Discover everything that is unique about Åland
There is a lot to see and discover on Åland. Exciting archipelago nature with thousands of islands, historical sights, local cuisine and handcrafts, museums, and hiking trails. There are 60 authorized tour guides on Åland who will help you find your way around the region and we will be happy to give you tours of the places which make our island province unique. Åland Guides can offer tours in 10 different languages: Swedish, Finnish, Danish, German, English, French, Spanish, Lithuanian, Polish, and Russian.
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Maritime walk in Mariehamn
Join us for a 1.5-hour-walk through Mariehamn where we focus on shipping and other maritime features of Mariehamn. We walk along one of the longest linden avenues in Scandinavia,
Åland
Åland has just over 30,000 inhabitants. Geographically located between Finland and Sweden, Åland is easily accessible by ferry or by airplane. We have just over 6,700 islands and plenty of space for everyone who wants to come here. Åland is monolingually Swedish-speaking and approximately 87% of Åland’s population has Swedish as a native language. A high level of immigration over the past 20–30 years from around the world has created an international atmosphere on Åland and today just over 60 languages are spoken here. Åland is part of Finland and has been autonomous since 1921, with its own parliament. Åland has been demilitarized since the Treaty of Paris in 1856 and neutral since 1921. Åland has 16 different municipalities. The municipality with the smallest population is Sottunga in the east archipelago, with roughly 115 inhabitants, while Mariehamn is the largest, with nearly 12,000 inhabitants.
Mariehamn
Mariehamn is Åland’s only town. It is a small and pleasant town where it’s easy to find your way around. Despite Mariehamn’s small size, there is a lot to see and do here. In the West Harbour, you can visit Åland Maritime Museum, which is known worldwide. Just behind the museum is the four-masted barque Pommern, which nowadays is joined to the Maritime Museum by a bridge. Pommern has been floating at its dock since May 2019, framed by a big, wooden deck. You can walk from the West Harbour to the East Harbour along the linden tree esplanade or along the street running parallel to it, Södragatan, which is lined with beautiful wooden houses from the turn of the last century. If you have time, you can visit Badhusberget, a look-out point from which you can look out over the town, which was built on a long, narrow cape. You will get a feeling for the archipelago nature if you go south along Järsövägen. There you will be able to see a variety of seabirds and rare plants, including orchids. If you would rather stay in Mariehamn’s town centre, you can stroll through the small streets, walk by Åland’s parliament building and maybe visit Åland Museum. If you would like to take a slightly longer walk, the maritime quarter, or Sjökvarteret in the East Harbour, is worth a visit. There you will find a lively maritime environment, with boat-building, blacksmithing and other handcrafts, as well as a harbour for traditional yawls and wooden boats.
Mariehamn
Mariehamn is Åland’s only town. It is a small and pleasant town where it’s easy to find your way around. Despite Mariehamn’s small size, there is a lot to see and do here. In the West Harbour, you can visit Åland Maritime Museum, which is known worldwide. Just behind the museum is the four-masted barque Pommern, which nowadays is joined to the Maritime Museum by a bridge. Pommern has been floating at its dock since May 2019, framed by a big, wooden deck. You can walk from the West Harbour to the East Harbour along the linden tree esplanade or along the street running parallel to it, Södragatan, which is lined with beautiful wooden houses from the turn of the last century. If you have time, you can visit Badhusberget, a look-out point from which you can look out over the town, which was built on a long, narrow cape. You will get a feeling for the archipelago nature if you go south along Järsövägen. There you will be able to see a variety of seabirds and rare plants, including orchids. If you would rather stay in Mariehamn’s town centre, you can stroll through the small streets, walk by Åland’s parliament building and maybe visit Åland Museum. If you would like to take a slightly longer walk, the maritime quarter, or Sjökvarteret in the East Harbour, is worth a visit. There you will find a lively maritime environment, with boat-building, blacksmithing and other handcrafts, as well as a harbour for traditional yawls and wooden boats.
See more of Åland!
