Even getting the opportunity to try some local food at the food hall!!
#5: She is so passionate about her company that she even braved the cold with us!
#6: We were so impressed that she took the time to e-mail us by the end of the day with all of the information she had told us and reminded us of the places we visited
BOOK with this company if you truly want to enjoy your time in Helsinki!!!
#1: I was super impressed at how quickly Liisa replied. She was so helpful and accommodating from her very first response
#2: Liisa even met us in our hotel lobby and the time of our choosing!
#3: Considering it was the coldest day in Helsinki and we were returning from a trip in Thailand she was kind enough to bring me a scarf and gloves!!! I thought that was so considerate of her!!
#4: I only booked the 1 1/2hr tour considering our short time availability but Liisa was able to tailor an AMAZING tour catered to our interests and taught us a lot about the city and we really felt that we got the "local" treatment. Even getting the opportunity to try some local food at the food hall!!
#5: She is so passionate about her company that she even braved the cold with us!
#6: We were so impressed that she took the time to e-mail us by the end of the day with all of the information she had told us and reminded us of the places we visited
BOOK with this company if you truly want to enjoy your time in Helsinki!!!
Written January 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your kind words! It is our mission to be as available as possible. It was so nice to help you to enjoy Helsinki during the limited time you had here on your stopover!
Written January 20, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marta S
New York7 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
We were in Helsinki for a layover between flights and were able to book a tour with Liisa. It was amazing! She was so helpful and maximized the limited time we had. We had some issues with our flights and she was extremely accommodating, even changing our tour date with no issues when we weren't able to make the first scheduled time.
She made it so easy, from meeting us at the airport to a very informative train ride back to the City to a grand tour of all of Helsinki's beautiful sites. We had let her know beforehand we were interested in architecture so she was VERY well prepared with an itinerary, relevant facts, and interesting information. Any question we asked, she knew the answer. She really let us feel what it was like to be a local in Helsinki. The farewell panoramic view was an especially nice way to finish the tour. She even accompanied us back to the airport.
One of the best tour guides we've ever had, I would not hesitate to recommend here to anyone!
She made it so easy, from meeting us at the airport to a very informative train ride back to the City to a grand tour of all of Helsinki's beautiful sites. We had let her know beforehand we were interested in architecture so she was VERY well prepared with an itinerary, relevant facts, and interesting information. Any question we asked, she knew the answer. She really let us feel what it was like to be a local in Helsinki. The farewell panoramic view was an especially nice way to finish the tour. She even accompanied us back to the airport.
One of the best tour guides we've ever had, I would not hesitate to recommend here to anyone!
Written July 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your review! I am delighted about your feedback. It was great to host you during your stopover according to your interests.
Written April 20, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael M
New York City, NY5 contributions
Sep 2018 • Solo
Most people travel places to see the sights, take lots of photos, etc.
When I signed up for a one-on-one guided tour of Helsinki with Liisa, I let her know via email the day before that my interests would probably be different from that of many; that I was interested in everything connected to the Winter War with the Soviet Union and with the entire WWII period. Being a linguist and a former opera singer I wanted to know about how FInland's languages multiple languages worked in their society, and also wanted to talk about classical music in Finland.
Well, Liisa really nailed it! She not only knows her history, she also brought on her i-pad with photos of scenes of the 1940-1945 period. She included lots of factual information but also personal anecdotes.
Yes, you can of course read a lot of history on Wikipedia, but Liisa added a lot more from a variety of different perspectives.
Liisa knows her city exceptionally well and helped me with every logistical hot tip I could ever hope for:
She showed me how to get everything in I wanted to in the short 24 hours I had. Bus/tram, ferry schedules, the works.
Food options - I like variety but only eat healthy food. She recommended a GREAT salad bar in the downtown area.
Shopping: she actually took me to a store that sold unusual items of a personal interest.
Travel: How the shave off minutes from the already fast trip back to the airport.
Where the shortest security lines at the airport would be. (She was right - I whizzed through).
Plus, finally, I am talking about a genuinely nice human being. Yes, I wanted a smart, knowledgeable person who could tailor the tour to my very particular interests. And yes, her English is super.
But also, she is a genuinely nice human being.
Liisa made my very short and very first experience in Helsinki a total pleasure.
I cannot recommend her services highly enough.
When I signed up for a one-on-one guided tour of Helsinki with Liisa, I let her know via email the day before that my interests would probably be different from that of many; that I was interested in everything connected to the Winter War with the Soviet Union and with the entire WWII period. Being a linguist and a former opera singer I wanted to know about how FInland's languages multiple languages worked in their society, and also wanted to talk about classical music in Finland.
Well, Liisa really nailed it! She not only knows her history, she also brought on her i-pad with photos of scenes of the 1940-1945 period. She included lots of factual information but also personal anecdotes.
Yes, you can of course read a lot of history on Wikipedia, but Liisa added a lot more from a variety of different perspectives.
Liisa knows her city exceptionally well and helped me with every logistical hot tip I could ever hope for:
She showed me how to get everything in I wanted to in the short 24 hours I had. Bus/tram, ferry schedules, the works.
