Åland Travel Magazine 2023 ENG

CONTENT

Åland – with power from nature 3 Åland lives day and night 6

Entertainment and shopping in Lilla Torgetits own little world 8

The island realm of Åland – from island to island by archipelago ferry 13

Unique gems to explore in one of the world’s most beautiful archipelagos 14

Guests are the focus at Rödhamn harbour 17

Visit a lighthouse far out to sea 19 Out in nature 22

Active holidays among the thousands of islands 25

World-class golf next to the sea 29

From powerful pike to the challenging sea trout 31

Winter activities- get your blood pumping in a winter landscape 35

Nature’s own outdoor gym - a challenge with natural obstacles 36

Numerous sports halls and plenty of free time 39

In the footsteps of the Ålanders, from the Stone Age to today 40

Cultural history gems - at museums and in everyday life 42

From handicrafts to artistic creativity 47

An adventure on the sea, while still safe at the quay 50

Wonderful summer days 52

Holiday memories for the whole family 54

Maritime Quarter – a quiet quarter full of life 57

Åland favourites – 5 tips! 59

What appeals most to you? 60

From spring festivals to autumn delights 65 Åland – a place to meet 68

Book a dream stay 75 Getting to Åland 79 Maps 80

Welcome to experience all seasons of Åland

ÅLAND IS GENERALLY KNOWN as a summer holiday destination with a peak in July. However, the islands have a lot to offer all year round. In Åland all seasons are charming in their own special way.

EXPLORE ÅLAND IN SPRING when thousands of wood anemones fill the groves and you can feel the flavour of tar as wooden boats are to be fixed for the new season. Relax on the sun warmed rocks by the water and enjoy dark evenings in August. Recharge hiking along serene nature trails in autumn. Feel the Christmas spirit on genuine Christmas markets in December and start dreaming of a new year full of new Åland experiences.

MORE PEOPLE TRAVELLING BEYOND the high season support the destination but it will gain you as well. First of all, you’ll see more of genuine archipelago life and experience it like a local. Secondly, there’s more space for you to discover the hidden gems. And finally, when you take a break from your everyday life every now and then you can enjoy a holiday more often.

WELCOME TO ÅLAND! We hope to meet you in spring and we’d love to meet you again in July. And hopefully, we can share a glögg at a Christmas market as well.

Lotta Berner-Sjölund CEO, Visit Åland

PUBLISHER, PRODUCTION & ADVERTISEMENTS

Vibb AX-22 100 Mariehamn Tel. +358 18 525 875

info@vibb.ax • www.vibb.ax

The publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors, information or changes in times, prices or other information. www.alandtravelmagazine.ax

TEXT

Jenny Andersson LAYOUT Jessica Engblom

PRINTED BY Punamusta

PHOTOS

Therese Andersson, Rebecka Eriksson, Niclas Nordlund, Tiina Tahvanainen, Jessica Engblom, Åland Maritime Museum, Åland Island Art Museum, Visit Ålands mediabank

Unique to Åland

Since 1954, Åland has had its own flag, which is a red and yellow cross on a field of blue. Åland’s flag day is celebrated on the last Sunday in April.

Åland has its own postal service, Åland Post, which also issues its own stamps. The first stamps were issued on 1 March 1984, and each year approximately 16 new stamp designs are issued. Ålanders seen driving out in the world are easy to spot, as Åland issues its own vehicle licence plates. Keep an eye out for ÅL.

Visit Åland

Do you want more information on things to do in Åland? Just stop by the Visit Åland office on Storagatan 8 in Mariehamn. Call +358 (0)18 24000, email info@visitaland. com or visit www.visitaland.com

Time and currency

Åland’s currency is the euro and both Åland and Finland are in the Eastern European time zone. When it is 12 noon in Sweden, it is 1:00pm in Åland.

100 years of autonomy

Åland is the oldest autonomous region in Europe as well as the smallest. Åland was granted autonomous status in 1921 on the basis of a decision made by the League of Nations in Geneva. A strong movement in Åland had pushed for reunion with Sweden, but Finland did not want to let the island realm go. The decision made in Geneva was a compromise.

Ålands first 30-member parliament (today known as the Parliament of Åland) convened for the first time on 9 June 1922, which is celebrated as Åland’s Autonomy Day.

The Parliament of Åland passes its own legislation within a number of different areas, including the economy, education, transportation and health care.

The Government of Åland, its regional administration offices and the Parliament of Åland are housed in the Åland Government Building, which is located adjacent to the Mariehamn town square.

The idea of “willfulness” has been the lodestar for Ålanders throughout the entire existence of their autonomy, and will continue to be for at least the next 100 years.

Living in Åland?

Åland Living will be happy to tell you about life in Åland, including everything from housing and careers to recreation and family life. Read more about relocating to Åland at Alandliving.ax.

Åland - Islands of peace

Åland has no military and no active military bases. Ålanders are exempt from military conscription in the Finnish Defence Forces.

Population

What a delightful development – more and more people want to live in Åland! Over the past few years, Åland’s population has increased by 200300 people, and we have also passed the 30,000 mark!

Nearly 12,000 people live in Mariehamn, Åland’s largest city.

The official language in Åland is Swedish. In addition to the 26,000 Ålanders who have Swedish as their native language, there are 68 different languages spoken in Åland.

Åland – with power from nature

With its location in the middle of the sea, awash in salty sea winds, the most hours of sunlight in the Nordic countries and a deep love of nature, it’s no wonder that Åland has set its sights on a future with power from nature’s own green energy. Preferably on the cutting edge with a large dose of innovation.

Åland’s 6,700 islands are clustered in the middle of the Baltic Sea, offering a cultural fusion of Sweden and Finland. Åland has one city, Mariehamn, and a living, breathing countryside and archipelago.

For the past 100 years, Åland has been an autonomous region in Finland. This means that Ålanders can form a society that meets their own needs and conditions.

ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY to the sea has influenced Åland in many ways. This gave rise to shipping, an industry that laid the foundation for today’s economy and took Ålanders all over the world. They have sailed the seven seas and returned with new ideas and, in many cases, the money

GREEN ENERGY IN ÅLAND

ILMATAR OFFSHORE - WIND FARM IN Norrhavet. LEOVIND AB - Wind farm at Båtskär.

to realise them and a drive that is typical of these wilful islanders.

Ålanders are used to keeping their end up, having faith in their own abilities and making the most of what they have. The result is a strong entrepreneurial spirit, with 2,800 registered businesses in a population of 30,000.

IN ÅLAND, traditions and modern approaches go hand in hand. Boats are built and Midsummer wreaths are woven while high technology companies serve customers all over the world as well as in the cloud. Here, two worlds come together in a very small space.

Ålanders cherish their resources and

consider nature and sustainability to be invaluable. In combination with innovation, Åland’s aspiration is to become a pioneer in green energy in the Nordic countries. Wind power already accounts for 90% of Ålands electricity production. The move toward even greater production of renewable energy through large-scale solar power farms and offshore wind farms is already well underway.

In general, the climate here is mild and the summers are usually sunny. Åland is said to have the most hours of sunshine in the Nordic countries from May to August. And, even if it tends to be a bit windy –often from the southwest – the winds are warm.

OX2 ÅLAND - Solar farm at Möckelö. SMART ENERGY ÅLAND - Renewable energy, demo platform.

VIND AX AB - Wind farm at Långnabba. ÅLANDS VINDENERGI ANDELSLAG - Wind farms.

100 % Åland – Don’t settle for anything less!

I CUSTOM-TAILOR and book Åland packages for any group. Whether you have a 4-ball looking to play the golf courses at Kastelholm or a 400-person group for a conference at Alandica Kultur & Kongress, I’ll make sure you get a travel package worth your hard-earned money!

I KNOW MY ÅLAND and can open all sorts of doors for you. All of Åland’s hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and activities are included in my extensive range, and I work together with all ferry lines and airlines serving Åland. After operating for nearly 40 years in Åland, I have also established a unique network of contacts with local businesses, sports, cultural life and administrative agencies – contacts that are useful to my guests.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO is call or email me with your wishes, and I’ll get back to you with my best possible offers. Read more about what I have to offer at www.turist-konferens.ax. The package options presented below will give you some ideas on how an Åland package for your group might look!

Conference & Kick-off

• Optional return ferry trip.

• Conference & meals on board.

• Continued meeting in Mariehamn and/ or activities, such as visits to Åland’s Maritime Museum & museum ship Pommern, fishing, golf or beer tasting at Stallhagen Brewery.

• Accommodation with full-board at the 4-star Hotel Arkipelag.

Arkipelag Celebration

• Ferry trip from Stockholm to Mariehamn by M/S Viking Grace.

• Champagne breakfast on board.

• Transfer to Hotel Arkipelag.

• 3-course dinner at Compagniet restaurant.

• Accommodation with breakfast.

• Optional return boat trip, including a dinner buffet.

Fishing-Åland Pro

• Optional return ferry trip or flight.

• Two overnight stays with breakfast at Hotel Arkipelag.

• Fishing trip with a professional guide in the renowned, pike-rich archipelago surrounding Mariehamn.

• Sauna and pool.

• Dinner at Compagniet restaurant.

Golf-Åland All-in-One

• Return ferry trip Kapellskär–Mariehamn or Grisslehamn–Berghamn.

• Two or more 18-hole rounds with perfect tee times on the new Castle course and the Kings' course at the Åland Golf Club in Kastelholm.

• Accommodation with breakfast at Hotel Arkipelag, Park Alandia or Cikada.

Golf on Ålands all courses

• Return ferry trip Kapellskär–Mariehamn or Grisslehamn–Berghamn.

• Three 18-hole rounds with perfect tee times on Eckerö course, Castle course and the Kings' course.

• Two-night accommodation with breakfast at Hotel Arkipelag, Park Alandia or Cikada.

Solhem School trip

• Optional return ferry trip, with lunch and dinner on board.

• Two-night accommodation with full-board at Pensionat Solhem by the sea in southern Mariehamn.

• Rental bikes and possibility for activities such as adventure swimming, paddling, fishing, disc golf, adventure golf and/or horseback riding.

Henrik Nordström

In the heart of Mariehamn

www.hotellarkipelag.ax

Strandgatan 35, Mariehamn +358 (0)18 24020

Åland lives day and night

What kind of stories would you be able to tell if your walls were nearly 150 years old? Probably quite a few! Now, the old stone walls of The Calypso Bar in Mariehamn can’t talk, but we know that the storehouse has held everything from cement, vodka and prisoners to glass blowers, potters and restaurant guests. Today, the stone storehouse lives on as a popular gathering spot in Mariehamn’s city life. Neighbour to local rock pubs, nightclubs and outdoor terraces, the bar is more than ready to help you make sparkling new pub memories.

Lilla Torget - its own little world

A tiny little block in the middle of Mariehamn is surrounded by two restaurants with bars and outdoor terraces, a cosy café, two pizzerias, a kebab stand and a nightclub. It is cramped and cluttered, but oh so nice. There’s something for everyone here.

Located at Nygatan/Strandgatan, the block surrounding Lilla Torget dates back to 1865 and, considering that Mariehamn was not founded until 1861, this is impressively old. In the 1870s, shipowner and merchant Victor Starck commissioned the construction of a residential building, storehouse and bakehouse on the plot.

Today, Starck’s stone storehouse is the city’s oldest remaining stone structure, which is now home to Indigo, the biggest draw

on the block. Indigo has dubbed itself “your other living room”. Truer words have never been spoken. With its bar on the upper floor and outdoor dining in the summer, the restaurant is a natural gathering place for Ålanders and visitors alike. Here you’re sure to find something tempting, from a delicious lunch to a late night mingle.

