HELSINKI
Oodi
Glo Hotel Art Archway
Oodi Library
ROCK CHURCH HELSINKI
Oodi
Temppeliaukio Rock Church
Glo Hotel Art
Glo Hotel Art
Glo Hotel Art
ATENEUM ART MUSEUM
HELSINKI
Central Library
HELSINKI RAILWAY STATION
Art nouveau
HELSINKI RAILWAY STATION
Ateneum
Design Museum
HVITTRASK MANOR
PIER HELSINKI
National Museum
More than 600 Art Nouveau buildings
The extraordinary Temppeliauk (Rock) Church
Kirkkonummi and the Hvittrask Studio
Superb museums devoted to art, architecture and design
Two lectures from Prof. Anne Anderson
Perhaps the least known of the four Nordic Capital Cities, Helsinki is often referred to as the ‘Daughter of the Baltic.’Its situation on the southern tip of the Vironniemi peninsula and 315 islands has, along with its late urbanization, by European standards, produced the recipe for a unique and vibrant capital city. Building upon the Neo-Classical master plan of Engel in the first half of the nineteenth century, the city started out resembling St Petersburg. Continued expansion especially in the early twentieth century led to the construction of many new developments, particularly Art Nouveau, with more than 600 buildings surviving. Throughout the 20th century, the cisty continued to expand with more modern innovative architecture and was the centre, in the fifties and sixties, of ‘Finnish Design’. It comes as no surprise, then, that alongside all of this architecture are a remarkable set of museums and galleries. Through a series of walking tours, visits to a range of museums, galleries and supporting lectures, you will be introduced to the city of Saarinen and Aalto in the company of Prof. Anne Anderson. A highlight of the tour is staying at the Glo Hotel Art - an Art Nouveau stone castle with magnificent interior details and one of Helsinki's most beloved buildings.
Available Departures |
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| 06 - October - 2025 | £ 1795.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings London Heathrow Departing: 06th October 2025 at 07:30 Returning: 10th October 2025 at 16:00 |
Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Helsinki.
Transfer by coach for check-in to the hotel. This evening there will be a welcome drink in the lounge bar, lecture, ‘Finland: Art Nouveau/Jugendstil or Arts & Crafts’ and dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Helsinki.
This morning will be spent on a walking tour looking at some of the city’s 600 Art Nouveau buildings, referred to in Finland as National Romanticism, such as its magnificent train station dating from 1919. This afternoon, our exploration continues with a visit to the superb Design Museum, founded in 1873 and now housed in a former school designed by architect, Gustaf Nystrom in 1894 in the neo-Gothic style. This evening a second lecture, 'From Saarinen to Aalto the Golden Age of Finnish Architecture and Design' and dinner at the hotel.
Day 3: Helsinki.
Our exploration of this under-rated but fascinating city will continue with a visit to the extraordinary rock-carved Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church), designed by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen in 1969. It is one of the city’s most popular visitor attractions with half a million visitors annually. This afternoon we visit the stunning Oodi Library for a guided tour with Anne and the excellent Ateneum Art Museum, housing the largest collection of art in Finland.
Day 4: Helsinki and Porvoo.
This morning we visit Studio Aalto, one of the most notable works of renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. We take a guided tour of the house which was designed in 1955, and features curving walls and an inner courtyard shaped like an amphitheatre. Next we drive to Porvoo for a visit to Studio Edelfelt. Built in 1883, the studio is where artist Albert Edelfelt created many of his famous works. We have time for a walking tour with Anne to admire the well-preserved wooden houses and Art Nouveau buildings before returning to Helsinki.
Day 5: Kirkkonummi, the Hvittrask Studio and the Gallen-Kallela House and Studio.
This morning we visit Kirkkonummi and the Hvittrask Studio, built in 1903 and an architectural jewel, inside and out, of the National Romantic style. It was the home and studio of Eliel Saarinen, where the Helsinki Railway Station plans were drawn up amongst many other monumental buildings. Next, and our final visit on the tour will be to the Gallen-Kallela House and Studio. Designed and built by the artist, the castle-like studio and residence was opened to the public in 1961 and houses temporary exhibitions showing the art and the lift of Gallen-Kallela and his contemporaries alongside present-day works of contemporary art. Transfer to the airport for the return flight to London Heathrow.
