Helsinki Islands

Frs Finland brings you to the fortress island of Suomenlinna which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the number 1 must see tourist attraction of Finland with its historical sea fortress and lovely museums and restaurants. Vessels leave from Helsinki Market Square, next to the Korkeasaari zoo ferry. Watch out for our Frs Finland-signs and choose the priority queue. Please note: there is only one queue available at the islands. Many flexible departures per day and snacks and drinks available for purchase onboard. Enjoy a cup of coffee or cold beer on our sun deck and let yourself be pampered by our friendly staff. The duration of the ferry ride is about 20-25 minutes and there are several departures per hour. Exact schedule available at https://www.frs-finland.fi/suomenlinna-lonna/ - Maximum departure frequency from the Market Square and the island: 30 minutes. In addition the restaurant island of Lonna can be visited with the same ferry.

Blending nature, historical sights, and Finnish fare, the sightseeing cruise journeys through Helsinki’s extensive archipelago of islands. The boat ventures past UNESCO’s fortress Suomenlinna while you cruise along the waterways and taste local dishes. After departing from Market Square in the city center, the cruise will head towards Helsinki’s historical parts and continue along the capital’s shore to neighboring islands. The voyage will let you contrast the urban landscape with the wilderness of more than 300 islands and 130km of shoreline. This cruise is a chance to go beyond the city center and discover the intricate archipelago of islands and nature reserves. A snippet into the Finnish seaside lifestyle, the island neighborhoods boast summer cottages, groves, boulders, and tiny coves that can be seen along the shore. The tour will then make its way to Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage site and famous sea fortress of islands bursting with nature and history. Refreshing drinks are available during the tour from the bar. Sundeck seats included in the ticket are non-covered space outdoors. Finally, take in the unique sights while you sit back and delight in some local delicacies. Book a table in advance, table booking is subject to availability.

Meet our crew at Café Marina Bay, Kanavaranta 4, 00160 Helsinki. After a short safety briefing, depart by rigid inflatable boat for a boat trip along the coastline of Helsinki. Admire the most beautiful parts of Helsinki from the sea, including the Presidential Palace, the City Town Hall, the Market Square, the Uspenski Cathedral, and the Allas Sea Pools. Listen to your guide as they tell you about the city and its history. Continue to pass by the ferries to Sweden, the 19th-century villas of the Valkosaari yacht club, and the residential area of Kaivopuisto, where many of the embassies are located. Then you will be able to see the islands of Harakka, Särkkä, Uunisaari, and Liuskasaari. Travel past the Kaivopuisto Boulevard with its boat marina, yacht club, and seaside cafés. If you are lucky, you may be able to spot locals cleaning their carpets, a true Finnish summer tradition. Cross the small bay and make a stop near the new public sauna and the Löyly restaurant, with its award-winning design. See locals dressed in swimming suits jumping into the water, along with casual coffee drinkers sitting on the terrace. You will also see some of the old Hernesaari shipyard, where Finnish icebreaker ships are built. After leaving the city limits that have a speed limit, the driver will go full-throttle so you can experience the true power of a rigid inflatable speed boat. The Helsinki archipelago with its 300 islands will then start to appear in front of you. We make a stop in a beautiful bay on this boat trip. Pass through the passage between Vallisaari and Suomenlinna. Spot the historical dry dock of the old shipyard, the submarine Vesikko, and the King's Gate. Continue past the islands of Vasikkasaari, Koivusaari, and Saunasaari. Admire views of summer cottages, saunas, and the military island of Santahamina. From here the boat tour will cross the bay of Kruunuvuorenselkä and head for the fleet of icebreaker ships on their summer holiday. Learn about why Finland is so well-known for its icebreakers, how the ships work, and where they are being operated. Drop off is at the same spot we started from.

Try a unique experience on your visit to Helsinki as you float on top of the water's surface in a survival suit. Slip in a neoprene survival suit and feel totally warm and dry in the water. Learn about sea rescue and what to do in a real survival situation with qualified instructors. Learn about hypothermia and the benefits of starting winter bathing. Relax while floating on the water or try jumping around the ice rafts during the frozen sea season. During the open water season you can learn more about rescue at sea and enjoy a relaxing meditative experience. We have ice in Helsinki during the months December to April. During the summer period May to November we focus on floating around, relaxing and rescue at sea. Close your eyes, breathe, and lose yourself in the silence, even in the heart of Helsinki.

Meet our crew at Café Marina Bay, Kanavaranta 4, 00160 Helsinki. Depart after full passenger equipments and explore the vast archipelago located east of the capital. Discover some of the 170,000 islands by boat as your guide provides more information about local nature and wildlife. See the beautiful islands as we cruise and speed into the archipelago. Near the outskirts of the archipelago, reach the recreational island where you will disembark the boat and go ashore. Explore the island on a short walking tour and learn more about local flora and fauna. Overlooking the sea, hear more about how the archipelago developed after the last ice age. Then, enjoy a snack lunch outdoors if the weather allows. After lunch, enjoy some free time to explore the island. Visit the public sauna for a bath, swim in the sea, or enjoy the peace and tranquillity of your surroundings. Finally, hop back on the boat for the journey back to Helsinki. Drop-off is at the same location from where we started.