THE OLD KINOTEATERN CINEMA from 1920 is located just next door to Indigo. Once upon a time, it was an entertainment mecca for film, theatre and cabaret. Today, it is a seasonal nightclub with a year-round pizzeria. You can easily access it through Indigo. Or, head over to the The Calypso Bar at the south end of the stone building for a festive atmosphere, fine cocktails and amazing music.

Every bit as relaxed, but considerably more rock-heavy is Dino’s, which is just catty corner from the others. Dino’s serves

delicious food, while the bar and outdoor terrace offer billiards, music, a glint in the eye and a general edge of oomph. On occasion, Dino’s hosts singer-songwriters and other live music - in the summer, artists perform on the outdoor stage.

Much quieter, but equally worth a visit is the cosy Bagarstugan Café. Tucked away behind the blue door of the red wooden house are flowery cups, crocheted doilies and all manner of cakes, each tastier than the next. Don’t forget to explore the secret little passage to the outdoor terrace, where you’ll almost need to bend down to slip under the rose trellis. Bagarstugan is just as popular for lunch as for a coffee and pastry. And, if you want to try the classic Åland pancake, we wholeheartedly recommend trying it here!

But, that isn’t the end of the culinary journey here in Lilla Torget. Fast food connoisseurs also sing the praises of Kotipizza and Draken Kebab.

THE REST OF MARIEHAMN awaits outside this lively little quarter. Grab a bench on the pedestrian street Torggatan and admire the lovely plantings, with everything from the spring magnolias to the rich autumn colours of the leaves, or take a stroll among the small shops to find that something special. Whether or not you’re a fan

of handicrafts, clothes, second-hand, jewellery or books, there’s no shortage of things to choose from in the city centre.

Or, you can visit a museum, go for a swim at the beach on Lilla Holmen or eat at one of the city’s many restaurants, such as Compagniet, which is perfect for just hanging out. Surrounded by draperies and Oriental rugs, you and your gang can eat well, savour some exciting gin drinks and play a round of shuffleboard, boule and billiards. Who’ll win?

A FEW CITY GEMS

THE CALYPSO BAR - Ambitious cocktail menu.

COMPAGNIET - Gin bar, shuffleboard, billiards and boule.

BRASSERIE ÅNGBÅTSBRYGGAN - Grill and shellfish platter.

BOQUERIAN - Tapas and cava.

DINOS BAR & GRILL - Local tavern and rock bar.

INDIGO RESTAURANT & BAR - Fun dining and pub hangout.

RESTAURANG NAUTICAL - Fine dining with a view of the Pommern.

KINO NIGHTCLUB - DANCING AND DRINKS.

ARKEN GARDEN and ARKEN NIGHTCLUB - CLASSIC DANCEFLOOR.

PARK BAR - Singer-songwriters and live bands all year round.

ÅSS PAVILJONGEN - The best sunsets in the city.

CLUB MARIN - Outdoor dining at the guest harbour.

F.P. VON KNORRING - Restaurant boat with pub.

FOOD IN THE TOWN CENTRE

ENJOY SEAFOOD

BY THE PIER

Brasserie Ångbåtsbryggan has a great location in Mariehamn. Just a stone’s throw from the town square, yet at the pier with a nice sea view over the bay and marina in the Eastern Harbour. The restaurant offers a special atmosphere because the walls and the ceiling are made of glass, which gives an illusion of being outdoors when indoors. In late summer and autumn evenings there is extra magic in the air when the natural daylight is shifting into a starry sky. The open kitchen is the heart of the restaurant. You can see the chefs working next to a big stone oven made of local recycled red bricks.

Östra Hamnen • brasseriet.ax

Mariehamn attracts visitors with good food and entertainment. Take a food walk and discover four restaurants with atmosphere, style and variety –everything from great lunches, seafood and à la carte dishes to stone oven baked pizzas. In between you can play adventure golf.

LUNCH • TAPAS • WINEBAR

Boquerian is an oasis with a Mediterranean touch. Here you can relax, eat in peace and quiet while enjoying the moment. On the patio and in the restaurant you and your friends can order different kinds of small dishes, such as tapas, cheese and cold cuts, and stay long in good company. You are welcome to enjoy a traditional mix of cold and hot dishes and share them with your friends. If you want to enjoy the tapas at home, you can visit our cheese and cold cuts counter and select delicacies to take away.

Sittkoff Galleria • Torggatan 13 • boquerian.ax

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Sittkoffska Gården is a popular meeting point in the middle of Mariehamn. Cosiness, vintage, local raw produce and sustainability are the key words for the restaurant. Take an extra look at the imaginary décor, such as the recycled windows, old pieces of furniture, lush green plants and the gigantic felted elk head. Here you can enjoy genuine homely meals of local raw produce and high quality. Visit also the Farm Store, filled with Åland artisan food products that you can buy home.

Sittkoff Galleria • Torggatan 13 • sittkoffska.ax

STONE OVEN BAKED PIZZAS WITH FRESH INGREDIENTS

Pizzeria Diablo is located on Nygatan, in the heart of Mariehamn’s entertainment centre. Diablo serves delicious stone oven baked pizzas with a local twist and of fresh raw produce. Enjoy your pizza in the cosy pizzeria or take away. The opening hours are generous, especially during the weekend when pizzas are baked until 5 o’clock in the morning.

Nygatan 3 • diablo.ax

SITTKOFFSKA GÅRDEN

BOQUERIAN

DIABLO

DIABLO

BOQUERIAN

Ångbåtsbryggan Adventure Golf is next to Brasseriet in the Eastern Harbour. Here you can have a lunch, coffee or something good to

before or after a round on the 18-hole mini golf course with fun obstacles. The sunny and spacious outdoor patio has a nice view of several golf holes. The course suits everyone, young and old alike.

Östra Hamnen • bryggan.ax

BOQUERIAN BOQUERIAN

ISLAND REALM OF ÅLAND

From island to island by archipelago ferry

Åland has a total of 6,700 islands, each with its very own charm. You can reach some of these easily with Ålandstrafiken archipelago ferries, which seamlessly transport cars, bikes and passengers. Not only will you get from place to place, you’ll be able to enjoy the sea and its myriad of beautiful views - the ferry ride is an experience unto itself. Ferries run from the main island to inhabited islands several times daily. Just remember to book your car well in advance!

Unique gems to explore in one of the world’s most beautiful archipelagos

Seeing Åland from the water is always an experience. Rent a kayak, book a boat tour or visit the island realm with your own boat. We are confident in saying that you will have wonderful memories that last a lifetime.

Exploring Åland and its surrounding islands, sea, sky and horizon will give you an unparalleled feeling of freedom.

LOCATED ON THE approach channel to Mariehamn, Kobba Klintar is easy to reach with or without your own boat. When the flag is hoisted, the café is open. We recommend the Kobba-macka rye-salmon sandwich. The beacon serves as a venue for exhibitions, and humorous art pieces signed by Juha Pykäläinen pop up here and there, including seagulls wearing swim goggles and seals in the harbour basin.

If you climb up to the top of the tower

of the pilot station and look to the south, you can just make out Båtskären island in the distance, where the association Friends of the Eider (Ådans Vänner) maintains its eider colony and arranges guided tours in the spring and early summer.

LOCATED SOUTHWEST of Föglö island, Björkör has an archipelago house from the 1700s. The island is a nature reserve and memorial, which provides a unique insight to life in the archipelago long ago. Sältingskär, with its well-preserved cottages from the old fishing village, lies nearby.

Källskär in the Kökar archipelago beck-

WORTH SEEING IN THE ARCHIPELAGO

GREVENS Ö - Källskär in the Kökar archipelago.

KOBBA KLINTAR - PILOT STATION WITH CAFÉ. MUSEUM FARM HERMAS on Enklinge island.

Pilot cottage in Degerby, with pilots museum. SOTTUNGA, Finland’s smallest municipality, with approx. 100 residents.

ons the visitor with its interesting Ice Age formations and unexpected environments created by Swedish baron Göran Åkerhielm in the 1960s.

ISLANDS WORTH VISITING in the northern and eastern archipelagos include Boxö in the Saltviksöarna islands, where you’ll find the largest cave in Åland, the rocks on Saggö island and the Länsmansgrund nature reserve. The northernmost islands are Rannörarna, which is Åland’s last outpost in the Bothnian Bay.

ARCHIPELAGO MUSEUM ON LAPPO ISLAND.

JURMO ISLAND AT BRÄNDÖ, Åland’s northernmost village.

Take a break from your workaday life with a minigetaway in beautiful Åland!

TAKE A MINI-BREAK! PRICES FROM 109 €/person!

Mariehamn, the heart of the Åland Islands, offers various opportunities to spend time together – for couples, families, friends, and co-workers. The price includes:

• Return tickets for the ferry boat.

• Accommodation in a double room in the four-star Hotel Pommern.

• Breakfast and a three-course archipelago dinner in the Kvarter5 Restaurant.

Reservations and inquiries can be made 24/7, info@alandhotels.fi or +358 18 15 555.

Read more about guest harbours in Åland:

Guests are the focus at Rödhamn harbour

Rödhamn is one of Åland’s most popular guest harbours. Its location and hospitality are second to none – you’ll be able to land in a safe harbour on the edge of the Sea of Åland, sheltered from all winds. And here, you can take a dip in the sea, have a relaxing sauna and enjoy delicious cinnamon rolls, not to mention Rödhamn’s renowned hospitality.

Many visitors to åland choose to arrive with their own boat. If you come in from the east, you’ll pass through a archipelago with islands as far as the eye can see. Visitors coming in from the west will first have to cross the Sea of Åland, which is big enough that you won’t see any land until you pass the halfway point.

ON WESTERLY ROUTES, the guest harbour on Rödhamn is often the first thing you’ll encounter. Many also choose this safe harbour as the last stop before setting out again across the open sea.

The island is a popular excursion destination, and it’s not surprising to see why. The views are spectacular and service is top notch. There is a museum here along with a favourite among kids: a little sand

beach with a diving pier. A good idea is to combine a boat tour with dinner or coffee at Café Sjöboden. Keep an eye out for special events, such as friday night beer and grill evenings.

As an overnight guest, you can order fresh-baked breakfast bread and have it delivered directly to your boat. It’s wonderful to start your day with warm Rödhamn rolls, naturally with the daily marine weather forecast printed on the bag.

ÅLAND’S ARCHIPELAGO is a paradise for boaters. The nature here is breathtaking and there are countless route possibilities. Fairways are rarely crowded and guest harbours can be found in just about every corner of Åland. To sail around the entire

GUEST HARBOURS IN ÅLAND

An excellent guide for boaters (in Swedish): ÅLAND, GÄSTHAMNAR, FARLEDER, ANKARPLATSER

main island is one of several popular alternatives.

FEW VISITORS PASS on Mariehamn, which has two popular guest harbours – MSF on the east side, and ÅSS on the west. Other harbours differ widely from each other. At Havsvidden in the north of Åland, you’ll be neighbours with the wide open expanse of Norrhavet bay, while in Kastelholm, you’ll be tucked right in the middle of Åland’s cultural landscape.

IN THE ARCHIPELAGO to the east of the main island, there are also several guest harbours where you can go on a hike after mooring to explore the area.

70 harbours in Åland – including natural harbours – described in text and images, along with their co-ordinates. Key harbour information provided in aerial images. Detailed sea charts are also shown for each harbour.