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Glo Hotel Art
Built in 1903, the Glo Hotel Art is an Art Nouveau castle which will hopefully make your stay in Helsinki unique and memorable. The four-star hotel is located within Helsinki's trendy design district and comprises of the main castle building and an additional modern annexe. The stone castle has thousands of Art Nouveau details throughout the building and is one of Helsinki's most beloved buildings. The hotel has a lounge bar and comfortable bedrooms with en-suite bathroom, TV, telephone, wifi, safe, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities.
Glo Hotel Art Website
YOUR LECTURER
Prof. Anne Anderson
Prof. Anne Anderson author, broadcaster and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, was a senior lecturer at Southampton Solent University for 14 years, specialising in the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modernism. Anne's career as an international speaker has taken her all over the world and her TV credits include the BBC's Flog It!. Anne has received a rapturous response from or customers at the many Travel Editions UK lectures and tours as well as a host of tours overseas and her knowledge, wit and enthusiasm bring her beloved subjects to life in whatever location she finds them.
I've travelled with many tour companies, this is the first time with TE. All other agents have provided luggage labels - ones you can print yourself even - which helps to spot fellow travellers at the airport. Travelling alone is sometimes a bit daunting and it is reassuring to find others early on. Also, all other agents have sent a friendly email prior to departure to ensure all is well, remind about boarding passes etc etc. I know you included all this in a several page document but that was quite a while before departure. We were unable to go to the National Gallery on the last day due to refurbishment. Instead we headed into the magnificent autumnal countryside, saw Sibelius' memorial and the Hvittrask studio and Gallen-Kallela House. Bonus, a MUCH better idea - keep that in! Prof Anne Anderson was excellent.
Review by Butler who travelled 07-October-2024
Travel Editions feedback:
We are delighted to hear this was your first tour with us and that you enjoyed it. In relation to feedback we did make the decision to stop sending luggage labels to all travellers following feedback we received however we do keep this under constant review, and we are also looking at increasing our communication with travellers ahead of a tour departing and are actively looking at how best we can do this. We are delighted to hear that the replacement visit for the National Gallery was so successful.
Unfortunately I was ill and missed a couple of visits. But most were sites I'd visited in independently previously, so OK. Anne & Karen great through-out. One of the most pleasant groups I've travelled with - tolerant & solicitous.
Review by Stewart who travelled 07-October-2024
Review by Anonymous who travelled 10-October-2022
It was a good holiday and Karen and Anne were great. But very expensive, especially with the single room supplement being so much - not sure the holiday justified the cost. More information on the programme would have been good.
Review by Tilly who travelled 10-October-2022
Anne Anderson’s excellent knowledge and boundless enthusiasm made for a fantastic experience of the Art Nouveau architecture of Helsinki. She even managed to fit in an extra couple of visits!
Review by ixer who travelled 10-October-2022
Food at hotel on second night poor. Second day visits to museums not appropriate for tour description. Congrats to Anne for taking over from Mike Hope but missed the second part of tour description - post modernism.
Review by brain who travelled 10-October-2022
Mike and Steve were brilliant as usual. The food in the Presidentii was outstanding - especially the breakfast. A very interesting itinerary for the whole 4 days.
Review by Dumville who travelled 24-October-2019
No negatives with Mike Hope as guide and leading us all out in the cold and rain when Im sure we wouldn’t have seen as much without his enthusiasm. Look forward to his next Frank Lloyd trip to Western USA. (Went on his Chicago trip which was excellent)
Review by Anonymous who travelled 24-October-2019
This was our first Travel Editions trip, so we were not quite sure what to expect. Mike as a guide/lecturer was not only very knowledgeable, interesting, enthusiastic and fun, but he had a way of being inclusive and making all group members feel valued and equal. It didn't matter that we didn't have background knowledge to the subject just a keen interest.This coupled with Steve, our tour manager, who was well organised and efficient with a good sense of humour made for an extremely informative, relaxed albeit busy and enjoyable trip. Helsinki was a fascinating city to visit and the hotel was well located although the service in the restaurant was slow, but the food good. Norwegian airlines was not the most efficient but very adequate. I would have quite liked to have known that no food was served on the airline, but this is a very small detail in the overall scheme of things. Office staff were very helpful and answered all our questions and dealt with our requests. I like the fact that we haven't been inundated with too much paper. We would certainly love to do another trip with Mike and are you going to be repeating the Frank Lloyd Wright trip to the States? Thank you to all.
