Making the most of Mariehamn Aland Islands
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Set in the centre of the Baltic Sea, the Åland Islands are an autonomous part of Finland, complete with their own flag, stamps and licence plates.
Mariehamn, the capital, has six berths and two passenger terminals. Ships may be a maximum of 240mtr in length with a 7.6mtr depth, or 210mtr with an 8.2mtr depth.
The port sits only 900mtr from the city centre.
The port has introduced a new lift and new stairs for passengers. At the terminal, hosts greet guests with information about the city, and local performers provide a musical welcome. A complimentary shuttle bus travels from the port into town every 20 minutes.
Bring a printable map with you.
Though youthful, Mariehamn dates from 1861, when Åland and Finland were within the Russian Empire. It was named for Maria, the consort of Tsar Alexander II of Russia.
The Pommern, formerly called Mneme, is a museum windjammer: a four-masted barque built in 1903 at the J. Reid & Co shipyard in Glasgow. One of the Flying P-Liners of the German shipping company F. Laeisz, she later belonged to Gustaf Erikson (Åland), carrying grain from Australia’s Spencer Gulf area to ports in England or Ireland until World War II began.
The Åland Maritime Museum records the era of sailing ships. Its exhibits include the red-brown captain’s saloon from Gustaf Erikson’s four-masted barque Hertzogen Cecilie, which ran aground off England in 1936; before the vessel sank, the saloon was recovered and taken to Åland.
Traditional boatbuilding continues at the Maritime Quarter in the Eastern harbour. Its red sheds contain a boatyard, smithy and boat and shipbuilding museum, and several small vessels have been constructed there, among them the galleass Albanus and the schooner Linden.
The Åland Museum follows the islands’ story from prehistory to the present. At the Åland Art Museum, works by older and younger Åland artists are displayed, while the Mariehamn Gallery at the Western harbour has a model of 1920s Mariehamn and its wooden homes.
Getting around
It takes just 15 minutes to walk between the western and eastern harbours. As the world’s smallest capital, Mariehamn is particularly well suited to exploring and shopping on foot, with many sights, activities and attractions close by.
Taxis can be booked by telephone or found at ranks. Major international credit cards and cash are accepted; the standard starting fare is 4.50 euros, then the metered amount increases by kilometre and may vary with the number of passengers.
Car hire is available in Finland, but is generally costly, with prices usually starting above € 80/day.
Food and shopping
Åland handicrafts, notably glassware, ceramics, wrought iron and textiles, are highly regarded and all are within convenient reach. If walking is not preferred, Mariehamn provides a courtesy shuttle when cruise ships arrive.
Torggatan is Mariehamn’s principal shopping street, with boutiques, cafés and restaurants. It is a good place to pick up local crafts and souvenirs or sample Finnish cuisine.
Money
Finland uses the euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. The country does not use 1 and 2 cent coins, so totals are rounded to the nearest 5 cents.
Staying connected
Finland’s two official languages are Finnish (93%) and Swedish (7%); English is also widely spoken.
In Aland, however, Swedish is spoken by 90% of people.
For police and every other emergency service, use the national number 112.
Customer WiFi is uncommon in cafés, as people generally connect at home or work, but almost every public library offers free Internet access. WiFi hotspots are becoming more widespread too.
Opening Hours and
Weekday hours
07.00–09.00 until 20.00–21.00
Saturday hours
09.00 until 15.00–18.00
Sunday hours
Not open.