Things to do in Kökar on Åland – our 10 best tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | What can you see and do in Kökar on Åland? At the far end of the Åland archipelago, a small island world awaits with dramatic nature, exciting history, hiking trails and excursions at sea. We came here with the camper from Föglö and were very fond of Kökar. Here are our 10 best tips!

Kökar in Åland

Kökar is a group of islands and a municipality in the south-eastern part of the Åland archipelago. It may not be the first place you end up when you visit Åland, which is why it was so exciting to come here.

You can take the ferry from Långnäs on mainland Åland or do as we did and hop on the ferry somewhere along the way. We had visited beautiful Föglöand therefore took the ferry from Överö, with our motorhome. If we remember correctly, the ferry took about two hours, and the trip should be booked in advance via Ålandstrafiken. Great views all the way!

What can you do in Kökar?

So, what can you see and do in Kökar? Well, a little bit of everything. Kökar offers beautiful nature and interesting history, but also good food and all kinds of small adventures. Here are our best tips on what to see and do in Kökar.

1. Relaxing at Sandvik Guest Harbour & Camping

First of all, why not relax at Sandvik Gästhamn & Camping? This campsite is beautifully situated by the water and can accommodate motorhomes and caravans, as well as tents and cabin guests. The campsite has a guest harbour and swimming facilities, as well as the possibility of renting a kayak or bicycle.

When we were here, there was also a small sauna and a restaurant where we ate Åland pancakes and enjoyed a locally produced drink. Fantastically delicious and nice!

2. Have dinner at Brudhäll

Another place you don't want to miss in Kökar is Brudhäll, which serves as a hotel, restaurant and guest harbour. We had dinner here, in the form of marinated prawns and then perch with potatoes. The view and the service were perhaps more impressive than the food, but we had a nice evening. If you like saunas, don't miss their new stylish two-storey sauna!

3. Try local delicacies

Kökar may be a small island with a limited number of inhabitants, but despite this there is no shortage of local delicacies. Kökar mustard and honey from Kökar we found at Kökar Skärgårdsbutik. At Peders Aplagård there is, among other things, a café and farm sales during the season.

4. see Kökar church and monastery ruins

On Hamnö, Kökar's church, St. Anna, is beautifully situated with a view of the archipelago. The current stone church was completed in 1784, but the church history of the place is considerably older than that.

There was a church here already in the Middle Ages and in the 15th century a Franciscan convent was established on the site. The monastery disappeared in connection with the Reformation in the 16th century, but remains still remain next to today's church. Inside the church there is also a real historical rarity: a baptismal font made of Gotland limestone from the early 13th century.

We like to look into old churches and thought the whole environment on Hamnö was very nice. There are also viewpoints and opportunities to watch for birds.

5. Birdwatching

Bird watching is something you can do in Kökar if you like bird watching. You can see a lot of different species of birds here and in addition, platforms, which are accessible for people with reduced mobility, have been built in several places. At the platforms there are also information signs about the birds you can see.

We saw a platform at the church (pictures) and one at Sandvik Gästhamn & Camping.

6. Hike the Kalen hiking trail

There are several hiking options in the Kalen area, and you can choose a shorter or longer tour.

Here you will encounter dramatic archipelago nature along with traces from several time periods. The area includes the Otterböte Bronze Age settlement, remains of a Russian coastal battery from World War I, and Finnish fortifications from World War II.

7. Check out the Otterböte Bronze Age settlement.

In Otterböte there is one of the best-known settlements in the Nordic region from the Bronze Age, in the form of remains of a seal-owning settlement from the Late Bronze Age, around 1000 BC. Archaeological investigations have revealed, among other things, nine house foundations and a well. In addition, pottery shards and animal bones, mainly from seals, have been found.

The site is really cool to see because it is so incredibly old, and because the site is surprisingly well preserved.

8. Join a boat trip to Källskär.

One thing you definitely don't want to miss doing in Kökar, if you have the chance, is joining a guided boat trip to Källskär. The tours, which are given regularly during the summer, start from Brudhäll pier and take about half a day. In addition to the fact that the boat trip, which goes through the dense archipelago, is wonderful in itself, there is a destination for the trip: Källskär.

Källskär is a beautiful island, but the island also has some exciting stories to offer. In the 1960s, Baron Göran Åkerhielm bought part of Källskär and created his special summer paradise here.

He spent a lot of time here and left his personal mark on the island, including through various construction projects that provided jobs for the locals. When he tired of the island, in 1984, he donated it, along with the buildings, to the Åland Islands.

Much of what Baron Åkerhielm built remains, including the house, the garden and a gazebo. Here you can feel the intentions of creating something that was reminiscent of both the North and the Mediterranean. Above the fireplace hangs a painting from the Moomin world. On the coast, a Greek statue looks out over the sea.

Peter took out his drone, and from up there we could see a rocky and barren island, surrounded by the intensely blue sea.

Incidentally, the rock formations on Källskär are very special, and the island is worth visiting also for these different views.

9. Visit Kökar local history museum

The Kökar local history museum, housed in the old school of Österbygge-Hellsö from 1913, shows how the people of Kökar used to live. There are also old buildings preserved, as well as old boats and various tools. The museum is open a few hours a day during high season, and otherwise by appointment.

10. Discover Kökar by bike or kayak

Kökar is perfect for exploring at a leisurely pace, both from land and water. By bike you can get between the villages, sights and different parts of the island, while a kayak trip gives you the opportunity to get even closer to the archipelago's nature.

We saw both bikes and kayaks for rent at Sandvik Gästhamn & Camping when we stayed there. Check current rental options before your visit.

Continue the journey from Kökar to Finland

Kökar doesn't have to be the final stop on the trip. We came to the island ourselves from Föglö and then continued by ferry from Kökar to Galtby in the Turku archipelago. It turned out to be a really nice itinerary where the ferry ride through the archipelago itself was part of the experience.

From Galtby you can continue through the Turku archipelago and towards Pargas and Turku, among others. If you are travelling by car or camper, you need to check the current timetables and booking rules with Ålandstrafiken before your journey. Continue by ferry to mainland Finland

READ MORE: Turku archipelago – islands, ferries and experiences

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

If you want to stay in a hotel you can stay at Brudhäll and if you want to stay in a cabin you can stay at Sandvik Gästhamn & Camping. If you are travelling with a motorhome, you will find a parking space with electricity right at Kökar Skärgårdsbutik, not far from Brudhäll. Or you can stay at the campsite.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood of Kökar

There is of course more to see and do near Kökar. It is not that far to the fantastic island of Föglö and there is also more to experience in Åland:

• Things to do on Föglö
• Things to do in Mariehamn
• Bomarsund Fortress
• Things to do in Åland