Review by Smith who travelled 24-October-2019
My second excursion with your company and it won't be the last, I hope. Both the tour lecturer, Mike Hope, and the tour manager, Steve Hartnell, were excellent. It made for a fascinating trip (just wish they could have arranged better weather). Hotel fabulous and Mike's knowledge of all sorts of subjects was very extensive. Steve made everything flow like clockwork - quite a skill.
Review by Richards who travelled 24-October-2019
Well organised, interesting and informative. Excellent hotel and good food. The tour was up to the usual high standard we’ve come to expect from Travel Editions.
Review by Feely who travelled 24-October-2019
Review by Anonymous who travelled 24-October-2019
Steve's calm professionalism and Mike's knowledge and affability (you should bottle him) made for a top break. A great mix of ancient and modern in a very stylish city. The hotel was comfortable but for this traveller the food was pretty dire and unimaginative. Overall Excellent.
Review by Watson who travelled 24-October-2019
The tutor was excellent and I was impressed by the friendly style of the tour manager and Mike. Found the hotel excellent but one major drawback for me was the poor quality (and quantity) of the evening meals. I did notice that an evening menu was available for visitors to the hotel but that was not the meal that we were given.The buffet style breakfasts were excellent.
Review by Etherington who travelled 24-October-2019
Helsinki is not the most obvious port of call for an architectural tour but it yielded up its many secrets in the company of genial Mike Hope who wears his knowledge lightly and put developments in the context of the political and social milieu of the time. The brochure does not do justice to the riches gleaned by the curious traveller. One learns so much. Tour manager and fixer upper Steve Hartnell made sure the schedule went to plan and brought a welcome note of irreverent humour. The pair were a great double act and helped make this a memorable visit. Full marks.
Review by Cole who travelled 23-October-2018
Another excellent study tour with Mike Hope whose knowledge and enthusiasm are infectious.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 23-October-2018
Good itinerary with excellent input from Mike Hope: whose knowledge and enthusiasm is unfailing. Not sure that a tour manager was necessary for one base and a small number in the group
Review by Vaigncourt-Strallen who travelled 23-October-2018
Excellent to Good company and knowledge of guide most informative
Review by Brown who travelled 23-October-2018
Our tour manager Mike Hope was excellent. I am already looking at his other tours. He is very enthusiastic about his subject, very well prepared, a good lecturer. In short the right person to lead a tour.
Review by Blackley who travelled 05-October-2017
Review by Sherman who travelled 05-October-2017
Review by Foulger who travelled 05-October-2017
Our leader Mike made this a very enjoyable trip - his enthusiasm and expertise are boundless ! I loved the trip to Saarinen's house on the last day & felt privileged to have done it. Helsinki is much smaller than I'd realised & the museums are consequently also much smaller - I think maybe less time could be allowed for some of those visits (e.g Design). Also, given Mike's knowledge, which he freely shares, I think the guide at the National Gallery was quite unnecessary.
Review by O'Sullivan who travelled 05-October-2017
Splendid. Give that man a medal!
Review by Roberts who travelled 05-October-2017
Review by Muller who travelled 05-October-2017
Mike Hope does an excellent job. His enthusiasm for his subject is amazing, considering the number of tours he leads. Helsinki is a very expensive city, but the tour allowed personal costs to be adjusted to most people's budget.
Review by Mr Alexander Tosh who travelled 29-September-2016
Review by Miss Janet McLeavy who travelled 29-September-2016
a very enjoyable and interesting tour and an excellent knowledgeable tour leader
Review by Mr David Churchill who travelled 29-September-2016
