In the Maritime Quarter, you can stroll among the charming boathouses, visit the quarter’s museum, see traditional boat and shipbuilding, smell the scent of tar, step inside the small seafarers’ chapel and shop for locally made crafts.
The area is also a lovely stop for food and drinks. Start the day with a slow breakfast at Krus, enjoy plåtbröd – Åland-style pizza – at Pub Niska, or sit down at Båthuset for waffled potato rösti, small dishes, coffee and locally brewed Åland beer.
The Maritime Quarter is worth visiting all year round. Here you will find SALT, a craft shop offering local products such as ceramics, textiles, jewellery and Åland delicacies, as well as Guldviva, whose jewellery is well known far beyond Åland. During Advent, the area fills with Christmas spirit, markets, crafts and mulled wine. In spring, the scent of tar returns as the wooden boats are carefully maintained ahead of the coming boating season.
Several well-known vessels have been built in the Maritime Quarter, including Albanus, Linden, Jehu and Alanta. The construction of the galeas Emelia is currently underway, using traditional methods, with plans for the vessel to be launched in July 26th, read more here. In addition, a large number of wooden boats of different kinds have been built in the quarter over the years.
To truly take in the beauty of the area, visit early in the morning. Sit down on one of the jetties and enjoy the calm, the birdsong and the sun slowly rising over Slemmern.
Visit the museum
At the Maritime Quarter’s museum, you can learn more about Åland’s rich boatbuilding and shipbuilding traditions. This summer’s exhibition, Boats That Built a Community, tells the story of the boats, the craftsmanship and the people who helped shape Åland through history.
The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00 until 18 August. Admission can be purchased through the Maritime Quarter’s website, sjokvarteret.ax, or paid directly at the museum during opening hours.
Address: Österleden 110, 22100 Mariehamn