Book a dream stay

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

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 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

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 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

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!

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.