MARIEHAMN

Once home port for the world’s largest
sailing ship fleet.
Now a town full of experiences.
Mariehamn is full of exciting activities, restaurants
and sights. Everything is located within convenient
distance. Because of Mariehamn’s small size, it is
possible to walk from the western harbour to the
eastern harbor in less than 20 minutes. This makes
it an ideal shopping town.
Bring home a piece of the Åland Islands. The
handicrafts from the Åland Islands are a hot shopping
tip. You will find lovely colors and shapes in
materials such as textile, metals, glass, wood and
ceramics. Genuine design with high quality characterizes
craft and artwork to be found in boutiques
and galleries of Mariehamn.
A string of island pearls in between
the Baltic Sea capitals.
The Åland Islands are situated in the very heart of the Baltic
Sea. Åland is an autonomous region in Finland, with its
own flag, stamps and license plates.
On the 6,500 islands that make up the Åland Islands, you
will find an exciting mix of Swedish, Finnish and Russian
culture. The shipping tradition of today is just as strong
as it was when the Åland Islands, in the beginning of the
1900’s, featured the largest sailing-ship fleet in the world.
Visitors to Mariehamn are immediately reminded of this
fact when they arrive at the Port of Mariehamn, where the
majestic Museum Ship Pommern is moored – the world’s
only four masted bark still in its original condition.
Museum Ship Pommern
and Åland Maritime Museum
Much of the best that Mariehamn has to offer is located
in the western harbour, not far from the quays. Here is
for example the Maritime Museum and the Museum Ship
Pommern, both world famous. They give insight into how
the seamen’s life was aboard ship in calm seas, storms
and when the captain chased the speed record for the
Australia–England sailings, a common route for these ships
in the early 1900’s.
500 m
1000 m
BIRKA
TERMINAL
PORT OF
MARIEHAMN
VIKING/SILJA
TERMINAL
WEST
HARBOUR
Airport
Mariehamn
1 2
TOURIST
INFORMATION
12
TAXI 19
KEY TO SIGNS
Maritime walk
Shopping area
Tourist information
Church
14
POST
OFFICE 11
10
15
3
16
17
9
8 18
7 6
5 4
MARKET
SQUARE
TOWN
HALL
Bearbetning Maridea 2006
stad
Museum
Pharmacy
Mariehamns
Toilet
Baskarta
ATM ©
13
13
PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT
BUILDINGS
Åland Museum & Art Museum
Maritime Quarter
EAST
HARBOUR
The Åland Museum depicts the local history from the
Stone Age to the present day Åland society and autonomy.
The Åland Art Museum presents Åland’s fine arts
and artists. Here you will also find special exhibitions
and a museum shop.
Facts about Mariehamn:
• Capital of the Åland Islands
• 10,800 inhabitants
• Founded in 1861
• Strong maritime tradition
• The Museum Ship Pommern
• The Maritime Quarter
• The Åland Maritime Museum
• Local buses free of charge within Mariehamn
Distances in Åland:
North–South 45 km
West–East 50 km
Maritime Quarter
The Maritime Quarter in the Eastern Harbor is a great
place to explore the museum with exhibits of boatbuilding
traditions in Åland. The schooner Linden and the
galleass Albanus were built here in the 1990’s according
to old drawings and with the help of very skilled boat
builders.
Mariehamn
The licence plates of the local taxis,
depicting names of legendary ships,
are one of the many noticeable signs
of Mariehamn’s maritime history.
Pick up your own copy of the
Maritime Walk leaflet from
the Tourist Information,
Storagatan 8.
Maritime Walk
Mariehamn has many stories to tell – about its
beginning as a simple peasant village, about
its Russian godmother Maria, and about all
the great shipowners who have lived in the
town. The town is best discovered by foot
– everything is close by – take a leisurely stroll
and explore Maria’s town, where seafaring has
always played such a vital role.
Facts about the Åland Islands:
• Autonomous, Swedish-speaking region of Finland
• Demilitarized area “The Islands of Peace”
• Own flag, stamps and license plates
• 6,500 islands
• 26,200 inhabitants
• Local currency: Euro (€)