Åland’s Countryside

Travel interests in Åland’s countryside range from historic sites and apple orchards to a viewpoint with distant views that depend on the weather. Small producers add another culinary highlight. When choosing a destination, you can consider whether cultural history, landscapes, or regional produce should shape your stay.

Castles, Churches, and Traces on Prästö

At the Bomarsund Visitor Centre, the area’s history is presented through sound and images. Kastelholm Castle was built as a defensive fortress at the end of the 14th century. In the wider destination of Åland, Kastelholm is the only castle. Jan Karlsgården, an open-air museum, is also located in the Kastelholm area.

Jomala Church is one of Finland’s oldest stone churches. In the wider destination of Åland, the tower of Jomala Church dates from the late 13th century. The first statement places the church among the stone churches, while the second dates a specific part of the building.

Prästö is home to cemeteries belonging to Greek Orthodox, Muslim, Lutheran, Catholic, and Jewish communities. They are connected with the period when Bomarsund Fortress was built. The Prästö hiking trail passes a Russian telegraph station and its accommodation, Doniken. Both are among the few surviving Russian buildings in Åland.

Views and Regional Produce

The observation tower on Getabergen is located in Geta and offers wide-ranging views in clear weather. The tower is a permanent feature; the distant views, however, depend on the weather. If the view matters to you, take the weather conditions into account when planning.

Åland’s countryside is home to several authentic small producers. Visitors can stroll through extensive apple orchards to buy the famous apple juice, or visit a caramel workshop and try handmade sweets. The availability of individual producers’ offerings may vary. A walk through the orchards combines time outdoors with buying apple juice; the caramel workshop focuses on handmade sweets and tasting them.

Åland in the Wider Travel Context

In the wider destination of Åland, the main-island section of the Åland Archipelago Trail runs from Prästö in Sund in the north to Lumparland in the south. This route provides a north–south orientation for the wider destination and complements the individual historic sites with an overarching route perspective.

The wider destination of Åland also offers other cultural and culinary attractions: Stallhagen Brewery near Godby offers tours and beer tastings. In Mariehamn, the Åland Museum of Cultural History and the Åland Art Museum are located in the same building. The museum ship Pommern is a four-masted barque and the only sailing ship of its size in the world to have been preserved in its original condition. It is open to visitors during the summer season; check the latest visitor information before your trip.

The Önningeby Museum displays landscape paintings from around the turn of the 20th century. At that time, the Önningeby artists’ colony existed as a creative community of painters. The Nordic traditions of clinker-built boatbuilding are considered UNESCO intangible cultural heritage and are described as deeply rooted in Åland. Several ferries depart for Åland daily from Finland and Sweden. Since schedules vary, check current departures with the ferry operators.

Discover more destinations: Lumparland, Gottby, Finström, Lemland, Saltvik, Geta, Eckerö, Jomala, Lumparland, Lemland, Hammarland, Finström, Ödkarby, Geta, Eckerö, Hammarland, Markusböle.