Helsinki Archipelago RIB Boat Tour: 90-min Speed Cruise

Glide past Suomenlinna’s sea fortress and summer-resting icebreakers on open water

A 90-minute guided RIB boat tour departs from Café Marina Bay and cruises Helsinki's coastline and archipelago, combining city sights with high-speed open-water runs. The route passes Market Square, Kaivopuisto, Löyly, Vallisaari, and Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, a UNESCO site, while your guide points out Submarine Vesikko, the Kruunuvuorensilta bridge, and Finland's icebreaker fleet moored for summer. All protective equipment is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Helsinki city and archipelago boat tour

• Depart from Redrib Hub at Café Marina Bay
• Cruise past Market Square and waterfront
• Pass Kaivopuisto seaside park and cafés
• Pass Löyly sauna and architecture landmark
• Cruise past Vallisaari island in archipelago
• See Suomenlinna Sea Fortress and hear history
• View Submarine Vesikko from the water
• Cruise beneath Kruunuvuorensilta bridge
• See icebreaker fleet moored at Katajanokka
• Return to Redrib Hub

The experience

Want to see Helsinki's waterfront and archipelago without spending a full day on the water? This tour trades the slow pace of a traditional sightseeing boat for a RIB: a rigid inflatable that accelerates into open water and lets you feel the speed. You start at Redrib Hub at Café Marina Bay and follow the city's edge past Market Square and the waterfront cafés of Kaivopuisto, then cruise along Löyly, a landmark sauna and architecture site built right on the shore. The guide narrates as you move, so the landmarks register as you pass them rather than as stops.

Once past the city, the boat heads into the archipelago toward Vallisaari, a historic island ringed by coastal fortifications, and then alongside Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site where your guide explains its maritime history. You'll see Submarine Vesikko from the water (a restored Finnish submarine that sits beside the fortress), and pass under the striking Kruunuvuorensilta bridge that connects the city centre to the eastern archipelago. The final leg swings back toward Katajanokka to show you Finland's icebreaker fleet, a powerful row of ships moored in the harbor during their summer break. The whole circuit takes 90 minutes and includes stretches of open water where the RIB's speed becomes the point.

All passenger equipment is provided: floatation suits or jackets, floatation vests, speed goggles, and hats and gloves when needed. The skipper and local guide speak English and Finnish. Children from age 6 are welcome on board.

What’s included

• Professional skipper and local guide in English or Finnish.
• floatation suits or jackets, floatation vests, speed goggles, hats and gloves.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDepartures at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Finnish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by REDRIB EXPERIENCE OY LTD

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Helsinki's waterfront and archipelago in a single morning or afternoon without a full-day commitment, and you're comfortable with the motion and speed of a RIB boat on open water. The 90-minute format fits between other city plans. The speed is what makes the archipelago feel immediate rather than distant.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Finnish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Suomenlinna Sea Fortress and why does the tour go there?

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Helsinki's most important historic landmarks, built on an island in the archipelago. The tour cruises alongside it so you can see the fortifications from the water while your guide shares its maritime history. You also spot Submarine Vesikko, a restored Finnish naval submarine, moored at the site.

Is this tour the same as a regular sightseeing boat, or is the RIB different?

A RIB is a rigid inflatable boat built for speed and agility on open water, very different from a traditional tour boat. After you pass the city sights, the tour includes high-speed runs across the archipelago, so you experience the acceleration and feel of the boat itself as part of the tour, not just the views.

Do I need to bring my own life jacket or protective gear?

No. All safety equipment is provided, including floatation suits or jackets, floatation vests, speed goggles, and hats and gloves when needed, so you arrive and board ready to go.

Where does the tour depart from, and how do I get there?

The tour departs from Redrib Hub at Café Marina Bay in Helsinki. Public transportation options are available nearby, so you can reach the departure point by bus, tram, or metro depending on where you're staying in the city.