Kökar

Kökar is a municipality in the archipelago of Åland. Kökar has a very suitable location for seafaring and the islands are full of prehistoric remnants. The Nordic pilgrimage route St. Olav Waterway (part of the Nidaros Path) goes through Kökar.

The nature here is unique. Most of the forests consist of leaved trees instead of pines, making the landscape very unusual in Finland. There are some rare plants living here, including the European yew.

Kökar is the southernmost municipality of Åland and one of the least populated parts of Finland, with about 220 permanent residents. Most people live on the main island, particularly around the village of Karlby, which serves as the municipal centre. The Otterböte archaeological site shows that the islands were already used by seal hunters around 3,000 years ago.

Franciscan monks established a monastery on the island of Hamnö in the 15th century, making Kökar an important religious and cultural centre. Although the monastery was dissolved in 1539, Kökar Church has remained on Hamnö ever since.

The municipality also includes Bogskär, Finland's southernmost outlying islets, about 50 km south of the main island.

Despite its small population, Kökar remains a functioning community with a school, library, health-care station and other basic services. Tourism, shipping and farming are important local industries.

59°56′11″N 20°55′15″E

Map of Kökar

Kökar is served by Ålandstrafiken^{[dead link]} ferries from Långnäs on mainland Åland and Galtby in Korpo. Ferries from Långnäs run several times a day. Ferries from Galtby run one to three times daily in summer and less frequently in winter.

The crossing takes about 2 hr 45 min from Långnäs and 2 hr 30 min from Galtby. All ferries arrive at Harparnäs harbour, which has a summer café and dry toilets.

Foot passengers travel free. Vehicle passengers must book in advance and pay a fare. In 2024, fares ranged from about €6 for a bicycle to €164 for a car with a caravan.

Several daily coaches connect Turku bus station with Galtby ferry harbour (about €16 in 2024). See Matkahuolto for schedules. The journey takes about 2 hours. Bus and ferry timetables do not always connect, so an overnight stay in Korpo may sometimes be necessary.

On mainland Åland, bus route 5 connects Mariehamn with Långnäs harbour.

Guest harbours are located at Hellsö, Brudhäll and Sandvik. Camping, cottages and hotel accommodation are available nearby.

• 59.939520.88241 Sandvik guest harbour & camping (Sandvik marina) (Munkvärvan), ☏ +358 457-342-9242, [email protected]. 50 berths. Electricity, water, laundry, sauna, Wi-Fi, fuel, sewage pump-out, and bicycle and car rental. €22 (2019).  (updated Jul 2019)

• 59.9220.91082 Hotell & Restaurang Brudhäll (Brudhäll marina), Karlby (Karlby), ☏ +358 400-535-332, [email protected]. 70 berths. Sauna, showers, toilets, laundry, sewage pump-out and Wi-Fi. €26–90 (2019).  (updated Jul 2019)

• 59.951920.92293 Hellsö guest harbour (Hellsö), ☏ +358 457-555-5800, [email protected]. More than 50 berths. Electricity, water, toilets, sauna, waste disposal, Wi-Fi and bicycle rental. €20 (2019).  (updated Jul 2019)

There is no public transport in Kökar but it's easy and very popular option to rent a bike. Kollektivtrafik from and to the ferry harbour operates Monday–Friday by timetable. It is free of charge on the main road and €2 outside it. The kollektivtrafik must be booked in advance.

• Kökar taxi and kollektivtrafik: ☏ +358 400-721-207

During the season there are daily guided tours^{[dead link]} to Kallskär by Hotel Brudhäll.

Kyrkogårdsö is on the route of some of the ferries between Kökar and Sottunga but only by request, and if there is someone going there with a car. Otherwise pedestrians must use a passenger boat (passbåt) from Sottunga harbour. During the season the passenger boat operates by a timetable and must be invoked no later than 15 minutes before the ferry arrives at Sottunga and it leaves Sottunga harbour when all the passengers are on board. In the corresponding Ålandstrafiken's timetable avg. från X means 'the ferry leaves from X', ank. Sottunga means 'the ferry arrives at Sottunga', and passbåtens anlöp till Sottunga färjhamn is the deadline for invoking the passenger boat. Off-season the passenger boat operates only by request which must be done at least one day in advance. The passenger boat is free of charge. ☏ +358 40-158-0100.

Kökar is one of the few islands in Åland with noticeable contours, showing picturesque cliffs to the east, now set a bit back from the coast. There is a very attractive little church on a separate island that is easily reached on foot from the ferry port by turning east. There are the ruins of an old monastery beside it. As is common in Åland, the bell tower is near to but separate from the main church building.

• 59.945720.86641 The Church and Franciscan Monastery Ruins (in Hamnö). During the 15th century a Franciscan monastery was founded on Hamnö. This place became a spiritual and cultural centre for the entire archipelago. Today the ruins of the monastery share their site with Kökar's church from 1748. In the chapel beside the church there are archaeological excavations. Exhibition in separate building. free.  (updated Jul 2019)
• 59.941420.95182 The Kökar museum, Österbygge, ☏ +358 457-524-4077. Jun 20–Aug 15: daily 11:00–16:00, W 11:00–20:00. Off season by appointment only.. In an old schoolhouse. Has many of the articles and tools used by the seal hunters on display. Get a glimpse of life on Kökar from the 1800s to the 1940s. There are several other buildings on the museum grounds open to the public. Among them a display hall with different types of boats, a crofter's cottage and a shed for livestock.  (updated Jul 2019)
• 59.929420.8833 Otterböte bronsåldersboplats (Otterböte broze age settlement), Munkvervan. Otterböte settlement from the Bronze Age (1800–500 BC). The settlement is believed to have been used by seal hunters in the winter, not by families. The findings include dwelling remnants, a former well, bones and ceramic fragments. free.  (updated Jul 2019)

