Mariehamn Harbours (Åland): Getting There, Harbour Info, Trips

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Mariehamn is the capital of the Åland Islands between Finland and Sweden and has two harbours for sailing yachts: ÅSS Marina in Västerhamn on the west side of the town and the MSF guest harbour in Österhamn on the east side. Here you can read how to get to Mariehamn for the start of your sailing trip, which harbour is where, where to shop, what sailing weather to expect, which destinations are nearby and what skippers should know about mooring, the tax border and the marine forecast.

Which harbours are there in Mariehamn?

In Mariehamn, sailing yachts moor in two places: at ÅSS Marina in Västerhamn, the west harbour next to the museum ship Pommern, and at the MSF guest harbour in Österhamn, the east harbour on the other side of the town. The town centre with the pedestrian street Torggatan lies between the two, and you can walk into town from either harbour.

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The large ferries to Sweden and Finland also dock at Västerhamn, whereas Österhamn is mainly a harbour for leisure boats.

Feature	ÅSS Marina (Västerhamn)	MSF guest harbour (Österhamn)
Location	West side of the town, Strandpromenaden, next to the maritime museum and Pommern	East side of the town, Österleden 150, about two blocks from the centre
Operator	Ålandska Segelsällskapet (ÅSS)	Mariehamns Seglarförening (MSF)
Berths	around 160, on four floating pontoons and alongside the quay	around 300, the largest guest harbour on Åland
Season	1 May to 27 September (2026)	April to September, harbour office open daily from June to August
Equipment	Electricity, drinking water, showers, sauna, Wi-Fi (included in the berthing fee), laundry, fuel station	Electricity, drinking water, showers, sauna, Wi-Fi (included in the berthing fee), laundry, bread and groceries, automatic fuel pumps south of the harbour
Restaurant	Club restaurant and pizzeria	Restaurant with a terrace at the harbour
Phone	+358 18 13610	+358 18 19979

Arriving for the start of your sailing trip in Mariehamn

You can reach Mariehamn by ferry from Sweden, Finland or Estonia, or by air via Helsinki, Turku or Stockholm. The ferries from Stockholm and Helsinki dock right in Mariehamn, and the airport is just outside the town.

From Mariehamn Airport to the harbours

Mariehamn Airport is on Flygfältsvägen, about four kilometres from the town centre, and by car you can be in town in around five minutes. From the airport you take a taxi or hire car into town, and car hire desks are right at the airport. Taxis wait at the airport for arriving flights. Tell the driver the right harbour straight away, because Västerhamn and Österhamn are on different shores.

Flights to Mariehamn come in via Helsinki-Vantaa, Turku and Stockholm-Arlanda. The flight from Helsinki takes less than an hour, and from Turku and Arlanda about 30 minutes each.

By ferry or car

From Stockholm, Viking Line and Tallink Silja ships take about five and a half hours to reach Mariehamn as things stand now (November 2026), passing through the archipelago for most of the route. Tallink Silja sails from Stockholm to Åland up to three times a day, in the morning and evening. From Turku and Naantali in Finland, ferries leave for Åland in the morning and evening, from Helsinki ferries bound for Stockholm call at Mariehamn, and from Tallink Silja sails overnight from Tallinn to Åland every other day. On Åland the big ferries only stop briefly. The big ferries dock at Västerhamn, which is on the same side of town as ÅSS Marina.

The shortest crossing from Sweden is the ferry from Grisslehamn to Eckerö in the west of the main island, which takes about two hours. The ferries from Kapellskär dock at Långnäs, not at Mariehamn. A bus runs between Eckerö and Mariehamn for every ferry departure, and on the Swedish side connecting buses from Stockholm, Norrtälje and Uppsala serve every departure to Grisslehamn. From Långnäs you continue into town by car.

Which harbour is mine?

If you are arriving as crew, pay attention to the difference between west and east. "ÅSS" or "Västerhamn" means the marina on the west side next to the Pommern and the ferry berths, while "MSF" or "Österhamn" means the large guest harbour on the east side. If you get off at the wrong harbour, you will have to walk across town to the other shore.

Parking

Both harbours lie on roads along the waterfront: the ÅSS Marina on Strandpromenaden and the MSF guest harbour on Österleden. The nearest car park is about 350 m from the ÅSS Marina and about 100 m from the MSF guest harbour.

Parking in Mariehamn is free, but many car parks have a maximum stay of between 30 minutes and four hours, with a parking disc displayed behind the windscreen. Parking discs are available at petrol stations and in shops. You can park for longer than four hours, for example, at the car parks by the beaches at Lilla Holmen next to the MSF guest harbour and at Nabben, and also for a whole day at Rönnbergs torg by the Sjökvarteret (as of November 2026).

