Vårdö

Vårdö sits northeast of the main island across a short free ferry from Prästö, a group of wooded islands with the Hummelvik terminal at its far end where the northern archipelago ferries leave. It has walking trails through pine forest, sheltered inlets and a stone church of the fourteenth century. The name refers to the beacon system, the vårdkasar, that was kept on the heights to signal along the coast.

Background

Vårdö municipality covers 572.56 square kilometres, of which 471.16 are water, and had 465 residents on 31 December 2025. It is Swedish-speaking only. For over 300 years, from 1638 to 1910, the post route between Stockholm and Turku crossed the island, going by road from Båthusviken to Hullvik and otherwise by boat. Local people carried the mail in all weather, and many drowned on the way. A memorial to them stands on the shore at Hullvik, and milestones still mark the old post road. The writers Sally Salminen and Anni Blomqvist were both born here.

Source: Wikipedia, "Vårdö"

What you'll find

• The free ferry - the short crossing from Prästö that carries the road.
• The church - the fourteenth-century stone building on the island.
• The forest trails - the walking routes through pine and rock.
• The beacon name - the signal fire system the island is named for.

When to go

June to September is the season with services open. Winter reduces everything and the trails are snow covered. The ferry runs year round.

Before you go

There is little in the way of services and most close outside summer. It functions largely as the route to the northern archipelago. Trails are lightly marked.

Nearby

Bomarsund is southwest, and Kumlinge is northeast.

Key facts