According to sunglasseswill, Åland (Åland Islands) (Finnish: Ahvenanmaa) is a group of islands in Europe that form an autonomous region within Finland. Åland is located in the Gulf of Bothnia between Finland and Sweden. The capital of Åland is Mariehamn.

Åland is best known for its tranquility and beautiful nature. In addition, the islands are popular among divers because you can dive to approximately 500 shipwrecks. Fishing, canoeing and cycling are also very popular, especially among tourists. The economy of the islands mainly revolves around tourism, shipping and agriculture. The capital, Mariehamn, is frequently served by ferries due to its tax-free climate. See nexticle for Finland’s travel destinations.

Where is Åland located?

Travel information of Åland

Official name: Åland
Continent: Europe
Area: 13,347 km²
Capital: Mariehamn
Country code: AX, ALA
Population: 30,129 inhabitants (2020)
Form of government: Autonomous region of Finland
Highest point: 129 m (Orrdalsklint)
Distance (Amsterdam – Mariehamn): 1,271 km
Flight time: approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes

Travel advice
Current status: No special security risks.
Current color code: Green.

Corona
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), there may be (temporary) measures in place in Åland that you as a tourist may have to deal with. For the most up-to-date corona travel advice, please refer to our special coronavirus travel advice page. For the number of current corona infections, number of deaths and various corona-related graphs of Åland, please visit Countryaah.

Travel offer
At the moment there are no travel organizations that offer travel to Åland. For separate travel components (hotels and airline tickets) please visit our travel offer page.

Travel guides and maps
Are you looking for a travel guide, map, hiking map, cycling map, book or DVD about Åland?

Weather and climate
Åland has a continental climate. During the summer months the temperatures are around 20 degrees and during the winter months around freezing point.
The current weather (weather forecast) and a weather forecast for Åland can be found on our extensive weather page.
Extensive information about the climate of Åland can be found at Climate info.

Best time
June and July are the best months to travel to Åland. In these two months the days are the longest and the temperatures are the most pleasant.

Language
Finnish and Swedish are both official languages ​​in Åland. The most spoken language in Åland is Swedish.
Would you like to translate from or into Finnish and/or Swedish for free? Use the Google translator for this.

Travel documents
You must have a valid identity card or passport.
A visa is not necessary.

Embassies and consulates
Below is an overview of relevant diplomatic representations, including addresses and contact details.
Netherlands Embassy in Finland: netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Dutch consulate in Åland (Mariehamn): netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Finnish Embassy in the Netherlands: finlande.nl.
Finnish consulates in the Netherlands: rijksoverheid.nl.
For urgent assistance, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24/7 on +31247247247.

Vaccination (inoculation)
You do not need any vaccinations to visit Åland.

Money and Currency
In Åland, payment is made with the euro (EUR).
An overview of all ATMs in Åland can be found on our ATMs page.

Price level
The prices on Åland are a lot higher than in the Netherlands. The price difference with the Netherlands is +30% on average. Some examples are: restaurants (3% cheaper), food (65% more expensive), imported beer in catering (60% more expensive), cigarettes (12% cheaper) and public transport (31% cheaper). Please note that the price difference in tourist areas, especially during high season, may vary.

Tipping
It is not customary to tip on Åland. In most hotels and restaurants, the tip is automatically calculated in the price.

Time difference
In Åland it is 1 hour later than in the Netherlands.
Summer time in Åland is the same as in the Netherlands.
Find the local time, date and time zone for Åland on our time difference page.

Traffic and route
In Åland you have to drive on the right.
You do not need an international driver’s license to drive and/or rent a motor vehicle in Åland.
With the Google route planner you can compile a route description from, to or within Åland.

Electricity
In Åland the same plugs and sockets are used as in the Netherlands.
More information about electricity in Åland can be found on our electricity page (look under Finland).

Emergency services
If you need help from the police, fire brigade and/or ambulance in an emergency, you can use the emergency numbers below.
– Police: 112
– Fire: 112
– Ambulance: 112

Tap water
It is safe to drink tap water.

News and newspapers
The latest news about Åland can be found on Google news.
An overview of the newspapers from Åland can be found on Abyznewslinks (look under Ahvenanmaa – Aland).

Internet
Websites from Åland end in.ax.
Official websites of Åland: aland.ax and visitaland.com.

Telephony
The country code (international access code) to call someone in Åland is 00358 or +358.
Do you want to call the Netherlands from Åland? Then use the Dutch country code 0031 or +31.
(If using a country code, omit the leading 0 of the number to be called.)
Phone numbers can be found in the Åland Telephone Directory.
Company details can be found in the Yellow Pages of Åland.

Photos and videos
On Flickr you will find a nice collection of photos of Åland.
On Youtube you will find a nice collection of videos from Åland.

Holidays
An overview of all public holidays in Åland can be found on Wikipedia.

Reviews and travel experiences
On Zoover and TripAdvisor you will find reviews from travelers about accommodations (eg hotel), restaurants and destinations in Åland, supplemented with photos, videos and places of interest.

Travelogues
Are you looking for a travelogue about Åland?
Here you will find travel reports and experiences of travelers who have previously visited Åland. It is also possible to keep a free diary of your trip for family and/or friends.

Nature and world heritage
An overview of the protected nature areas (including national parks, reserves and wildlife parks) in Åland can be found on Protected Planet.
Åland is not on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Places of interest
A number of well-known and frequently visited places of interest in Åland are as follows:
– Åland Maritime Museum
– Museum ship Pommern
– Kastelholm castle
– Ruins of Bomarsund
– Säskär lighthouse

Customs rules
Do you want to know how much you are allowed to import and export when traveling to Åland? On the IATA website you will find an overview with the maximum quantities of cigarettes, alcohol, money and perfume, among other things. If you stick to these quantities, you don’t have to declare anything to customs. You will also find the laws and regulations regarding the entry of pets on this website.

Entrepreneurship and doing business
If you intend to do business in or do business with Åland, it is wise to prepare well. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency can help you with this. On PaulSourcing.com you will find a large amount of information about Åland, including: opportunities, import and export regulations, trade figures, do’s and don’ts, product requirements, business partners and subsidies.

Relevant legislation
Below you will find relevant legislation and regulations that you may encounter during your visit to Åland.
– Alcohol: Buying and/or drinking from the age of 18. Above 22% from the age of 20.
– Alcohol and traffic: The maximum permitted alcohol content is 0.5.
– Tobacco: Buying and/or smoking from the age of 18.
– Smoking ban: In public places.
– Homosexuality: Allowed

Did you know that…
…The capital Mariehamn is a duty-free haven for tobacco and alcohol?
…Swedish is the most spoken language, while it is part of Finland?
…Åland has had its own flag since 1953?
…Åland has the most hours of sunshine in Northern Europe?