From Sauna Tours to Viking Castles: The Åland Islands Will Make You Say ‘Åh, Land!’ – Let’s Explore
The Åland Islands are an archipelago in the Baltic Sea, located between Finland and Sweden. Heard of them? Well, get ready to set sail to the Åland Islands, where the past is just as colorful as the stunning archipelago’s natural beauty–from Stone Age settlements to medieval fortresses, and even a diplomatic dispute, the Åland Islands have seen it all.
So, let’s hop aboard the time-traveling ship and embark on a journey through the history of these fascinating islands!
Here are some things to do and see in the Åland Islands:
- Visit the Åland Maritime Museum: Mariehamn is where learn about the island’s seafaring history.
- Explore the Kastelholm Castle: A medieval fortress located in Sund, and learn about the history of the islands.
- Take a cycling tour: Cycle the beautiful countryside and along the coast. The islands are very bike-friendly with well-marked trails.
- Visit the Åland Archipelago Trail: a scenic route that takes you through the islands’ unique landscape.
- Go fishing or boating: The archipelago is where you can rent a boat or join a fishing tour.
- Visit the Åland Islands Art Museum: Mariehamn showcases contemporary art by local and international artists.
- Go on a food tour: Taste some of the delicious local specialties, such as smoked fish, artisanal cheeses, and locally produced beer and cider.
- Visit the Bomarsund Fortress: A historic site that was destroyed during the Crimean War in 1854.
- Explore the nature reserves: National parks on the islands is a great place to hit nature, such as the Långbergen and Järsö nature reserves.
- Take a ferry ride: VIsit one of the smaller islands, such as Föglö or Kökar, and explore the charming villages and stunning scenery.
- Visit the Åland Hunting and Fishing Museum: Eckerö showcases the islands’ hunting and fishing traditions.
- Take a tour of one of the local distilleries: Tour the Åland Distillery, and learn about the production of craft spirits.
- Visit the Åland Islands Peace Institute: Mariehamn, promotes conflict resolution and peace-building.
- Go kayaking or paddleboarding: Paddle in the archipelago and explore the crystal-clear waters.
- Visit the St. Göran’s Church: Kökar, boasts one of the oldest churches in the Åland Islands and dates back to the 12th century.
- Take a sauna tour: Experience the traditional Finnish sauna culture. There are many saunas located throughout the islands, including in hotels, resorts, and private homes.
- Visit the Jan Karlsgården open-air museum: Sund showcases traditional Ålandic farming and fishing culture.
- Swing some golf: The archipelago has several courses scattered around the islands.
- Explore the Åland Islands Trail: A hiking route that takes you through the islands’ diverse landscapes, including forests, meadows, and rocky coastline for amazing views.
- Attend one of the many cultural events and festivals: Held throughout the year, check out the Åland Sea Jazz Festival, the Åland Island Games, and the Åland Harvest Festival.
- Visit the Åland Sailing Museum: Mariehamn showcases the islands’ long maritime history and sailing traditions. The museum has a large collection of historic boats and ships, as well as exhibits on navigation, boat building, and sailing races.
The Åland Islands have their own top-level domain name, “.ax”, which is used for websites based in the islands. The domain was introduced in 2006 and is administered by the Åland Islands government.
The “.ax” domain is unique in that it is one of the smallest country code top-level domains in the world, with only a few thousand registered domain names.
The Åland Islands have been shaped by their strategic location between Sweden and Finland. The islands have been inhabited since prehistoric times, with evidence of Stone Age settlements dating back to around 5000 BCE.
In the Middle Ages, the Åland Islands were part of the Swedish kingdom and were an important hub for trade and commerce. The islands were also a key military stronghold, and several medieval fortresses and castles were built to defend against enemy attacks.
In the early 19th century, the Åland Islands were ceded to Russia as part of the Treaty of Fredrikshamn, which ended the Finnish War. However, the islands were returned to Sweden in 1856 following a diplomatic dispute between Sweden and Russia.
During the 1900s, the Åland Islands became an autonomous region of Finland, with their own parliament and flag. This status was confirmed in 1995 with the signing of the Åland Convention, which granted the islands extensive self-governance rights.
Throughout their history, the Åland Islands have been a culturally diverse region, with influences from Finnish, Swedish, and Russian traditions.
