Järsö and Nåtö

Where are Järsö and Nåtö?

Järsö and Nåtö are the two villages in Lemland’s archipelago, south of Mariehamn on the Åland Islands. They sit on a chain of islands separated from the Lemland mainland by the Järsöfjärden bay. On a map they look close to the rest of Lemland, but there is no bridge across: the only road in runs through Mariehamn.

The area is mostly homes and summer cottages surrounded by nature. According to Wikipedia, 201 people lived on Järsö and 87 on Nåtö in 2015. Järsö, the southernmost of the larger islands, covers about 4 km² and is just over 4 km long, at the point where the archipelago opens towards the sea.

Why do you reach Järsö from Mariehamn and not from Lemland?

The answer is Järsövägen. According to the Åland government, the road was built in the first half of the 1970s, when an outer harbour was planned south of Järsö. The harbour never happened, but the road, with its bridges and causeways, gave Nåtö, Bergö and Järsö a fixed link to Mariehamn.

The road is about 7.5 km long and runs through both the town of Mariehamn and the municipality of Lemland. Many people have moved to the islands since, and traffic has grown. The Åland government plans to renovate four bridges along the road and is studying a pedestrian and cycle path. Expect possible disruption while the work is under way.

Are Järsö and Nåtö part of Lemland or Mariehamn?

Järsö and Nåtö belong to Lemland. Because the islands are linked by road to Mariehamn, a transfer to the town has come up several times:

• In 2018 the Åland government stated that the area would become part of Mariehamn if the municipal reform in southern Åland went ahead. Lemland’s municipal board argued that the plan was against the law (Nya Åland, November 2018).
• In 2021 eight residents filed a citizens’ initiative asking for the transfer process to start (Ålands Radio, February 2021).

For visitors it makes little difference, but it explains why services here often come from the town.

Nåtö nature reserve: wooded meadows and a nature trail

Much of Nåtö lies within Nåtö nature reserve. Under the Åland government’s 2005 decision, the reserve covers about 124 hectares of land and 427 hectares of water, most of it part of the EU’s Natura 2000 network. The land and water are owned by the Åland government.

The reserve is known for its wooded meadows: old farmland with scattered broadleaf trees and hay meadow, common on Åland until the late 19th century. According to Visit Åland, the meadows are still mown by hand in the traditional way every July, and wild orchids grow there.

Nåtö nature trail	According to Visit Åland
Length	2 to 3.3 km
Terrain	easy, some bare rock and boardwalks
Waymarking	white-topped posts
Grazing	cattle, May to October
Dogs	on a lead

The trail can be wet in some seasons. Nåtö biological station stands by the trail, and the bus stop of the same name is a natural starting point.

Järsö: recreation area and walking trails

Carry on south along Järsövägen and you reach Järsö. Lemland’s tourist brochure describes a recreation area with waymarked trails, barbecue spots and places to swim. Visit Åland mentions a nature trail of about 2 km on Järsö with views of the outer archipelago. The Åland government lists recreation areas, nature reserves, trails and beaches along the road as the reason it is so busy.

The barbecue details come from a 2008 brochure, so check the signs on site.

How do you get to Järsö by bus or bike?

Bus

The Järsö line (Järsölinjen) is one of the five lines in Ålandstrafiken’s town network. It starts at Nygatan in central Mariehamn and runs via Lervik and Espholm to Nåtö biologiska, then on to the turning points at Granö, Langnäs and Saltkråkan. Since 1 July 2025 the service has been operated by Axbuss Ab for the Åland government. Lemland municipality also refers to Ålandstrafiken for the Järsö-Nåtö service.

The timetable differs between the school year and summer, so always check the current one on alandstrafiken.ax.

Bike

Visit Åland includes Järsö among its popular bike routes from Mariehamn: about 18 km return, with causeways, sea views and archipelago vegetation. There is not yet a separate cycle path along the whole road, and the Åland government itself notes that many people find road safety lacking. Use lights and a hi-vis vest, especially on the bridges. Cycling is not allowed on the nature trails.

What are the rules in Nåtö nature reserve?

The 2005 protection decision lists several prohibitions for the public. The main ones for a day visitor:

• No camping.
• Fires only at designated spots.
• Dogs and other pets on a lead.
• Do not pick plants, mushrooms, moss, lichen or firewood, and do not break branches.
• No motor vehicles or snowmobiles off-road, and park only in designated places.
• Senskärsgrundet is closed to visitors from 1 April to 15 July.

Recreational fishing is allowed from 16 June to 31 March with a special fishing permit.

Good to know before you go

Järsö and Nåtö are residential areas, so respect private plots and jetties. We have not been able to confirm any shop or kiosk open in 2026, so bring what you need. To head further into Lemland’s southern archipelago, read about Rödhamn and Lågskär lighthouse. For travel to Åland and Lemland, see Getting here.