14 pieces of news from Åland
Åland is an island that is constantly developing. There are plenty of activities awaiting you when you come here this summer. This page has 14 pieces of news for you. Which will you be most keen to experience?
Enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise
The restaurant cruiser Sunnan II tours the Åland archipelago starting in May 2020. The menu highlights local ingredients in season. Step on board the Sunnan II and you’ll experience sights like the castle of Kastelholm from a unique perspective. Sunnan II was built as a steamboat in 1906, and in the beginning it sailed in the lake Saimen, the biggest lake in Finland.
Stay at a cozy guest house
In 2020 the Kvarnbo guest house celebrates 100 years. During the autumn they open a small tasting room next door, called Vinsmedjan. This will become a place where guests can enjoy wine tastings, music and culture.
Experience the Åland disc golf paradise
Have you ever tried disc golf? It’s a fun sport that suits the whole family, and there are several courses on the Åland Islands, e.g. in Mariehamn, Geta and on the islands of Lappo and Seglinge.
Each of Åland’s 16 municipalities will soon have a 9- or 18-hole disc golf course. This means that the Åland Islands are to become world’s largest disc golf park and the most disc golf dense area in the world. Several courses are ready for players and most of the 16 courses are expected to be opened by 25 July 2020. You can bring your own discs, borrow a set from Visit Åland’s tourist information (Storagatan 8) or buy a new set at some of the stores on Åland. Find out more about the Åland frisbee golf paradise at www.discgolf.ax.
Visit the old shipowner’s villa in Föglö
The beautiful old shipowner’s villa Carlsro, located in Degerby on the island of Föglö, is being rebuilt to become a hotel in the future. During 2020 the owners will open a café, restaurant and a deli in the historically interesting building from 1912.
Try your luck at Slottsbanan
Åland is a well-known and very popular golf destination on the Baltic Sea. There are several golf courses – and all the challenges a golfer could wish for. Åland Golf Club’s completely renovated park-like Castle Course, Slottsbanan, was re-opened on 5 July 2020. The modern 18-hole course, designed by the golf course architect Philip Spogárd, is expected to become one of Europe’s top courses. It will be even more fun to play the Slottsbanan course now that the greens have been improved and the view over the sea bay and Kastelholm Castle is even better.
Eckerö Golf, located in the western part of the main island Åland, celebrates this year its 25th anniversary, and to celebrate the anniversary, a new practice area for short-range training has been completed. Thanks to the short distances in Åland, you can play both courses during the same day. Read more about the Åland golf courses.
Taste a gin from Åland
A new distillery called Åland Distillery opens in Jan Karlsgårdens Wärdshus in Kastelholm on 3 July 2020. The first products to be launched are a tasty gin, long drink and snaps. Åland Distillery, which was initially called Slottsdestilleriet, is a collaboration between Smakbyn, Stallhagen and Silverskär.
See Bomarsund in a new light
Download the Coastal Past app for Iphone or Android and experience Bomarsund in a whole new way. Stroll around the fortress area and read, listen and look at the app to learn about the history of your surroundings.
Stay at a Design Hotel
Have a comfortable stay at the Hotel Svala, a unique Design Hotel on the archipelago island of Kumlinge. The new owner has created accommodation decorated in a minimalistic style in a building that was set up as a hospital in 1931 and has been a hotel since 1971.
Test your limits at the Flowpark
Challenge yourself and your friends in the adventure park at Sandösunds Camping on Vårdö. Flowpark in Åland was completed before the high season 2019. The park has three levels of difficulty and the easiest one is suitable for anyone over the age of ten.
Experience Dinner in the Sea 
Have dinner on a little islet out at sea. Rundbergs Stugor & Event offers the concept of Dinner in the Sea, a unique event where you and your friends are served delicacies by Åland’s artisan food producers on a beautifully laid table with the sea lapping all around you. Read more about this unique archipelago experience.
Book a Bed & Box
Take your horse with you on holiday! Granlunda Gård offers the Bed & Box accommodation solution whereby your horse is stabled in a roomy new box while you get to sleep comfortably in the environmentally certified farm hotel.
Sail across the oceans of the world
Experience the ship Pommern in a completely new way. The unique visitor experience “Pommern – 100 days under sail”, that was launched in 2019, takes you on a fictional journey across the oceans of the world. Learn about maritime history and life on board in the 1930s.
Go on a boat trip
Go on a seal safari, visit Märket Lighthouse or experience the rich bird life on Signilskär. The new boat transport company Sefyr organises fantastic excursions to Åland’s western archipelago. You can have a totally unique archipelago adventure tailored to your personal wishes and interests by the experienced boat-master Fredrik.
Try out the racket sport padel
Try out padel, the trendy and fun racket sport, at Tennisklubben MLK. They have opened a new padel and minitennis court ahead of the summer of 2019 where you can try out the racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. Padel is usually played in doubles using all the walls around the court. Take your friends with you and book a court – you can hire a racket from MLK.