Retreat to the picturesque Raseborg, where architecture and artisanry coalesce with the splendour of nature.
Begin your escape in the coastal charm of Ekenäs, witnessing Alvar Aalto’s smallscale architectural wonders like Villa Skeppet. Then, journey to the historic Fiskars Village, a cradle of Finnish art and design. Here, amidst the legacy of ironworks, discover the vibrancy of local craft, and let each boutique and workshop unveil a story of tradition and innovation. This retreat is an invitation to experience the integration of creativity and natural beauty.
Tour in brief: Redesign your retreat with Raseborg’s unique blend of Alvar Aalto’s architecture, local art, and crafts. Day one immerses you in Ekenäs’ architectural treasures like Villa Skeppet, Chappe and local culinary delights. Day two invites you to the artistic Fiskars Village, a historic ironworks site now bustling with workshops and boutiques.
Embark on a journey that weaves through Alvar Aalto’s architectural imagination, stretching across Finland to the cultural heart of Rovaniemi and the historic charm of Turku.
This tour unveils a world where concrete, glass, and nature blend into a seamless, beautiful continuum. Marvel at the bold modernism of Helsinki’s Finlandia Hall, and experience the tranquillity of Säynätsalo Town Hall, a gem nestled in Lakeland. In Rovaniemi, bear witness to the administrative and cultural prowess of the Aalto Centre, including Rovaniemi City Hall, the City Library, and Lappia House. Further south, explore Turku to discover Alvar and Aino Aalto’s early modern buildings, pioneering a new architectural era.
As you drift from the urban vibrancy of the capital to serene lakesides and historic cityscapes, let Aalto’s vision inspire a new understanding of harmony between built environments and nature.
Tour in brief: A nine-day journey encompassing the architectural marvels of Alvar Aalto in Finland’s key cities. This package offers a comprehensive experience including accommodations, select meals, entrance fees to notable attractions, and insightful guided tours. Free time is allocated for personal exploration and shopping, promising a full immersion into Aalto’s world.
This experience is an intimate exploration of Aalto’s structural poetry: the University of Jyväskylä Campus, a testament to his genius. The serene Säynätsalo Town Hall. Then add the architectural allure of the Jyväskylä City Theatre, a stage for cultural narratives, and the spiritual resonance of Muurame Church.
Each visit isn’t to a site but to a story—a narrative shaped by Aalto’s dedication to innovation and elegance. Dive into the depths of architectural marvels and discover spaces that redefine the essence of form and function.
Discover Aalto’s diverse architectural phases in a three-day tour of the Jyväskylä region. From the early classicism to functionalism and from renowned Säynätsalo Town Hall’s architecture in brick to the Jyväskylä City Theatre’s monumentalism, this tour blends Aalto’s heritage with the Petäjävesi Old Church’s heritage and the natural beauty of Lakeland, complemented by local hospitality.
Among the Aalto sites in Alajärvi, the town hall is the largest and most prominent. The building’s facade is dominated by the large windows of the council chamber and the minimalist white walls. Construction of the Alajärvi town hall began in 1966 and it was completed a year later. The most impressive parts of the terrain-adaptive office building are the lobby and the council chamber. The council chamber is taller than the rest of the building and is adorned with windows of various sizes and shapes that let in the rays of the morning and evening sun.
Alvar Aalto approached his buildings as total works of art, where furniture and lighting were also important elements of the design. In the council chamber of the Alajärvi town hall, there are furnishings, tables, chairs, and lamps designed by Aalto, as well as seating in the foyer.
Construction of the parish hall began in 1969 and it was completed a year later. The Japanese-influenced parish hall features a lot of open, bright, and unified space. The parish hall’s minimalist white style echoes other buildings in the Aalto Center, such as the town hall and the library. The Aalto Center comprises several buildings by Aalto, all within a short walking distance from each other. Together, the buildings of the Aalto Center form a unique ensemble.
Inside the parish hall, there is a lot of open space. Aalto’s interest in Japanese culture and architecture is evident in the interior aesthetics of the parish hall. The minimalist appearance of both the interior and exterior of the parish hall contrasts with the Alajärvi Church, designed by Carl Ludwig Engel, located behind the building. Although the styles of the buildings are completely different, their color schemes are similar.
The Alajärvi City Library is the last design project by the architectural firm Aalto & Co. The library was completed in 1991, with Heikki Tarkka serving as the chief architect. Elissa Aalto, Alvar Aalto’s spouse, who finalized several of Alvar Aalto’s unfinished buildings, also participated in the design work. In 1966, Alvar Aalto created a plan for an administrative center in Alajärvi, and the library building’s design is based on his site plan and model.
The library’s minimalist white style echoes other buildings in the Alajärvi Aalto Center, such as the town hall and the parish hall. The Aalto Center comprises several buildings by Aalto, all within a short walking distance from each other. The most striking feature of the library’s design is the undulating wooden ceiling panel. The different shades of wood, the wavy lines, and the spaciousness of the library hall create an organic and nature-inspired impression of the building.
In addition to library operations, the building also hosts rotating art exhibitions.