Showers and sanitary facilities

Both harbours have showers, a sauna each for women and men, and a laundry; showers and sauna are included in the berthing fee. You get the code for the sanitary blocks when you pay, and it changes daily at 2 pm in both harbours. At ÅSS Marina the showers are open around the clock, and the sauna is heated daily from 8 to 11 am and from 6 to 9 pm from June to August. At the MSF guest harbour the sauna is heated daily from 6 to 10 am and from 6 to 10 pm, and in the low season until 9 pm in the evening. There is also an accessible toilet there, and the harbour staff will give you access.

Shopping for the trip

From the MSF guest harbour, the Varuboden City supermarket is about 0.4 km away as the crow flies, and a K-Supermarket about 0.6 km. From the ÅSS Marina, the nearest is the K-Supermarket at about 0.8 km as the crow flies, with Varuboden City about 1 km away. Both shops are in the centre, between the harbours. You can reach larger supermarkets by car: an S-market about 1.7 km north of the ÅSS Marina and Sparhallen about 3.4 km away.

At the MSF guest harbour you can also get freshly baked bread, basic groceries and ice cream, while at the ÅSS Marina the harbour office has a small shop.

Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services

The nearest pharmacy is Första Apoteket at Torggatan 3, about 0.4 km as the crow flies from the MSF guest harbour and about 1 km from the ÅSS Marina. The central hospital, Ålands centralsjukhus (ÅCS), lies north of the harbours, about 1.9 km as the crow flies from the ÅSS Marina and about 2 km from the MSF guest harbour. It is part of the ÅHS health service.

• 112: emergency number for ambulance, fire brigade and police; in Åland, calls are answered by the alarm centre of the regional government
• +358 18 538 500: medical help and information from the ÅHS health service when the situation is not life-threatening
• At sea: VHF channel 16. Sea rescue in the waters around Åland is directed by the Finnish Border Guard from the maritime rescue coordination centre in Turku.

Where is the ÅSS Marina in Västerhamn?

The ÅSS Marina is on Strandpromenaden on the west side of Mariehamn, right next to the Åland Maritime Museum and the four-masted barque Pommern. The town centre is just a few minutes' walk away. The big ferries also berth in Västerhamn.

The marina is run by the Ålandska Segelsällskapet, the ÅSS sailing club. Visiting yachts moor at four floating pontoons or alongside the quay. In the 2026 season the marina is open from 1 May to 27 September, and you can book berths online.

Facilities at the ÅSS Marina

Electricity, water, showers, sauna and Wi-Fi are included in the berthing fee. Electricity and drinking water are available at all pontoons, but the power supply is designed only for charging batteries. The harbour office, with a small shop and fuel station, is in the southernmost building, right next to the Pommern. There you can also get gas, oil, charts, smaller boat accessories and bike hire, as well as the tokens for the laundry north of the ÅSS Paviljongen restaurant. For meals, there is the club restaurant ÅSS Paviljongen or the Pizzeria Pub Albin.

Where is the MSF guest harbour in Österhamn?

The MSF guest harbour is on Österleden on the east side of Mariehamn, about two blocks from the centre. Within walking distance are the Lilla Holmen bathing beach with a playground and the Mariebad swimming pool, and a little further north along the same shore is the Sjökvarteret, the boatbuilders' quarter.

With around 300 berths, it is the largest guest harbour in Åland, run by the sailing club Mariehamns Seglarförening (MSF). It is open from early spring until late autumn. In the Sjökvarteret there is another guest pontoon, mainly for schooners and traditional boats, with a water depth of about 2 to 3 metres.

Facilities at the MSF guest harbour

The harbour has showers, a sauna, a laundry and free Wi-Fi, plus a children's playground. Electricity and drinking water are available at all pontoons and are included in the berthing fee. The electricity is intended only for charging batteries, not for heating or water heaters. Fuel is available south of the guest harbour from the Teboil and St1 pumps, 24 hours a day by card or banknote, and gas is available about 100 m south of the service building. The harbour office lends out battery chargers free of charge, and you can hire bicycles in the harbour. The Club Marin restaurant, with a large terrace, is at the harbour and sells fresh bread in the morning. The post office, bank, library, shops and restaurants in the centre are within walking distance.

What is the weather like in Mariehamn for sailing?

In Finland the wind blows most often from the south-west and least often from the north-east. It is lightest in summer and strongest in winter. On the open sea there are gales several times a month in autumn and winter, but they are rare in spring and summer.

