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Despite having over 30,000 inhabitants, Åland is divided into a total of 16 municipalities. These include one city, nine rural municipalities, and six archipelago municipalities.
Mariehamn is the largest with nearly 12,000 inhabitants, while Sottunga has only around 100 permanent residents. If you meet a family of five from Sottunga, you have met almost 5% of the municipality's population. Sottunga is also Finland's smallest municipality and an example of Åland's small and locally democratic municipalities. The population of the other municipalities in Åland varies between approximately 500 and 3,500 people.
Even though the municipalities are small, each one offers the services that we in the Nordic countries are accustomed to municipalities being responsible for. For example, within childcare, elderly care, education, and other sectors. In healthcare and education, the municipalities cooperate to provide equal conditions for all Åland residents.
Contact the municipalities directly for more information, read more at regeringen.ax.
Lumparland is the smallest municipality on mainland Åland with a land area of 36 square kilometers. The municipality is located approximately 30 kilometers from Mariehamn and offers its own daycare, primary school and assisted living. There is also a library, post office and shop. From Långnäs harbor, Åland Traffic's archipelago ferries as well as cargo and passenger vessels depart on their way between Sweden and mainland Finland.
Brändö is the northernmost of Åland's archipelago municipalities and the municipality closest to the Finnish mainland. The travel time is 2 hours from Turku and 3.5 hours from Mariehamn. Brändö consists of over a thousand islands, ten of which are inhabited with their own village. The villages are connected by bridges and road embankments. To three of the villages you travel by archipelago ferries that operate year round.
Brändö is an active municipality with 14 active associations and over 60 companies. Brändö also offers all basic services as well as opportunities for versatile sports year round. Among other things in the archipelago's largest indoor hall, Brändöhallen, where you can play badminton, floorball and participate in gymnastics every week.
Do you dream of a simpler life close to the sea and nature? Föglö is a growing archipelago municipality that is investing in new residents. Here you will find childcare, schools, elderly care, services and a vibrant community life – perfect for families, entrepreneurs and remote workers. You live peacefully and close to nature, yet have good connections to mainland Åland with a car ferry that takes 30 minutes. You can reach Mariehamn in under an hour. In Föglö, security, community and the freedom to live where nature is always close await you.
"Föglö is a perfect archipelago municipality to move to. Commuting distance to the city and yet relatively frequent connections." says Robin Lundin.
Saltvik is a safe and welcoming municipality that cares for the whole community – from children to the elderly – and gladly puts families with children at the center. The goal is to create an environment where everyone can thrive. Among other things, the municipality invests in school environments that inspire and provide energy and joy, both indoors and outdoors. At daycare centers, schools, and the Sunnanberg elderly care home, food is prepared on-site, with locally sourced ingredients being a guiding principle in the choice of raw materials.
With close proximity to nature and the archipelago, Saltvik offers hiking trails, swimming beaches, and outdoor gyms for an active lifestyle. The archipelago north of Saltvik may be the most beautiful in Åland and is fantastic for kayaking, sailing, and boating in general. During summer, cafés and events draw visitors.
For those who wish to live in Saltvik, there are attractive residential areas close to both services and green spaces.
At the far west, where the sun often lingers a little longer, lies Eckerö. Here, quality of life, services, and nature-close living are combined in a way that makes the municipality very attractive for newcomers. For those who want to build new homes, there are two residential areas with available plots: Haralds in Storby and Kyrkviken in Kyrkoby. In Storby, there are both a daycare, school, and library, making everyday life simple and secure for families with children.
Transport connections are convenient with several daily bus services to Mariehamn, making commuting easy. The boat connection to Sweden facilitates both work and private life. Eckerö offers an active lifestyle year-round. The summer months offer hiking trails, golf, mini-golf, kayaking, and paddling, and there are several fine beaches such as Degersand, Käringsund, and Sandviken. Guest harbours, cafés, and restaurants make it easy to enjoy the local community and meet neighbours. Even during winter, there are plenty of opportunities for activities. As soon as snow falls, fine ski trails are prepared, and the municipality's coastal shores offer excellent ice skating. Eckerö also boasts excellent opportunities for winter sports through the municipality's curling hall, which provides both exercise and community during the cold season. Year-round, two cafés remain open where residents can meet and socialise over a cup of coffee. The culture and history of the municipality are also strongly present. At the Åland Hunting and Fishing Museum and Labbas Heritage Farm, there are rich opportunities to engage with local traditions. Käringsund has a unique connection to the classic TV series Seacrow Island (Vi på Saltkråkan), which was filmed in the 1960s. Eckerö is a municipality where nature is close, services are close, and the wider world is close. For those who want to settle in an active, safe, and nature-close environment, Eckerö is an obvious choice.
