Europe
Granite islands, red cottages and quiet cycling roads in the Baltic.
Åland is an autonomous, Swedish-speaking region of Finland made up of thousands of islands and skerries between Sweden and the Finnish mainland. The small capital, Mariehamn, has a maritime museum and the historic sailing ship Pommern, while the main island holds the medieval Kastelholm Castle and the ruins of the Bomarsund fortress. Beyond that, it is smooth granite shores, pine woods and fishing villages.
Most visitors arrive by ferry from Stockholm or Turku, or fly in via Helsinki or Stockholm. The pace is slow: cycling between islands on small road ferries, swimming from the rocks and eating fresh fish and Åland pancake. June to August is the season, with long light evenings and most places open; much closes in winter, when days are short and grey.
June, July, August.