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 or stroll around in
the Maritime Quarters near the adventure spa
Mariebad, suitable for young and old alike.
THE COUNTRYSIDE:
Eckerö
Eckerö,
Åland's tourist municipality, is best known for its red granite
bedrocks and lush groves. As a tourist you will find everything here.
There are approx. 900 inhabitants in Eckerö.
There are several museums in Eckerö:
Ålands Hunting- & Fishing museum,
Postrotemuséet and Labbas Homestead- and bank museum. At
the Mail & Custom's house in Eckerö there are exhibitions and crafts for sale.
Come along for an exciting Wildlife safari among deer, wild boars and ostriches or pay a visit to Jussis Keramik. In the municipality there are also possibilities for sport fishing and golf at
Eckerö Golf. From Sweden to Åland with
Eckerö Linjen is just two hours.
Finström
Finström
is placed in the centre of Åland and close to everything. The nature
offers many beautiful scenarios with alternatively red granite bedrock
and greenery. There are about 2300 inhabitants in Finström, of which
more than 800 live in central Godby.
Stop and have a cup of coffee at the café Uffe på Berget up on a hill, or visit
Tjudö Café and farm shop. From beautiful Färjsundsbron you have a wonderful view.
The Von Knorring museum is open in the summer with different themed exhibitions. You may also visit Kalle Glad's cottage.
Geta
Geta
is the northernmost municipality on the main island of Åland. A
welcoming farming countryside and lush groves are edged by foothills
with a view over Norrhavet. There are 465 persons living in Geta.
Soltuna restaurang & café
and lookout tower is situated at the top of grandiose Geta Bergen. From
here you may walk along Grottstigen (The Cave trail, 5 km) via the Geta
cave and down to the beautiful Djupviken, or bring the children along
for Trollstigen (The Troll trail, 1 km).
Dånö Homestead museum
is located to the beautiful island Dånö in the archipelago. This island
has a long time been a popular retreat for visiting artists.
Hammarland
Hammarland with its great nature is perfect for the biking tourist. About 1300 persons live here.
Begin with a visit to the old church and experience the fantastic environment around it. Don't forget to visit the Firebrigade museum.
Follow
the marked trail up to Sålis batteriberg. At the top you can enjoy the
great view across Norrhavet. From here it is close to Skarpnåtö Hembygdsgård
where many scenes from the film "Stormskärs-Maja" were recorded. The
film is based on the books about Stormskärs-Maja by Åland author Anni
Blomqvist.
From Skarpnåtö you may then take the bicycle ferry
M/S Silvana to Geta.
Jomala
Jomala is the biggest municipality of Åland with about 3500 inhabitants. The nature here is very varied.
Jomala
has a very interesting history. For example Jettböle holds one of the
Nordic countries most well known Stone Age grounds. There are hiking
trails at the nature reserves of Ramsholmen, Ingbybergen and the Kungsö
batteriberg with ruins from the First World War Russian battery.
Jomala also has Åland's possibly oldest stone church. Don't forget to visit the Mediveal house near the church and the Önningeby museum.
Lemland
Lemland
is a municipality with traces of cultural history from many centuries.
The nature offers all from smooth bedrocks and mountains with a
stunning view to flowering meadows. 1600 persons live in Lemland.
At Pellas
you can see how life was in the ship master's homestead in 1884. In
Lemböte there is a well-preserved ruin of a seafarer chapel from the
1200's.
Along a 10 km long row of islands, south of Mariehamn,
you'll reach the beautiful Järsö–Nåtö archipelago, the maybe most
beautiful part of Lemland. At the southernmost part of Lemland is
Herröskatan located with a great view over Åland's sea. At the brink of
the sea is the island group Rödhamn with a popular guest harbour.
Lumparland
Lumparland
is the smallest parish on the main island with just 350 inhabitants.
Picturesque meadows and fields alternate with forest, hills, bays and
shores. Enjoy a fantastic view from the tallest hill Lumpokasen. Don't
forget to visit the church of Lumparland, the oldest wooden church in
Åland.
Lumparland is connected to several of the archipelago
municipalities, Sweden and Finnish mainland by means of the ferry
harbour in Långnäs. Read more at Ålandstrafiken's webpages.
Saltvik
“Hills,
golden fields and salty bays”. Saltvik is the northern municipality
with 1750 inhabitants. Åland's highest point is at Orrdalsklint in
Saltvik.