The nicest way to travel

It’s nice to be home, but nothing beats travelling. Out at sea or beyond, the very essence of travel unfolds during the journey. There is no shortage of beauty to admire while cruising to Åland through Finland’s glorious archipelago. Regardless of your port of departure – Helsinki, Tallinn, Turku or Stockholm. Soothing for the eyes, but also for the soul.

If you were to book now, when would you be on board?

tallinksilja.com

BOAT EXCURSIONS

ANTONS GUEST HOUSE, www.antons.ax. FISKELYCKAN, www.fiskelyckan.ax. JARO-GUIDNING, www.jaroguidning.com.

LADY HELENA, www.brudhall.com SEFYR, www.sefyr.ax. SHIPLAND, www.shipland.ax.

Visit a lighthouse far out to sea

On calm days, an excursion out to one of Åland’s lighthouses is idyllic, almost magical. The lighthouse island rises from the sea, surrounded by endless horizon. The lonesome islands offer marvellous nature experiences and interesting history.

It’s quite fascinating to imagine how the lighthouse master and keepers lived out here on these islands, especially during the winter. At Lågskär lighthouse, the lighthouse keepers lived together with their families. At most, some 30 people lived on the island, an extremely exposed place to live, where the residents supported themselves with animal husbandry, hunting and fishing. For long periods of time during the winter months, these people would be completely cut off from the rest of the world.

The current red granite lighthouse is the third on Lågskär. The lamp was lit for the first time in 1920. When the lighthouse was automated in 1961, the lighthouse keepers moved off of the island, which is now one of the leading bird stations in Finland.

AFTER LAST YEAR’S RENOVATION, the tall and elegant lighthouse on Sälskär is even whiter and more stately. The view from the 30.8 metre tall lighthouse is magnificent. The lighthouse was manned from 1868 to 1949, when it was made the first automated lighthouse in Finland. Lighthouse keepers and their families also lived on Sälskär.

THE MÄRKET LIGHTHOUSE is neither tall nor stately, but it is captivating how it clings to its remote, rocky island. When the winds pick up, waves crash over the entire island. The lighthouse was inaugurated in 1885 and automated in 1976. This means that Märket was Åland’s last manned lighthouse. An international border passes right through the island. Here, you can literally stand with one foot in Finland and the other in Sweden.

M/S SILVANA, www.skarpnato.ax. SKEPPSFÖRENINGEN ALBANUS, www.albanus.ax. STORMSKÄRS KONFERENS & VÄRDSHUS, www.visitaland.com/stormskar.

Welcome to the Maritime Quarter!

WHAT’S ON IN THE

Maritime Quarter

In the Maritime Quarter, spring is welcomed with open arms at the Tar Market, which is held in April. On Midsummer’s day, we will raise the artist’s maypole. In August, we welcome the Museum of the Coastal Swedes and celebrate the Estonian Swedes Day. In September, it’s time for the Harvest Festival and, in December, we hold our popular and charming Christmas Market

MARITIME QUARTER

– Åland’s handicrafts centre, with wooden boat yard, guest harbour, shipbuilding and museums.

Come experience a living maritime milieu, with a boat yard, smithy and other handicrafts, a marina for traditional ships, and a guest harbour. You’ll find the Museum of Historical Marine Engines with its collection of antique boat motors as well as the Ship and Boat Building Museum. Stroll among the old boathouses, wooden boats and shops, and stop by the Seafarers’ Chapel. The Maritime Quarter is supported by the City of Mariehamn and Åland Cultural Delegation. The area is not accessible for persons with disabilities.

EMELIA

The schooner Emelia will be over 25 metres in length and built using old shipbuilding traditions in the Maritime Quarter within walking distance of the Mariehamn city centre. Her launch is planned for 2024 during the Tall Ships Races. Emelia will replace the schooner Albanus and, like her predecessor, she will be used for youth programmes as well as tourist excursions.

info@emelia.ax | www.emelia.ax Follow us on Facebook.

www.sjokvarteret.ax

Åland is building a new schooner –

Åland’s biggest shop for handicrafts

Here you’ll find an inspiring selection of beautiful, sustainable Åland articles in all shapes and sizes. Textiles, wood, wrought iron goods, pottery, silver, delicacies and candles produced in Åland. All made with the personal touches of each artisan. A unique memento from Åland for yourself or someone else.

SALT Konsthantverk www.salt.ax +358 18 21505

Plåtbröd – Pizza Åland style

Come try a real Nordic pizza – plåtbröd - a concept developed by none other than celebrity chef Michael Björklund. Plåtbröd is made using the highest quality ingredients, homemade tomato sauce and aged Ålandic cheese – all in genuine archipelago style. This unique treat can then be enjoyed on our large terrace by the water.

Pub Niska www.niska.ax +358 18 19151

Hand-made jewellery in the spirit of the archipelago

In Guldviva’s quaint boutique and workshop, you will find hand-made jewellery that immortalizes the spirit of the barren nature and warm culture of the archipelago. Everything designed and made by our own goldsmiths in 925 Sterling Silver or 18K gold. Find the gift with a genuine connection to Åland, or your own memory to carry with you forever. Welcome.

Guldviva www.guldviva.com +358 18 22130

WELCOME ONBOARD the cruise ship Sunnan II

We offer day and evening cruises in the Åland archipelago.

Our restaurant serves lunch and à la carte made of fresh Åland raw produce. Our bar is fully-licensed.

Come and enjoy delicious food in the Åland archipelago onboard our historic vessel built in 1906!

Our home port is the Maritime Quarter of Mariehamn

Being out in nature

In Åland, surrounded by islands and islets, it’s easy to find the right balance between being active and taking it easy. What’s more, you can experience nature in her endless variety, from calm and still to hard-charging action and high intensity. Just like the ever-present sea. Sometimes mirror smooth and peaceful, sometimes with pensive swells. Sometimes with brisk breezes brushing the surface of the water, sometimes with stiff winds and whitecaps dotting the sea. Everything has its own charm. What are you looking for?

Catch a ferry to the Åland Islands

Finnlines’ freight-passenger ships offer you an easy option for travelling to the Åland Islands from Sweden and Finland. On this route the buffet meals are always included in the trip. Get your car ready and book your trip at finnlines.com

ACTIVE HOLIDAYS

among the thousands of islands

Need help planning a route?

Contact Viking Line and Eckerö Linjen! They offer cycling packages, which include a bicycle, helmet, ready-made route suggestions, booked accommodations and delicious meals.

Bike along winding roads, hike through forests and across the land, paddle to the outer archipelago - or, what about disc golf, horseback riding, mountain biking or water sports?

It’s so nice to be active out in nature - and simple. All you need to do is put on a comfortable pair of shoes, open the door and head on out. Then, just open the door and head on out. Åland has numerous nature paths and hiking trails of varying lengths. Some pass through nature reserves, while others offer insights into Åland’s culture and history. The Nåtö Nature Trail is beautiful in the spring. If you would like to hike a bit further, head over to the Sadelinleden or the St. Olav Waterway.

CYCLISTS LOVE ÅLAND’S WINDING ROADS, with route possibilities in every direction. Some routes run along bike roads, while others follow meandering village roads. You can choose whether to base yourself in one place and make day trips, or plan a longer tour with one or more overnight stays.

The Åland Archipelago Trail is one alternative for cyclists who want to see a lot of Åland. You can either start in Mariehamn, from which the Archipelago Trail runs across the main island and then to the east toward the Åland archipelago. Or, you could combine the Åland Archipelago Trail with the Archipelago Trail that continues in the Turku archipelago via Osnäs or Galtby. This is also the route to take when coming to Åland from the east.

You can hire bikes and canoes/ kayaks in Åland. Canoes/ kayaks can be driven to a desired put-in and picked up when you are done, provided that the location can be reached by car.

WHY NOT TRADE IN THE ROAD for the sea? Åland has some of the absolute finest conditions for paddling. Not just in the summerspring and autumn are also ideal seasons to dip your blade. With so many islands to choose from, the possibilities are nearly endless. Just make sure that your paddling route doesn’t exceed your abilities. For those interested in kayaking, Åland offers everything from beginner bays to heavier seas in the outer archipelago.

The Norrhavsrutten route is perfect for those with good paddling skills. You should be able to paddle well on open water and deal with swells and breaking waves. The entire route stretches from Käringsund in the west to Jurmo in the east, but you can choose to paddle certain sections. Or, if you’re not entirely sure of yourself, enlist a paddling guide. There are businesses which rent equipment and organise guided tours.

Water sports such as surfing, kitesurfing and jetskiing are also popular activities. Bring along your own gear or rent at your destination.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE FOREST! Hike or experience the forest on horseback or a bike saddle. The Eckerö mountain biking trail is a 3-kilometre long trail for beginners that offers beautiful views and plenty of fun jumps. If you want to put yourself to the test, try beating the trail record on the training app Strava. Several horseback riding schools offer trail riding tours for people of different skill levels.

INTEREST IN DISC GOLF continues to grow. Åland is currently a paradise for disc golfers, who have 17 courses to choose from. The distances between the courses are so short that you could play several of them in one day. For example, from Skag in Eckerö, via Soltunabanan in Geta to Sandösund on Vårdö island.

This year, disc golfers are looking forward to the last week in July, when the professional players of the European PDGA Tour will be visiting Åland for the Åland Open PDGA Euro Tour 2023, with tournament play for both professionals and amateurs.

RENTALS IN ÅLAND

RO-NO RENT, Mariehamn. Bicycles, mopeds, boats and canoes.

NIMIX, Eckerö. Mobile kayak rental.

PADDELBODEN, Mariehamn. Kayaks and SUPs RUNDBERGS BIL & SERVICE, Mariehamn. Passenger cars and vans.

JETSKI ÅLAND, mobile rental of jetskis, mountain bikes and other sporting equipment.

World-class golf next to the sea

120 top international golfers in the Ladies European Tour agree: Slottsbanan at Ålands Golfklubb is of the highest European standard when it comes to golf courses. Golfers ranked it as one of the best tournament courses in 2022.

Last year, the Ladies European Tour chose to hold one of its subtournaments in Åland. For three days in the beginning of September 2022, some 120 elite international golfers competed for the prize pool on Slottsbanan at Ålands Golfklubb. Anne-Charlotte Mora of France won the subtournament.

IT ISN’T ONLY THE professionals who hold Slottsbanan in high regard - it is equally popular among recreational golfers. In the summer of 2020, Slottsbanan reopened after a comprehensive renovation, resulting

GOLF IN ÅLAND

ÅLANDS GOLFKLUBB www.agk.ax ECKERÖ

www.eckerogolf.ax

in a very popular course that follows the seashore even more closely. Golfers praise the new course for its absolutely lovely stretch along Slottsundet Bay, where you have a view of the sea from all 18 holes. After three played seasons, thousands of rounds and a European tour, it is also clear that Slottsbanan is maintaining its high standards, especially on the greens.

In addition to Slottsbanan, the Kungsbanan course is also available to guests, offering them a beautifully hilly, forested 18-hole course. The Princess short course, with its six par-3 holes, is perfect for any-

one wanting to try golf or work on their technique.

ECKERÖ GOLF on Åland’s west coast appeals to golfers of all skill levels thanks to its four different tees at all of the course’s 18 holes, even those with excellent greens. This gives everyone a chance to finish the hole within their handicap. The first nine holes of the course are a bit easier, but the last nine are longer and more challenging.