  

• 59.87420.9054 Källskär. Outside Kökar main island. For many years, the nobleman Göran Åkerhielm lived on this island. The buildings, the garden and the port that he built are truly creative. Anyone familiar with the Moomin-books recognizes perhaps parts of the houses. Tove Jansson who occasionally came out on visits was inspired from it when she made sketches for the Moomins' house. Also found on the island is one of Åland's most remarkable nature phenomenons, Källskärskannan, which became a protected site in the 1950s. During the season there are daily trips to the island starting from Hotel Brudhäll. a day trip €50/person.  (updated Jun 2021)

• 59.935820.8751 Hiking path and fortifications on Kalen (in Munkvärvan). The hiking trail on Kalen is about 7 km long and goes through different kinds of vegetation to the prehistoric ruins of Otterböte, Russian and Finnish military remnants and over rocky hills with nice seascape views. The trail also visits a Vålberg jungfrudans or stone labyrinth (the current maze is a reconstruction as the original one was destroyed by Russians during World War I). The trail starts from Munkvärvan, ends in Karlby, and is marked with white dots. The trail is not suitable for small children. A guide leaflet (trilingual, also English) is available from the accommodations and stores. free.  (updated Jul 2019)
• 59.941420.87662 Kulturstigen (The Culture trail) (Hamnö). A 2-km-long culture-oriented trail in Hamnö. Starting point next to the road, close to the Hamnö bridge. free.  (updated Jul 2019)
• 59.955320.96723 Klobbars vandringsstig (Klobbars hiking trail) (Hellsö). A 2-km-long trail. Starting point at Klobbars Gästhem. free.  (updated Jul 2019)

• 59.920320.9061 Kökar Skärgårdsbutik (Karlby), ☏ +358 457-345-6316, [email protected]. Peak season: M–F 09:00–20:00, Sa 10:00–18:00, Su 9:00–18:00; June: M–F 10:00–19:00, Sa 10:00–18:00, Su 12:00–16:00. Groceries, hardware, souvenirs. Alko delivery point (order in advance).  

There are small grocery stores in Sandvik guest marina and at Havspaviljongen as well.

• Svartbröd, blackbread, as the name implies the bread is almost black. It is round and quite flat but its most characteristic feature is the taste. The blackbread from Kökar is sweeter than the blackbread from the other parts of Åland. Only a few people still know how to bake the Kökar-blackbread, so you have to ask around where you can buy the bread.
• Skärgårdsbröd Kökar^{[dead link]} is a local bakery. It runs a café in Karlby.

• Peders Aplagård Österbygge is an apple farm. They make different products out of apples like cider, cake, juice and jelly. You can buy directly from the farm or from the food shops on the island. Try Koppskärs dricka - their malty juniper berry lemonade.

• 59.939520.88241 Sandvik guest harbour & camping, Munkvervan (3.6 km from the ferry harbour), ☏ +358 457-342-9242, [email protected]. A very popular place. Cabins, camping area and guest harbour. Café with food and a grocery store with boating equipment. Bikes, rowing boats and canoes for rent. Use own linen. Advance booking recommended (not necessary for tents). Cabin €45/75 (2/4 persons), own linen; caravan €19, electricity €3; tent €10 + €3.50/person, children 0–12 free.  (updated Jul 2019)
• 59.937520.97472 Skinnars, Österbygge (8.3 km from the ferry harbour), ☏ +358 50-339-4656, [email protected]. The oldest holiday village in Kökar. cottages €50–85/night.  (updated Jul 2019)
• 59.951920.92293 Havspaviljongen, Hällsö (10.2 km from the ferry harbour), ☏ +358 457-555-5800, [email protected]. Cabins and guest marina. Restaurant. A small grocery store. cabins €70–100/night, harbour €20/night.  (updated Jul 2019)

• 59.935920.87854 Anton's Gästhem, Munkvervan (3 km from the ferry harbour), ☏ +358 40-735-2858, [email protected]. Rooms and apartments close to the ferry harbour and well located for cliff walking and for the church. No breakfast but some facilities for self-catering. Open year-round.  (updated Jul 2019)
• 59.955320.96725 Klobbars Gästhem och Stugor (Klobbar´s Hostelry & Cabins), Hällsö (10.8 km from the ferry harbour), ☏ +358 457-345-5444, [email protected]. Basic hotel, toilets en suite in some rooms. Cabins. Bikes and boats for rent. Sauna. Rooms €75–272/night (linen and breakfast included). Cabins €95–126/night in season, linen €10 per bed.  (updated Jul 2019)

• 59.9220.91086 Hotell & Restaurang Brudhäll, Karlby (3.4 km from the ferry harbour), ☏ +358 400-535-332, [email protected]. Hotel, restaurant and a guest marina in the main village.  (updated Jul 2019)
• 60.03620.8217 Havsgården, Kyrkogårdsö, ☏ +358 400-419-494, [email protected]. A small hotel on the island Kyrkogårdsö. Rooms and a buffet restaurant. Booking only by phone. Also tours and taxi boat services.  (updated Jul 2019)

• Kökar municipality
• Visit Åland, Åland official tourist gateway

• The rest of Åland
• The Archipelago Sea to the east, perhaps along the Archipelago Trail