Åland without a car – how do you actually get around the archipelago?
Do you need a car in Åland? Not necessarily.
It is quite easy to travel around Åland without your own car, but getting around the archipelago works a little differently from travelling on the mainland. Instead of thinking in terms of changing from one bus to another, you should think of ferries, archipelago ferries, buses, bicycles, walking and a little advance planning.
And actually, that is part of the charm of Åland.
We travel around the archipelago ourselves quite a lot at Strandhugget, and we know that you can see and experience plenty without a car – as long as you plan your route sensibly.
From Helsinki or Turku to Åland without a car
Getting to Åland from Finland is easy by ferry. There are direct ferry connections from both Turku and Helsinki, and during the summer you can also reach Åland by travelling through the archipelago on the local ferries.
If you are travelling without a car, it is worth thinking about where you are going already when you book your trip.
Mariehamn is easy without a car
If your trip is mainly focused on Mariehamn, you really do not need a car.
The Western Harbour is within walking distance of the town centre, where hotels, restaurants, cafés and many attractions are close to each other. Bicycles can also be rented.
But if you want to experience the Åland archipelago, it is worth going further than Mariehamn.
One thing to know when travelling from Helsinki
The ferries from Helsinki to Mariehamn travel overnight and arrive early in the morning. The journey takes around 11.5 hours.
This is worth keeping in mind, especially if you are planning to continue directly from Mariehamn into the archipelago.
There are different timetable options from Turku, so the best route depends very much on where in Åland you are heading.
Långnäs is the gateway to the archipelago
For anyone travelling to Strandhugget, Långnäs is a particularly important harbour.
Långnäs is about 30 kilometres from Mariehamn, and archipelago ferries depart from here towards destinations including Sottunga, Föglö and Kökar. The Southern Line runs from Långnäs via Föglö and Sottunga to Kökar and onwards to Galtby in Korpo.
If you are travelling without a car, you need to plan how you will get between Mariehamn and Långnäs.
Take the bus from Mariehamn to the archipelago ferry
This is an important point for anyone travelling without a car:
There are bus connections from Mariehamn to almost every archipelago ferry, and back to Mariehamn.
This means that you do not necessarily need your own car or a taxi to reach an archipelago harbour. You can take the bus from Mariehamn and continue by archipelago ferry.
Always check the timetable for your travel date. Bus services are more limited in the evenings and at weekends.
Still, this makes travelling without a car much easier than many people might expect.
Långnäs → Sottunga
If you are travelling to Sottunga, Långnäs is one of the key connections.
The Southern Line runs from Långnäs via Sottunga, and from Sottunga you can continue, for example, to Kökar or back towards Långnäs.
And then you have arrived in Sottunga.
Strandhugget is right next to the harbour.
This is one of our biggest advantages for travellers without a car: there is no need to find a taxi or arrange separate transport from the ferry to your accommodation.
You simply walk from the ferry to us.
How do you get around Sottunga?
Here the answer is easy:
on foot and by bicycle.
Sottunga is a small archipelago municipality, and you simply do not need a car in the same way you might in a larger destination.
Bicycles available for visitors make it easy to explore the island. By bike, you can easily reach places such as:
the church
Skage fishing harbour
different parts of the island
swimming spots
the cliffs on the western shore
the summer market
And if your goal is simply to relax, you do not even have to do that.
In Sottunga, you can simply walk from the harbour to Strandhugget, have dinner at Salteriet, go for a swim and sit on the terrace in the evening.
Take your bicycle on the bus
This is one of the great things about travelling without a car in Åland.
Bicycles can be taken on Åland’s buses.
This makes combining cycling and public transport surprisingly practical. For example, you can:
cycle → take the bus with your bicycle → continue from another location → cycle again.
Bicycles can also be taken on the archipelago ferries. If you are travelling with a bicycle, check the current rules and booking requirements for your particular route, especially during the busy summer season.
The ferries are the buses of the archipelago
When travelling around Åland without a car, it helps to think of the archipelago ferries as the archipelago’s bus network.
They connect the islands with each other.
From Sottunga, for example, you can continue to Kökar, while the Southern Line connects Långnäs, Föglö, Sottunga, Kökar and Galtby in Korpo. The Northern Line runs via Vårdö, Kumlinge and Brändö to Osnäs in Gustavs.
Passengers travelling without a vehicle travel free on the local archipelago ferries. Bicycles and other vehicles are charged.
There is one important thing to remember, though:
Do not plan your archipelago trip based on the map alone.
The islands may look close together on a map, but the ferry timetables determine how easily you can actually travel between them.
A bicycle may be the best way to see the archipelago
If you want to travel without a car but still see more than one island, a bicycle is an excellent option.
You can take the bus or ferry to an island and continue from the harbour by bicycle.
The experience is also completely different from travelling by car. You are more likely to stop at small villages, cafés, swimming spots and viewpoints.
Åland’s archipelago ferries make it possible to combine cycling with island hopping and different cycling routes.
What about the buses?
There is a bus network in Åland, but it is not quite like public transport in a city such as Helsinki.
Bus services are limited, especially in the evenings and at weekends.
For that reason, we would not plan an archipelago holiday where every single transfer depends on a bus.
A better combination is:
ferry + archipelago ferry + bus + bicycle + walking.
And when necessary, you can always use a taxi for individual transfers.
So, can you really visit Åland completely without a car?
Yes, you can.
But the further you travel from Mariehamn, the more important the timetables become.
A car-free trip around Åland works best when you:
plan the archipelago ferries in advance
check the bus and ferry connections
check whether your bicycle needs to be booked
make use of bicycles
do not try to fit too many islands into one day
leave some flexibility in your schedule
And perhaps the most important tip:
Do not try to see everything.
Travelling in the archipelago is at its best when you are not constantly rushing to catch the next ferry.
Why is Sottunga such a good choice for a car-free holiday?
We are naturally a little biased here, but Sottunga has many advantages for travellers without a car.
Strandhugget is right next to the harbour.
The church is next door, Salteriet restaurant is nearby, and you can explore the island on foot or by bicycle.
You do not need to build your day around a complicated chain of transfers.
You can arrive by ferry, walk to your accommodation, pick up a bicycle and head out to explore the island.
And in the evening, you are back by the harbour.
Example: Helsinki → Sottunga without a car
If you want to make the journey as easy as possible, one option is:
Helsinki → overnight ferry to Mariehamn → bus to the connecting transport → archipelago ferry to Sottunga.
Another option is to travel from Turku to Åland and continue towards Långnäs and from there to Sottunga.
Always check the exact connections for your travel date, as ferry, bus and archipelago ferry timetables vary according to the season and day of the week.
If you are unsure about the route, ask us.
We have travelled extensively around the archipelago ourselves and are happy to help you work out the easiest way to get to Sottunga without a car.
Our tip: leave the car at home
If you have thought that you cannot visit Åland without a car, perhaps it is time to try.
Especially if your goal is to experience the archipelago rather than simply drive through it, a car is not necessarily the best way to travel.
Travelling by ferry and archipelago ferry, taking the bus, cycling, walking and stopping on the small islands are all part of the Åland experience.
And when you arrive in Sottunga, you are already there.
It is only a short walk from the ferry to Strandhugget.
That is where your archipelago holiday can begin.