GOLF IS A SPORT that is growing in popularity, and golf clubs are receiving a large number of satisfied guest players each year. One tip is to plan well in advance and book your accommodation already now and tee times for the whole year. This applies especially to bookings for large groups.

GOLF

Reservations can be booked either directly with the courses or through a tour operator in land such as Viking Line, Eckerö Linjen, Åland Travel, Ålandhotels or Ålands Turist & Konferens.

Fishing permits online!

The waters surrounding Åland are divided into several large and small fishing permit areas. All visiting anglers must have a valid fishing permit. For more information, visit: fiskekarta.ax. The proceeds from the fees goes primarily to fisheries management.

Fishing permits can be purchased at visitaland.com. Here you’ll also find additional information on fishing regulations.

Cottage villages and shops in Åland also sell fishing permits over the counter.

From powerful pike to the challenging sea trout

You’ll get the best fishing experiences with a fishing guide. The guides are engaged sport anglers who make a living from their passion, sport fishing, all year round. And it certainly shows.

Fishing guides will provide you with both fishing tackle and knowledge. They have capable boats and know exactly where the fish are biting at any given time. Together with your guide, you’ll get an introduction to the fishing area and help finding the best fishing spots. Not only that, you’ll be well taken care of - guides want to give you the experiences they would want themselves.

You don’t even need to think about meals. When your stomach starts grumbling, the guide will conjure up something good to eat and drink from their own larder. And, without skimping on the finery! With support from Lokalkraft

Leader Åland, our fishing guides have arranged a number of nicely appointed and easily accessible rest spots throughout the archipelago.

ÅLAND IS A FISHING PARADISE all year round, with excellent catches to be had and beautiful archipelago nature.

The most popular form of fishing is angling for pike with a spinning rod, which is easy to understand. Powerful pike over a metre in length are not uncommon.

The sea trout is otherwise a challenge that draws more and more sport fishers in during the early spring and late autumn. Even though the sea trout is tough and

demanding, its large silver body is hard to resist.

In the summer, fishing with spinners and jigs to catch the lively perch, which is ever ready to bite, is a truly enjoyable pastime that suits most people, especially families. Indeed, fishing in Åland’s waters is a catch-and-release activity, but catching fish for food is permitted. The fishing guide will be happy to show you how to scale, gut and fillet your catch.

IT’S EASY TO BOOK a package, which includes travel, accommodations and guided fishing. Or, if you prefer to fish on your own without a guide, you can head out with only your boat and fishing permit. Fishing guides work in cooperation and are therefore able to take care of large company fishing parties.

FISKEGUIDER PÅ ÅLAND

FISKEGIUDER PÅ ÅLAND

ALANDFISHING , www.alandfishing.com

FISKEFRÖJDEN , www.jurmo.ax

FISKELYCKAN , www.fiskelyckan.ax

JARO-GUIDING , www.jaroguiding.com

LÄGERELDEN , www.lagerelden.ax

NORRÖ FISHING CAMP, www.norro.ax

MAPA FISHING TEAM, www.mapafishingteam.com

RUNDBERGS STUGOR, www.rundbergsstugor.ax

SOMMARÖGÅRD , www.sommarogard.ax

SVINÖ STUGBY & VILDMARKSPARK, www.svinostugby.com

Discovermore of Åland

Åland’s archipelago nature offers so many experiences that you should consult the local experts for advice. This will ensure that you find the experience you’re looking for. We have everything from lovely boat tours and fishing to activities in forests and on land. Let the skipper take you out to remote lighthouse islands and the fishing guide show you the best spots to drop a line. You can also try hunting, mountain biking, paddling or a jetski safari.

Contact your guide for an experience package made just for you!

Shipland – Water taxi

Experience the world’s most beautiful archipelago! Join a guided island-hopping tour and visit lighthouses, pilot stations and various islands, or join our Geocaching trip to Lågskär lighthouse island. You can come alone, with friends or company. Choose a ready-made package or customize your own excursion. We also offer taxi boat charter for groups of all sizes.

Mariehamn • www.shipland.ax

Lägerelden

Lägerelden offers guests fine and memorable fishing and nature experiences in the Åland archipelago. We also offer other activities and customise all excursions according to your wishes. We fish for pike, perch and sea trout. Welcome!

+358 457 522 1605

Mariehamn • www.lagerelden.ax

Fiskelyckan

The fishing paradise of Åland is an unparalleled experience, and with me as your guide, you are in for a truly unforgettable fishing adventure. With a lifetime of fishing experience, professional-grade equipment and a passion for fishing, I will do everything I can to meet your expectations. I also offer outstanding excursions to Kobba Klintar and Rödhamn, among other places. Follow us on Facebook!

Mariehamn • www.fiskelyckan.ax

Käringsund Resort & Conferance

Pool and children’s pool • MTB course • hiking trail • trail running course • swim/run course

• disc golf • padel • tennis • table tennis

• beach volleyball • football • badminton

• boules • miniature golf • kayak rental

• canoes • SUPs • pedal boats • rowboats

• fishing excursions • jetski safari • boat excursions.

Eckerö • www.karingsund.ax

Eden Jakt/Hunting

We are one of the few operators in Scandinavia that offer red deer and mouflon bow hunting in our wildlife enclosure. Red deer, for example, range in size from young animals to stags with 17–18-branched antlers. If you don’t want to go hunting, you can take a camera and visit the enclosure with your host to capture the beautiful animals this way! Genuine cabins with modern facilities located by the beach close to the enclosure.

Sund • www.eden.ax

JaRo Guiding

We offer a wide range of fishing and nature experiences. Everything from salmon trolling to jig fishing and angling for children with a fish guarantee. We also offer boat excursions and nature walks. We have tours for all skill levels and all ages, and some of the tours are suited for the disabled.

Eckerö • jaroguiding.com

Do

for

WINTER ACTIVITIES

- Get your blood pumping in a winter landscape

When the ice finally thickens up, you can don your long distance skates and go for a glide out over the ice covered expanses. In a good winter, the season is long. The inland lakes freeze first, followed by the narrow bays, until finally the sea itself is frozen, inviting you all the way out to the archipelago.

Winter swimming is another invigorating trend. Nowadays, almost everyone goes winter swimming - or dreams about it. Åland has the perfect conditions for

swimming in the cold - here, it’s usually quite close to the closest pier.

EVEN THOUGH we have no control over the weather gods, the tracks at Åland’s Skiing and Biathlon Centre can be freshly laid even when temperatures don’t want to cooperate. With the help of snow cannons, beautiful tracks for cross country skiing can be made. The colder the winter, the more artificial snow and the longer the throw. In winters with a lot of natural

snow, ski tracks are made along Åland’s many lighted paths, sometimes also across golf courses. Ice skating tracks are made at schools.

Others prefer skiing downhill. Germundö Alpin, Åland’s very own alpine skiing centre, invites both downhill skiers and snowboarders to its pistes in Saltvik.

Or, should you be so inclined, there are plenty of indoor winter sports to please, such as curling or figure skating.

Åland has a favourable climate for activities on snow and ice. When nature beds down for her long winter’s sleep, ski tracks, ski hills and mirror ice fill up with avid winter sports enthusiasts.

- a challenge with natural obstacles

The season is long - you can train outdoors all year round. From winter sports to holiday runs, the weather and footing are the only things that vary. But, not all training has to be a struggle - it can be fun, too. We recommend Åland for outdoor training, from the crisp coolness of spring to the clear air of the autumn.

DURING THE YEAR, several fun runs are held, with classes ranging from elite to enthusiasts just having a go. If you love to run, the charity run Mercy Ship Race is worth a look. Your endorphin levels are sure to spike when you run for a good cause!

The classic Kanonloppet run presents a bigger challenge, with its 22 kilometres over varying terrain. You can also choose to run shorter sections or participate in the Ålandsmarschen hike, in which you walk the same course.

If your thing is crawling and running, you should absolutely take part in the Åland Swimrun, where the archipelago is the event venue. The courses pass over islands and cross open water, throwing everything from waves to slippery rocks at you. This is a real challenge, even for seasoned athletes. Fortunately, there are also classes for regular fitness enthusiasts. But, don’t let that fool you - not even the shorter, “easier” courses are as easy as they might sound.

MANY APPRECIATE the fact that sporting events are small in scale and well organised. The mood is familiar and everyone takes part. Participants of different abilities can still run the same races together thanks to the wide range of classes and distances. The possibility of combining training and running with a family holiday is also appealing. While the athletes are doing their thing, the

rest can soak up the sun, go swimming and see the local sights. On pages 52 and 55, you’ll find several tips on family activities.

ROAD CYCLISTS call Åland the Mallorca of the North, but better! This is due to Åland’s light traffic, excellent roads and beautiful natural setting. A total of 1,100 km of public roads and over 150 kilometres of bike roads are perfect for cycle training.

On Facebook, there are several Åland groups where you can get in touch with other people interested in training in a variety of sports. They often welcome other enthusiasts to their practices and competitions. Check out, for example, Ålandscyklisterna, Åland Springer or Skidspår på Åland.

THEN, TAKE CARE of your aching body by loosening your muscles up in a relaxing sauna. COMPETE

HAVSÖRINGSTRÄFF ÅLAND - FISHING EVENT, 22–24 April.

SJÖJUNGFRULOPPET - FUN RUN for women in Mariehamn, May.

BRÄNDÖLUFFEN - HALF MARATHON and fun run, May.

MERCY SHIP RACE - 5 or 10 km charity run, 31 May.

TROLLINGTRÄFF ÅLAND - FISHING EVENT, 7–10 June.

KÄRINGSUNDSLOPPET - Cycling event, 1–2 July

SEMESTERLOPPET

KANONLOPPET/ÅLANDSMARSCHEN

TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2023

- Running event, 8 July.

ÅLAND SWIMRUN, September.

- 22.5 km or 15 km run/walk, 14 October.

NYÅRSRUSET - RUNNING EVENT, 31 December.

HOSTEL

Simple, but charming accommodations in close proximity to the swimming hall, sports hall and gym. We offer a variety of room types, ranging from single rooms to dormitories, with or without breakfast. The hostel has a common room with a television and kitchen, where you can prepare your own meals if you should so desire. The reception desk can also help with tourist information. We are centrally located in the middle of Åland, in the village of Godby, which is an ideal starting point for visitors wanting to explore every corner of Åland by car, bicycle or foot.

We are right next to hiking trails, an obstacle course (with climbing wall), a public beach, observation tower, restaurants and so much more. Free WiFi throughout the area. Welcome!

Bärvägen 5, Godby +358 (0)18 41 555 info@idrottscenter.com

Welcome to the Åland Hunting & Fishing Museum!

The museum exhibitions tell the story of life in the archipelago and Åland’s fishing and hunting culture, both yesterday and today. At the museum, you’ll learn about Åland’s seal hunts and fishing with purse seines as well as our ship’s anchors and muskets. Our boat motor exhibition is new this year and the summer exhibition for 2023 is “Relations with the Sea”. Read more about our exhibitions and opening hours on our website. See you this summer!

HOSTEL GYM

HIKING TRAIL

CYCLING

Numerous sports halls and plenty of free time

Stay in shape with a sporty adventure in Åland! There are many amateur enthusiasts and active associations here who would be happy to set up a practice match.

It’s almost harder to find a sport that can’t be played indoors in Åland. Floor hockey, volleyball, basketball, table tennis and futsal can all be played in one of the seven multisport halls located throughout Åland. Allhallen in Eckerö is big enough to fit a full-size football pitch.

