I enjoyed the tour about architecture very much! Emek really knows the architecture and the history of Helsinki and knows how to talk about it. Also his use of English language was very clear and easy to understand (at least for my ears) This was my first tour of this kind, I will consider doing another one in the next city I visit and I hope it will be as good as this one.

One of the best tours that I have ever done. Emek blended important Finnish cultural elements and contemporary practices into his takes on the development of architectural styles over the years in the center of Helsinki. He also answered our probing questions with personal insights. After the tour, I felt I had a better appreciation of a nation that stresses sustainability and inclusiveness, and of its aesthetics reflected in its architecture. Highly recommend it.

We had a wonderful time with Emek during this walking tour. He planed the trip in a super considerate way and walked us through the whole history of Finland and Helsinki. He also customized the tour based on our interests, answered every question we had and provided some very fun facts about Finnish language and their life style. I highly recommend the trip to everyone who’s visiting Helsinki. No matter how many times you have been here, you will still find some new interests in this experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Helsinki tram tour with our extremely knowledgeable guide, Emek. The tour was constructed cleverly to cover the main eras in Helsinki in a chronological order, and we got to see and learn a comprehensive cross-section of the history of the city. Emek made sure to include some scenic spots where we captured great photos. We booked a private tour with Emek, for a group consisting of American and Finnish visitors. Emek speaks perfect English and considered the background of the group by drawing connections between Helsinki and the US – which American influences can be seen in Helsinki, and how the architecture in Helsinki influenced some of the most well-known landmarks in America. For someone who lived in Helsinki for a decade, the tour was full of fascinating facts and historical depths I learned about for the first time! We highly recommend this tour with Emek, whether you're a local or a visitor wishing to get to know Helsinki with the best guide!

My husband and I had the best 6 hour walking tour. Lots of info and experiences were shared, and special destinations were explored!

Emek was a fantastic, knowledgeable guide. He took us to spots we would have never known about and answered all of our questions on Finland with ease. The tour was engaging, didactic, and uplifting. The city planning/ architectural perspective provided a fascinating lens. The endpoint (no spoilers) was our favorite part. Emek's thoughtfulness made the tour Unique.

My husband & I spent 10 days in Helsinki and the architecture tour by Ataman Tours was a trip highlight. Emek is a fantastic tour guide and helped us understand the Finnish culture too. We loved the Robert's coffee shop visit and went back days later to admire the inside of the building again while enjoying the fantastic gelato banana pudding and lemon pie flavors. We would have missed this gem and other great places had it not been for Emek. Ataman tours is a must do activity if you are visiting Helsinki. Highly recommend from someone who has taken many architectural tours.

Emek was an outstanding tour guide and it was a very enjoyable experience. I genuinely wanted to take him on all the rest of our adventures so we could continue learning through the rest of our trip. The tour was organized, insightful and inspiring. I highly recommend this be a part of your Helsinki experience!

Emek is so personable and knowledgeable about Helsinki and its history, and excited about its future - it’s hard not to get excited about it right along with him! It was a white-out snow day on our tour and he checked in with us throughout on our comfort and readiness, and adjusted the tour deftly to accommodate delayed trams, obscured views, and tough walks through the quickly piling snow. You will not regret learning about Helsinki and Finland on this fantastic tour with Emek!

Emek is highly knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. The tour was well thought out and easy to follow, and the pace was great. I highly recommend it. I enjoyed the historic context and cultural references, which made the architecture so much more meaningful.

-Paws down, the best way to have started our vacation.. Time spent with Emek! My mother, sister and I booked a tour with Emek on Friday (9/23/2022) for the 10am tour and ended up being lucky enough to have Emek to ourselves. It was our first full day in Helsinki and we wanted to get to know the area before exploring more on our own and it was well worth it; Emek has vast knowledge of just about anything and everything, in regards to Helsinki; it’s history, who’s who, it’s buildings and structures, the Finn way of life and knowledge of Finland as whole. (Amongst other things; pretty sure he’s a genius though because he’s absolutely brilliant and will not hesitate to roast you, with a few quips. And I approve!) Be sure to make him uncomfortable by tipping him at the end; as that is NOT the Finn thing to do. He’ll most likely insist on declining.. but I prevailed. Success! (And worth it.) Kippis to Emek and for making the first day of our girls trip one to remember!