Food options - I like variety but only eat healthy food. She recommended a GREAT salad bar in the downtown area.
Shopping: she actually took me to a store that sold unusual items of a personal interest.
Travel: How the shave off minutes from the already fast trip back to the airport.
Where the shortest security lines at the airport would be. (She was right - I whizzed through).
Plus, finally, I am talking about a genuinely nice human being. Yes, I wanted a smart, knowledgeable person who could tailor the tour to my very particular interests. And yes, her English is super.
But also, she is a genuinely nice human being.
Liisa made my very short and very first experience in Helsinki a total pleasure.
I cannot recommend her services highly enough.
Written October 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your detailed review! It was my pleasure to show you Helsinki according to your interests.
Written April 20, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ian G
Brisbane, Australia22 contributions
Sep 2018 • Family
Liisa was our proud Finnish hostess and guide on our Helsinki day tour. Greeting us at our hotel we set off walking to the nearby Rock Church and visited there. We continued walking into the city centre with Liisa pointing out historical buildings and sites of interest. Most helpful was Liisa’s assistance to navigate the public transport system throughout the day so we could continue exploring Helsinki during the week. Food market was a treat to taste local foods. Liisa continued to make contact with us during the week to make sure we had plenty to see & do. Thank you Liisa for a lovely day in your beautiful city!
Written October 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your review! It was my pleasure showing you around Helsinki. Day With A Local offers assistance for the whole stay if wished, you to have as pleasant and worry-free stay as possible!
Written October 3, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
seattlearc
Seattle, WA47 contributions
Jan 2018
Thank you to Liisa and Kati-Riina for a great day in Helsinki. It was clear that you put a lof ot thought and preparation into my visit. I definitely got the local's view of the city. Best in 2018!
Written January 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your great feedback! It was Kati-Riina's pleasure to show you around and we are glad that also information provided by us helped you to get the most of your stay!
Written March 9, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
NatalieA00
Keller, TX30 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
I can only agree with the other reviews. Our day with Liisa was wonderful. We gained a great appreciation for Helsinki by seeing it through her eyes. We especially enjoyed the local market where Liisa had us taste local food items, the local library, the coffee shop (where I had tea) and the public transportation. It made us want to come back! Liisa was very organized. She made sure to ask what we were interested in and making sure we were comfortable at all times. She kept an eye on the time. It was a wonderful day and we would gladly have her give us a tour again.
Written July 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your kind words! It was my pleasure to show you Helsinki according to your interests and my local point of view.
Written August 22, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
altruista6
San Francisco, CA87 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
Liisa was super organized and very communicative. I emailed her 2 days before from the website and got everything planned. We spent 6 hours walking around tourist sites and local places in Helsinki. It was a very enjoyable day.
Written January 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the combination of Helsinki highlights and local life!
Written January 31, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Simon T
60 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
We booked Liisa for a 6 hour tour, plus dinner, on a recent trip to Finland to attend a concert. We were delayed a full day leaving Toronto by bad weather, and so I sent Liisa an email to let her know, and to do some last minute re-scheduling - shortly after that, my cellphone rang, and it was Liisa, calling to see what she could do to help. This is an example of how she goes above and beyond to help make things easy for you. We arrived, and she met us in the hotel lobby, exactly on time, and took us out for dinner. On the way, she helped us buy tickets for Helsinki public transport, which was a great help.
The restaurant was a small, local place, that we would never have found on our own, and served Finnish food, and we were able to sample locally prepared fish. Liisa was wonderful company, and has great knowledge of Finland's history and culture, and provided advice on everything from getting around to tips on the language. She listens a lot, and builds an itinerary based on your own personal interests
The next day, she met us again, and we had the best tour of Helsinki I could have imagined, taking in some major features, including Senate square, the cathedral and a wonderful Christmas market, where we could sample local food, and buy some souvenirs and gifts actually made locally.
After coffee we visited the Rock Church (Temppeliauko Church) which I had specifically wanted to see. This is a magical place, and Liisa was able to explain the history of the place, and get us there at a time when there were few people, so we could appreciate the place without crowds.
We then went for brunch at another local place, again something that we would not have found on our own, and was perfectly selected based on everything Liisa had learned about us
The tour continued with visits to the Sibelius monument, and other areas around the city, taking in all of Helsinki's transport options, including a tram ride, a ride on the world's most northern underground (see Liisa - I was listening!) and an excellent Taxi service (again, Liisa's local knowledge means you get a Mercedes Benz taxi at the same rate as any other taxi in the city).
Finally we visited the Moomin shop, Kamppi shopping centre, with amazing Christmas lights, and the Chapel of Silence, before going back to the hotel.
Along the way, Liisa also helped up purchase train tickets to get to Lahti for a concert at Sibeliustalo - making things very stress free and easy.
As others have said, it's like having a friend show you the best of the city, and help out with anything you need. We saw more than I think we could ever have seen on our own, or with official tours, and had someone to help if ever we had challenges with someone not speaking English, or with just understanding how to get around!
I would absolutely recommend Liisa's services - if you are visiting Helsinki, I can't think of a better guide!