Then, there are several speciality halls for swimming, tennis, badminton, ice hockey, dog sports, curling, bowling, judo and other martial arts. The popular ball game padel has its own hall, and Vikingahallen in Jomala has a squash court.

The newest addition to the lineup is Gymnastikarena Åland, a state-of-the-art

SPORTS HALLS AND FIELDS

facility dedicated to gymnastics.

OUTDOOR FACILITIES include several football pitches, some with artificial turf that are open all year round. Athletics enthusiasts appreciate the fact that there is a full-range athletics arena in south Mariehamn, with its world-class mondotracks. The Swedish Finland Athletics Championships (SFIM) were held in the newly inaugurated athletics arena in August 2022.

At Ålandstravet there is both a trotting track and oval for Icelandic horses. Motorsports enthusiasts are sure to make tracks to the motorsports stadium at Vessingsbo-

da. The shooting range of the local sport shooting club is located nearby.

AND, THE BEST THING of all is that there is plenty of available times at these facilities! Keep that in mind the next time your club is arranging a training camp.

A sport mini-adventure awaits you in Åland. The ferry trip is an experience in itself. Once here, you can stay close to the facilities, which are often within easy walking distance. That’s something everyone appreciates! Short transports mean less stress and more time for training and spending time together.

MULTISPORT HALLS: Idrottsgården (incl. bowling and judo) and Baltichallen in Mariehamn, Vikingahallen in Jomala, Ålands Idrottscenter (and swimming hall) in Finström and Eckeröhallen in Eckerö.

SPECIALITY HALLS: Islandia ice arena, Mariebad swimming hall and Bollhalla for tennis and badminton, and Ålands padelcenter in Mariehamn, Gymnastikarena Åland in Jomala, Åland

Hotels Curlingcenter in Eckerö, Avancia gym and Islands of Granit Crossfit in Mariehamn, Träningsverket and Styrkestället in Jomala, VIBE in Finström.

OUTDOORS: Baltic Athletics Arena and Wiklöf Holding Arena football stadium, and Backebergs IP in Mariehamn, Bengstböle in Lemland and Markusböle in Finström.

In the footsteps of the Ålanders, from the Stone Age to today

Modern day Åland is informed by history and the position of the islands in the Baltic Sea. We live in a society that is enriched by influences from both the west and east. During the time of Swedish rule, from King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century to the end of the Finnish War in 1809, Åland was the geographical centre point of the Swedish realm. This was followed by Russian rule, which lasted until Finland declared its independence in December of 1917. During the period of autonomy, Åland eventually became a demilitarised and autonomous part of Finland. In Åland’s cultural history, there are many memories and interesting narratives to be shared.

CULTURAL HISTORY GEMS

- at museums and in everyday life

SIGHTS WORTH SEEING

CULTURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF ÅLAND, Mariehamn. LÅNGBERGEN - Nature path and Stone Age settlement.

Explore the events that formed Åland since people first set foot upon its shores thousands of years ago. At that time, life was centred around hunting and fishing. Today, the islands have just celebrated their first 100 years as an autonomous part of Finland.

A journey through Åland’s history begins at the Cultural History Museum of Åland. The museum’s main exhibition presents the first 7,500 years of the island group, taking you the visitor chronologically through its history, from the first Ålanders to today’s modern, autonomous society. Along the way, the stubborn islanders have hunted seal, farmed and fished, sailed the seven seas and existed as part of both Sweden and Russia. Today, Åland stands on its own feet as part of Finland.

YET, WE STILL FIND MANY memories from exciting periods all over Åland. If you want to start at the very beginning, head over to Långbergen hill, which is higher than its name suggests. It was here that the land first poked up out of the sea after the Ice Age 10,000 years ago. Up on the hill, you’ll find traces of the old shore-

KALEN - Hiking trail and ancient ruins.

HAMNÖ - Culture path, monastery ruins and seafarer’s chapel.

Begin your voyage through time at the new Visitor Centre!

The ruins of the Bomarsund fortress are a powerful reminder of the time when mighty nations exploited Åland, using it as a pawn in their power struggle with far-reaching consequences for society. The exhibition presents the fortress area and tells the story of a dramatic chapter in Åland’s history. The story continues among the ruins in the beautiful, natural setting. Walk the hiking paths to cemeteries of five different faiths and up to scenic viewpoints, offering wonderful, panoramic views of the nearby archipelago.

lines, which are now 100 metres above sea level. Here is a nature path and one of the oldest Stone Age settlement sites in Åland. Also of interest is the Kalen hiking trail on Kökar, with its cairn and traces of seal hunting from the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. While there, don’t forget to visit Hamnö, an important harbour during the Middle Ages, where you’ll find the ruins of a Franciscan monastery.

ÅLAND ADOPTS CHRISTIANITY EARLY As early as the end of the 1100s, the first churches were already being built. These were made of wood and replaced by stone churches in the 1200s. The stone churches at both Finström and Jomala are still standing. Today, they are considered two of the most well preserved medieval buildings in Finland. There are a total of 16 churches and several chapels to visit in Åland.

THERE ARE SEVERAL remnants of the middle ages in Kastelholm. in the year 1400 Åland became an administrative province of Sweden, with Kastelholm Castle serving as the administrative centre. The heyday of the castle occurred during the rise of the Vasa dynasty, when King Gustav Vasa and his sons held the throne in Sweden. For example, King Erik XIV was imprisoned in the castle together with his wife Karin Månsdotter.

Behind the castle is the Jan Karlsgården open-air museum, Ålands Skansen, with older buildings from the 1800s and even more stories about olden times.

SIGHTS WORTH SEEING

BOMARSUND FORTRESS RUINS - New Visitor Centre.

JAN KARLSGÅRDEN OPEN-AIR MUSEUM - Kastelholm.

AFTER BELONGING TO SWEDEN, Åland and Finland became part of the Russian Empire after the Finnish War of 1808-1809. At the same time, Åland was made the farthest western outpost of the Russian Empire, and construction of the massive fortifications at Bomarsund began in 1830. The fortress was later destroyed by French and English forces during the Crimean War in 1854, but the ruins remain to this day. At the new Visitor Centre, you can experience the rise and fall of Bomarsund with sound and images before heading out to the fortress site itself.

KASTELHOLM CASTLE - Kastelholm.

ÅLAND’S CHURCHES - Visit www.kyrkor.ax/startpage/

Explore Åland’s

cultural and art treasures

From handicrafts to artistic creativity

Visually striking and beautiful is the result you get when traditional folk costumes meet the art of Guy Frisk in the summer exhibitions at the Cultural History Museum of Åland and Åland Island Art Museum.

Folk costumes always create a festive atmosphere. Tradition meets handicrafts in distinctive clothing, with unique patterns, colours and details that are specific to each municipality and region. The result is a boldly designed celebration of cultural heritage and a wonderful exhibition to visit.

The Cultural History Museum of Åland is hosting the exhibition “Folkdräkt: One hundred years of organised national costume work” in cooperation with Brage, a Finland-Swedish cultural association that works to preserve and spread information on Finnish folk costumes. The museum is contributing local folk costumes and stories to the exhibition. Indeed, every municipality in Åland has its own folk costume, with 16 different costumes represented. From

ARTS AND CRAFTS TO SEE

Mariehamn, which is one of the few cities in Finland to have its own folk costume, to Sottunga, Finland’s smallest municipality.

As with society and culture in general, traditional Ålandic handicrafts offer a splendid fusion of Finnish and Swedish culture. In practice, this means a slightly more decorated, ornate style than found on the mainland, but not quite as ornate as the handicrafts found in Sweden.

ARTIST GUY FRISK (1943-2022) plays a central role in the Åland Island Art Museum summer exhibition. Frisk was born in Lovisa, moved to Åland in 1961 and became a well-known artist in Åland and the Nordic countries.

Frisk’s artistic range includes everything from watercolours, oil paintings and graphics to collages, drawings and self portraits. He worked in bright colours, often adopting new motifs and techniques. His paintings are enchanting, and his landscapes and figures have an almost desolate, still quality. His work is methodically built upon an architectonic structure.

In the Guy Frisk summer exhibition, the Åland Island Art Museum presents a prodigious and driven artist, thus providing museum visitors with a glimpse into his fabulous imagination.

In its other rooms, the Åland Island Art Museum is showing works from its collections under the theme Summer.

GULDVIVA and SALT in the Maritime Quarter.

VIKTOR CRAFTS & DESIGN in Mariehamn. GALLERIET in Mariehamn.

ELE & KELE in Mariehamn.

STICKSTUGAN in Järsö.

LUGNET KERAMIK in Hammarland.

JUDYS KERAMIK in Finström.

MIA ENGLUND in Smakbyn.

ECKERÖ POST & CUSTOMS HOUSE in Eckerö.

Welcome to the Middle Ages and Kastelholm Castle

Completed in the 1380s, Kastelholm Castle is Åland’s only medieval castle. It is situated in a naturally beautiful setting, standing majestically remote at the foot of the Slottssundet sound. The golden age of the castle came about due to King Gustav I of Sweden and the role it played as part of the Swedish realm. However, the castle later declined in importance, eventually falling into ruin.

Today, Kastelholm Castle has been restored to its former glory and is open as a living museum from spring to autumn. An exciting array of family activities, guided history tours, theatre productions and concerts bring in visitors from near and far.

Experience the many faces of Kastelholm

Kastelholms slott www.kastelholm.ax

+358 457 3500 558, +358 18 25000

When the Vita Björn Crown remand prison was closed in 1975, so ended the centurieslong remand and prison tradition in the Kastelholm area. Today, the building serves as a prison museum, where you can learn about the evolution of incarceration, from the late 1700s all the way to 1950. From a time where chains and shackles were part of the prisoner’s everyday life to a more humane treatment of those behind bars. The Vita Björn Prison building is the oldest one of its kind in Finland and was opened as the first official prison museum in the country.

Fängelsemuseet Vita Björn museum.ax/fangelsemuseet +358 18 25000

The Jan Karlsgården open-air museum provides an idea of what life was like on a farm in Åland in the late 1800s. Today, there are some 20 buildings that have been moved here from all over Åland. Together, they offer the visitor a wide-ranging look into the building and farming culture of Åland, presenting the settings in which Ålanders lived and worked once upon a time. There are activities for the whole family at the museum.

Friluftsmuseum Jan Karlsgården museum.ax/jankarlsgarden +358 18 25000

Slottsbanan, top ranked among Finnish golf courses, hosted the 2022 Ladies European Tour, and the golfers all agreed that it was one of the best courses they had played during the year. Slottsbanan is a unique golf experience! Golfers should also try Kungsbanan for a change of pace and an outstanding challenge, no matter what their skill level.

Ålands Golfklubb www.agk.ax +358 18 41500

Jan Karlsgården – An open-air museum full of Ålandic traditions

Vita Björn – A positively captivating museum

Golf on world-class courses by the sea!

Kastelholm – an historic settlement in a naturally beautiful setting. Come by sea in your own boat or by road and savour the delicious food, play a lovely round of golf and see the many sights.

Handmade, old-fashioned candies with modern flavours

At Ålands Karamelleriet in Smakbyn, you can watch natural raw ingredients be transformed into tasty, colourful candies and lollipops right up close. Every candy is made by hand with passion. You’ll find everything from the classic “polkagris” peppermint candy to the gin tonic candy. And, we absolutely love giving out taste samples!

