The Åland Islands are located between Sweden and Finland and officially belong to Finland — though Swedish is the language spoken there.
From Stockholm and Helsinki you can easily reach the Åland Islands by ferry — the Stockholm crossing takes about six hours.
Our hotel pick in Åland is the Hotel Arkipelag — great location in the center of Mariehamn, right by the water.
Top attractions include the pilot island of Kobba Klintar, the Bomarsund fortress ruins, and the panoramic viewpoint at Nortviksbasen.
Plan for at least four to five days — Åland rewards slow travel, and you’ll wish you’d stayed longer.
We spent five days exploring the Åland Islands and want to share everything we experienced there in this article. In the first part, we give you our tips for planning your trip to Åland — the best time to visit, how to get there, where to stay, and other important things to know before you go.
In the second part, we cover the top attractions in Åland, what you can do there, and where to eat really well.
Since the article is a bit longer, feel free to use the table of contents to jump directly to any section you’d like.
11 interesting facts about the Åland Islands
The Å in Åland sounds more like an O than an A — closest to the way the A is pronounced in the English word “ball.”
Åland officially belongs to Finland, but residents speak Swedish.
Since Åland is an autonomous region, it has its own flag, its own postage stamps and license plates, and even its own domain extension (.ax).
Unlike, say, the Faroe Islands, the Åland Islands don’t have their own national soccer team.
More than 90 percent of Ålanders who leave home to study later return.
The Åland Islands have an extremely low unemployment rate — in summer, it’s often the lowest in all of Europe.
In soccer, residents root for Sweden; in ice hockey, they root for Finland. They simply always back the better team.
The only city in Åland is Mariehamn, with about 11,000 residents.
Åland consists of more than 6,700 islands, of which about 60 are inhabited.
Because Åland has red granite, all paved roads — and even the airport runway — are red.
Due to the Åland Islands’ special tax status, all ferries operating between Sweden and Finland stop in Mariehamn to allow duty-free shopping on board.
As we walked through the streets of Mariehamn, we discovered some incredibly beautiful old traditional houses.
The Best Time to Visit
As beautiful as Åland is, the climate this far north is unfortunately fairly harsh. Winters are often long and cold — but summers can be genuinely warm and lovely.
The best time to visit the Åland Islands is the summer months from June through August. It stays light for a very long time during this period — around the summer solstice on June 21st, it barely gets dark at all.
The sun often shines during the day, and even though temperatures aren’t tropical, the sun up here is seriously intense. Don’t skip the sunscreen!
The shoulder seasons around summer are also worth considering. In April and May, or September and October, there aren’t many tourists on the islands, though you do need to be prepared for changeable weather. That said, you can still get really lucky.
Winters in Åland are very cold and very dark. There are virtually no tourist offerings during this time, so traveling in the winter months is really only for the most dedicated enthusiasts.
We were in Åland in mid-June. Over five days, we had one rainy day and otherwise truly beautiful, sunny weather.
The great thing about so many islands is that you can simply always see the sea, everywhere you go!
How Much Time Should You Plan for Your Trip?
Åland isn’t a destination where you quickly check off a few sights and head back home. The magic of the islands lies in their unspoiled nature, the unique people, and that incredible sense of peace and tranquility. A true destination for explorers.
We ourselves spent only five days on the Åland Islands, but in hindsight we would have loved to stay longer. Åland is absolutely the kind of place where you could spend your entire summer vacation and just unwind for two to three weeks.
If you don’t have that much time, or if you want to combine Åland with other destinations like Stockholm or Helsinki, plan for at least four to five days.
Getting to the Åland Islands
Åland sits between Sweden and Finland, and there are regular ferry connections from both countries. Mariehamn also has a small airport.
Åland Islands: Getting There by Ferry
We traveled by Tallink Silja Line ferry from Stockholm to Åland, then continued on from Åland to Helsinki.
The journey from Stockholm to Åland takes about six hours. Several ferries operate this route daily; you can find the exact schedule and booking options on the Tallink Silja Line website.
The crossing is made on large ships, similar to those used on cruises. On board you’ll find everything you could want: restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and wellness areas.
The ferry company Viking Line — which actually originates from Åland — also offers crossings to Stockholm as well as to Kapellskär, north of Stockholm. The trip to Kapellskär takes only about two hours. More information is on the Viking Line website.
Heading toward Finland, ferries to Turku and Helsinki run daily. At the end of our stay in Åland, we took the Tallink Silja Line to Helsinki. The ferry departs from Mariehamn just before midnight and arrives in Helsinki about ten hours later — you sleep well in the cabins and arrive well-rested the next morning.
Especially during peak season from late June onward, when Sweden and Finland are on school vacation, book your crossing well in advance. If you’re traveling by car in particular, availability can get very tight.
We took this ferry from Åland to Helsinki
We used the time on the ferry to work.
We really liked our sleeping cabin on the Tallink Silja Line!
Getting There by Plane
Mariehamn Airport is served by Finnair and several smaller airlines, with connections to Stockholm, Turku, and Helsinki.
We stayed in Mariehamn, the capital of Åland, at the Hotel Arkipelag. The hotel has an excellent location right in the city center with views of the water. The rooms aren’t the newest, but they’re spacious and comfortable, and breakfast was really good.
You can find an overview of many more hotels and other accommodations on the Åland Islands on this page.
Camping
As throughout Scandinavia, camping is a super popular option on the Åland Islands.
There are numerous campgrounds spread across the various islands. You can find an overview of all campgrounds on this page. Some sites can be booked online, others can’t.
