ExcursionsCity Sightseeing, Culture and Architecture (3 hours)
Monday, July 3rd at 9:00
Book
During this tour, you will be taken to see the most important sights of Helsinki, including the Temppeliaukio Church built inside bedrock, the Sibelius Monument, Market Place, Senate Square etc. After visiting the sights in the city center, you will visit the castle like Tarvaspää museum, the former studio and home of Finland's national artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931). At Tarvaspää you will be taken on a tour of the museum and have afternoon coffee at the charming little café on the courtyard of the museum. The tour will end at approximately 12.00.
Price: 40 eur/person
Minimum number of participants 30.
Suomenlinna Fortress Island and Helsinki From the Sea (3 hours)
Tuesday, July 4th at 13:00
Book
The Fortress Islands of Suomenlinna at the mouth of Helsinki harbor were built to make Helsinki the 'Gibraltar of the North'. The ferry to Suomenlinna will take you on board at Helsinki Market Place and start its 30-minute cruise towards the islands. On this boat ride you can admire the scenery and the charming Helsinki coastline; the view from the sea to the South Harbor has often beenconsidered one of Helsinki's most beautiful.
You will be taken to the Iso Mustasaari Island at the heart of the fortress from where you will start your walking tour around the islands. Suomenlinna, which celebrated its 250th anniversary in 1998, is included in UNESCO's world heritage list and is one of Finland's best known historical monuments. After familiarizing yourself with the island, you will have coffee at the Chapman's Cottage, a restaurant and café named after master shipbuilder Chapman. Return transfer starts from the island approximately at 16.00.
Price: 40 eur/person
Minimum number of participants 20
Finnish Design and Shopping Sightseeing (3 hours)
Wednesday, July 5th at 10:00
Book
The tour bus will first take you to Kalevala Koru factory outlet. Kalevala is the trademark for jewelry made in the ancient tradition captured in the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. The motifs used in the jewelry go far back in history, to the Iron Age and the wealthy Viking Era. Most models in the collection are replicas of the ancient originals discovered in archaeological excavations. You will have a chance to see the interesting process of making jewelry.
From Kalevala Koru, you will continue to the Arabia china factory, where you will visit the factory itself as well as the museum and factory shop. The Arabia factory was set up near Helsinki, Finland, in 1873 by the Swedish company Rörstrand. They chose Finland for its close proximity to Russia, where they wanted to expand their market. Within a few years the Arabia factory was producing half of Finland's total ceramics output and later passed into Finnish ownership.
During the transfers, your guide will also familiarize you with the history of Helsinki and tell you about the surrounding parts of the town.
Price: 35 eur/person
Minimum number of participants 25
Ainola, the home of Sibelius (5,5 hours)
Thursday, July 6th at 10:00
Book
This cultural tour will take you to the Finnish countryside and the beautiful town of Tuusula which has been the home ground and source of inspiration of many of Finland's national artists. On the unique Tuusula Lake Road you will visit Ainola, the home of the famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The house with its interior is preserved intact as it was at the time when the Sibelius Family lived there.
You will also visit the Halosenniemi Museum, once the studio home of the Finnish painter Pekka Halonen. The studio, where you can admire the paintings and prints by Pekka Halonen and his contemporaries, is made of red pinewood and represents the National Romantic style in the Finnish countryside.
A lunch will be served at Krapihovi, an atmospheric restaurant in a traditional manor house.
Price: 80 eur/person
Minimum number of participants 20
Pre and Post Congress Tours
Magical Lapland (2 days, 1 night)
Friday, June 30th – Saturday, July 1st
Book
The tour will start at around 10:00 hours from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport (depending on the flight schedules). On this tour you will be able to experience all the essential elements of the magical summer in Lapland – the light nights, nature, wild waters, gold panning, reindeer and the gastronomy of Lapland. The further north you go, the longer the sun stays above the horizon. The bright nights call upon people to go out into nature and Saariselkä is far enough from hectic city life for you to relax in the tranquility of the wilderness.