I've done the tour twice already and it was always a pleasure to listen to Emek talk about the history, the architecture and the special features of this beautiful city which is Helsinki. You can literally feel how much he loves the city and how much he enjoys bringing it closer to visitors by giving them a broad overview but also not holding back details and funny anecdotes. Undoubtedly the best Helsinki tour guide you can find!

A fabulous experience thanks to Emek. I was only in Helsinki for less than 24 hours so getting what was essentially a private tour was a real treat. Emek showed me things I would never have found on my own. Highlights included the Lutheran and Orthodox Cathedrals and an absolutely remarkable central library. I always knew I would like Helsinki but now I *love* thanks to his fabulous tour. Highly recommended!

If you want to see, hear history and nice stories about Helsinki, choose this! Nice guide, a lot of knowledge and humor. It was perfect day for me and my 2 boys.

Emek gave a wonderful tour of downtown Helsinki, providing history, insight and sharing personal stories that made the area come to life. I would not have seen the library without this tour and it is amazing! The 3 hours flew by. I highly recommend this experience!

I highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Helsinki. Emek is a wonderful guide and is very knowledgeable about all things Finland/Helsinki. His tour was the highlight of our trip!

This was a great tour. Our guide explained the history of Finland and Helsinki by taking us on a tour through the city and describing the purpose and architectural style of it's iconic buildings. It was very informative, but also fun and entertaining. Highly recommended!

Emek Ataman was the perfect tour guide! I highly recommend him. He is very knowledgeable and friendly. We had a ton of questions for him and he was happy to answer. We were a little nervous about the public transportation and he was so helpful and made sure we knew exactly how to get back to our ship. Schedule a tour with Emek, it’s worth every penny!

Me and my daughter did the tram tour. The guide was very knowledgeable, made us visit some what more exotic areas and gave us good recommendations for our further stay. I can recommend this tour.

Emek's knowledge and grasp of his subject matter was breathtaking - he provides a fascinating insight into Finland's political and architectural heritage, complete with live video footage in the course of a compact one hour presentation. This is an online tour that I thoroughly enjoyed.

That was the perfect tram tour! Emek was so friendly and nice, he told us a lot about districts, houses, places we were in. He also answered our questions and gave us useful tips. I highly recommend this experience, it's really enjoyable!

We had a very nice tour with Emek in Helsinki. Good interaction, lots of background information. Giving us a good picture of Helsinki today while placing that in a historical context. Architecture presented in a way we would never have discovered.

If you want a deeper understanding of how such a great city works, this is the tour for you. You can customize it to your particular interest. Great fun!

Emek is the perfect guide for curious travelers: deeply knowledgeable about Helsinki and its history; trained as an urban planner and therefore finely attuned to how architecture and space shape or reflect political and social ideas; and entertaining and engaging! Emek was already ready for us when we arrived at the gourmet coffee shop that he suggested as a meeting place. From there, he started early and took us on a historical adventure that we loved, starting at the old town square and ending at the gorgeous new-ish library ion the north end of Helsinki. We strongly and happily recommend touring with Ataman!

Emek’s tour of Helsinki was wonderful. I learned so much! He has a really interesting perspective and is so knowledgeable about Finnish culture, history, and customs. Highly recommend!

If you're only taking one tour in Helsinki, this is the one you want to take. Emek is incredibly knowledgeable and delighted to share his deep understanding of the city's architecture, main attractions, history, and cultural evolution. Even though it was quite chilly, Emek made time for some thoughtful and well-timed breaks inside to warm up and keep learning about this incredible city. 💛

This was the best tour of our whole vacation. Emek was the perfect guide. He shared his knowledge of Finland easily and confidently. He also acknowledged what he did not know, which I found refreshing. He perspective as a city planner added another layer of insight to the tour. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Emek. He made Helsinki come alive, which put it on our list of places to return to on another trip.

We had an interesting walk with Ataman Tours. Emek is an inspiring, professional and very knowleable guide. We got to know many facets of Helsinki in addition to facts about its architecture. His enthusiasm is contageous and we think we found the best guide for us.

Emek gave me a fantastic tour of inner Helsinki. His knowledge was broad on all things Finnish, macro economics to past Tzar influences. A true gentlemen of his adopted Helsinki. If you want to experience and learn about finland through the lense of Helsinki, this is the guide for the task! I only wish I could do it again.

Emek is a fantastic guide. He is able to give a context to Finnish history, culture, architecture and city planning that is both entertaining, thorough and easily understandable. And he clearly enjoys telling about it and answering all possible questions. If only do one thing in Helsinki this is the tour to do.