Tides in the Baltic Sea amount to only a few centimetres. The water level is changed by wind and air pressure: long spells of westerly winds push water into the Baltic Sea and raise the level by several decimetres.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute issues a yellow wind warning for the sea areas when the mean wind reaches 14 metres per second (about 7 Beaufort), and a gale warning from 21 metres per second (about 9 Beaufort). From May to October it warns of strong wind from as little as 11 metres per second (about 6 Beaufort).

Which sailing trip destinations are near Mariehamn?

Around Mariehamn lie the Åland archipelago's thousands of islands, and to the west the Sea of Åland opens towards Sweden. The distances are rounded figures over water on the usual course; for precise planning, rely on the chart.

• Rödhamn: about 10 nm, a small island with a guest harbour off Mariehamn, a typical first leg.
• Degerby on Föglö: to the east, a further 10 nm or so from Rödhamn, an island village with a guest harbour, a shop, a fuel station and a restaurant nearby.
• Kökar: to the south-east, the island group on the south-eastern edge of the archipelago. The Sandvik guest harbour has a campsite, and there are more guest harbours at Hellsö in the north-west and in the fishing village of Karlby. It is about 26 nm from Degerby to Hellsö and about 8 nm from Hellsö to Karlby.
• Stockholm Archipelago: across the Sea of Åland, including about 20 nm over open water to the outer islands near Arholma or Söderarm, from where you continue through the archipelago towards Stockholm.
• Turku and the Archipelago Sea: to the east, depending on your route through the islands. At the destination lies the Guest harbour Turku in the middle of the city.

For a week-long sailing trip, a loop through the Åland archipelago is a good choice, for example via Degerby and Kökar. If you have more time, sail on into the Finnish Archipelago Sea or across to Sweden.

What can you do on a harbour day in Mariehamn?

Most places are within walking distance between the two harbours. Mariehamn is a small town with just under 12,000 inhabitants; many attractions are open all year round, and it is liveliest in summer.

• Pommern: The four-masted barque from 1903 lies in Västerhamn right next to ÅSS Marina. She belongs to the maritime museum and can be visited from early May to the end of September.
• Åland Maritime Museum: The museum at the West Harbour, which also includes the Pommern, was once voted the best museum in Finland and is open all year round.
• Sjökvarteret: The quarter by the East Harbour has boathouses, and boatbuilders and craftspeople work there. The schooner Albanus lies at the jetty, and at the end of one jetty stands a small seamen's chapel.
• Torggatan and museums: The pedestrian street has shops and cafés, and the square is home to the Åland Parliament and the building housing the Cultural History Museum and the Art Museum, both open all year round.
• Badhusberget and Lilla Holmen: From the hill in the park by the West Harbour you can look out over the sea, and the family beach Lilla Holmen is right next to the MSF guest harbour.

For skippers: berthing, formalities and marine weather in Mariehamn

You can book both harbours online in advance, the ÅSS Marina also by phone and the MSF guest harbour also by e-mail. At the MSF guest harbour you can also arrive without a booking and pay on site. In the fairway to Västerhamn you will encounter large ferries, while Österhamn lies away from the ferry traffic.

Registration and Berthing

• ÅSS Marina: telephone +358 18 13610. You moor at one of the four floating pontoons or alongside the quay, and the harbour office with fuel station is in the southernmost building. A booked yacht must arrive by 6 pm on the day of arrival, and you can also book the alongside berths on the quay. You pay the harbour fee at the harbour office and attach the receipt where it can be clearly seen on the forestay.
• MSF guest harbour: harbour office telephone +358 18 19979 or +358 457 345 4253, e-mail gasthamn@msf.ax. The harbour staff will assign you a berth. You pay the harbour fee at the harbour office and attach the receipt where it can be clearly seen on the forestay or the mooring line.

How much does a berth in Mariehamn cost?

Harbour fees for the 2026 season (as at November 2026):

Period	ÅSS Marina (Västerhamn)	MSF guest harbour (Österhamn)
Pre- and post-season	May, June, August, September: 41 € for all sizes	April to June, August, September: 36 € for all lengths
July	41 € up to 30 ft, 47 € from 31 to 40 ft, 53 € from 41 ft	40 € under 35 ft, 46 € over 35 ft
Alongside the quay	up to 20 m: 58 €, in July 100 €	65 €, in July 70 €, over 70 ft in July 93 €

At the ÅSS Marina, the fee covers the berth and use of the facilities for four people; each additional person on board pays 2 €. At the MSF guest harbour, electricity, water, showers, sauna, Wi-Fi and waste disposal are included, plus a free ticket for a day cruise with Eckerö Linjen. Quiet hours apply there from midnight to 7 am, and barbecues and open fires are prohibited on boats and pontoons.