We spent two nights at the Sandösund campground on the island of Vardö in the northeastern part of the archipelago. In addition to pitches for tents and campers, there are also simple wooden cabins and even comfortable rooms.
Sandoesund Camping
Sandösund Camping
Staying on a Deserted Island
There are 6,700 islands in Åland and only 60 are inhabited — so there are plenty of deserted islands where you can feel like Robinson Crusoe and experience a real sense of adventure.
This cute little hut stands in the middle of the island.
You can make yourself comfortable in the hot bathtub right by the sea. By the way, it’s half past 12 at night in the picture.
Travel Costs & Withdrawing Cash on the Ground
In Åland, you pay with euros. Since the islands also have a strong Swedish influence, Swedish kronor are accepted in many places too.
ATMs are available mainly in Mariehamn. Card payment is widely accepted, so you can get by just fine without carrying a lot of cash.
Pricewise, the Åland Islands — like all of Scandinavia — are not a budget destination. A meal at a restaurant costs between 15 and 30 euros, and you’ll easily pay around 6 to 9 euros for a beer.
What to Pack
Since the weather in the far north can be quite unpredictable, make sure to bring appropriate clothing for all conditions.
Two things are especially important: sunscreen and insect repellent. When the sun is shining, it burns intensely and you can get a sunburn faster than you’d expect. And during the summer months, there are seriously a lot of mosquitoes in Scandinavia — so a good insect repellent is non-negotiable.
You can of course buy both on the Åland Islands, but it doesn’t hurt to come prepared.
You can find general packing advice and our favorite travel essentials in our packing lists.
Getting Around on the Ground
The easiest way to explore the Åland Islands is by car. The larger islands are all connected by bridges or ferries, so you can get from one place to another really quickly.
Åland is also super well suited to exploring by bicycle. Almost all accommodations and campgrounds rent bikes.
For longer distances without a car, there’s a public bus system — tickets can be purchased directly from the driver. The bus company’s website is only in Swedish, so your best bet is to ask locally about departure times.
Locations not served by buses are covered by the archipelago ferries operated by Ålandstrafiken. You can find routes and departure times on their website.
Marina in Mariehamn
We explored the island of Vardö by bike
Things to Do & See in the Åland Islands
The Åland Islands impress above all with their unspoiled nature and relaxed atmosphere. That said, there are definitely some standout highlights that are especially worth your time.
Kobba Klintar
If you’re arriving in Åland by ferry, you’ll pass right by Kobba Klintar.
This small island with its pilot house is the gateway to the Åland Islands.
Until the 1970s, maritime pilots were still active here.
Today, the island and the pilot house are open to visitors.
Stand there and feel the brisk wind on your face while watching the huge ferries to Stockholm and Helsinki glide past. Really atmospheric.
Kobba Klintar
Kobba Klintar
Bomarsund
Bomarsund was a fortress built by the Russians in the early 19th century. Today, only a few foundation walls remain.
It’s not the most spectacular sight, but if you’re passing by, it’s still worth a quick stop.
Bormasund
Stunning Views from Nortviksbasen
One of the most beautiful viewpoints on the Åland Islands is just a few kilometers north of Bomarsund. From Nordviksbasen, you get a spectacular panorama over the island landscape — absolutely worth the short detour.
Nortviksbasen
Medieval Stone Churches
Every municipality on the Åland Islands has at least one church. In total, there are twelve remarkable medieval stone churches scattered across the islands.
If you’re cycling or driving around, you’ll naturally come across them along the way.
Stone church in Vardö
Åland Museum of Photography
If you’re into photography and cameras, this museum is a real highlight. Owner Olle and his wife Belinda run it with incredible passion — they have the largest collection of photographic equipment in all of Scandinavia.
Olle stands proudly behind the counter, showing off his collectibles.
Even More to Discover
Honestly, five days wasn’t enough to see everything the Åland Islands have to offer. There’s so much more to explore — like the massive sailing ship Pommern or the stunning beaches in Eckerö. Looks like we’ll have to come back.
For a great overview of all the sights, museums, and activities in Åland, check out the Visit Åland website.
Food and Drink
When we think back on our trip to Åland, great food is always part of the picture. At almost every place we ate, the dishes featured seasonal and regional ingredients — and the quality was seriously impressive.
The standout restaurant is Smakbyn, run by Åland’s celebrity chef Mikke Björklund. It’s probably the best food on the islands, and you’ll also find house-made apple brandy and a fantastic shop for cooking enthusiasts.
The best beer we had on our entire Scandinavia trip also comes from the Åland Islands. The small Stallhagen brewery makes craft beer of the finest quality, served at almost every restaurant on the islands. Sure, a half-liter might cost 1–2 euros more than Finnish or international mass-market beer, but it’s totally worth it. Seriously good.
The Stallhagen pub, which belongs to the brewery, is also a great spot for a meal. Every day there are two rotating dishes, again made exclusively from regional and seasonal ingredients.
In Mariehamn, we recommend Club Marin at the small yacht harbor, right across from the Hotel Arkipelag. They serve everything from burgers to pasta — whatever you’re in the mood for.
For a cozy coffee break, try the Bagarstugan café. You’ll find it in a red house on Ekonomiegatan, a side street off Mariehamn’s main shopping street.
If you have a food intolerance or allergy, Åland is honestly a paradise: everything is properly labeled, and many dishes are naturally lactose-free or gluten-free.
Åland Islands Video
Check out our video impressions from Åland. In our video 22 Hours Åland Islands, we show you in a compact five minutes what we experienced and saw there.
