Sailing from Stockholm, Sweden to Mariehamn, Åland Island

A morning on the Baltic Sea

Sunday, 7am. The day is about to begin. I’m pulling my suitcase through the streets of Stockholm. Half asleep half stressed. It’s too early for that. Come on, it’s Sunday! Well, to get to Åland Islands you don’t have that many choices.

I nearly missed the ferry but that’s it, I’m in. The show can begin…

As I leave the Swedish capital, the dawn lets me have a last look at Gamla Stan, Skeppsholmen, Södermalm,… Everyone seems on the edge of a lazy day. The vessel keeps sailing in the Stockholm archipelago and the sun smoothly spread its light on islands I can’t name any more.

Small pieces of land covered by dark forest, rocks emerging from the sea, churches standing proudly surrounded by the blue, grass carefully grazed by sheep, small boats in cute shelters ready to explore or just to go back to the mainland.

And as the lands disappear I fall asleep.

That’s where I leave you. Surrounded by the sea, diving in sweet dreams or in deep thoughts. Read, write, call your loved one. Explore the ship, have a look at the duty-free, walk to the upper deck and fight with the morning wind.

Breathe the air of the Baltic Sea.

Enjoy.

... Practical Corner

There are two main companies travelling from Sweden to Åland. Viking Line and Eckerö Line. The first one uses large vessels departing from Stockholm so it's more reliable and comfortable while the second one uses smaller vessels departing from a haven more in the North. So you have to get a bus (you can book it with you ferry ticket) from/to Stockholm and from/to Mariehamn, when there is some storm it can be cancelled but it's much much cheaper! And you can choose to travel from/to Uppsala (Sweden) as well.

Don't forget that in Sweden you pay in Swedish Krona and on Åland it's euro!