Day cruise to Åland with Eckerö Linjen

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | If you want to get out on the Åland Sea for the day, you can take a day cruise with Eckerö Linjen from Grisslehamn. The trip with M/S Eckerö takes about 4.5 hours round trip and can be combined with food, shopping and entertainment on board. We have tested the day cruise ourselves – in connection with a family birthday that was considerably more surprising than the birthday child had expected.

Day cruise with Eckerö Linjen

The Eckerö Line operates the route between Grisslehamn in Roslagen and Eckerö on Åland. The crossing takes about two hours in each direction and for those who just want to make an excursion for the day, it is possible to book a day cruise and follow the boat back to Grisslehamn.

The entire cruise takes approximately 4.5 hours. On a day cruise you don't need to plan any program on Åland, but stay on board while the boat is docked in Eckerö and then follow it back to Sweden.

In other words, this is more of a cruise on the Åland Sea than a day trip on Åland itself. If you want to discover Mariehamn and other parts of Åland, you will need to book a trip where you go ashore and stay longer.

M/S Eckerö – the boat between Grisslehamn and Åland

The day cruise is made with M/S Eckerö, which operates the Grisslehamn–Eckerö route several times a day. On board there are restaurants, a café, bars and a duty-free shop. Depending on the departure and time of year, there may also be various forms of entertainment.

A big part of the fun is of course the boat trip itself. During the crossing you first get a view of the Roslagen archipelago and then more open water as the ferry continues across the Åland Sea. If you're lucky with the weather, it's nice to go out on deck for a while. Even a day cruise of a few hours can actually give you a bit of a feeling of being on a trip.

Food on the Eckerö Line

It is possible to combine the cruise with food on board. The range and menus change over time and may vary between different departures, so check what is offered when you book your trip.

When we did our day cruise we ate buffet on board. At that time it was called The Archipelago Table and included various types of herring and salmon, cold cuts, hot dishes and desserts. We remember it above all as a large and rather classic ferry buffet – and as a nice way to socialize while the Åland Sea passed outside the restaurant's large windows.

Shopping on board

For many, shopping is of course associated with a cruise to Åland. On board the M/S Eckerö there is a duty-free shop with, among other things, sweets, perfumes, cosmetics and various drinks. The range, prices and any purchasing rules may change, so anyone planning to buy something special would be wise to check the current information before the trip.

And just like on other ferries, it's easy to come on board with the intention of absolutely not needing anything – and yet be standing there a while later with a bag.

Connecting bus to Grisslehamn

You don't need your own car to take a day cruise with Eckerö Linjen. There are connecting buses to Grisslehamn from various locations, and the bus trip can be booked in conjunction with the cruise.

That's how we got to the ferry ourselves. The advantage of course is that you don't have to worry about parking and driving and can just follow the bus all the way to the terminal. Which locations the buses leave from and which departures coincide with the cruises can change, so check current options when you book.

Our day cruise was a surprise

The reason for our own cruise wasn't really that we suddenly felt an irresistible need for a few hours on the Åland sea.

Peter's father turned 80. He and Peter's mother were going on a cruise with Peter's uncle and thought it was the whole party. But the three sons – Peter and his two brothers – had other plans.

In the greatest secrecy, all three sons booked themselves on the same cruise, along with their wives and some of the children. And yes, the surprise was a success.

Suddenly all three sons were there on the boat at the same time, along with parts of the rest of the family. There were hugs and tears and some very nice hours together on the trip to and from Åland. Sometimes a cruise doesn't actually need to be more advanced than that. You eat something good, look out over the sea and get a few hours together.

A lively bus ride home

The return trip on the connecting bus was an entirely different experience. After a few hours on board, some of the bus passengers were in a particularly good mood, and the guards had a hard time getting everyone to sit in their seats and follow the rules of order.

Some fellow passengers also made sure the rest of the bus didn't miss the Melodifestivalen by playing it on their mobile phones at an impressively high volume. It might not have been the most peaceful moment of the trip. But it was definitely one of the more memorable.

Take the opportunity to discover Grisslehamn

If you have time before or after the ferry, Grisslehamn is also worth discovering. The small community is located at the farthest point on the Åland Sea and has long been characterized by shipping between Sweden and Åland.

Here you can, among other things, walk along the water, see Albert Engström's studio and experience the classic Roslags environment.

READ MORE: Grisslehamn in Roslagen - 7 tips for things to do

Do you want to discover more of Åland?

A day cruise is an easy way to get out on the sea, eat well and get a change of scenery, but of course you won't get to see much of Åland when you stay on board.

If you want to experience the archipelago itself, we recommend staying for a few days. Åland offers, among other things, Mariehamn, small archipelago roads, historical sights, nature and beautiful environments for both car, bicycle and camper.

READ MORE: Things to do in Åland – our best tips