A visit to Saltvik takes you far back in time. In
this municipality you'll find for example the Boxö fortress ruin and the Borgboda anicient monument area
with remnants of a fortress that was built in the Viking ages. A Viking
market is arranged in the summer; a festive event for the whole family.
The church of Saltvik used to be the main church on Åland.
Sund
Sund is a district rich in cultural history. This is where the medieval courts had their rulings at the castle of Kastelholm. The municipality has about 1000 inhabitants.
The prison museum Vita Björn
and the open air museum Jan Karlsgården, with its collection of old
buildings from around Åland, are nearby the castle. Markets and
cultural events are arranged here. The old mail route takes its course
through Sund and ends in Bomarsund - one of Åland's most exciting
sights. Close by is Jan Karlsgårdens Wärdshus.
The castle, the mail route, the fortress ruins and
ancient burial grounds from the Iron ages combined, make up the
foremost sights of Åland.
You can also play golf at old royal hunting grounds at the Åland's Golfclub. In the summer the Gustav Vasa days are arranged at the castle of Kastelholm.
THE ARCHIPELAGO:
Brändö
Visit the municipality with a thousand islands and skerries. Brändö
is the longest parish with roughly 500 inhabitants at 10 islands. The islands offer exquisite nature experiences in a quiet and secluded
environment. You go to Brändö by means of ferry from Hummelvik, Vårdö.
Read more at Ålandstrafiken's webpages.
Visit the beautiful Brändö church and the Archipelago museum in Lappo.
Föglö
Föglö
is a genuine archipelago municipality that is within easy reach. 600
persons live here year round, most of them in central Degerby where
there is a good selection of restaurants and cafés in the summertime.
Travel to Föglö with the ferry from Svinö, Lumparland. Read more at Ålandstrafiken's webpages.
Make a visit to the Maria Magdalena church, one of Åland's oldest medieval churches, or take a look at the exhibition at the Föglö museum in the summertime. Or why not paddle among hundreds of islands and skerries!
Kumlinge
Experience
the wilderness at sea. Truly a vacation paradise! Angle for perch from
the jetty or go for a seal-safari. The municipality has 400 inhabitants
on four islands; Kumlinge, Enklinge, Seglinge and Björkö. Go to Kumlinge by ferry from Hummelvik in Vårdö or Långnäs in Lumparland. Read more at Ålandstrafiken's webpages.
At the museum farmstead Hermas you can experience archipelago living as it used to be and at Sjölund's Homestead museum
there is an old barn with utility articles and tools. The beautiful Sta
Anna's church is also well worth a visit. At Seglinge there are rock
formations from the ice age.
Each summer Kumlinge's own song festival, Visor så in i Norden, is arranged.
Kökar
Make
a visit to the outermost archipelago with its splendid nature. Kökar is
the southernmost municipality of Åland and 300 persons live here.
Travel to Kökar with the ferry from Långnäs in Lumparland. Read more at
Ålandstrafiken's webpages.
The
most well known tourist attraction at Kökar is the island Källskär
where the ice age has left traces in the nature. Visit the Otterböte
Bronze Age grounds or walk among ruins from war times at Kökar's
longest (7 km's) and most beautiful hiking trail. You'll also have time
to visit Kökar's own homestead museum or the Monastery cellar/Franciscan chapel.
Sottunga
Sottunga
is Åland's and Finland's smallest municipality with only 130
inhabitants. Travel here with the ferry from Långnäs, Lumparland. Read
more at Ålandstrafiken's webpages.
The
landscape is harsh in the north, south and west, with bedrocks worn
smooth and tall cliffs. In the east there are bays and lush greenery.
Sottunga is known for its unique and large hazelnut tree forests.
There
are three hiking trails with information signs at Sottunga. The finest
sight is the small wooden church. Make sure to also visit the homestead
museum "the old school".
Vårdö
"The enchanting island". Vårdö
is a municipality with varying nature, from lush meadows at the main
island to harsh skerries far out in the Norrhavet. Vårdö is the
archipelago municipality that is the closest to the main island and it
has a long time been an important link when it comes to the connection
between Sweden and Finland. About 400 persons live here.
A
cable ferry brings you from Prästö in Sund to Töftö in Vårdö. You can
travel from Hummelvik in Vårdö to the islands Brändö or Kumlinge. Read
more at Ålandstrafiken's webpages.
Seffer's Homestead museum in Lövö is preserved in a timely manner and the School museum of Åland is located to an old school from the 1800's. At Sandösunds Camping you can rent bicycles and kayaks or canoes.