Sottunga is Åland's smallest municipality and perhaps for that very reason a unique place to live. Here you are met by tranquility, small-scale living and a strong sense of community. The municipality offers several rental properties that provide a secure start for new residents. Many who move here appreciate the open and welcoming atmosphere.
Despite its small size, Sottunga is a vibrant community with families with children in both school and home education. The fine school – with a modern gymnasium, library and proximity to nature – creates a safe and inspiring environment for children to grow up in. Fresh air, unspoiled nature and silence are natural parts of everyday life, while the village shop ensures that daily life runs smoothly.
Community life is active and engaged. Folkhälsan, the Red Cross, the Local Heritage Association and the Youth Association are important forces in the local community. Regular all-activity days and social events bring together both young and old, further strengthening community cohesion.
Sottunga also offers fantastic opportunities for outdoor activities. Through the Central Baltic project St Olav Waterways, the pilgrimage route – stretching between Turku and Trondheim – naturally passes via the island. It is also possible to take an appreciated bonus hike along Sottunga's own trail, which takes both visitors and residents through scenic forests, coastal environments and historical sites.
During summer, the popular guest harbour fills with visitors seeking the charm of the archipelago, with many returning year after year. With reliable ferry connections to mainland Åland, Sottunga is both peaceful and easily accessible.
For those who dream of a safe, nature-close and community-oriented life, Sottunga offers something truly unique.
Hammarland offers the best of rural life in Åland, with open landscapes, coastal nature, and a strong sense of community. The municipality is well-equipped with a daycare centre, a primary and middle school, and a newly built elderly care home. Everyday services are centred around the beloved Hugo's country store, which also serves as an agent for postal services, banking, Alko, and a pharmacy.
The location is ideal for those who want to live in the countryside while still being close to the wider world. By car, you can reach Mariehamn in 20 minutes and the Eckerö Line ferry in Berghamn in 13 minutes. Frequent bus connections and illuminated cycling paths make it easy to get around sustainably in everyday life.
Hammarland also has an active community life. The sports club HIK and the youth association HUF offer meaningful leisure activities for all ages, alongside the voluntary fire brigade HFBK. Together, these associations create a sense of unity that makes Hammarland more than just a place to live.
Hammarland also has an interesting history to discover. The municipality contains historic coastal batteries from wartime in Sålis and Torp, a local heritage museum, and a beautiful church. For those interested in horses, there are as many as six stabling facilities in the municipality.
Leisure life is rich, with football pitches, a disc golf course, ski trails, and several popular beaches at places such as Öra and Bovik. In the Öra area, there is also a guest harbour and a harbour restaurant. Nature enthusiasts can hike along the Sadelinden trail or take a boat trip out to the lighthouses of Sälskär or Märket. For those looking to relocate, there are excellent housing options in several attractive locations, both centrally situated and near the shore. The range spans from rental apartments to affordable plots for detached houses. Waterfront plots for permanent residence are also available for purchase, even for those who do not yet have right of domicile.
Living in Lemland is safe, close to nature, and comfortable. The municipality offers high-quality services and cares for the environment and its residents. Here you will find well-functioning childcare and schools, a library, sports facilities, and care for the elderly with home services and assisted living. In everyday life, you are within easy reach of shops, restaurants, and a vibrant community life.
With approximately 15 km to Mariehamn and a walking and cycling path all the way, commuting is simple. Lemland is the southernmost municipality of mainland Åland, completely surrounded by water and rich in natural experiences – from smooth bathing rocks and viewpoint hills to blooming deciduous meadows and abundant wildlife.
Here you can hike along the Lemland Trail, experience the Nåtö nature reserve, or visit archipelago idylls such as Rödhamn, Nyhamn, and Lågskär. In Lemland, quality of life, community, and archipelago come together – a place to live and grow.
If you have more questions about life in Åland, you are welcome to contact us! We provide personal guidance, help you with your moving plans, and are happy to give tips about jobs, housing, schools, and leisure activities.
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