- Local time
- 11:00
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Capital
- Mariehamn
- Drive on the
- right
Overview
A self-governing, Swedish-speaking archipelago of Finland in the Baltic Sea, with a long seafaring history, quiet roads for cycling and free ferries for foot passengers between the islands.
Åland is an autonomous region of Finland with its own parliament, its own stamps and Swedish as its only official language. It has about 80 inhabited islands and some 6,000 smaller islands and skerries. Most people live on Fasta Åland, the main group of islands linked by bridges, where Mariehamn is the only town. The rest is "the archipelago": small island municipalities reached by ferry.
Seafaring shaped the islands, and Mariehamn's four-masted Pommern and the Maritime Museum are the most visited sights. Outside the town expect villages of a few houses, a medieval castle, monastery ruins, lighthouses and a lot of open water. Åland is part of the Schengen area but outside the EU VAT area, and in winter many guesthouses and attractions close.
- Mariehamn: The capital, with the Pommern and the Åland Maritime Museum at the West Harbour.
- Kastelholm Castle: One of Finland's few medieval castles, in Sund, dating from the 1380s.
- Bomarsund: Ruins of a vast Russian fortress destroyed in the Crimean War in 1854.
- Kökar: An outer island with the ruins of a Franciscan monastery.
- Märket: A lighthouse on a tiny island divided between Sweden and Finland.
- The Postal Route: A 65 km historic route across the islands, popular with cyclists.
Places to visit
- City
- Island
Cities
- Mariehamn: The capital and only town, with most of the hotels and restaurants and a ferry harbour.
- Eckerö: Ferry port in the west, closest to Sweden, with the historic Mail and Customs House.
- Finström: Includes Godby, the second-largest settlement after Mariehamn.
- Sund: Home of Kastelholm Castle and the Bomarsund fortifications.
- Geta: A northern municipality of hills, gorges and caves, with an observation tower.
- Jomala: Next to Mariehamn, with the airport and Åland's oldest church.
Beyond the cities
- Kökar (island): Island municipality in the southeast, on an old shipping route, with medieval monastery ruins.
- Föglö (island): Archipelago municipality known for fishing and maritime traditions, on the southern ferry line.
- Vårdö (island): Linked to mainland Åland by a cable ferry, with a campsite.
- Kobba Klintar (island): Island with an old pilot station, reached in summer by boat from the Pommern.
- Märket (island): Lighthouse island on the border with Sweden; boat trips from Eckerö in good weather.
- Lågskär (island): Lighthouse island out in the Baltic, popular with birdwatchers; tours from Mariehamn.
Regions
- Fasta Åland: The main islands, linked by bridges: Mariehamn and ten rural municipalities.
- The archipelago: Brändö, Föglö, Kumlinge, Kökar, Sottunga and Vårdö, reached by Ålandstrafiken ferries.
Things to do
See
- Pommern and the Åland Maritime Museum Mariehamn: The four-masted sailing ship and the museum at the West Harbour, Åland's most visited sights.
- Kastelholm Castle and Jan Karlsgården Sund: A medieval castle and, next to it, an open-air museum of a late 19th-century farm.
- Bomarsund Fortress Sund: The ruins of a Russian fortress destroyed in 1854.
- Vita Björn prison museum Sund: Åland's prison until 1975, now a museum of prison life from the 18th to the 20th century.
- Views from the hills Geta and Saltvik: Observation towers in Geta and on Orrdalsklint (129 m), the highest point of Åland.
Do
- Cycle the Postal Route: The 17th-century mail route from Eckerö to Brändö, marked by post-horn signs.
- Lighthouse excursions: Guided summer trips to Lågskär, Sälskär and Märket.
- Fishing trips: Local businesses rent boats and equipment and can arrange the permit you need from the owner of the waters.
Drink
- Stallhagen brewery Finström: Guided tours and a pub at the islands' brewery.
Shop
- Apples and cider: Åland apple juice, cider and liqueurs, and the islands' own postage stamps.
