University Portrait Collection

An art-historical guided tour introduces the portrait collection housed in the main building of the University of Helsinki. The guides are art history students from the university, and the tours are organized by the Faculty of Humanities as part of a summer series of 13 tours.

The University of Helsinki's portrait collection is Finland's largest. It contains works by leading Finnish artists and has grown from the 17th century to the present day. Most of the original collection was destroyed in the Turku fire of 1827, so the majority of today's collection dates from the periods that followed. The collection is part of the Science Museum Liekki's holdings.

Tours are held on 7.8., 13.8., and 21.8.2026 from 11.00 to 12.00. The meeting point is the vestibule/foyer on the old side of the main building, Unioninkatu 34 - please arrive 5-10 minutes before the start. Admission is free and no advance registration is required. The tour is conducted in Finnish and takes place regardless of weather.

The tour is accessible: there are two flights of stairs, but an elevator is available, and the indoor walking distance is approximately 200 m. All summer tours: https://www.facebook.com/TaidehistoriallisetKavelykierrokset