This year's Met-season with digital opera performances from the Metropolitan in New York starts with Donizetti's opera Maria Stuarda. The performances at Mariehamn Town Hall start with a 30-minute introduction and the opera bar is opened one hour before the performance. Now you can combine a weekend in Mariehamn with opera of the highest calibre.

Celebrate Christmas twice this year. In Åland Lillajul (“Little Christmas”) is celebrated on the Saturday before the first day of Advent. Lillajul is an old Åland tradition that is celebrated with a small Christmas tree, some good food and little presents for the children. For many Ålander families the celebrations include a visit to the Lillajulmarknaden (“Little Christmas” market) at Jan Karlsgården.

Arrange your next conference at Åland’s newly refurbished Maritime Museum. The auditorium is perfect for meetings and during the breaks you can learn more about shipping from the museum’s interactive stations. For example, you can have a go at navigating a large ship or at keeping your balance on the main mast of a lurching ship.

Jeremy Duns is already a recognised author in England. With his new book “The Moscow Option” he hopes to be able to win over Ålander hearts as well. For the most part, the story in this thrilling crime novel takes place in little Degerby in Åland.

Since 2000, on an annual basis, Åland’s likeable chamber music festival has been welcoming chamber music lovers from near and far to enjoy beautiful music, charming surroundings and the delightful summer.

One of Europe’s largest Viking markets will be taking place from 26 to 28 July 2012. The Fibula Association is responsible for its success. Their programme includes various things: they organise summer camps for children, banquets and parties, run courses and are also building a Viking ship.

Treat the children to a day excursion to Åland this summer! Two hours on the morning ferry from Grisslehamn get you to Eckerö in western Åland. That leaves you with five hours for playing, swimming and snacks before the evening ferry. This year there are even more things to do here. A good starting point is the Hunting and Fishing Museum.

What five items can Åland offer in terms of world-class sights? Things that an international audience can only experience here? We ask a few experts in Åland’s past. The many wrecks generally, and especially the champagne wreck, get a mention. It’s possibly more surprising that the cultural landscape and a certain little farm should end up on the list.