The Aland Islands are made up of a staggering 90,000 islands, located in the Baltic Sea between Stockholm in Sweden and Turku in Finland are a renowned as a family-friendly summer holiday destination with opportunities for sailing, swimming and cycling among the islands. This seven-day itinerary couples a return cruise and self-drive, taking in best of Stockholm before heading to the Aland Islands where you'll have plenty of time to explore at your own pace, experiencing some of the many activities available to visitors, before returning across the Baltic Sea to the Swedish capital.
Stockholm & Aland Islands
Day by day itinerary
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Day 1 » Stockholm
Fly to Stockholm and check in to the Hotel Diplomat for one night, after which you're free to explore the Swedish capital at leisure for the rest of the day.
Stay: King's Garden Hotel, Stockholm
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 2 » Cruise to the Aland Islands
Travel with Tallink Silja on either the Galaxy or Silja Europa cruise ships. The journey from Stockholm to Mariehamn takes around six hours. On arrival, check in at the Hotel Arkipelag, where you'll stay for the next two nights.
Stay: Hotel Arkipelag
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 3 » Mariehamn
A day at leisure in the Aland Islands' capital offers the chance to visit some of its shops, restaurants and cultural attractions. Mariehamn is known as "the town of a thousand Linden trees", referring to the Linden (lime) tress that line an avenue in town.
Stay: Hotel Arkipelag
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 4 » Geta
Collect your hire car and drive to Geta in the north of the Aland Islands. From there we suggest visiting some of the nearby coastline and stopping at the medieval Kastelholm Castle, where guided tours are run on Saturdays during the summer. Spend two nights at the Hotel Havsvidden in Geta, where we recommend staying in a self-contained Cliff House overlooking the sea.
Stay: Hotel Havsvidden
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 5 » Geta
A free day in which to explore the spectacular north coast. Options include swimming, sailing and Northern Europe's best wreck diving. There are also excellent cycle paths and hot steam saunas.
Stay: Hotel Havsvidden
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 6 » Cruise to Stockholm
Drive back to Mariehamn and return your hire car. The return journey with Tallink Silja departs in the early afternoon, arriving in Stockholm in the evening. Spend the night at the Hotel Diplomat.
Stay: Hotel Diplomat, Stockholm
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 7 » Return home
After a morning spent sightseeing or relaxing near the hotel head to the airport for your flight back to the UK.
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