Slide into summer in Finland
A Swedish-speaking, Finnishowned archipelago frequented by summering sailors from across Scandinavia, the Åland Islands consist of some 6,700 mini-landmasses strewn across the Gulf of Bothnia. These range from little chunks of rock that barely poke out of the water, to Isle of Wight-sized islands with towns and road systems. As we approach summer, days at these northern latitudes see the sun barely dip below the horizon – giving plenty of time to tick off as many of the islands as possible: all wildfowerstrewn meadows, thickly wooded interiors and little red boathouses perched on pebbly beaches. Stick around or book now for the midsummer celebrations on 20 June – during which time villages across the archipelago decorate windowsills with garlands, and engage in energetic dancing around traditional Åland maypoles.

6 Åland, the sunniest place in Scandinavia, means ‘river land’ in Swedish – despite there being very few rivers on the archipelago
PHOTOGRAPHS: CAMEL VALLEY, MARTIN-DM/GETTY IMAGES, DR WILFRIED BAHNMULLER/ROBERT HARDING, KARIN JOBST 2014
Read the complete article and many more in this issue of
Lonely Planet
Purchase options below
If you own the issue,
Login to read the full article now.
Single Digital Issue
June 2015
 
This issue and other back issues are not included in a new Lonely Planet subscription. Subscriptions include the latest regular issue and new issues released during your subscription.