Smakbyn – an experience like no other

At Michael Björklund’s Smakbyn, guests can enjoy good food and drink. Smakbyn is much more than just a restaurant, where you can have lunch, dinner or a coffee. Here you’ll find a bakery, a shop filled with Smakbyn’s own products and those made by other talents, along with a pottery workshop, wine cellar and candy workshop.

Åland Distillery – an innovative institution

Just opposite Smakbyn, in the old Jan Karlsgårdens Wärdshus, is Åland Distillery. Here, we produce our gin and rosé gin, along with our long drinks. We organise guided tours in the distillery and taste tests of our drinks in our restaurant and bar, where you can also get a bite to eat or have a coffee. Åland Distillery is open every day during the summer, but we do accept reservations all year round.

Ålands Karamelleriet www.smakbyn.ax/alands-karamelleriet

+358 457 345 7895

Smakbyn Åland www.smakbyn.ax +358 18 43666

Åland Distillery alanddistillery.com

+358 457 345 8249, +358 184 3730

An adventure on the sea, while still safe at the quay

It is an experience unto itself to see the sailing ship Pommern moored in the harbour, surrounded by modern cruise liners and recreational boats. This year, the stately vessel turns 120 years old.

To be able to climb aboard the Pommern and join a fictional 100-day voyage around the world is like winning a golden ticket for an unforgettable adventure! The experience is centred around a fictional voyage in the 1930s, which will take you on the “Grain Race” from Mariehamn to Australia, around Cape Horn and back home again. Even though the characters in the crew are made up, the events actually happened aboard the Pommern, but not all on the same voyage.

The experience begins outside on the weather deck, where you will walk about and eavesdrop on the crew with the help of an audio guide. What’s even more fun is that kids and adults can share the experience together. While adults listen to their audio guide, kids can do the same adventure with ship’s rat, Ruby keeping them company.

Afterwards, you can actually try out and do things yourself on Deck 2 before finishing the tour all the way down in the hold with a mind-blowing sound and light show that simulates the weather. Everything from full storm to calm in just five minutes. The experience is even more intense if you move about on the hold floor during the show instead of just standing still.

ALSO WORTH A LOOK is the Maritime Museum’s main exhibition, where the Cabinet of Curiosities, filled with all manner of souvenirs brought home by seafarers, is a popular attraction. Here you’ll find a truly unique pirate flag, one of only two genuine flags in the whole world.

Kids love Ruby and the Sea, an imaginative children’s room, and the Sea Monsters exhibition, with its massive monsters and funny rhymes. A real tickle and absolutely just scary enough. You can read, listen, run about and even give a hug, if you dare!

MARITIME SIGHTS TO SEE

ÅLAND

MARITIME

MARITIME MUSEUM, Mariehamn, with the Sea Monsters exhibition.

QUARTER, Mariehamn with schooner museum.

SHIPMASTER’S HOMESTEAD PELLA s, Lemland. KOBBA KLINTARS PILOT STATION, ON AN ISLAND OUTSIDE Mariehamn.

LASSE ERIKSSON’S SHIP MUSEUM, Vårdö. MUSEUM SHIP POMMERN, Mariehamn.

Wonderful summer days

Surrounded by sky and sea, sun and swimming, giggles and laughter. Plenty of time for a nice, long cup of coffee in a flowery cup, melting ice cream and countless dips in the sea. With mild, cooling breezes and bare feet, How will you fill your carefree summer days?

Holiday memories for the whole family

It’s fun to be a kid in Åland. Here, everything is easygoing, safe and full of experiences! What’s more, the distances are short, so there’s no need to go on a long car trip anywhere.

Is there anything more summery than to run barefoot on sun-warmed rocks or build a sandcastle at the water’s edge?

Sun and swimming are actually all that’s needed to keep the whole family happy and satisfied. In Åland, there are swimming beaches in every direction. You can always find one in the lee.

Little ones love sandy beaches, while older kids want diving towers. Bamböle at Finström has both. The long beach at Degersand, with its uninterrupted horizon, is another popular spot. Don’t forget to try Svinö’s new diving tower, which was named after the heavyweight boxer Robert Helenius.

FLOWPARK IS A load of fun for everyone from schoolchildren on up. Up among the

pines at Vårdö, you’ll get a healthy dose of adrenaline and plenty of challenges. Flowpark has five courses at different heights. Don’t be surprised if the kids are the best at getting through all the most difficult obstacles. The zipline at the end of the course is the most fun.

The activities at Smart Park are popular among small children. Pet animals, drive a pedal car and don’t forget to bring along a swimsuit for the water park. While at Smart Park, older kids can jump into the action with a round of Laser Tag at the Sparks Laser Arena.

KÄRINGSUND RESORT in Eckerö is perfect for mums and dads who want a peaceful, adult meal on the outdoor terrace, while watching the kids alternate between salty

ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

LEKLANDET - Inflatable play equipment.

SMART PARK - Family park with playful learning.

SPARK LASER ARENA - Laser Tag.

KÄRINGSUND RESORT - Activity bracelet, adventure forest.

KÄRINGSUNDS GAME SAFARI - Guided tour through game enclosures.

dips in the sea and splashing in the pool. Or, you can buy an activity bracelet, which includes everything from miniature golf to pedalboats.

Located right nearby is Leklandet in Eckeröhallen, which is filled with trampolines and inflatable play equipment during the summer. Or, why not go on a game safari to see fallow deer, wild boar and ostriches in game enclosures.

EXCURSIONS WITH a coffee break are always appreciated. In addition to the swimming beaches, it’s fun to stop at a cosy little café or a museum with a flea market, such as Nybonds in Krogstad or the Önningeby Museum in Jomala.

Another kids’ favourite is Soltuna, with its disc golf course and hiking to the Geta caves or along the kid-friendly Trollstigen (Troll Path). Many museums also have activities for children.

BADHUSET MARIEBAD - WATER PARK.

LILLA HOLMEN - SAND BEACH, pirate castle.

ÅLAND MARITIME MUSEUM - With the Ruby and the Sea children’s room and the Sea Monsters exhibition.

Museum Ship POMMERN - Audioguide for children.

ADVENTURE GOLF - 18 holes in Mariehamn. GO-KART - Ålands motorklubb.

”In a place where the Aland Island nature is so very present, you have the chance to really unwind, breathe out and just be in th moment.”

Ålandsappen

An overnight stay in Rundhusbyns glamping tents guarantee a unique and exquisite experience.

More info at www.rundhusbyn.ax

– A quiet quarter full of life

Located close to the Mariehamn city centre, the Maritime Quarter is an oasis for schooners and wooden boats, and also has a little seafarer’s chapel out at the end of the pier. Most people come to soak up the atmosphere of the wooden storehouses and boathouses.

The waterfront quarter in East Harbour is small, but charming. Here, you can wander among the storehouses and along the piers. You’ll often catch a whiff of pine tar and, if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to watch one of the regularly ongoing activities in the quarter. From the clang of the smith’s hammer to the renovation of old motors or the shipwrights currently building the galeas Emelia. Her launch is planned for 2024 during the Tall Ships Race in Mariehamn.

THE MARITIME QUARTER is also a living gathering spot for art and traditional handicrafts. Among the boatbuilders, sailmakers and joiners, you’ll also find numerous gold and silversmiths, artisans and artists who have their workshops and studios in the Maritime Quarter. One of these is visual artist and illustrator Jonas Wilén, who is one of the most well known artists in present-day Åland.

ALSO WORTH A VISIT is the boat and shipbuilding museum, Guldvivas jewellery workshop and shop as well as the SALT handicrafts house, which has a large selection of local art and artisan foods for sale.

If you’re hankering for a dining experience on the water, take a lunch or dinner cruise on the M/S Sunnan II, an excursion boat done up in an old-fashioned steamboat style. Otherwise, a pizza at Pub Niska comes highly recommended!

5 tips!

Västerro. At Västerro, fisherman and artisan food producer Anders Westerberg experiments with ingredients from the sea and nature at his smokehouse and gastronomic greenhouse. Here, you can book exclusive culinary experiences in package form and wonder at the improbable delicacies, such as smoked grapes and deep fried ruffe.

Glamping. You’ll be staying overnight in a tent, but sleeping on a mattress in a real bed. In other words, glamping, or glamorous camping, is perfect for those wanting a bit of adventure without giving up any comfort. You’ll be outdoors, but in a spacious tent with a high ceiling and real furniture.

You can go glamping in Åland at Rundhusbyn or Snäckö Canvas.

Carlsros strandbar. You can savour the irresistible combination of epicurean delights and beach life at the elegant beachfront bar at the Carlsro spa hotel. Plop yourself into one of the red-and-white striped sunchairs and alternate between sipping the delicious drinks from the bar and taking a dip in the sea. This is the best way to enjoy the summer, sun and lovely lazy days!

We recommend combining the beachfront bar with an overnight stay at the hotel, a good steamy sweat in the beach sauna and a delicious Danish-Ålandic smørrebrød sandwich.

World class artists. Music fans will find something to their liking in Åland, regardless of the genre. Sometimes famous international artists perform here, sometime homegrown talent from Åland. And there is no shortage of these. Opera singers such as Sofie Asplund, Frida Österberg, Jenny Carlstedt, Therese Karlsson and Philip Björkqvist took the first steps on their musical journey here in Åland, going on to perform on the biggest stages all over the world. Every now and then, they grace local stages with their own concerts.

Forest yoga. In Åland’s archipelago, yoga instructor Caroline Henriksson wants you to join her for a session of forest yoga, which is a combination of Japanese “forest bathing” (Shinrin-yoko) and soft yoga on the body’s terms. You’ll start with a wandering sensory meditation in the forest, followed by yoga on the hill, surrounded by forest. Everything ends with a forest version of the savasana (corpse pose), either sitting on a stump or lying in a hammock. Many experience greater calm in the forest than a yoga room. In the summer, a boat excursion is also possible, with yoga on the rocks and a picnic meal.

PHOTO: Tiina Tahvanainen

PHOTO: Marcus Boman

What appeals most to you?

Different styles of music. Food and drink with archipelago flavours. Viking markets and Christmas markets. Åland has numerous popular events. Which suits you best?

You can find even more at www.visitaland.com!

Rockoff, 21–29 July

Åland’s biggest music festival is held on the town square in Mariehamn. There is a wide array of artists, with both new stars and old favourites. After-parties with live music are held in many of Mariehamn’s pubs. https://www.rockoff.nu/ information-english

Viking Market, 27–29 July

Viking associations from east and west gather in Kvarnbo for one of the biggest Viking markets in all of Europe. The Vikings live in tents, cook over an open fire and offer a wide variety of activities. Some sing and dance, while others like to fight. There are several buildings in the area built in the contemporary style. Food, drink and handicrafts are sold at the market. fibula.ax/vikingmarknad

SEVERAL EVENTS

VERA FILM FESTIVAL, 15-19 March.

MARIEHAMN LITERATURE DAYS , 23-26 March.

ÅLAND IN GREENERY , 27-28 May.

ÅLAND MARITIME DAY, Seminars and exhibition, 1 June.

ÅLAND AUTONOMY DAY, 9 June.

TRADITIONAL MIDSUMMER CELEBRATIONS , 23 June.

ÅLAND ORGAN FESTIVAL, 25-30 June.

ÅLAND DANCE BAND FESTIVAL, Föglö, 10-15 July.

Åland Dance Band Festival 10–15 July

The popular Dance Band Festival in the archipelago village of Degerby has taken the open-air pier dance concept to a whole new level. Here, you’ll be able to really dance up a storm at the seashore - indeed, the dance floor at Restaurant Seagram is built right up against the water. Enjoy yourself to the fullest with dancing, good food and a truly magical atmosphere.