Aalto2 is a unique meeting place for architecture, design and cultural heritage in Jyväskylä in the heart of Central Finland. It combines two buildings designed by Alvar Aalto: the Museum of Central Finland and Alvar Aalto Museum. The Museum of Central Finland (1959–1961, 1991) focuses on the cultural history and heritage of Central Finland. The Alvar Aalto Museum (1971–73) belongs to the Alvar Aalto Foundation and is custodian of the material and intellectual legacy of the world-famous architect and designer. The museum buildings are connected by a new, light-filled section designed by A-Konsultit Architects. The new part (completed in 2023) houses the museums’ shared social area as well as the Aalto2 Shop and Café.
Aalto2 fulfils Alvar Aalto´s wish to create a forum that brings together a variety of artforms. The Aalto2 Museum Centre seamlessly combines architecture, design, cultural heritage, art and science. The Museum Centre puts on an interesting, multifaceted exhibition programme, as well as new events for different target groups. Find out more about the Aalto2 Museum Centre on our website. The Museum Centre’s multifunctional facilities are superbly suited to business meetings and evening events.
The Rovaniemi administrative and cultural center, Aalto center, is the only completed city center in Finland by Alvar Aalto, along with Seinäjoki.
The three buildings of the Aalto center – the library, Lappia Hall and the town hall – open like a fan shape towards the city center in a spacious park-like square. The library was the first to be completed in 1965. Lappia Hall was the last building that Alvar Aalto saw completed before his death. It was completed in two stages in 1972 and 1975. The design work of the town hall, completed in 1986, was led in Aalto’s office by his wife, architect Elissa Aalto.
The architectural highlights of the buildings are placed on the side of the square, where they form a spectacular entity. The upper windows of the library rise visibly from the rhythmically folded closed facade and bring natural light to the lending department. The upper parts of the stage halls of Lappia Hall rise like fells above the sleek facade line. In the town hall the council chamber has been formed like a crystalline tower, taller than the rest of the building.
In addition to the recognizable features of Aalto’s architecture, the buildings are bound together by the facade materials – light brick and ceramic tile. The materials for the interior of the buildings are well thought out, as are the furniture and lighting, which are partly from Artek’s collection, partly designed for the buildings by Aalto’s office.
The completion of the City Hall in 1986 completed Rovaniemi’s administrative and cultural center, the Aalto Center. Along with Seinäjoki, it is Alvar Aalto’s only completed civic center in Finland. The City Hall was designed based on Alvar Aalto’s sketches after his death under the direction of Elissa Aalto.
The building complex consists of several wings in different directions, which are dominated by the council hall with its sculptural tower part. In connection with the main entrance of the building, are the most important facilities of the town hall, such as the council hall, meeting rooms and the mayor’s room. In particular, the crystalline council hall stands out from the building complex as a tower higher than the rest of the building.
Like in the other buildings of Aalto Center, the interior of the City Hall consists, for example, of Lapland marble and natural-colored wood. The City Hall’s furniture and lighting are partly Artek’s production and partly designed for the building by Aalto’s office.
Kain Tapper’s environmental artwork “Birth of the Mountains” was placed in the square of the Aalto Center after the completion of the town hall in 1988.
Rovaniemi City Hall is closed for the time being due to renovations that are scheduled to be completed in 2026.
This seven-night tour allows you to discover the top cultural sights in Western Finland. You can begin your tour from Turku or Vaasa as both towns are connected to Sweden by car ferry (Viking Line, Tallink Silja or Wasaline). You may head in either direction and take the tour throughout the year. You can manage the duration and route according to your own timetable.
Alvar Aalto Grand Tour – the tour name tells it all as this is the most comprehensive Alvar Aalto tour available, offering an unparalleled opportunity to explore the architectural masterpieces of Finland’s most renowned modernist. Over the course of this journey, you’ll experience the full breadth of Aalto’s visionary work — from his early classicism to his groundbreaking functionalist designs and organic modernism.
The tour takes you from the vibrant capital of Helsinki to the historic city of Turku, through the picturesque Finnish Lakeland in Jyväskylä, and into the heart of the countryside, where Aalto’s architecture blends seamlessly with the surrounding nature. Each stop immerses you in Aalto’s world, revealing how he shaped Finland’s built environment and left a lasting impact on global architecture.
Tour dates: 4th – 11th August 2025 Price: from €2445 per person Contact:
During this day tour you will learn about the history of Finnish aviation and get to admire a special Aalto destination in Vantaa. The Aviation Museum offers a lot to see and experience for both aviation enthusiasts and novices, and is ideal for a family trip. The museum displays approximately 70 aircrafts from different eras, as well as many other aviation-related artefacts such as engines and scale models. Visitors can get acquainted with travel, hobby and military Finnish aviation by touring the two large permanent exhibition halls and a third hall for changing exhibitions.
The architecturally significant terraced house complex Aerola, designed by Alvar Aalto, is also located in Vantaa, within the Veromies neighbourhood, and it is strongly linked to the history of the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. The terraced houses were designed as apartments for the employees of Finnair’s predecessor Aero Oy, and they were built on Pyhtäänkorventie street during 1953–1955. Aerola’s terraced houses are also the only buildings designed by Aalto that are situated in Vantaa, and they are a valuable part of the city’s cultural heritage.
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