Tour H-1: FINLANDS ART & ARCHITECTURE DELIGHT

Note: This is a totally private tour operated exclusively for you, for your family, or for your own private party, or group upon request.
Prices: See the table of prices per person below, based on the number of people in your party sharing the ride together. All prices are in USA Dollars.  
Duration: 4 hours
Starting time: You may decide yourself the most convenient time for you at the time of booking between 08:00 AM and 02:00 PM. Not operated on Sundays or National Holidays.
Transportation: By a private car, van, or motor coach depending on the number of seats required by your party.
Activity level: Moderate. This is an enjoyable and relaxed tour, and you may control the speed and progress. Some walking required as well as climbing a few stairs up and down.   
Major sites and inside admissions included:  This is a combination tour including a comprehensive introduction tour of Helsinki with a special emphases on the art and design history and reputation of Finland. Among the major sights viewed on this tour will be the Sibelius Monument, the Opera House, Finlandia Hall, the Kiasma (Museum of Modern Art), the Parliament Building, Mannerheim Street, the Senate Square and the Big Cathedral, the Market Square and many others.  The locations visited may wary based on the port the ship has docked.

ITINERARY:
Helsinki is internationally a well known architectural and design destination, and a real delight for people having interest in these fields. The city is a collection of many fine and graceful buildings, designed by eminent Finnish and foreign architects, which line wide streets and graceful squares. With an open and spacious feel, the city is in complete harmony with the surrounding countryside and the sea front.
We’ll depart from the pier on our city tour including visits to the Design Forum, to the  Blue Villa, a home & studio of a local Finnish painter & sculptor, and stops at some of the leading Finnish design shops like Iittala, Marimekko, or Artek.
Design Forum features changing exhibitions presenting Finnish design, as well as a small design shop for jewellery, and home decoration items. Some of the items are also for sale. After our visit to the Design Forum the tour will stop in some highest quality leading design shops, where the brand   “Finnish Design” was initiated and developed into the strong international brand and reputation which it enjoys in today’s world. If not before, then you’ll soon be familiar with such leading names like Alvar Aalto, Timo Sarpaneva, Tapio Wirkkala, Nanny Still, Armi Ratia and many others.

During your tour you will also visit The Blue villa, located by the Töölö Bay in the centre of Helsinki. There are three families living in the villa, one of them being the painter Jorma Helenius with his wife, sculptor Marja Helenius, both representatives of the  realistic style. Their studio and gallery are also located in the villa. You will meet the artists, have an opportunity to chat, and to get acquainted over a cup of coffee/tea with a local pastry. .
Our tour also includes a basic city sightseeing of Helsinki, with emphases on architecture,  including  some of the main architectural sights like the Opera House, the Alvar Aalto designed Finlandia Hall, the Kiasma, Modern Art Museum, The Parliament Building,  the National Museum, the Classical Senate Square with  the Great Lutheran Cathedral, and also other major sites and locations of great interest, among them the Sibelius Monument (everybody’s favourite), Mannerheim Street, the Market Square, and many others. All sights are covered by viewing from outside only, although photo stops will be provided en route.  Note: The order of visits and the final sights seen, and locations visited may vary slightly depending on location where your cruise ship has docked.
PRICES per person in USA Dollars based on the number of persons in your party:

Helsinki H-1
Number of persons in your private party	2	3-4	5-6	7-9	10-12	13-18	19-24	25-36	37+
Price per Person In USD $	$395	$295	$240	$175	$150	$135	$100	$90	$75

Sunday departures subject to availability and to be quoted separately.