Some of Sweden’s best dance bands will be performing during the festival.

Dansbandsfestival.nu

KATRINA CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL, 8-12 August. CULTURE NIGHT IN MARIEHAMN, 11 August.

ÅLAND PRIDE, 21-27 August, parade on 26 August.

ETTAN FESTIVAL, Rock festival 25-27 September.

Christmas markets

On the Saturday before the first day of Advent, you can get a little taste of Christmas when the Ålanders celebrate “Little Christmas” with the traditional Christmas market at the Jan Karlsgården open-air museum. In addition to this, several Christmas markets, including in the Maritime Quarter and Mariehamn town square, are also held in December.

www.aland.com/evenemang

ÅLAND HARVEST FESTIVAL, 22-24 September. CHRISTMAS MARKET AT JAN KARLSGÅRDEN , 2 December.

Foto: Dansbandssidan.com

Nature’s treasures

Åland is currently Finland’s largest apple orchard - as many as three out of every four apples is grown in Åland. In addition to this, 30% of all domestic onions and 90% of all asparagus come from Åland. The perfect conditions for organic farming means top class produce. And that’s not all - the “superberry” sea buckthorn grows allong Åland’s coastline.

From spring festivals to autumn delights

You can enjoy the crisp early produce in May and then buy the resulting jams, juices, cheeses and freshly harvested produce in September. We simply love the events that let local produce take the spotlight, not to mention that there’s so much good to choose from!

Spring and autumn are times for locals to celebrate in the countryside, when growers, producers and food creators welcome you to their farms and restaurants during the events Åland in Greenery and Harvest Festival. Travel from place to place and take part in “plåpp åpp” (Åland’s version of a pop-up) activities to enjoy delicious produce and a blossoming artisan food scene.

DURING ÅLAND in Greenery and Harvest Festival, it’s easier than ever to be an “Axgan” - in other words, to eat, drink and buy locally. The concept of “axgan” means you only consume products and produce

TASTE ÅLAND

AMALIAS LIMONADFABRIK & MERCEDES CHOCOLATERIE - Farm shop, Lemland. GRANNAS, SNÄCKÖ FRUKT, ÖFVERGÅRDSApple orchards, north Åland.

made in Åland while you are in Åland. Thanks to the many small scale producers and wide range of products, you can enjoy everything from fruits, green vegetables, meats and fish to sea buckthorn, honey and freshly roasted coffee.

To put it another way, it’s easy to fill your glass and plate with local foods and drinks. Many farms grow their own produce. Milk is made into cheese, meat is made into delicious sausages and organisally grown cereals are ground into flour.

THREE ÅLANDIC FOOD PRODUCERS took part in the Nordic Artisan Food Awards in the autumn of 2022 and all of them

won a medal. The gold medal went to apple grower Öfvergårds for its new cider, Eva-Lotta. According to the judges, the cider “is a tart, alcohol-free and interesting drink that is the perfect accompaniment for meals and festive occasions.” The classic apple cider Zonga won a silver medal, but, three weeks later, took gold in the Finnish championship in artisan food. Another Nordic silver medal and high praise for its texture went to the delicious Kvarnsten bread from Solkulla Gård, while Mattas dairy farm won a bronze medal for its organic hard cheese, Mattas Annie. Did you know that all dairy products from Mattas are named after the farm’s dairy cows?

All the prize winners welcome visitors to their farm shops. Mattas also has a summer café. Solkulla has a bakery, café and a little rolling breadwagon that you can see in the Mariehamn town square. At Öfvergårds, you can go on an apple safari or have a picnic in the apple orchard.

MARSKOGENS LAMM - Farm shop, finström.

MATTAS DAIRY FARM - Farm shop, café, Sund.

OPEN WATER BREWERY - Brewery with its own shop, Lemland.

PEDERS APLAGÅRD - Farm shop and summer café, Kökar.

ROSTERIVERKET - Coffee roastery, Finström.

SOLKULLA GÅRD - Bakery, café, Finström.

ÅLANDS KARAMELLERIET - Artisan candy production, Kastelholm.

Åland – a place to meet

Situated right in the middle of the Baltic Sea with excellent connections, Åland is the perfect place to hold a conference. Here you’ll find meeting and conference facilities to suit every need, and many of the facilities have been awarded environmental certification. The Åland Convention Bureau will assist you – completely free of charge – in realising your plans.

The Åland Convention Bureau’s free services include – information and advice on meeting facilities, accommodations, transportation and social activities

– introductory visits for relevant decision-makers and site visits prior to a booked event

– introduction to local actors, businesses and authorities

– access to a wide variety of PR materials, images, videos, presentations and facts

– free information, such as city maps and tourist guides for all attendees.

MEETING VENUES

KÄRINGSUND RESORT & CONFERENCE in Eckeröš.

ALANDICA CULTURE & CONGRESS in Mariehamn.

HOTEL ARKIPELAG in Mariehamn.

HOTEL

SILVERSKÄR AND KLOBBEN in Saltvik.

PARK ALANDIA in Mariehamn. ÅLANDHOTELS in Mariehamn.

SHIPPING LINES ECKERÖ LINJEN AND VIKING LINE.

Find your dream house in Åland!

When you move to Åland, you can buy a house or plot of land in a planned area directly. Most of these areas are set in beautiful locations close to nature, some with sea views and boat moorings. An owner apartment is another alternative where you own shares in a residential property.

Residential construction underway in the garden districts of Mariehamn and its surrounding municipalities is currently extensive.

We’ll be glad to tell you more! Åland Living will provide you with more information on moving to Åland, housing and employment opportunities as well as guidance in dealing with various authorities and businesses.

Read more at www.alandliving.ax

Buy a house, plot of land or owner apartment!

Many municipalities have planned residential areas, where you can buy a turnkey house or a plot for building your own. Those interested in moving to Åland will also find an excellent selection of owner apartments available, where you can own shares in a block of apartments or a singlefamily house.

You can find a list of real estate agents on our website!

Choosing the Bank of Åland makes a difference

Ever since the Bank of Åland (Ålandsbanken) was founded in 1919, our focus has been very clear. We have built our operations in harmony with Åland Island entrepreneurs, who over time havenot only expanded their businesses but have also benefited the Åland community.

Over 100 years of experience in tailor-made solutions. Welcome!

Going our own way

Join a global team and make an impact today!

We continuously look for new talents globally to join the OneOptinova team from different career disciplines: Engineering, Sales & Marketing, Finance, Business Analytics, Quality & Compliance, Human Resources, IT, etc. Check out our current openings at optinova.com/careers

Headquartered in Åland, Finland, Optinova is a world-leading extrusion partner for advanced medical and industrial tubing solutions. We operate in all major economic areas with over 500 employees and four manufacturing plants in Finland, Thailand and the US.

Welcome to our reality!

We have time, commitment, and community. Here you’ll find serenity, security, challenges, and adventure. Our vision is well-being through participation – come and help us realise that! Welcome to join us and welcome to Åland!

In Åland, you’ll have more time for living – www.alandliving.ax.

Landing a dream job in Mariehamn

Mariehamn is the smallest metropolis in the Nordic countries and Åland’s only town. Here, nature and the sea are always close by, as are the big cities all around it. When your job, house, day care centre, school and leisure activities are all within walking or biking distance, you’ll have much more free time at your disposal.

After 26 years of living in a hectic urban environment, Evelina Grandell Rosenlund wanted a life closer to nature.

“I grew up in Eastern Finland, so nature has always been really important to me,” explains Evelina. “I come from the Saimaa region, where there is just as much water as there is land. I think that’s why I was looking for a place close to the sea.”

The fact that it ended up being Mariehamn and Åland was no coincidence. As a young adult, Evelina spent several summers in Åland, and she appreciated the modern and safe island community. With family and friends in both Finland and Sweden, the idea to settle somewhere in between began to take shape.

“I subscribed to get news from the Åland Livings website. It has really useful information for anyone interested in moving to Åland,” explains Evelina.

Opportunities for growth

After a few months, a listing for her dream job suddenly popped up. The Town of Mariehamn was looking

www.mariehamn.ax/en

Evelina moved from Stockholm to Mariehamn.

for a Head of Elderly Care. With several years of experience as head of elderly care in the Enskede-ÅrstaVantör district of Stockholm, Evelina knew the position was a perfect fit for her. In June 2021, the moving van arrived in Mariehamn.

“To be useful to the community and my fellow human beings has always been important to me,” adds Evelina. “Here, in this little community, it feels even more important to contribute.”

Evelina enjoys heading up a relatively large, yet somehow still small-scale organisation.

Mariehamn’s elderly care services employs a staff of approximately 180. Elderly care involves preventive work, home care services and housing services. As a relatively new Head of Elderly Care for the Town of Mariehamn, Evelina sees many opportunities for development, such as increasing the use of welfare technologies. She has already initiated a programme of change, which will address partner competences and enhance the quality of life of the elderly.

Paradise for families with children

It has been easy to put roots down in Mariehamn. After living in a flat for a while, Evelina bought a house near the water, which is just under a 15-minute walk from her job.

“I can wholeheartedly recommend Mariehamn, particularly for families with children,” says Evelina. “Here, everything is close by, safe and the elementary school is outstanding! And I can almost guarantee that anyone with qualifications in care services who is interested in development and improvement will be able to find a job with us!”

”In Mariehamn everything is close by and safe”

More sustainable with Green Key

Many hotels, restaurants and other businesses in Åland are certified to display the Green Key label. This shows that the business is committed to the sustainable use of resources and constantly works to reduce its environmental impact. www.visitaland.com/greenkey

Book a dream stay

Some visitors want to stay in the middle of Mariehamn and enjoy the city’s offerings. Others prefer being out in nature, with the sea for a neighbour and a starry sky above. What would you and your companions prefer?

Is your main reason for visiting Åland to experience peace and quiet? Do you dream of waking up and strolling down to the beach for a morning dip, followed by breakfast on the porch?

THEN, A COTTAGE STAY is for you, and there is a wide range of alternatives available. There are cottage “villages”, which have multiple cottages in a given area, or single, standalone cottages. The former is for anyone wanting to socialise with their neighbours. The latter is for those who want peace and solitude, possibly even on an island all to themselves. In order to ensure that you find just what you’re looking for, check out the services offered, such as access to a rowboat, bicycles, canoes, meals and shops.

There are cottages located throughout Åland. If you choose a cottage on one of the islands in the archipelago – Föglö, Kumlinge, Brändö, Sottunga or Kökar – you will be taking one of the inter-island ferries from the main island. The trip can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two and a half hours, depending on the island you have chosen. There are also guesthouses and hotels in the countryside.

IN MARIEHAMN, you’ll always be close to shopping and entertainment as well as to the nearest beaches. There is no shortage of hotels, guesthouses and cottages to choose from, all within walking distance of the city sights.

And don’t forget – wherever you are staying on the main island, the distances are short and you’ll be able to drive quickly to any of Åland’s sights and activities. You can stay in Mariehamn even if you want to go fishing or golfing – and vice versa. You can also stay on the coast, even if you want to go shopping and visit museums.

CAN’T DECIDE? Just contact Viking Line and Eckerö Linjen, which have a wide range of choices available and can help you find the alternative that will best suit your own needs. You can also book accommodations at www.visitaland.com

Welcome to our home!

