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Kökar

A remote outer-archipelago island of bare rock, with a medieval monastery site.

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Typeisland municipality
WhereKökar
Nearest cityMariehamn
Best seasonJune to August
Time to allowOvernight or longer
Getting thereFerry through the southern archipelago route from Långnäs, several hours
EntryFree; ferries charged

Kökar lies in the outer archipelago southeast of the main island, and the landscape there is different from the rest of Åland: bare rounded granite, juniper and low pine rather than farmland, with the open Baltic on three sides. A Franciscan monastery stood at Hamnö from the fourteenth century and its church and foundations survive. Around two hundred and fifty people live on the island year round.

What you actually see

  • The bare granite - rounded rock and juniper rather than the farmland of the main island.
  • The monastery site - the Franciscan foundation at Hamnö from the 1300s.
  • The church - the building standing on the monastery ground.
  • The open Baltic - sea on three sides of the island.

When to go

June to August is the season, when ferries run most often and services open. Winter reduces ferries to a minimum. Ice can disrupt crossings in hard winters.

Honest expectations

Getting there takes several hours of ferry through the archipelago and connections must be planned. Almost everything closes outside July and August. Accommodation is very limited.

Nearby

Sottunga is northwest, and Föglö is west.

What to pack for Kökar

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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