June 10 –14, 2009, Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland
All tour fees include English-speaking guide and private coach. All tours listed below depart from and return to the parking area behind Finlandia Hall. The tours are organised by the congress secretariat in cooperation with travel agency Viada Ltd.
Helsinki City Tour
Date: Thursday, 11 June
Time: 10:00 – 13:00
Price: 25 € / person (included in accompanying person’s registration fee)
A comprehensive tour showing the most important and interesting parts of the city, such as the historical centre and the diplomatic quarters at Kaivopuisto Park, the Presidential Palace, the City Hall and the Parliament building, Finlandia Hall and the Opera. The tour will stop at Senate Square where the University and Lutheran Cathedral display neo-classical architecture of the 1840’s. This is followed by a walk to the colourful Market Square by the sea in the South Harbour with a visit to the indoor Market Hall (weather permitting). The next stop will be at the magnificent Temppeliaukio Church, carved into solid rock, after which a visit to the Sibelius Monument will take place.
Porvoo Old Town Tour
Date: Friday, 12 June
Time: 09:30 – 16:30
Price: 120 € / person
Porvoo is the second oldest town in Finland. In the old wooden town a medieval plan of the town site has been preserved with its narrow cobblestone lanes and is protected with great care. You may wander into the small handicraft shops scattered along the lanes and offering pottery, rugs, handmade shawls, or just candy. In Porvoo we will visit the home of our national poet J. L. Runeberg and take a river cruise on the M/S Fredrika or M/S Sandra along the Porvoo River. Lunch will be served at a cosy restaurant in the old town and you will also have some free time for shopping or just strolling along the cobblestone lanes. Before heading towards Helsinki there will be a chance for chocolate and coffee at Porvoon Paahtimo, beautiful red-tiled warehouse built in 1902.
Design Tour
Date: Saturday, 13 June
Time: 09:30-13:30
Price: 60 € / person
First we head towards the Arabia district and visit the Arabia china factory, once the largest china factory in Europe. Arabia brand is a trailblazer in modern Finnish design. Its product selection consists of design gift products as well as popular ranges of dishes which hold a central position in Finnish lives. A local guide will take us around the factory, the museum and gallery. You will also have some time in the Iittala shop. Iittala is a major driving force of Scandinavian design with legendary designers including Alvar Aalto. Iittala design objects are tools for contemporary living and include objects in glass, metal, wood and porcelain. We will continue towards the Design museum with comprehensive collections of famous Finnish design. After a guided tour you will have a possibility to visit the gift shop. Our last stop will be the Marimekko design shop. Marimekko is a renowned Finnish company that was established in 1951 and is famous for unique high-quality clothing, interior decoration textiles, bags and other accessories.
Additional Social Events
Finnish Sauna
Date: Two options:
1. Thursday, 11 June 20:00-23:00
2. Saturday, 13 June 19:00-22:00
Departure: From the Market Square
Price: 85 € / person
Almost every Finn takes a sauna at least once a week and as you will be visiting Finland, you have the opportunity to try this special Finnish tradition and even take a swim in the Baltic sea afterwards.
The traditional smoke saunas are located on the small island Saunasaari in the archipelago of Helsinki. Glow fried salmon sandwiches will be served after your sauna bath.
Boat trips to and from the island, as well as towels and soap are also included in the price.
Bring your swimming costume with you if you wish. However, Finnish people usually do not wear swimming costumes in sauna. Women´s and men´s sauna is separate.
Please, see the web-site of Saunasaari for pictures and more information:
http://www.saunasaari.fi/english/index_eng.html
Forestadent Golf Tournament
Date: Saturday, 13 June
Time: 08:00-18:00
Place: Master Golf Course, Espoo
Sponsored by Forestadent
Players should take their own equipment with them, alternatively equipment can be rented from the club. Registration and transportation is free of charge, however, the players will be required to pay the green fee themselves. Please register at the Forestadent exhibition booth before 17:00 on Friday 12 June.
Post-Congress Tours
If you are interested in visiting e.g. Lapland, Tallinn or Saint Petersburg, please contact our travel agency partner Viada Ltd by e-mail: info -at- viada.com
You can also contact the Helsinki Expert travel agency for more tour options in Helsinki, Finland and the surrounding countries (Russia, Estonia, Sweden). www.helsinkiexpert.fi/tours