Åland Travel Guide
The Åland Islands, located in the Baltic Sea halfway between Finland and Sweden, are an archipelago of over 6700 skerries and islands. While technically a region of Finland, Åland is fully autonomous and its inhabitants are solely Swedish-speaking. Åland, along with the rest of Finland, came under Swedish rule in the 1200s. For the next six hundred years Åland was mainly ruled by Sweden, with short times of Finnish and Russian rule. In 1809 Åland was ceded to Russia and which then came under the control of the Grand Duchy of Finland. In 1832 Russia built the fortress of Bomarsund, which was destroyed in 1854 by British and French forces during the Crimean War. In 1917 a petition for secession from Finland and integration with Sweden was signed by voters on the islands, with over 95% in favour. Finland declined to cede Åland to Sweden and instead offered them an autonomous status.
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 Åland |
Top 5 Destinations in Åland |
 Mariehamn |
 Kastelholm |
 Bomarsund |
 Käringsund |
 Jan Karlsgarden |
Top 5 Nature Destinations |
 Orrdalsklint |
 Geta |
 Farjsundet |
 Jarsö |
 Snäcköfjärden |
Other Destinations |
Bomarsund – the remains of a Russian built fortress.
Eckerö – a popular village on the west coast.
Geta – a small village with a few hiking trails.
Jan Karlsgarden – Open Air Museum with a collection of buildings from all over Åland.
Jarsö – a pretty island south of Mariehamn.
Käringsund – an old fishing village.
Kastelholm – Åland’s only castle, dating back to the 13th century.
Mariehamn – the tiny capital of Åland.
Sund – home to a 13th century church.
Bicycling – the best way to explore Åland. With almost no traffic Åland is a cycling paradise.
Kayaking – with over 6700 islands and skerries, your opportunities are endless.
National Parks |
Åland does not have any national parks.
UNESCO Sites |
Åland does not have any UNESCO sites.
Typical Costs |
Accommodation
Camping: free
Hostels: NAHotels: €50+
Activity Costs
Bomarsund – free
Kastelholm – €7 adults
Eat/Drink
Beer: €5-7
Coffee: €3-4
Sitdown Meal: €15+
Tipping:
Transportation
Bicycle Hire (RONO)
1 gear – €10d/€50w
3 gear – €15d/€75w
7 gear (women) – €20d/€100w
8 gear (men) – €20d/€100w
Åland is reasonable flat, with the highest point being 129m. From my experience a 3 geared bike is quite sufficient.
Ålandstrafiken operate ferries around the archipelago, costing €4-6 for a bicycle.
Budget
Tight: €40
Relaxed: €60
Guidebooks |
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Useful Websites |