Tax border and border control

Åland is part of the EU customs territory, but not of its tax territory. You may cross the tax border freely with your yacht, without having to call at particular fairways or customs points. If you arrive from Sweden, Finland or another Schengen and EU country, there is neither border nor customs control.

However, purchases made on Åland are limited when you sail on: if you sail from Åland to Finland, you may only take goods in your personal luggage duty-free up to 300 euros, and separate limits apply to alcohol, tobacco and fuel. If you arrive directly from a country outside the EU customs and tax territory, such as Norway, you must call at the nearest border control point.

Approach

The fairway for the large ferries leads to Västerhamn, and several large passenger ships come and go here every day. Keep to the edge of the channel and make course changes early and clearly. The fairways to Mariehamn and in the Archipelago Sea are monitored by the Archipelago VTS traffic centre of Fintraffic, whose working channel is VHF 71. On the way to Sweden you cross the Sea of Åland: between the Swedish islands near Söderarm, Arholma or Grisslehamn and Åland, you sail about 20 nm over open water.

On Åland, speed limits on the water are given in kilometres per hour, not in knots.

Lemströms kanal to the east

From the bay east of Mariehamn, the Lemströms kanal leads into Lumparn, a popular route east into the archipelago. The swing bridge over the canal has a clearance of 3.3 m at normal water level; if your mast is taller, you will need to wait for the bridge to open. As things stand (November 2026), the bridge opens on demand on the hour: from 5 June to 16 August from 9 am to 10 pm, in May, early June and from 17 August to 6 September from 11 am to 6 pm, and in September after that only on three weekends from Friday to Sunday. You must be at the canal before the opening time. While the bridge is open, the canal can only be used in one direction; the light signals apply, with a maximum speed of 9 km/h.

Outside these times, the bridge opens until the end of November on request from the canal keeper on +358 457 350 0354: on weekdays during the day free of charge with at least two hours' notice, otherwise for 100 € plus VAT with at least twelve hours' notice.

Which marine weather forecast applies in Mariehamn?

The official marine weather forecasts and wind warnings for the sea areas around Åland are issued by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (Ilmatieteen laitos). The warnings extend up to five days ahead, and strong wind notices are valid for 24 hours at most.

The institute updates the marine weather forecast for the sea areas six times a day; you can find it on its website and in its weather app. It no longer offers an SMS service for marine weather.

Turku Radio, the maritime radio service of Fintraffic, broadcasts marine weather reports and navigational warnings by VHF along the entire Finnish coast. Turku Radio is staffed around the clock on its channels.

Sailing trips from Mariehamn on Törnfinder

Trips throughout the sailing area can be found under Sailing in the Baltic Sea, sailing trips in the Stockholm Archipelago under Sailing in Sweden and all offers in the trip overview.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Mariehamn airport to the harbour?

The easiest way is by taxi: you'll be in town in about five minutes. The airport is roughly four kilometres from the centre, so tell the driver straight away "ÅSS Marina Västerhamn" or "MSF Gästhamn Österhamn".

How do I get from Stockholm to Mariehamn by ferry?

With Viking Line or Tallink Silja, in about five and a half hours. The ferries dock at Västerhamn, on the same side of town as the ÅSS Marina. To reach the MSF guest harbour at the eastern harbour, you walk across the town.

Are Västerhamn and Österhamn the same harbour?

No. Västerhamn is the western harbour with the ÅSS Marina and the ferries, while Österhamn is the eastern harbour with the MSF guest harbour. The two are about 1.4 km apart as the crow flies.

Are there showers and a sauna in the harbours of Mariehamn?

Yes, both harbours have showers, a sauna and a laundry. Showers and sauna are included in the berthing fee, and you will receive the code for the sanitary buildings when you pay.

Where do I shop for provisions in Mariehamn?

In the centre between the harbours: Varuboden City is about 0.4 km from the MSF guest harbour, and a K-Supermarket is about 0.8 km from the ÅSS Marina. You can get fresh bread in the morning at the MSF guest harbour.

Do I need a customs declaration for Åland?

No, if you are coming from an EU and Schengen country. You may cross Åland's tax border freely, but when sailing on to Finland, limits apply to purchases: goods up to 300 euros are free of duty, and separate quantity limits apply to alcohol and tobacco (as of November 2026).