WHAT KIND OF JOURNEY AWAITS US? 

An Architect-LEd Immersion In the Site

From June 14th-22nd, 2025

The main objective of the trip is to visit the work of Alvar Aalto, one of the masters of twentieth century architecture, and undoubtedly the most important architect of Finland.

His extensive work is spread throughout the country but mainly concentrated in the southern cities which are the ones we will visit. We will also take the opportunity to see other interesting buildings: in Turku, the oldest city in Finland, we will find a Gothic cathedral, and in Helsinki, from its center of neoclassical buildings to the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma by Steven Holmberg, Steven Holl’s Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum, built in 1998. We will take the opportunity to see and recommend free time visits to some of the country’s emerging contemporary architects such as AOA, K2S Architects, OOPEAA or JKMM. Of course, on our tour, we will also be able to enjoy the magnificent Finnish landscapes.

In and around Helsinki you can visit some of the work of Aalto, one of the masters of 20th century architecture.

Seeing his buildings in the beautiful surroundings makes it easy to understand his importance in the history of architecture.

“Every building, every architectural work is a symbol representing our intention to build a paradise on Earth,” said Alvar Aalto in 1958.

14.06.2025 Arrival in Helsinki

15.06.2025 Sunila – Lahti – Jyväskylä

16.06.2025 Jyväskylä

17.06.2025 Säynatsalo- Muuratsalo – Muurame – Alajarvi- Seinajoki

18.06.2025 Seinajoki- Noormarkku- Rauma – turku

19.06.2025 Turku – Paimio -Helsinki

20.06.2025 Otaniemi (Espoo) – Helsinki

21.06.2025 Munkkiniemi – Munksnäs – Helsinki

22.06.2025 Helsinki and return

*Visits program will be definitively established at the time of the confirmation of the trip. **Variations may occur in the selected visits or in the travel program for reasons beyond the company’s control.

More than 90 days - 15% of the price

From 65 to 90 days - 40% of the price

From 30 to 64 days - 75% of the price

Less than 30 days - 100% of the price

Arrival in Helsinki according to the flights.

Meeting of the group coming from different destinations, at the hotel in Helsinki.
In the afternoon, walking tour with our architect to several Alvar Aalto’s works in the center of Helsinki: Finlandia Hall, Enso Gutzeit offices, Nordic Bank – Rautatalo commercial building and academic bookstore, etc.

Welcome dinner included.

Free night. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide at the hotel reception. After breakfast departure by private bus. Short stop in Porvoo for a walk through the old town.

STOP IN SUNILA: External visits to A. Aalto’s Sunila housing district of Karhula in Kotka and Aalto’s House and Studio  for interior visits.

Free lunch (1,5 hours)
INDOOR VISITS IN LAHTI: Visit to Aalto’s Church of the Cross, (Ristinkirkko) and Saarinen’s Town Hall (Kaupungintalo). Transfer and outside visit to SibeliusTalo and Piano Paviljonki until departure to Jyväskylä.

NIGHT IN JYVÄSKYLÄ

WALKING TOURS IN JYVÄSKYLÄ

After breakfast we will see various Aalto buildings from the outside and with some interior visits where possible: Workers’ Club, Defence Building, University of Jyväskylä, Cultural Centre, Police Headquarters, Theatre, Lauren House (Alvar Aalto Museum closed until 2023).
BUS AND WALKING TOURS IN JYVÄSKYLÄ

Bus tours of some of Aalto’s more detached works on the way back to the hotel: Villa Karpio, Aira Apartments, Viitatorni Apartments, Nuora House, as well as other contemporary buildings.

OVERNIGHT IN JYVÄSKYLÄ

SÄYNÄTSALO

Breakfast at the hotel, after breakfast transfer and arranged indoor visit to Aalto’s Säynätsalo Town Hall with Harri Taskinen.

MUURATSALO AND MUURAME: Arranged indoor visit to Aalto’s Muuratsalo Experimental House.
After lunch, interior visit to Aalto’s Muurame Church.

VISITS IN ALAJÄRVI

Exterior visit of 7 Aalto buildings in Alajärvi: Villa Väinölä, Nuorisoseurantalo, Health Centre, Library, Town Hall, Parish Centre and Old Municipal Hospital. Departure to Seinäjoki.

SEINÄJOKI NIGHT

SEINÄJOKI: Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast we will see Aalto’s buildings in Seinäjoki, externally and with some interior visits where possible: Town Hall, Government Offices, Civil Defence Corps Building and Cultural and Administrative Centre. Lakeuden Risti Church, Aalto Library and JKMM extension and theatre.

VISIT OF VILLA MAIREA IN NOORMARKKU: Transfer by bus and arranged indoor visit at Aalto’s Villa Mairea.

RAUMA: Departure by bus to Turku with a stop in Rauma to visit its historical center.

TURKU EVENING

TURKU: Breakfast at the hotel, after breakfast we will see Aalto’s buildings in Turku externally and with some interior visits where possible: Apartment building, Agricultural Co-operative, Turun Sanomat Newspaper, Interior visit with the director to the JKMM library.
DEPARTURE TO PAIMIO

Transfer by bus and stop for a quick visit of the Ylösnousemuskappeli Church by Erik Brygman.

PAIMIO AND HVITTRÄS: Arranged visit to Paimio (Aalto) Sanatorium. Afterwards, transfer and arranged visit to Gesellius, Lindgren and Saarinen’s studio in Hvitträsk on the way to Helsinki.

HELSINKI NIGHT

OTANIEMI (ESPOO) & UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

After breakfast, transfer to Espoo and walking tour. We will see Aalto’s buildings in Otaniemi externally and with some interior views where possible: A.Aalto University of Technology: Main Building, Sports Hall, Power Station, Residence Hall, Library, Water Tower etc.
RETURN TO HELSINKI: Transfer back to Helsinki city centre and rest of the afternoon at leisure.

HELSINKI NIGHT

AALTO’S HOUSE AND STUDIO: After breakfast we will stop on the way for an outdoor visit of the Aalto National Pension Institute. Arranged indoor visit to Aalto’s House and Studio in Munkkiniemi – Munksnäs.
RETURN TO HELSINKI,VISITS BY BUS & ON FOOT

Transfer to Helsinki via Juha Leiviska Library and OP Headquarters. Walking tours in the Neoclassical Old Town: Senate Square, Cathedral, State Council, University and National Library, Presidential Palace, Market Square, City Hall, E. Saarinen’s Railway Station and some other contemporary buildings like Steven Holl’s Kiasma or Aalto’s Kiasma (Electric Power Company Offices).

Farewell dinner included. HELSINKI NIGHT

DAY 9:

After breakfast check out and free time in Helsinki according to flights.

RETURN FLIGHTS: By their own means.

END OF THE TRIP