Children’s Mariehamn – 10 fun activities to discover with kids
Mariehamn offers fun activities for children of all ages. Would you like to spend time on Lilla Holmen island or compete in a water slide race in the Mariebad bathhouse? Small children enjoy new playgrounds while older kids will be excited about a trip out at sea. These 10 tips will make your Mariehamn trip unforgettable for you and your family members.
1. Lilla Holmen – children’s own island
Lilla Holmen is the children’s island and lies only a short walk from the town centre. Here children can swim, play in the sand, climb in the pirate ship and see rabbits and hens. In Mariehamn children can fish from the piers, and Lilla Holmen is perfect for that.
Lilla Holmen is suitable for a picnic as well, but it’s also easy to eat in a restaurant when you get hungry since the town centre is near.
2. Mariebad bathhouse
Mariebad is open seven days a week, all year round and welcomes you to enjoy swimming by the eastern shore of the town. The bathhouse is a favourite for the whole family. Here you’ll find a jacuzzi, an exercise pool, a thrilling water slide and an exciting recreational pool with lots of fun for children. After swimming, you’ll warm up in a traditional sauna or in a steam sauna. Outdoors, there is a beach for those who want to take a dip in the sea. And when you get hungry, the café serves Thai food, snacks and drinks.
3. Minigolf adventure at Äventyrsgolfen
In the Äventyrsgolfen minigolf park, you can test your putting skills and challenge your family members. It’s not like any minigolf you may have played, but more challenging and simply fun. All courses have two different levels of difficulty and you can choose whichever of them that meets with your skills best. Thanks to that, the whole family can play together. In the evening, the park is beautifully lit with more than 120 lights. Here’s also a café and a restaurant with a view over the town's eastern guest harbour.
4. Visit a child-friendly museum x 3
Are you ready to meet some sea monsters? In the children’s exhibitions at Åland Maritime Museum you’ll see exciting sea monster figures and go on a treasure hunt with the museum’s mascot, Ruby the ship’s rat. The museum is full of interesting items to discover for all ages. Did you know it’s one of the few museums in the world where you can see an authentic pirate flag?
Visit also the museum ship Pommern by the Maritime Museum. Pommern is the only four-masted bark in the whole world that’s left in its original shape, and here, you’ll be taken to an interactive adventure on the sea. Pommern is an impressive sight and simply a site you can’t miss when you are in Åland. Pommern is open daily in May–September.
Continue exploring the Åland history in the Åland Cultural History Museum and the Åland Art Museum at the eastern side of the town. They are open all year round and in addition to the interesting main exhibition, they offer several activities for children during summer. All children between 0-17 visit the museum without an entrance fee.
5. Find your favourite ice cream stand
What would summer be like without ice cream? In Mariehamn you’ll find ice cream stands in many places around the town. One of the locals' favourites is the Glada Muu stand at Torggatan street. They serve bubble waffle ice cream and decorate it with sprinkles, sauces, candies, berries, nuts, and whipped cream. Other popular spots for eating ice cream are the stands by the Maritime Quarter, where you can enjoy your ice cream by the sea, and at the Badhusparken green area in the evening sun. How many ice cream stands will your family find in Mariehamn?
6. Discover the Nabben Wetland
The Nabben wetland in the northern Mariehamn is a favourite among all children interested in exploring nature and wildlife such as birds, butterflies, fry and frogs. The area was awarded the Nordic Council Environment Prize in 2022 and lies within a walking distance from the centre of Mariehamn, north of the Mariebad bathhouse. The wetland has wooden bridges and platforms to walk on and there are signs with information about the ecosystem and the animals as well as plants living and growing in the area. The wetland has easy access and you can even bring a stroller.
7. Enjoy beach life at Nabben beach
Further on from the Nabben wetland, you’ll find the Nabben beach. It’s perfect for smaller kids thanks to the shallow waters and the playground with swings and a slide. Older children have fun playing beach volleyball. When you get thirsty there’s a beach bar where you can buy ice cream, coffee and soft drinks.
8. Make a boat trip to Kobba Klintar
When visiting Åland, there’s one thing you absolutely don’t want to miss – a boat trip in the archipelago. It’s exciting both for children and adults. A perfect destination is the old pilot station Kobba Klintar south of Mariehamn, from where the pilots used to guide the ships into the town harbour. You may have seen the white buildings when you travelled to Åland by ferry, and now you’ll get the chance to see the cruise ferries from the island instead. In summer, you can go on a boat trip daily from the quay by the museum ship Pommern, but you can book a trip even in spring and in autumn.
9. Sauna and activities at Gröna Udden Camping
If you long for a break from the town bustle, head to the Gröna Udden camping site. It’s less than one kilometre from the town centre and a stroll through the Tullarns äng green area is a treat in itself, especially in summer. Gröna Udden has a beach, and for young children you’ll find a playground, a bouncing castle and a Moomin-playhouse. You can also play mini golf or hire bikes and explore the area on a bike. The café serves pizza and summertime they are open all day. What’s more, there are two beach saunas that you can rent for your family for an hour. Is there a better way of enjoying the evening than relaxing by the sea?
10. Play Disc Golf on the Badhusberget rocks
Have you ever played Disc Golf? In Mariehamn you can find a nice course by the Badhusparken green area. Disc Golf suits all ages and all you need is a couple of discs and a little competitiveness. If you didn’t bring your own discs, don’t worry – you can borrow a set from the tourist information or from the town library. You can play free of charge every weekday all year round. This is a nice activity where you can spend time together in the fresh archipelago air. And the views are great too!
