Discover Föglö: Customs history, nature and trails

Föglö combines traces of customs and pilotage history with hiking trails through varied landscapes and paddling routes around Fjärde and Sund. In Degerby, historic buildings stand alongside present-day uses; on Jyddö, shores, pastures and forests shape the route. Other attractions include a forest trail about two kilometres long, a disc golf course and Sinting beach. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, you can start by deciding whether culture, hiking or activities on the water will be the main focus of your holiday.

Customs and pilotage history in Degerby

The former large customs house in Degerby still stands today. Among other things, confiscated customs goods were stored in the former warehouses. The former customs officers’ houses now house the library and tourist information office. In Degerby, buildings from the customs era are thus put to use today. If you plan to use the tourist information office to help with your plans, check its current opening hours before visiting.

Väntstugan also tells the story of the area’s architecture: it was built in 1903 and designed by Lars Sonck. The Pilot Museum is housed in the old pilot station, right next to Seagram. In the broader travel destination of the Åland Archipelago, an exhibition at the Pilot Museum shows the period when Degerby was one of Åland’s most important harbours. You can take a historical walk through Degerby using a map available from the tourist information office or municipal office. The customs house, former warehouses and Pilot Museum thus offer different points of interest for a stay focused on cultural history.

Hiking trails and landscapes

The Jyddö hiking trail passes shores, a rocky slope and pastures where cows and sheep graze. The landscape also includes hazel groves, meadows and deciduous forests. The Näsets forest trail, also known as Fredsstigen, is about 2 km long and runs through unspoilt nature. The two trails offer different considerations for planning: the Jyddö trail focuses on the landscapes described, while the Näsets forest trail also has an approximate distance to help you plan.

Björkör is also shaped by its combination of nature and cultural heritage: it is a nature reserve with a traditional archipelago farm. Sinting beach is close to the Sinting residential area. These places add further geographical and thematic points of interest to the hiking trails, without every visit needing to have the same focus.

Paddling and other activities

There are paddling routes around Föglö’s Fjärde and Sund. Kayaks are not available for hire on Föglö, so bring your own or rent one in Mariehamn. As kayak rental availability may change, check before your trip. This lets you factor equipment into your plans before deciding on a day of paddling.

There is a disc golf course in Hastersboda; its starting point is at Isakssons Stugby. Check the condition of the course in advance if you want to make it a firm part of your plans. Together with the hiking and paddling options, it adds a choice of different activities that you can tailor to your travel group’s interests.

Getting there and choosing accommodation

The Föglö Line connects Svinö in Lumparland with Degerby. A cross-route runs from Sottunga and Kumlinge, or from Långnäs, to Överö. Ferry routes and timetables can change, so check the current timetable before your trip. These connections are a practical part of planning your journey, especially if you want to coordinate excursions and activities on Föglö.

When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to consider your preferred experiences and how you’ll get there together: do you want Degerby’s history to be the main focus, would you like to hike, or are you planning to paddle with your own equipment? Decide on your priorities and include the relevant places and ferry connections in your plans. That way, you can choose accommodation to suit the itinerary that matters to you, rather than focusing on just one activity.

Discover more destinations: Kumlinge, Brändö.

View the broader travel overview: Åland Archipelago.