The tour starts with a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Ivalo in the morning. Transportation to Holiday Village Kakslauttanen and accommodation in comfortable log cabins (with toilet, shower, kitchen and fireplace). Kakslauttanen is located in Saariselkä Fell area amidst beautiful Lappish scenery only 30 min. drive from Ivalo airport.
In the evening a traditional Lapp dinner will be served in a genuine "kota" (Lapp tepee). You can also enjoy Finnish sauna. Later in the evening, a trip will be made to Kaunispää Fell to enjoy the vast scenery opening from the top of the fell.
The morning is free for outdoor activities and shopping. Transfer to Ivalo airport and departure by Finnair flight to Helsinki in the afternoon.
The price includes all transportation, visits and meals according to the program, accommodation in log cabins, as well as English speaking local guide in Lapland.
Price: 515 eur/person in shared double room
<*dv_1*> 560 eur/person in single room
Minimum number of participants 10
Day cruise to Tallinn, Estonia (9 hours)
Friday, July 7th at 10:00
Book
This tour will take you to the medieval Hansa town Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Tallinn represents 700 years of uninterrupted architectural history, all within a short walk. Since 1997 the Old Town has been on the UNESCO WorldHeritage List.
Departure is at 10.00 by catamaran from Helsinki to Tallinn with arrival in Tallinn at 11.45. Your sightseeing tour in Tallinn starts from the harbor and includes the most interesting sights of the city, e.g. 18th century Kadriorg park and palace, Toompean Hill, the Cathedral, and the charming Old Town. Lunch in a local restaurant is included and you will also have some time for shopping on your own. Return departure from Tallinn is at 19.30 with arrival in Helsinki at 21.10.
The price includes boat tickets Helsinki-Tallinn-Helsinki (catamaran), bus transportation in Tallinn, sightseeing tour (by bus and on foot) and a three course lunch in Tallinn as well as an English speaking local guide.
Price: 150 eur/person
<*dv_2*> Minimum number of participants is 10
Please Note!
- Catamaran departures may be cancelled due to rough weather conditions.
- Nationals of the member states of EU, EEA or Switzerland are free to enter Estonia. Required travel document for them is personal ID card or passport. Other persons must be in possession of a valid passport.
- Visa regulations may apply to some nationalities, please check if you need a visa for Estonia (regulations for cruise ships are not valid for trips starting from Helsinki).
- Due to high increases on fuel price, there might be additional fuel charges on catamaran tickets.
Cruise to Stockholm, Royal capital of Sweden (3 days, 2 nights)
Thursday, July 6th – Saturday, July 8th
Book
Discover a city like no other - a city built on 14 islands, where you are never far from the water and well-preserved medieval buildings stand alongside modern architecture. Stockholm is a city of contrasts - water and islands, history and innovation, small town and big city. Thanks to the city's compact size, you can see and do most things in a short space of time which makes it a perfect destination for short visits. Stockholm is also home of the Nobel Prize.
Your tour will start at the Helsinki South Harbour where you will board cruise ship Silja Symphony leaving at 17.00. The cruise ship is like a small city in itself with a variety of shops, bars and restaurants for you to explore. In the morning you will arrive in Stockholm through the beautiful archipelago at 9.30 and start the Stockholm City Sightseeing that will take you to see the most important sights of the city and also includes a visit to Vasa Museum purpose-built to display the Vasa, world’s only surviving 17th century ship and one of the foremost tourist sights in the world.
After the sightseeing, you will have a few hours on your own for shopping and exploring the city and at 17.00 Silja Symphony will start back towards Helsinki, where you will arrive on Saturday morning at 10.00.
195 eur/person in shared Promenade cabin for two (view to the Promenade deck)
350 eur in a single Promenade cabin
220 eur/person in shared Seaside cabin for two (sea view)
395 eur/person in a single Seaside cabin
The price includes boat tickets Helsinki-Stockholm-Helsinki in the chosen cabin category, 3 hour city sightseeing with an English speaking guide and a visit to the Vasa Museum.
Minimum number of participants 20
The tours above are organised by:
CONGRESZON
Itälahdenkatu 22 A, 00210 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: +358 9 5840 9350
Fax: +358 9 5840 9555
Email: epileptology2006@congreszon.fi
www.congreszon.fi