Savor the Nordic Flavors on Helsinki’s best summer island! Join us on a leisurely excursion around Pihlajasaari, just off mainland Helsinki. This island is a local favorite, known for its beaches, flourishing coastlines, and natural beauty. Enjoy a delightful Finnish tasting experience on this adventure. This tour starts at 10:15 A.M. front of Cafe Carusel in Helsinki, meet the guide and take a short ferry ride to Pihlajasaari. After arrival on the island, the tour begins with a walk around the island led by your guide. Exploring the sandy beaches, rocky shores, coastal forest will give insight into why Finnish people are some of the happiest on the planet. After the nature walk around the island, treat yourself with a delightful Finnish Tasting Experience, a distinctive part of our tour. Immerse yourself in a curated selection of 'sapas' (Finnish tapas) featuring local and authentic flavors of reindeer, fish, and various Finnish bread. Conclude the tasting with a Finnish dessert and organic blueberry juice. Please, let us know if you have any dietary restrictions beforehand the tour. We'll leave the island on the 13:15 ferry, returning to the mainland by 13:30. If you have enjoyed your stay on Pihlajasaari, you can choose to remain on the island and take the later ferry back to Helsinki. This excursion is the perfect blend of Finnish flavors and happiness!

Helsinki is called the pearl of the Baltic sea, as it is surrounded by one of the world's largest archipelagos. Helsinki alone has 98 kilometers of coastline and 315 islands. One of the most known islands is the famous sea fortress of Suomenlinna. It is also a Unesco World Heritage Site and the biggest sea fortress in Europe. Enjoy unique sailing event in Helsinki on board of Lagoon 440 luxury catamaran. Sailing takes a place on the coast of Helsinki City centre and we tailor the route according your preferences. Here are few hot spots to see: - Suomenlinna fortress - Europe's oldest active shipyard at Suomenlinna - Kauppatori, marketplace - Löyly, architectural award winning sauna - Kaivopuisto, beautiful boating canal - Vallisaari, hidden green treasure - Icebreakers, see the biggest icebreakers in Europe - Tall ships, massive old wooden ships bethred at Helsinki - Helsinki Islands Sailing in Helsinki with Lagoon 440: Step on dock you will meet the Capitan and crew. Your private yacht is well prepared and has all necessary conveniences on board. The Lagoon 440 catamaran meets even the highest standards and offers the participants unforgettable luxurious experiences. There is lots of room indoors and on deck for different kinds of private events like bachelor(ette) parties, and birthdays. The catamaran is very stable, so you don't have to worry about sea saw or seasickness. Saloon offer a 360 degree views and the aft deck is covered, so you can enjoy your sail at any weather. Every participant can take part in operating the boat if they want. You will be instructed and helped by your experienced skipper. Choose the duration of your journey and we will show you the pristine archipelago of Helsinki in a unique way. On a shorter trip, we can for example sail around Suomenlinna, or on longer trips, you can go on land on Suomenlinna. We have an option to visit also one of the other islands in the pristine Helsinki archipelago. Start and finish point: Kanavaranta 11, Marina Bay harbour, Helsinki. Capacity and booking: Minimum payment for 6 persons. Actual group can be smaller than this. Max capacity 15 persons.

Spend a day with some locals at their summer cottage and enjoy the best that Finnish summers have to offer – barbecues, sauna time, and hiking in a beautiful natural setting. Meet the crew at Café Marina Bay, Kanavaranta 4, 00160 Helsinki 15 min before departure. After a short safety briefing, you'll be geared up and ready to go. Cruise through the archipelago on the west side of the city, passing summer cabins, boaters, and wildlife on the way to your destination. On the 45-minute cruise, chat with the guide about the history and traditions of the area. Your afternoon hosts will be waiting for you on their small private island, owned by their family for over 100 years. If you're lucky you may even bump into more than one generation of the family, as it is their place to escape the city and spend their long summer days. Learn how part of the islands was leased as a Soviet naval base following World War II and how it is today. Leave the language-learning app at home, as your local hosts can accommodate you in English, French, German, Danish, Finnish, or Swedish. Your hosts are happy to take a break from their everyday lives to welcome you and show you how their days are spent in the archipelago. Take a nature walk and learn about which berries to eat and which mushrooms to pick. Take in views of the surrounding water and imagine the moose that occasionally swim from one island to another. Enjoy the Scandinavian design cottage and, together with your hosts, light up the genuine wood-heated sauna. If you're feeling adventurous, you may even combine the sauna bath with a refreshing dip in the sea, just like the locals do. After the sauna, the hosts will prepare a homemade lunch which you can share in the warm summer sunshine. At the end of the 2-hour visit, it's time to head back to the city, either cruising back among the islands or checking out the open sea. Drop off port is the same one as the departure port.