The Åland Archipelago

The Åland Islands, scattered across the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland, are a beautiful autonomous archipelago of some 6,700 islands and skerries, a serene and quintessentially Nordic seascape. Only a fraction are inhabited, and the whole region invites gentle exploration: hopping between islands on a network of free and inexpensive ferries, cycling quiet lanes past red-painted wooden cottages, pine forests, smooth pink granite shores and little harbours, and pausing at fishing villages and island cafés. With its clean waters, low islands, maritime traditions and famously relaxed, sunny summers, Åland is a paradise for sailors, cyclists and anyone seeking the peaceful beauty of the Baltic archipelago at its loveliest.

What you actually see

• The island-hopping - the ferries linking thousands of isles.
• The red cottages - the classic red wooden houses and harbours.
• The granite shores - the smooth pink granite and pine.
• The cycling - the quiet lanes and bridges between islands.

When to go

June to August, the short, bright Nordic summer, is the season to visit, when the archipelago is green and sunny, the ferries and cafés fully running, and the long days perfect for sailing, cycling and island-hopping; the region is largely quiet and closed outside summer. Midsummer is a magical, festive time.

Honest expectations

Åland is very much a summer destination, its ferries, cafés and attractions largely dormant in the long, dark winter, and its pleasures are gentle and slow rather than dramatic, best enjoyed unhurried by boat or bike. As a serene, beautiful archipelago of thousands of islands, red cottages and granite shores, a Baltic sailor's paradise, though, Åland is a genuinely idyllic summer retreat.

Nearby

The capital Mariehamn is the hub for the surrounding islands.