The restaurant was a small, local place, that we would never have found on our own, and served Finnish food, and we were able to sample locally prepared fish. Liisa was wonderful company, and has great knowledge of Finland's history and culture, and provided advice on everything from getting around to tips on the language. She listens a lot, and builds an itinerary based on your own personal interests
The next day, she met us again, and we had the best tour of Helsinki I could have imagined, taking in some major features, including Senate square, the cathedral and a wonderful Christmas market, where we could sample local food, and buy some souvenirs and gifts actually made locally.
After coffee we visited the Rock Church (Temppeliauko Church) which I had specifically wanted to see. This is a magical place, and Liisa was able to explain the history of the place, and get us there at a time when there were few people, so we could appreciate the place without crowds.
We then went for brunch at another local place, again something that we would not have found on our own, and was perfectly selected based on everything Liisa had learned about us
The tour continued with visits to the Sibelius monument, and other areas around the city, taking in all of Helsinki's transport options, including a tram ride, a ride on the world's most northern underground (see Liisa - I was listening!) and an excellent Taxi service (again, Liisa's local knowledge means you get a Mercedes Benz taxi at the same rate as any other taxi in the city).
Finally we visited the Moomin shop, Kamppi shopping centre, with amazing Christmas lights, and the Chapel of Silence, before going back to the hotel.
Along the way, Liisa also helped up purchase train tickets to get to Lahti for a concert at Sibeliustalo - making things very stress free and easy.
As others have said, it's like having a friend show you the best of the city, and help out with anything you need. We saw more than I think we could ever have seen on our own, or with official tours, and had someone to help if ever we had challenges with someone not speaking English, or with just understanding how to get around!
I would absolutely recommend Liisa's services - if you are visiting Helsinki, I can't think of a better guide!
Written December 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your detailed review and kind words! We are as flexible as possible. As schedules sometimes change, if just possible, we'll do our very best to re-schedule your Day With A Local when needed. It was great to fit in everything you were looking for from your weekend although your flights changed!
Written January 31, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Shrikant75
Mumbai, India22 contributions
How do I contact and book for travel on 2nd Aug?
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hi, please send us e-mail or inquiry for through our website, unfortunately adding e-mail address to the reply message is not allowed here. I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!
ANIL WADEKAR
Thane, India
Which is the best time to travel Finland for Indians
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hello, thank you for your question. Best time to travel to Finland depends on what you want to do. Winter activities are best from December to February; summer activities & cottage life is best from June to August, and depending on the year, as this year, also in May.
Lisa D
Lakewood Ranch, FL2 contributions
Greetings. Our group of four people arrive on the Crystal Serenity in Helsinki on June 21, 2018. We would like a not-too-strenuous tour of the city, and also want to take the ferry to Suomminlina Island. Perhaps four hours in total...Is this something you can help me with? Lisa Deutsch
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hi Lisa, thank you for your inquiry! Can you please send us e-mail or inquiry form as we cannot reach you otherwise? Please visit our website and you'll find our contact form. We would be delighted to host you on 21st of June!
Belu A
Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar
How can I contact Liisa?I have plans to visit Helsinki with cruise. Thank you.
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hi, please send us e-mail or inquiry for through our website, unfortunately adding e-mail address to the reply message is not allowed here. I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!
How can I contact Liisa?I have plans to visit Helsinki with cruise.
Thank you.
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hi, please send us e-mail or inquiry for through our website, unfortunately adding e-mail address to the reply message is not allowed here. I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Vinod Nair
Kochi (Cochin), India39 contributions
Hi, We are reaching Helsinki on 9th August via Royal Caribian, our train to Lapland in by night,, We wish to see Helsinki .
We are family of three,, need pickup from the cruise terminal and drop at railways station.
send us the details to medsys at gmail
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Thank you for your inquiry! We have just sent you e-mail.
jepstein25
Seattle, WA4 contributions
Hello, I will be in Helsinki from 28th March until 31st March. Do you have any openings for a tour on Thursday the 29th of March?
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Hi, yes we do still have availability on Thursday 29th of March. Please send us e-mail and we can discuss more!
Robert Y
Lexington, Kentucky14 contributions
We will arrive June 23 Celebrity Eclipse at 10AM...interested in a tour of city...6 in our group...boat leaves at 6 PM so time is important...what would tour involve...cost? Thank you very much...Bob Young
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Thank you for your inquiry! I have just sent you e-mail.
hotelesMonterrey
monterrey
Buenas tardes
Estaré llegando en crucero el día 16 SEP 2017 7:30am. Hasta las3:30pm
Qué tours me recomiendas
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Thank you for your inquiry! On 16th September we have availability in English. Please contact us by e-mail for further discussion and we're happy to help!
annh0ust0n
Denton, Texas 762057 contributions
Will have Aug 6, 2017 in Helsinki docking with Windstar Cruise. What is available for tour- 2 tourists, cultural and history interests. Walking is ok.
Liisa_Eskelinen
Helsinki, Finland29 contributions
Thank you for your inquiry! Please send us e-mail and we can discuss more!