Over 800 caches across the archipelago
Climb, hike, solve a tricky puzzle or kayak out to an island. In Åland, no two routes to a cache are quite the same. As an added bonus, you can add a new country to your geocaching stats and collect Åland’s very own souvenir.
With more than 800 caches packed into a small area, there’s plenty to keep a geocacher busy in Åland. You’ll find caches along scenic hiking trails and on islands only reachable by boat, as well as right in the middle of Åland’s only town, Mariehamn. Some are simple hides, while others involve puzzles, maths problems or questions to solve. Many lead to viewpoints, historic sites and other places the cache owner thinks are worth discovering.
“Åland has more than 20,000 islands and skerries, and venturing further out into the archipelago is an experience in itself. I definitely recommend taking a boat trip to the old pilot station on Kobba Klintar, Rödhamn guest harbour or the lighthouse islands of Sälskär and Märket,” says Anna-Maria Sjölund, vice chair of the local association Geocaching Åland rf.
Explore Åland with a bingo challenge
Anna-Maria has created one of Åland’s more unusual caching experiences: a bingo challenge across the main island of Åland. To complete it, you need to visit five of 17 selected locations and make a row on the bingo card. The museum ship Pommern is a required stop, while the other locations also have links to Åland’s history. They include the cannons at Bomarsund and the impressive Eckerö Post & Customs House. The logs show that many geocachers have used Anna-Maria’s bingo as a guide for their stay in Åland, discovering places they might otherwise have missed.
Geocaching in Åland’s outer archipelago
If terrain ratings are your thing, Åland’s outer archipelago offers plenty to explore. Many caches have higher terrain ratings without being particularly difficult to reach. Ferries take you to the larger islands, while some caches require your own or a hired boat. And some are easier to approach by kayak than from land. Some caches therefore take a little extra planning, but they’re well worth the effort.
“Most geocachers who visit Åland are struck by how beautiful it is, with incredible nature, wonderful views and those distinctive red roads,” says Mia Josefsson, chair of Geocaching Åland rf.
The red roads Mia mentions are one of those little details that tells you you’re in Åland. The colour comes from the islands’ rapakivi bedrock, a red granite. When crushed for gravel and asphalt, it gives the roads their characteristic reddish-pink colour.
A country of its own in geocaching
There’s another side of Åland that also catches the interest of visiting geocachers: its autonomy. Åland is an autonomous, Swedish-speaking region of Finland with its own parliament, government and flag. In the world of geocaching, Åland counts as a country of its own and has had its own virtual souvenir since 2020. If you collect municipalities, there are also 16 of those to tick off. But Mia’s advice is not to rush:
“Geocachers who come to Åland often want to log as much as possible, but I always tell them: take your time! There is so much to discover along the way.”
Tips from Anna-Maria and Mia
- If you meet someone while you’re out caching, tell them what you are doing. Åland is small, and a geocacher searching in an unexpected place may make people curious. A quick hello and a few words about geocaching usually go a long way.
- Check yourself for ticks after a day outdoors.
- Read up on Åland’s rules on public access before you head out, particularly if you plan for camping.
- Make sure to book your travel and accommodation in advance.
- Organise a geocaching event, preferably outside working hours. There’s a good chance someone from the local geocaching community will join you.
Åland’s oldest cache
The cache Aland, near the birdwatching tower at Torpfjärden, was placed on 1 August 2003 by four Estonian cyclists. It has changed hands several times over the years and is now maintained by Anna-Maria Sjölund. More than two decades later, it is still active – and one that many visiting geocachers are keen to add to their stats.
Getting around Åland
Planning to cache your way around Åland? Ålandstrafiken operates the local buses on the main island as well as the ferries connecting it with the archipelago municipalities and islands. If you’re heading farther out into the archipelago, check the timetables and plan your route in advance. If you’re travelling by car, make sure to book a place for your car on the ferry in advance. Ferries fill up even outside the busy summer season, particularly around weekends.
Åland Adventure 2027
On 4 September 2027, Geocaching Åland will host Åland Adventure 2027, which has now qualified for Mega-Event status. The main event will take place in Mariehamn, with additional activities taking place over several days.
New to geocaching?
Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunt where you use GPS to find hidden caches and log your finds. Head to Geocaching.com to find caches in Åland and learn how to get started.