Itineraries
Mariehamn and mainland Åland by bike in 4 days (4 days)
- Mariehamn (2 nights): The Pommern, the Maritime Museum and a boat to Kobba Klintar in summer.
- Sund (1 night): Kastelholm, Jan Karlsgården and Bomarsund.
- Eckerö (1 night): The Mail and Customs House and, in good weather, a boat to Märket.
The southern archipelago in 4 days (4 days)
- Föglö (1 night): By the southern ferry line from Långnäs, free for foot passengers.
- Kökar (2 nights): The monastery ruins and the outer islands.
- Mariehamn (1 night): Back via Långnäs by ferry and bus.
Holidays and events
- 1 January 2026 · New Year's Day
- 6 January 2026 · Epiphany
- 3 April 2026 · Good Friday
- 5 April 2026 · Easter Sunday
- 6 April 2026 · Easter Monday
- 1 May 2026 · May Day
- 14 May 2026 · Ascension Day
- 24 May 2026 · Pentecost
- 9 June 2026 · Autonomy Day
- 19 June 2026 · Midsummer Evey
- 20 June 2026 · Midsummer Day
- 7 November 2026 · All Saints Day
- 6 December 2026 · Independence Day
- 24 December 2026 · Christmas Eve
- 25 December 2026 · Christmas Day
- 26 December 2026 · St. Stephen's Day
Getting around
| Main airports | MHQ |
|---|
Ferries run by Ålandstrafiken serve the archipelago all year and are free for foot passengers. Cars must book and pay on most longer crossings, and the fare is much lower if you stop overnight in the archipelago: in 2024 a direct crossing cost about €122 for a car against about €38 with an overnight stop. Book vehicles well ahead in summer, especially around Midsummer.
Buses cover most of the main islands; a ticket, bought in the PayiQ app, cost €2.50 in 2024 and is valid for two hours. Cycling is a popular way to get around, with cycle paths on many roads. Roads are good and traffic is light, but rental cars are few, so book ahead. Parking on the left side of a street is not allowed.
Flying to Åland? PartnerCompare fares and find the cheapest datesSearch flightsWhere to stay
- Hotels: Mostly in Mariehamn.
- Guesthouses and cottages: The usual choice outside the town; many also organise fishing trips and guided tours.
- Campsites: On the main islands and on smaller islands such as Vårdö and Kökar.
In winter many guesthouses and cottage villages close, so check before you plan a trip out of season. Wild camping is more restricted than in the rest of Finland: outside campsites it is generally limited to one night, you should ask the landowner, and it is forbidden in nature reserves.
Eat and drink
Dishes to try
- Smoked flounder: Served with potato salad; fish in general is the thing to look for.
- Svartbröd: A dark, sweet rye bread made with treacle, which keeps for weeks.
- Ålandspannkaka: Åland pancake of semolina porridge and cardamom, with stewed plums and whipped cream, sold in most cafés.
- Kastelholm cheese: From the local ÅCA dairy, good with blackbread.
Drinks
- Stallhagen beer: From the brewery near Finström, sold all over the islands.
- Apple juice and cider: Åland is known for its apples; cider is made on Kökar.
Most restaurants are in Mariehamn, and there is little fast food elsewhere. Some places open only on certain days, so ask your guesthouse: many can arrange dinner if you book it in advance. Drinks stronger than 5.5% alcohol are sold mainly in the Alko shops, by producers and in bars and restaurants.
Entry requirements and visas
Åland is part of Finland and of the Schengen area, so entry rules are the same as for Finland. If you arrive from another Schengen country there are normally no border checks; arriving from outside Schengen, for example by private boat, you go through immigration and customs. Rules depend on your passport: check the official sources for Finland and the Schengen area before you book.
Åland is outside the EU VAT area, so some goods need customs clearance. Pets coming from abroad need their pet passport and proof of rabies vaccination and tapeworm treatment.
Money and payments
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Cards | Widespread |
Åland uses the euro (€). Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. Swedish kronor are often taken in summer, but at a poor rate. Prices are generally higher than in mainland Finland and Sweden, with many goods costing 10 to 50% more.
