Helsinki was the busiest passenger port in Europe for the 3^rd consecutive year and more tourist guides were needed. Sari and Sara met when they both attended a 5-week introductory crash course for new guides in the spring of 2020.

It soon turned out that they had quite a lot in common and shared a mutual love for the iconic Helsinki railway station, designed by Eliel Saarinen. Sara had worked in the building for years as part of the marketing department of the Finnish Railways and Sari is related to the architect.

Both Sara and Sari decided to pursue a career in guiding and completed their vocational studies in 2021. Saarinen Tours was established already in the summer of 2020, as it was clear from the start that this was what the duo wanted to do.

“Sara is my right hand and my left brain, we complete each others' sentences”, Sari laughingly says. “We offer our customers an in-depth Saarinen experience, that they cannot experience with any other guides.”

“We also offer personal headsets to our customers”, Sara adds. “They allow for a more private tour and give the customers room to wander a bit further, take photographs and enjoy the scenery instead of trying to read our lips above the noise of the traffic”.

Saarinen Tours offers exclusive access to the Helsinki Railway Station clock tower as well as the Presidents' private waiting rooms. Private tours to Hvitträsk, the home and studio of architects Gesellius, Lindgren & Saarinen can be arranged outside the museum' s regular opening hours.

In addition to Helsinki and Hvitträsk, Sari is also an authorised guide in her hometown of Raseborg. Sara is authorised to guide on the Suomenlinna fortress island, a Unesco World Heritage site. Sara also specialises in food tours.