- Not to be confused with Ekerö, the archipelago in Swedish lake Mälaren.
Eckerö is a scattered village and an island, regarded as part of mainland Åland. It is the port for the Eckerö Line, the shortest crossing from Sweden.
Understand
The medieval Eckerö church was built between 1380 and 1420, and it was mentioned for the first time as a chapel under Hammarland parish in a manuscript from 1427. The area has been permanently inhabited at least since the iron age but there are some stone age grave sites as well. Eckerö is located on its own island, which is separated from the Åland main island by the narrow Marsund strait. There is a bridge over the strait, making Eckerö officially part of "mainland Åland".
When the Kingdom of Sweden established its postal service in 1630, Eckerö became an important hub, as the dangerous sea voyage across the Baltic sea was shortest between the villages Grisslehamn and Eckerö – a route that is still in everyday use. Carrying mail across the sea soon became the main business for the locals. When Finland was annexed into the Russian Empire, a mail and customs office was built. The building was designed by the famous architects Carl Ludvig Engel and Charles Bassi. Compared to the surrounding village the building is hilariously oversize, as one of its most important functions was to show the power and wealth of the Russian Empire to the west.
Eckerö has 950 residents out of which about 400 live in the biggest village, called Storby. Most services and sights are in Storby, but the administrative centre is the tiny village Österby. The population trend in the municipality is slightly positive. The municipality has its own kindergarten and lower elementary school (grades 1–6).
Being actually the fourth busiest international passenger harbour in Finland, tourism is a major source of income here. Eckerö is also one of the sunniest places in the whole Nordic making the municipality a very popular destination – especially for the Ålanders themselves. Having several restaurants, hotels, camping areas, beaches etc. Eckerö is one of those few places outside Mariehamn having well developed resources for tourism.
Get in
By bus from Mariehamn, line 1, 35-40 minutes, price €4.50 (in 2020).
By Eckerö Line from Grisslehamn, Norrtälje. The shortest and cheapest ferry route from Sweden to Åland, two hours (note time zone and currency change) two to three times daily (€5 for an adult, €10 for a car). The ferry arrives to 1 Berghamn ferry harbor. Although inside the Schengen area passengers arriving to Åland exit the EU customs area. Notice the local customs regulations!
Ålands hav, the sea between Eckerö and Sweden, is narrow enough for nearly any vessel on a nice day.
Get around
See
- 1 Eckerö post- och tullhus (Postal office and museum), Storby, ☏ 358 40-179-9715, ✉[email protected]. The post and customs house of 1828, by Ludvig Engel and Carlo Bassi, is hugely oversize for the village, as it was built as a symbol of the Russian Empire at the main mail route to Sweden. The building also hosts artists in residence.
- 2 Hunting and Fishing Museum (Ålands Jakt-och Fiskemuseum), Fiskeläge 37 (Käringsund; 800 m nature trail from the Eckerölinjen jetty at Berghamn), ☏ 358 18 38299, ✉[email protected]. 18 June–16 August daily 10:00–18:00, 1 May–7 June and 17 Aug–29 Aug M–Sa 10:00–17:00, for groups also by request. €6/4/-.
Do
In summer this is almost a beach resort for Ålanders and has a holiday feeling, and a traditional beach style atmosphere.Tip: hire a canoe and paddle to some islands.
- Game safari (the tour starts at the Hunting & Fishing Museum), ☏ 358 45 7343-5996, ✉[email protected]. 45 min safari tour, game pasture with red deer, fallow deer, wild boar, ostriches and llamas. Also accommodation and boat trips. €10/7/5; rooms €60; cottages €120–750/night.
- 1 Märket lighthouse. June–August Tu–Th 09:00 or by request. Lighthouse in the Sea of Åland, on a tiny skerry with the border to Sweden (the smallest sea island shared between countries, and a separate DXCC entity). Trips of 4–5 hours (one hour each way) arranged by Sefyr from the Käringsund guest harbour. Guided tour, coffee and seal watching. Proper clothes and footwear needed. Cancelled in bad weather or if less than 6 customers (unless specially arranged). €70/person (including transportations, guidance and coffee).
Buy
Eat
Restaurants at most accommodations. See Sleep below.
- 1 [dead link]Cafe Tsarevna, 115-119 Sandmovägen (Next to the Postal office and museum), ☏ 358 40 1638112.
Drink
Sleep
- 1 Guest harbour (Käringsunds gästhamn), Fiskeläget, Gamla Käringsundsvägen, ☏ 358 18 385-30. Full service guest harbour. Restaurant. Open May–August. €25/35 (less/more than 41 feet).
- 2 Käringsund Resort & Conference, Käringsundsvägen 194, ☏ 358 18 380-00, fax: 358 18 382-44, ✉[email protected]. Cottages and camping. Restaurant. Cottages about €100–450/night.
- 3 Eckerö hotell & restaurang, Käringsundsvägen 53, ☏ 358 18 384-47, fax: 358 18 382-47, ✉[email protected]. Hotel and restaurant. from €105/115/night (off/in season).
Camping
- 4 Käringsunds camping, Käringsundsvägen 147, ☏ 358 18 383-09, ✉[email protected]. Open 14 June–14 August caravan €30, tent €18, cottage €65, sauna €15.
Connect
Postal code: AX-22270 Eckerö
Go next
- Mariehamn, the capital and only town on Åland.