Take a day trip to historical Sund!
The municipality of Sund, which is located in the northeast of the main Åland island, is like Åland’s cradle of culture. The area is home to many of the most significant sights in the province. Sund has the medieval Kastelholm Castle, which was first mentioned in historical writings in 1388. During the time of the Swedish Empire, in the 16th century, the castle and its royal estates flourished. Not far from Kastelholm Castle is the Jan Karlsgården Open-air Museum, which is filled with Ålandic traditions and will give you an idea of what an Ålandic farm might have been like at the end of the 19th century. Roughly 20 different buildings have been moved there from different areas of Åland. Right next to Jan Karlsgården Open-air Museum is a very special museum--the prison museum Vita Björn. Vita Björn was built in 1784 and was in operation both as a jail and a prison until 1975. The building is the oldest of its kind in Finland.
Bomarsund Fortress
Åland and Finland became part of the Russian tsarist empire after the war in 1808–09 which Sweden lost. Åland thus became Russia’s western-most outpost and the Russians therefore wanted to build a massive fortress which would protect the tsarist empire from enemies. The fortress was built in Bomarsund next to the bay of Lumparn. Construction was started in 1832. The plan was for it to become an incredibly beautiful fortress, but it was never finished. After 22 years of building, Russia went to war with France and England. The half-finished fortress was captured in August of 1854 by French and Brittish troops and after four days of fighting, Russia lost. The Battle of Bomarsund, as it is called, was part of the Crimean War, which lasted for a significantly longer time. About two weeks after the Russians surrendered at Bomarsund, the fortress was blown up and that is why today we only see ruins of what once was to be the jewel in the crown of the Russian tsar. Two years after the war in Bomarsund, peace was negotiated in Paris and it was decided that Åland would be demilitarized.
Medieval churches
There are a total of 12 medieval stone churches on Åland. Several of them were built between the 13th and 14th centuries and all of them are in good condition. Several of the churches have beautiful paintings on the walls and arches, among them, for example, the churches in Finström and Kumlinge.
Eckerö Mail & Customs House
The Eckerö Mail & Customs House was completed in 1828 and, together with Bomarsund Fortress, represents the Russian era in Finland and on Åland. The Russian tsar, Nikolai I, wanted to build a powerful outpost to the West, which would house postal and customs operations. The building was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel and is considered by architectural historians to be one of Engel’s most important secular buildings. Today, the Eckerö Mail & Customs House is an important part of Åland’s cultural heritage and interesting exhibits are arranged here every summer.
The archipelago
Approximately 2,000 people are living in 6 different municipalities in the Ålandic archipelago. To get out into the archipelago, you have to take an archipelago ferry--sometimes even two ferries are needed for one trip. For example, if you want to visit the home of author Anni Blomqvist on Simskäla in Vårdö, you need to take two ferries. Of all of Åland’s stone churches, Kumlinge’s church has the most well-preserved frescos and is worth a visit. Kökar’s church, with its monastery ruins, and Otterböte Bronze Age settlement are also worth visiting. Would you be interested in a short visit in the Ålandic archipelago? If so, we can recommend a day-excursion to Föglö, which is easily accessible. It only takes half an hour to get from Svinö in Lumparland to Degerby in Föglö by ferry.
Nature & Culture
On Åland you can find a surprising world of plants and birds, depending upon the season. The Ålandic red granite, rapakivi granite, which adorns the landscape is also a big attraction. For example, in Geta, the last ice age formed steep cliffs and caves in the bedrock, which has become a big tourist attraction. It is especially interesting in summer to travel around on Åland and look at the Midsummer maypoles. You can go anywhere on Åland and learn about Ålandic handcrafts, art and food culture. For example, why not try a loaf of Ålandic black bread or Ålandic pizza (known as “plåtbröd”)? Last, but not least, you simply must try Ålandic pancakes with prune sauce and whipped cream!
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Åland Guides know where all of the best spots are. Let us help you explore our Åland and the places that make our islands unique.
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