The archipelago route

One of the world´s oldest preserved beers has been analyzed in order to recreate the original recipe for reproduction. The Stallhagen brewery of Åland will produce the beer that will be launched in 2014.

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.

The snowy winters in recent years have made Åland a paradise for cross-country skiers. Elite skier Lennart Holmström guides you round the best trails. “Åland is a real gem when it comes to cross-country skiing. You get both easy and difficult ski trails, all in a naturally beautiful environment.”

Germundö – Åland’s biggest ski slope, is located in Saltvik, about 30 kilometres from Mariehamn. There is a lift, a cafe and two ski runs that are excellent for skiing, snowboarding and pulka.

In the middle of January 2013 the actual journey to Åland will become a bit more interesting. That’s when Viking Line’s new ship is being launched. The Viking Grace is raising the standard of spa, food and duty-free goods available to you when you travel from Stockholm or Turku. A part of visiting Åland is getting there ... and now getting there is becoming more luxurious, more beautiful and more green.

Would you like to try out an activity that is really different, one where it’s all about working together? A new curling centre is opening in Eckerö in Åland in spring/summer 2013. “It’s an excellent way for companies, groups of friends and school classes to build up a proper team spirit. And for professional curlers it’s an excellent training rink,” says Mari Wickström at Åland’s curling centre "Vianor curlingcenter".

Christmas in Åland is all about relaxing. There is nothing like a crisp white archipelago environment and silence to soothe and restore the spirit. And though many hotels and holiday villages are closed for the Christmas weekend, there are a few that stay open.

“A traditional Christmas buffet with an archipelago twist.” That sums up the Åland Christmas buffet, which draws inspiration from both Sweden and Finland. But smoked perch, pine tar marinated herring and shoemaker’s salmon (salted and pickled in brine or vinegar) are Åland dishes that give the Christmas buffet extra spice.