Mariehamn

Mariehamn is the only town of Åland and the harbour where almost every visitor arrives, off the big ferries that run between Stockholm, Turku and Helsinki and stop here on the way. It sits on a narrow neck of land between two harbours, with lime-tree avenues and wooden villas between them. The four-masted barque Pommern lies at the western quay as a museum ship, and the Åland Maritime Museum beside it tells how this small town once ran one of the last great sailing fleets. The Maritime Quarter builds wooden boats the old way. Åland pancake with prune compote is the local dish.