During the winter holidays, I visited the fantastic and beautiful island of Åland. My trip was extremely successful as there was lots of snow and the whole atmosphere was truly magical – it was a real life fairytale. The beauty of Åland lies in its fascinating geography with all the dreamy coasts, archipelagian sceneries and pretty harbors to name just a few. We travelled to the island by ship but there is also a small airport near Mariehamn as well for those travelling to the island from further destinations or with busy schedules.

Åland seems to be this little unknown island somewhere in the Baltic Sea where life is perfect – silent and peaceful.. just like back in the days. When walking the snowy paths and being surrounded by old wooden cottages, there’s no way one could feel nothing but relaxed and cozy. Especially during the winter time, the lakes, the trees and the sky all look mesmerizing as everything is wonderfully covered in glittery snow. With deer running out on the fields and bunnies jumping on the backyard of the houses, it is a place where one feels deeply connected to the nature. It is a unique spot in the world where time magically stops still.

In case you got interested in visiting Åland, there’s one particularly intriguing location you might be interested in seeing – namely Kastelholm. Alongside with a fabulous restaurant called Smakby (in English: Taste Village) there’s also a beautiful medieval fortress or castle with tours for tourists. And to make it even more fascinating for you, a true Nordic culinary idol and Åland’s best known chef Michael Björklund is the mastermind behind the local fresh dishes in Smakby so there’s a change you might get to meet this Bocuse d’Or contestant too… just like I did. Åland surely has many sides to it!

Images by JoyHey