In 1638, the Swedish Queen Kristina issued the decree ”Mail Route over land and sea” regarding a regular Mail Route from Stockholm via Åland to Helsinki. This route takes you even further east all the way to St. Petersburg along what today is called the King’s Road (see chapter King’s Road). Today, the Mail Route across Åland is a historical tour through nine of the Åland counties. It offers many pleasant experiences, such as diverse nature, excellent accommodation, cafés and restaurants, churches, museums and galleries with arts and crafts. Read more about the Mail Route at: www.postvagen.com. On the Mail Route, you first travel with the archipelago ferries of Åland and finally you travel with the Eckerö Line ferries from Eckerö to Grisslehamn in Sweden. More information and timetables can be found at www.visitaland.com or by contacting the Åland Tourist Information, tel. +358 (0)18 24 000, e-mail: info@visitaland.com.
KUSTAVI / OSNÄS HARBOUR > FERRY TO BRÄNDÖ / ÅVA HARBOUR > BRÄNDÖ / TORSHOLMA HARBOUR (about 20 km) The tour starts with the archipelago ferry from Osnäs harbour. The ferry departs every two to three hours, and the trip to Brändö takes 35 minutes. We recommend that you book vehicle space in advance. Please contact Ålandstrafiken in Mariehamn for bookings: - tel. +358 (0)18 525 100 - info@alandstrafiken.ax - www.alandstrafiken.ax
	Geographically speaking, Brändö is the most spread-out county in the archipelago of Åland. The number of permanent residents is about 500 people and they are spread out on ten islands, which are all connected with roads, bridges and/or ferries. You will experience a landscape full of diversity, with attractive villages, green forest glades, bare rocks and rocky islets, many large greenhouses and farmed fields. The roads and the bridges get you in close contact with the sea. From Åva harbour you drive through Brändö island to the south end and Torsholma harbour.
BRÄNDÖ / TORSHOLMA HARBOUR > VÅRDÖ / HUMMELVIK HARBOUR (about 2 h 20 min) The crossing with the ferry from Torsholma to Hummelvik on Vårdö takes about 2 h 20 min. The ferry departs about three times a day. On board you will find a cafeteria that serves simple dishes.
VÅRDÖ / HUMMELVIK HARBOUR > BOMARSUND > KASTELHOLM > GODBY (about 30 km) Follow main road 2 to Vårdö, which was an important shipping community into the 20th century. The Vargata village street is still lined with the old homes of the ship owners. The short crossing with the cable ferry from Vårdö to the main island takes about five minutes.
	The Russians built the Bomarsund fortress between 1832 and 1854. The fortress was laid in ruins when the allied English and French forces attacked it in 1854. The ruins are now one of Åland’s most noteworthy historical monuments. The Kastelholm Castle, which was originally used as a defence fortress during the Swedish era, was founded towards the end of the 14th century. Godby has been a central location on Åland for centuries. Today, about 800 people live in the area. Visit the Höga C outlook tower near the café Uffe på berget in Godby. When the weather is clear, you can see at least five parishes and several churches from the top of the tower. Having admired the view, it may be a good idea to have a cup of coffee and an ice cream.
GODBY > ECKERÖ HARBOUR (about 30 km) Follow route 2 from Godby about five kilometres to the Gölby intersection. Take the road to Gölby and follow it for about eight kilometers until you come to route 1. Turn to the right towards Eckerö. Just before you reach Eckerö Harbour, you will see Eckerö Post & Tullhus (mail and customs) that was built in 1828 and designed by the architects Carl Ludwig Engel and Carlo Bassi. The building is built in empirical style, which is well known from Helsinki and St. Petersburg. Together with the Bomarsund fortress, the Eckerö Post & Tullhus represent the Russian period in Finland and on Åland. The building and its surroundings are an important part of Åland’s cultural heritage, with strong ties to the old mail route. From Eckerö Harbour, Eckerö Lines ferries depart several times daily for Grisslehamn in Sweden. If you prefer to return to the Finnish mainland, there are several ferry connections daily from Mariehamn to both Turku and Helsinki. In that case you drive back along route 1 to Mariehamn (about 30 km).