visitaland.com - Visit Åland

There are harbours on both sides
of Mariehamn. It takes just fifteen
minutes to walk from the western
harbour to the eastern harbour.
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A LITTLE
HARBOUR TOWN,
JAM-PACKED
WITH MEMORIES
Mariehamn is not a big city. During the month of July you could describe it as a
pocket-sized entertainment capital. For the rest of the year it’s a cosy small
town with maritime traditions.
The seafaring town of Mariehamn was
founded in 1861 and was named after
the Russian tsarina Maria. The town has
the shipping business to thank for its
prosperity. At one time, Mariehamn was
home to the world’s largest fleet of sailing ships.
Nowdays you can still go aboard the Pommern
museum ship. Before it was decommissioned, the
Pommern transported cargoes of wheat between
Australia and England.
It’s a pleasant stroll through Mariehamn from
the western harbour across to the eastern harbour.
Although the town’s stock of older wooden houses
was significantly reduced in the 1960s, there are
still many lovely wooden houses to see. Start your
walk by the western harbour, north of the Pommern.
That’s the site of the Åland sailing club’s guest
harbour and the Pavilion, an early building designed
by the architect Lars Sonck.
From there, continue walking eastwards. There
are many houses with pretty decorative details
designed by Finland’s first female building engineer,
Hilda Hongell.
A few blocks from the eastern harbour you’ll find
the entertainment district, home to places like the
Indigo Restaurant & Bar, Dino’s Bar & Grill and the
Hotel Arkipelag with its restaurant and nightclub.
Now you can see the eastern harbour. Set your
course for the masts of the sailing boats, and you’ll
reach the Maritime Quarter. Alongside the boats
you’ll find a museum, an organic café and several
shops selling arts and crafts in the little red huts.
Handmade items from Åland make great souvenirs.
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