Things to do in Eckerö, Åland - 10 tips

What to do in Eckerö, Åland? This western part of Åland is closest to Sweden and is a popular place to visit, especially in the summer. We have collected our best tips for experiences and sights in Eckerö.

Eckerö in Åland

The final battle of the Swedish army was fought outside Eckerö in 1809, after which Åland was incorporated into the Russian Empire along with the rest of Finland. Today the area offers peace and quiet, with beautiful nature and many summer holiday activities.

You can get to Eckerö directly from Grisslehamn in Sweden with the Eckerö Line. We travelled instead with Finnlines to Långnäs and then travelled around by motorhome. Eckerö was our second stop, after Mariehamn.

Eckerö is located in the far west of Åland.

What can you do in Eckerö?

So what can you see and do in Eckerö? There is a lot to discover! Here are our top tips on what to see and do in Eckerö.

1. Strosa at Käringsund fishing village

First and foremost, we recommend strolling around the Käringsund fishing village in Eckerö. This charming little harbour offers a truly unique environment with about fifty fine boathouses and boat houses. It was also once the setting for a number of scenes in the TV series "Vi på Saltkråkan". With a nice location by the water, you will also find Gastropub Bodegan, where you can enjoy things like perch and char.

2. Visit the Åland Hunting and Fishing Museum.

Right next to Käringsund's fishing village, the Åland Hunting and Fishing Museum is located in a somewhat stylish building that fits into the environment. Inside the museum, you can learn more about archipelago life, animals and nature in the area, as well as hunting and fishing equipment used in the past. A nice little museum that is worth a visit!

3. Go on a safari tour with Eckerö Wildlife Safari.

Eckerö wildlife safari is also located at Käringsund fishing village. In the summer, you can book a safari carriage ride and take a guided tour of the large game enclosure. During the tour you will see red deer, fallow deer, wild boar, ostrich and llamas. Many of the animals can be seen up close, and some can even be fed.

4. Walking in Eckerö

Eckerö has several walking and hiking trails. You can read more about these at Visit Åland website. We walked a part of "Promenade 1" which partly went through nature, and among other things took us to the Eckerölinjen ferry terminal.

• Promenade 1 is 4 kilometres long, starts near the Åland Hunting and Fishing Museum, and passes many of Eckerö's attractions.
• Promenade 2 is 5 kilometres long and starts at Käringsund Resort.
• Swampy hiking trail is 3.8 kilometres long and runs through the Träsket nature reserve.

5. See exhibitions at Eckerö Post and Customs House

One thing you won't want to miss doing in Eckerö is visiting the Eckerö Post and Customs House, which is both interesting in its own right and houses a museum and exhibition hall.

When Sweden lost the war against Russia in 1808-1809, Åland and the rest of Finland became part of the Russian Empire. Suddenly, the unassuming little post office in Storby was Russia's last outpost to the west. Wanting to show off a grand facade, the office was not enough and a grand Empire-style building was constructed and completed in 1828.

Today, Eckerö Post and Customs House serves as a seasonal visitor centre. There is a small exhibition about the postal service and larger halls where exhibitions of Ålandic handicrafts are shown every year. This year, in 2023, the exhibition "GLASS" and the exhibition "Life on Kobben", with Åland craftsmen's interpretations of life in a small island community. Fantastic exhibitions!

6. Holiday at Käringsund Resort

Käringsund Resort & Conference is a large holiday resort with a beautiful location by the water in Eckerö. Here you can holiday in a cottage, with a motorhome/caravan or perhaps in a stylish beach suite with large glass walls facing the Åland Sea.

There are also lots of different activities such as sauna, pool, miniature golf, table tennis, pedal boats and kayaks. For our part, there was a short stop at the restaurant, where we chose to try a classic Åland pancake with whipped cream.

7. Relaxing at Degersand Resort

We stayed with our motorhome at Degersand Resort, and we really liked this place. The campsite, which also has cabins, has a scenic location and a relaxed atmosphere. In addition to the restaurant, there is a lovely beach bar, which almost made us feel like we were in more southern latitudes.

8. Dine at Restaurant Q at Degersand Resort

Camping restaurants don't always impress, but Restaurant Q at Degersand Resort does just that. The food is not only well prepared, creative and tasty, but also beautiful to look at. Here we each had a fantastic starter (Degersand scrambled eggs on black bread and Västerbotten pie with whitefish roe) and then continued with moules frites. We can highly recommend enjoying a meal here!

9. Experience the Post Office

Until 1895, mail was rowed across the Åland Sea between Grisslehamn and Eckerö. It was farmers who had to row the mail according to a special rowing system, and rowing was associated with both hard labour and danger to life, not least when there was a storm or when the ice was breaking up.

To commemorate the tradition, the "Postrodden" competition is organised every year, with teams crossing the Åland Sea in traditional vernacular boats, as they did for more than 250 years. This year (2023), for the 49th time in modern times, the row will be held on Saturday 17 June.

10. Bring the kids to Smart Park

One thing to do in Eckerö with children is to have fun at Smart Park. This adventure park, which is open in the summer, is full of educational activities and playful learning. For example, there is an illusion course, interactive indoor play, hydrualic excavators and water wars in Bomarsund.

More things to do in Eckerö for those who like culture and history

There is of course even more to see and do in Eckerö than our suggestions. Here are some more tips for those who like culture and history.

• Eckerö parish church in Kyrkoby is dedicated to St Lars and was built in the latter part of the 13th century.
• Geostars walks outside the hunting and fishing museum and talks about the geological history of the area.

More things to do in Eckerö for nature lovers

Do you prefer the forest and countryside, or the coastline and beaches? Then you'll find even more tips here on things to do in Eckerö.

• Eckerö Golf has an 18-hole course in a scenic forest environment.
• Fishing trips and boat excursions can be booked through JaRo Guiding.
• Kayaking you can do, by renting through Nimix.

More to do in Eckerö with children and teenagers

Travelling with children or teenagers? Here are some more ideas on what to do in Eckerö and the surrounding area with your family.

• Bathing places are located in several places, including Degersand sea baths and Käringsund.
• Curling you can try your hand at Curling Åland.
• Playland in the summer, the Eckeröhallen, with bouncy castles, slides, football and other activities.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

There are of course plenty of hotels and other accommodation options in Eckerö. For example, you can stay at Käringsund Resort or Eckerö Hotell och Restaurang. If you are travelling with a motorhome or caravan, or want to stay in a cabin, you can also stay at Degersand Resort, where we stayed. Here you can stand nicely by the water, while there is a beach, beach bar and restaurant.

More things to see and do in the neighbourhood of Eckerö

There is of course more to see and do in the neighbourhood of Eckerö. You can get to the main town Mariehamn, discovering beautiful Geta or visiting interesting sights such as Bomarsund Fortress and Kastelholm Castle. Please also read all our tips on things to do What to see and do in Åland. Below you will find even more tips for Åland and Finland.

More suggestions on what to see and do in Eckerö?

We had really nice days in Eckerö and can highly recommend a visit here. Have you been here? How was your experience? Do you have any more good tips on what to see and do in Eckerö?

Facts about Eckerö in Åland

• Country: Finland
• Landscape: Åland
• Location: Eckerö is located in the westernmost part of Åland.
• Population: Eckerö municipality has just over 900 inhabitants (2023).
• Read more: You can find more information at tourist office website and on the municipality's website.