Did you know this about Åland?

That travelling on the town bus in Mariehamn is free? There are four routes: A, B, C and D.

That 23% of Åland's electricity comes from wind power? The proportion is increasing all the time. Today there are 22 wind turbines but the numbers are growing. 

That there are 912 km of public rights of way in Åland? 30 bridges? And with 8 local ferry connections between the islands, you can spend days going round the whole of Åland.

That there is a vineyard in Åland? That there isn't a single McDonald's (but plenty of other hamburger restaurants and good food)?

That Swedish is the language spoken in Åland even though it is situated in Finland? But most people can speak English as well. 

After a lively debate in 1953 Åland voted to fly its own flag. There were many proposals for the flag. Can you see the one that won? (Compare your guess with VisitÅland's logo at the top left of this website.)

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5 things you must experience in Åland

You mustn't miss Mariehamn on your trip - the islands' capital which was named for a Russian tsarina. The shipping town that is full of memories of voyages on the seven seas. Here you can go on to the museum ship Pommern, smell the tar and get a real feel for the hard life at sea. Wander along idyllic small town streets, look at local art and crafts and go and have a coffee.

Or for the completely opposite experience, take an archipelago ferry to one of the 8 inhabited islands in the northern or southern archipelago. Experience a tiny village community, a little world in itself. Kökar is a good example. It has traces of a medieval ruined abbey to fire the imagination. 

You'll find more history at Kastelholm, the large 16th century castle in the middle of Åland's main island. Gustav Vasa built the stronghold at a time when Åland lay in the middle of Sweden, strategically alongside the east-west route through the realm. Right by Kastelholm there are two truly fine 18-hole golf courses. 

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Mariehamn

Mariehamn is a large small town with its 11.000 inhabitants. The town centre has much to offer in a small space; you are always near shopping, restaurants, culture and experiences.

Mariehamn is situated on a narrow peninsula in between two sea bays and the harbours Västerhamn and Österhamn. You arrive to the western harbour by means of one of the great passenger ferries from Stockholm, Kapellskär, Helsinki, Turku or Tallinn. This is also the location of the guest harbour ÅSS if you arrive by your own boat. You may also choose the eastern harbour’s marina, MSF.

For a town the size of Mariehamn, the service and supply of restaurants, hotels, bars, museums and shops, is great. With its 1.5 million tourists each year, the town feels more spacious and larger than many other towns of the same size.

Mariehamn is also called “the town of the thousand Linden trees”, refering to the Linden trees which line an avenue across town.

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16 municipalities – 46 sights

Here you'll find tips and information about nature and sights in the 16 municipalities of Åland - in town, in the countryside and in the archipelago.

Mariehamn
The town of a thousand Linden trees, Mariehamn, is the only town in Åland with approx. 11 000 inhabitants. Mariehamn is close to the sea, there is just two kilometres between the west and the east harbour. The eastern harbour, Österhamn, has the greatest small boat harbour in the Nordic countries. The Museum ship Pommern is located in the western harbour, Västerhamn.

Mariehamn is a small town but it holds almost everything. The town livens up in the summer but most shops, restaurants and cafés are available year round.

Visit one of Mariehamn's many museums: The Mariehamn's gallery, the Museum ship Pommern, The Åland's Museum, The Åland Art Museum, The Maritime Museum (temporarly closed 2010) or stroll around in the Maritime Quarters near the adventure spa Mariebad, suitable for young and old alike.

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The conference and group tour leads to Åland

Åland is the perfect destination for conference and group tours. Here are excellent premises for meetings and much to see and experience in the form of activities, culture and sights.

It's also quick and convenient to travel to the island world from Sweden and Finland. The short boat ride or flight to Åland, also creates a feeling of really being abroad.

Travelling on Åland is easy because of its smallness. It's possible to experience much in a short time. You don't have to stay very long to see the best of what Åland has to offer.

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Sport fishing

The Åland archipelago is a varied seascape with many islands and skerries, fine sea bays and long coastlines with short distances between the inner and outer archipelago. In the waters surrounding Åland there are all kinds of fish, from pike, perch, pikeperch and whitefish to sea trout and salmon - this is why sport fishermen also enjoy Åland!

If you ask a sport fishing guide what he likes best about fishing in Åland, he'll reply: "The landscape is incredibly beautiful, you can fish all year round in different places and there is a lot of fish."

Sport fishing guides
If you want to get the most out of your fishing trip to Åland we recommend that you hire a sport fishing guide, at least the first day, if you choose to stay more than one day. The fishing guides know the fishing grounds and help you direct your fishing experience the right way. You are guaranteed to catch more fish and you'll get to see more of Åland.

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Sporting in Åland

Excellent sports halls in combination with great accommodations and good food, ensure successful sporting experiences in Åland. And of course it also feels good to get away from everyday life and exercise without stress. Large teams or small clubs - all enjoy Åland, no matter if it's practice or competition.

Book a new sporting experience
Contact the Åland travel organisers for further information about the establishments and possibilities for sporting in Åland. They offer tailored packages where everything is included - from accommodations, travel and meals to training times, local competitions, tournament registration and other fun activities.

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