Health
Ticks are common and can carry Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Check your body after walking in grass or woods, and ask a travel health professional about the TBE vaccine if you will spend a lot of time outdoors.
The hospital in Mariehamn has a 24-hour emergency department, but medical services elsewhere are limited, and serious cases are flown by helicopter to Turku or Uppsala.
This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.
Safety
Crime is rare. The practical risks are at sea: on shores close to the cruise ferry routes the water rises and then pulls back when a ferry passes, so stay away from the water's edge. Take the usual care when boating or walking on sea ice. On the cruise ferries, incidents linked to alcohol, including sexual harassment, happen: do not go to private areas with strangers and report any serious incident to the crew.
Customs and etiquette
Ålanders have a distinct identity shaped by their autonomy and their Swedish-speaking culture, and many see themselves first as Ålanders: do not call them Finns.
The right to roam is more limited than in mainland Finland or Sweden, because the small islands wear easily. Ask the landowner before camping outside a campsite, stay on marked trails in nature reserves, and remember that most fishing needs a permit from the owner of the waters.
Language
| Official languages | Swedish |
|---|---|
| English | Widespread |
| Hello | Hej HAY |
|---|---|
| Good morning | God morgon good MOR-ron |
| Thank you | Tack TACK |
| Excuse me | Ursäkta OOSHEHK-ta |
| Goodbye | Hej då hay DOE |
| Do you speak English? | Talar du engelska? TAH-lar doo EHNG-ehl-ska |
What to pack
- Passport or ID card: Åland is in the Schengen area; arrivals from outside it go through border checks.
- Tick repellent and long trousers: Ticks are common and can carry Lyme disease and TBE.
- Bike or bike booking: Cycling is one of the best ways to get around; ferries may need a booking in summer.
- Card for payments: Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted; Swedish kronor get a poor rate.
- Pet passport: Pets from abroad also need proof of rabies and tapeworm treatment.
Quick reference
Country facts
| Capital | Mariehamn |
|---|---|
| Population | 30,836 (2025) |
| Area | 1,583 km² |
| Time zone | Europe/Mariehamn (UTC+2) |
| Driving side | right |
Staying connected
| SIM and eSIM | Åland uses Finland's country code, +358, and the area code 18 for landlines. Elisa and DNA have no network of their own on the islands. |
|---|---|
| Roaming | EU roaming works as elsewhere in the EU, subject to your provider's terms; users of Elisa and DNA from mainland Finland may need to switch on roaming. |
Frequently asked questions
Is Åland part of Finland?
Yes. It is a self-governing region of Finland with its own parliament, and Swedish is its only official language.
Do I need a passport for Åland?
Åland is in the Schengen area, so the rules for Finland apply. Arriving from outside Schengen you go through border and customs checks.
How do I get to Åland?
By cruise ferry from Finland (Turku, Naantali, Helsinki) or Sweden (Stockholm, Kapellskär, Grisslehamn), or by plane to Mariehamn from Helsinki, Turku or Stockholm.
Are the ferries between the islands free?
Yes for foot passengers. Cars pay on most longer crossings, and much less if they stop overnight in the archipelago.
Can I pay in Swedish kronor?
The currency is the euro. Kronor are often accepted in summer, but at an unfavourable rate.
When is the best time to visit?
Summer: in winter many guesthouses, cottages and attractions close, and sights outside Mariehamn have short opening hours.
More Travel Stories from Europe
PortugalSources This guide was last checked on · 6 sources
- Wikivoyage: Åland · Overview, Places to visit, Things to do, Itineraries, Getting around, Where to stay, Eat and drink, Entry requirements and visas, Money and payments, Health, Safety, Customs and etiquette, Language, What to pack, Staying connected, Frequently asked questions
- Wikidata: Åland · Overview, Places to visit, Money and payments, Country facts
- Nager.Date: public holidays in Åland, 2026 · Holidays and events
- ISO 4217 (SIX), published 2026-09-17 · Money and payments
- Wikivoyage: Swedish phrasebook · Language
- IANA Time Zone Database, zone.tab · Country facts
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