How would you like to stay at a homely little lodging? A cosy getaway where the hosts are almost always on hand and take care of you like a personal friend. Your host will gladly share their best tips so you can get the absolute most out of your visit to Åland. Maybe an idyllic spot off the tourist trail?

Some hosts also have their own kitchens. In those cases, you can look forward to home-baked or homemade foods after your action-packed day of exploration.

Sands stugby

Beautiful seaside location with large green lawns, good fishing areas and a fantastic sea view. Spend the day on the beach or play football, tennis or volleyball. After a fishing trip you can smoke your own catch in a fish smoke oven. Enjoy sauna bathing in our wood-heated seaside sauna by the seashore. Child-friendly area with a playhouse, sandbox, swings and slide for kids Hammarland • www.sands.ax

Edens stugor

The cottages are located by a sheltered sea inlet in the middle of Åland. Here you can stay comfortably in genuine cottages equipped with modern facilities and enjoy a sauna bath by the beach. The holiday village has a private bathing beach with fine fishing grounds and offers deer and mouflon bow hunting. Eden A cottages are built with genuine snag pine and equipped with modern facilities. The Eden B all have an open fireplace. Sund • www.eden.ax

Villa “Älgen”

We always meet our guests in person when they arrive at our log cottage, which is 240 square metres in size -possibly the largest and most luxurious in all of Åland. When you stay with us, you’ll enjoy the expertly designed, genuine wood interiors, the private beach and pier, the smooth, red shoreline rocks, and unparalleled archipelago nature. If desired, we’ll gladly prepare meals for you and take you out on a sightseeing or fishing excursion on one of our large boats. Welcome!

Finström • Instagram #norrofishingcamp

Bonäs

This place is all about peace, comfort and being close to nature. Choose your favourite among the three cottages – all have a large outdoor deck, grill, a wood burning sauna and secluded beach just a few metres away. The area is private and has its own jetty. Welcome to Bonäs!

Eckerö • www.bonas.ax

Djurviks Gästgård

At Djurviks Gästgård you can stay in one of our cottages. We are located 12 km from Mariehamn, right on the seashore. Guests young and old will enjoy our expansive lawns for games and relaxation. We also have a sauna, grill shelter, rowboats, a beach volleyball court and a bocce court. During high season, we also serve a breakfast buffet.

Jomala • www.djurvik.ax

Pellas Gästhem

Traditional boathouses welcome you to the little picturesque archipelago village of Lappo. Enjoy nature; here every season has its charm. Go hiking, stroll around the island or take a trip to the neighbouring islands. Pellas is open year round and offers apartments of different sizes. All of them are furnished with warm hospitality that makes you feel like home at the Thörnroos family.

Lappo • www.pellas.ax

Pensionat Solhem – by the sea

Beautiful and moderately priced accommodation close to nature and near the center of the maritime town of Mariehamn. Enjoy our cosy rooms, personal service and a good breakfast. Borrow a rowing boat or have a BBQ next to our boathouse. Relax on the large green lawn or on the child-friendly beach. Solhem boarding house was founded in 1912 and has been family-run for three generations.

Mariehamn • www.pensionatsolhem.ax

Biking in Åland

Åland is a pleasant place for biking, with lovely sceneries and many places of interest. In order for you to have a safe and nice bicycle trip, here is some advice on what you as a cyclist should know.

Did you know that the bike is a vehicle and its rider a driver? Thus, the same rules apply for bicycles as for other vehicles.

Right-hand traffic applies for cyclists on roads and on cycle paths too. As a driver of a vehicle you must observe right of way for vehicles approaching from the right. This doesn’t mean you can simply charge ahead into an intersecting roadway without looking. You have to exercise the care that circumstances demand. This is all about interaction with other people and respect for agreements and rules of traffic. For your own safety you need to pay attention in every situtation even if you have the right of way.

Please remember only children under 12 years of age can ride a bicycle on the sidewalk. Cyclists can travel side by side only when this can be done without danger, and not at all on sidewalks. Bicycles with more than two wheels, as well as mopeds, can’t be driven side by side with another bicycle or moped at all.

Sign well in advance when making a turn, look behind you and make sure you can turn without risk.

A safe bicycle is equipped with a bell, working brakes, white reflector in front, red in back, orange spoke reflectors (2 pcs) and lamp back and front. Use a reflective vest while biking to make sure you’re visible at a distance. Last but not least, don’t forget your helmet, it’s a cheap life insurance!

Road signs to be aware of

Walkway

This is a walkway, biking not allowed.

Walkway/cycle path

This path is divided into one part for pedestrians and one for cyclists. The symbols on the sign tell you which part is meant for which category.

Right of way

Cyclists entering a road area from a cycle path must observe right of way. This means that you lower your speed in time or stop, and you can only continue when there is no traffic with right of way. NB! As a cyclist you must always observe right of way, even when the crossing is marked in white for cyclists.

Stop sign

All vehicles must stop at this sign, this also includes bicycles.

Pedestrian crossing

All vehicles, including bicycles, must let pedestrians cross. At a crossing with no marking in white for cyclists, you should walk your bicycle across.

Bicycle path

The sign indicates distance to a location along the bicycle path.

Bicycle crossing

When you are crossing a road via a bicycle crossing, you must give way to crossing traffic.

Don´t forget your helmet, it´s a cheap life insurance!

We wish you a safe and pleasant bike ride on Åland

Accessible Åland

The Mariehamn City Library, pharmacies and Alandica Culture & Congress are some of the public places that are evaluated by experts to gauge their accessibility for people with various disabilities. Sights and accommodations are also included on the list, which can be viewed at https://www.visitaland.com/en/ accessible-aland/inventory/. Check this out before your visit!

Getting to Åland

It’s easy to get to Åland no matter what time of year it is. Choose between passenger ferries, flights or archipelago ferries.

Åland is very well connected to the outside world. From Sweden, ships run from Stockholm, Kapellskär and Grisslehamn. In Finland, ships run from Helsinki, Turku and Naantali. Åland also has a direct connection to Tallinn, Estonia. Passenger ferries have large car decks and run several times daily.

Viking Line, Tallink Silja and Eckerö Linjen ferries have a wide variety of restaurants and entertainment as well as tax-free shopping. Ticket prices are also affordable.

Flights to Åland from Sweden are made from Arlanda Airport in Stockholm. You can fly from Finland to Åland from Helsinki and Turku.

IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE to take an archipelago ferry to Åland from Finland. There are two alternatives – from Osnäs to Brändö (Åland) on the Northern Line, or from Galtby to Kökar on the Southern Line. We recommend staying overnight in one of the archipelago municipalities before heading over to the main island. If you are travelling to Åland on the Southern Line, you can return home on the Northern Line, or vice versa. This allows you to see more of the archipelago.

Passenger ships

VIKING LINE

Routes:

Kapellskär–Mariehamn.

Stockholm–Mariehamn/Långnäs–Turku

Stockholm–Mariehamn–Helsinki www.vikingline.se www.vikingline.fi

TALLINK SILJA

Routes:

Stockholm–Mariehamn/Långnäs–Turku Stockholm–Mariehamn–Helsingki Stockholm–Mariehamn–Tallinn www.tallinksilja.com

ECKERÖ LINJEN Routes: Grisslehamn–Eckerö www.eckerolinjen.se

FINNLINES

Routes: Kapellskär–Långnäs–Naantali www.finnlines.com/sv/ferry-trips

Flights

AMAPOLA

Stockholm–Mariehamn Turku–Mariehamn www.amapola.nu

FINNAIR

Helsingki–Mariehamn–Turku www.finnair.com

Bus service within Åland

ÅLANDSTRAFIKENS

RURAL BUS LINES

Five different bus lines on the main island. Timetables at www.alandstrafiken.ax tel. + 358 18 25600

MARIEHAMNSBUSSEN

Bus service within Mariehamn. www.vikinglinebuss.ax/lokaltrafik-pa-aland/mariehamnsbussen

Tour operators

AXTOURS.AX www.axtours.ax

ECKERÖ LINJEN www.eckerolinjen.se

LYYSKIS RESOR www.lyyskis.ax VIKING LINE www.vikingline.se ÅLANDHOTELS www.alandhotels.fi

ÅLANDSRESOR www.alandsresor.fi

ÅLANDS TURIST & KONFERENS www.turistkonferens.com

ÅLAND TRAVEL www.visitaland.com

Ferry travel within Åland

ÅLANDSTRAFIKEN

Inter-island ferry service within Åland. The ferries also carry vehicles. Service also to Finland. Information on timetables and booking: www.alandstrafiken.ax, tel. + 358 18 25600

MARIEHAMN

Taste is everything!

Our chefs are passionate about good, well-prepared food, and they only use locally produced ingredients that are in season. Find new favourites served at our extensive archipelago buffet, indulge yourself with a delightful à la carte dinner or choose one of the daily specials from the café or bistro.

Tip! We offer discounted prices for children, for more information www.eckerolinjen.se/en/prices

Two nice hours to Åland with M/S Eckerö

We are sure that you will have a truly unforgettable trip with us. Our cruise hosts are always ready for fun, and we also present live bands, guest performers and troubadours. During the summer, you can chill out at our summer party on the sundeck. Don’t forget to pick up some goodies and treats at our well-stocked duty free shop. Our prices are always lower than on land.

Explore Åland this year!

Timetable for M/S Eckerö

From Grisslehamn daily 10.00 and 15.00.

From Eckerö daily 13.30 and 18.30.

At weekends and during the summer also 08.00 from Eckerö and 20.00 from Grisslehamn.

Find bus timetables on www.eckerolinjen.se/en/busconnection

Golfing holidays

Åland has two top of the range golf courses: the Åland Golf Club and Eckerö Golf. You can book one of them or combine the two. There are accommodations close to the courses.

Package deal on Ålands Golfklubb

2 days with 2 greenfees, price example in May with accommodations at Kastelholms Gästhem 3 005:–/per person

Package deal on Eckerö Golf 2 days, with 2 greenfees, price example in May with accommodations on Eckerö Golfs stugor 2 251:–/per person

Find accommodations Åland has accommodations to suit all tastes. Luxurious villas perched atop high rocks, cosy cottages, modern hotels and authentic guesthouses.

Package deal weekend in cottage price example in May with accommodations at Käringsund Resort & Conference 1 691:–/4 persons

Package deal week in cottage price example in May with accommodations at Hästhagens stugor 4 868:–/4 persons

The fish are always biting in Åland

We book accommodations, fishing guides, boats and fishing permits.

Package deal for fishing 3 days, price example in May with accommodations at Björkviks stugor 1 730:–/per person

Mariehamn

Explore the cosy town of Mariehamn with the sea just around the corner, close to shopping, cozy cafés, and several museums.

Mini vacation with a 3 course meal, 1 night, price example in May with accommodations at Hotell Pommern in Mariehamn 1 051:–/per person

Eckerö for the children

There is plenty for kids to see and do in Eckerö like Leklandet, SmartPark, Käringsund Game Safari, Spark Laser Arena and beautiful beaches.

Children’s Eckerö with Game Safari

2 days, price example in June with accommodations at Käringsunds Camping 1 925:–/4 persons

The most beautiful island archipelago in the Baltic Sea awaits with open arms. We are closer than you think – just a pleasant, two-hour ferry voyage from Grisslehamn. Eckerö Linjen has a long experience of putting together travel packages to Åland that suit everyone: golfing, fishing, cottage stays, hotels, dining, children’s activities and just about everything else to make your holiday a memorable one. If you book your accommodations or travel package through us, you will receive a discount on the ferry ticket. www.eckerolinjen.se/en