Eckerö is a small town of just over 900 inhabitants located in the western part of mainland Åland. Eckerö is Åland's second most popular holiday destination after Mariehamn, the provincial capital. The town is best known for its beaches and campsites but there are also plenty of cultural activities on offer.
Eckerö's main attraction is the Eckerö Mail & Customs House located in the western part of the Storby village. At first sight, it doesn't look much like a post office – the majestic building looks more like a palace. The building was designed in the neoclassical style by architect Carl Ludvig Engel, who designed numerous prominent buildings in Helsinki. It was built in 1828 to a grander scale than was strictly necessary so as to make an impression on visitors arriving from the west. Nowadays, the building houses a museum of the old mail route as well as varying art exhibitions.
Other museums in Eckerö include the Åland Hunting and Fishing Museum, located near the old fishing harbour in Käringsund, and the Labbas homestead and bank museum. Kids will love the Eckerö Game Safari, where they can get to see wild boars, ostriches, red deer and other animals at close quarters.
Don't forget to visit Eckerö Church – a medieval granite church built around the turn of the 15th century. You may notice that the church has an unusually wide belfry: this houses a bell dating back to the 13th century. Step inside this light stone-built church and admire the beautiful pulpit designed by Carl Ludvig Engel and the medieval wooden font.
Eckerö is one of Finland's best places for a beach holiday as it is one of the sunniest locations in the Nordic region. Work on your tan on the popular beach at Käringsund resort before setting out on an evening walk along a route that follows the rocky shoreline and shows off the natural beauty of the archipelago. The next day, set off for Degersand beach, which is known as the "Åland Riviera" and is said to be among Europe's best lesser-known beaches.
If you come to Eckerö for the midsummer festival, why not take the opportunity to get involved in decorating and hoisting the local midsummer maypole? The Storby midsummer maypole is said to be the largest midsummer maypole in the world, standing 28.3metres tall.
Fly to Mariehamn Airport or travel to Mariehamn by ferry from Turku or Helsinki in mainland Finland. The crossing from Turku to Mariehamn takes around five hours, while the journey from Helsinki is 11–12 hours. You can travel from Mariehamn to Eckerö by bus or car in about half an hour. You can also travel by ferry from Eckerö harbour to Grisslehamn in Sweden.
When you are based in Eckerö, it is easy to get to know the rest of Åland, as it is not far to travel from one place to the next. For example, the distance from Storby, the centre of Eckerö, to Mariehamn is only about 22 miles. The best way to get around is by bike: this enables you to cycle from one village to the next and take in the nature and culture of the province at your own pace. Åland's terrain is relatively flat throughout, offering ideal conditions for a tour around the province by bike.
