Gastro sightseeing in Helsinki

Visitors can now combine sightseeing in Finland’s compact capital, with one of two special gastro tours which transport guests on a journey around the stylish city of Helsinki to learn all about Finnish flavours and local dishes as well visiting the main tourist attractions and gaining an interesting insight into the history and culture of this quirky Nordic capital.

Tour 1: Tastes of Finland

Departing from outside the Tourist Information Office (Pohjoisesplanadi 19), this two hour guided tour will take guests on a historical journey to Esplanade Park, Market Square and Senate Square, exploring the architecture in Aleksanterinkatu and visiting some of Helsinki’s world renowned design shops. The tour ends at the restaurant Lasipalatsi, where participants are served a special ‘Taste of Finland’ platter illustrating some of Finlands many seasonal flavours and ingredients. This summer, the menu includes salmon, marinated wild mushrooms, lingonberry compote, reindeer, a selection of Finnish cheese and Lasipalatsi’s own baked bread.

The ‘Tastes of Finland’ tour is priced at €49 per person and takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays departing at 2pm from Pohjoisesplanadi 19.

Tour 2: Food Sightseeing

This three hour ‘Food Sightseeing’ tour combines a historical journey of Helsinki’s Esplanade Park, Market Square and Senate Square with a visit by tram to the district of Kallio and Hakaniemi (10 minutes from the city centre). Participants will get a glimpse of local life with a visit to the traditional Hakaniemi Market Square and Market Hall before trying out a range of local starters at renowned Finnish restaurant Graniittilinna (using ingredients from Hakaniemi Market Hall– mainly fish, meat and seasonal root vegetables)

From there, it’s back to Helsinki city centre to end the tour with a meal at traditional Finnish restaurant Lasipalatsi where guests will enjoy a main course of pikeperch and desert of berry sorbet with Finnish sparkling wine.

The ‘Food Sightseeing’ tour is priced at €85 per person and takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays departing at 7pm from Pohjoisesplanadi 19.

Both tours are available until 28th August 2010.

For more information or to book, visit foodsightseeing.com.

For more information on Helsinki, go to visithelsinki.fi.