Rödhamn

Where is Rödhamn?

Rödhamn is a small group of islands in Lemland’s southern archipelago, on the edge of the Sea of Åland (Ålands hav). The name now covers the islands of Långö, Gloskär and Rödö, and according to Wikipedia also Ljungskär. It lies about 10 nautical miles south of Mariehamn.

Its position explains its importance. For ships sailing between Sweden and Finland, Rödhamn was the last sheltered harbour before the open sea. The rocks give shelter from the wind, and crews waited here for storms on the Sea of Åland to pass.

Why was Rödhamn an important harbour?

Rödhamn has been used as a harbour since the Middle Ages, and the traces are still visible:

• The seafarers’ chapel: the remains of a medieval seafarers’ chapel stand on Rödö.
• The taverns: taverns operated on Gloskär from the 1750s to the 1920s. Foundations and a cellar remain, according to Lemland municipality.
• The carvings: sailors waiting for better weather carved dates, names, coats of arms and a sundial into the rock on Rödö.
• The pilots: pilots were stationed on Långö from the 1820s until the pilot station closed in 1928.

These waters also have a tragic history. On 14 December 1916 the steamer Skiftet struck a German mine in Rödhamnsfjärden. Of the 91 people on board, only five survived, according to Wikipedia.

The radio beacon and museum

A radio beacon operated on Långö from 1937 to 1970. After it closed, its engine house became a museum. The Åland Sailing Society describes it today as a small museum with preserved technical equipment from the 1930s, and Lemland municipality also mentions a collection of photographs.

The museum is small and easy to fit into a harbour visit. We have not found published opening hours, so ask at the café.

The pilot house

The original pilot house was in poor condition and burned down in the 1980s. A new one was built on the same foundations, based on a drawing from 1903.

Guest harbour, café and sauna

The Åland Sailing Society (Åländska Segelsällskapet, ÅSS) leases Rödhamn and calls it its club island. The guest harbour is open from 1 June to 31 August, with hosts on site during the season.

Rödhamn guest harbour	According to ÅSS and Visit Åland
Berths	60, moored to a buoy or the quay
Season	1 June to 31 August
Harbour fee 2026	€37 for June to August
Sauna	wood-fired, for a fee
Café	home baking, simple meals, beer and wine
Facilities	toilets, service building with showers and dishwashing, waste sorting
Phone	+358 18 54 028

Overnight guests can order fresh bread delivered to their boat the next morning. Visit Åland describes the sauna as a beach sauna that you book on the spot. Visit Åland also says Rödhamn was recently named Finland’s guest harbour of the year, without giving the year. The ÅSS page does not say what the harbour fee covers, so ask the hosts.

What is on which island?

The sights are spread across the islands around the sheltered harbour:

Island	What to see
Långö	the radio beacon’s engine house and museum, the site of the old pilot station and the rebuilt pilot house
Rödö	remains of the medieval seafarers’ chapel, carvings with dates, names and a sundial
Gloskär	foundations and a cellar from the taverns of the 18th century onwards

The paths cross bare rock, so sturdy shoes help. Ask the harbour hosts how to get between the islands on foot.

How do you get to Rödhamn without your own boat?

There is no scheduled ferry to Rödhamn. According to Visit Åland, the water taxi operators Fiskelyckan and Shipland run trips from Mariehamn in summer.

• Fiskelyckan: runs trips to Rödhamn every day during the summer half of the year. The trip takes about three hours, or as requested, and must be booked in advance. The price is €35 per adult and €15 per child, return, according to fiskelyckan.ax in October 2026. The page does not say which year the price applies to, so confirm when booking. Fiskelyckan’s Kobba Klintar trips leave from the West Harbour next to the Pommern.
• Shipland: offers tailor-made trips, and Rödhamn is one of its listed destinations. Prices are not published, so ask for a quote through shipland.ax.

Trips only run in suitable weather. Book early in high season.

By your own boat

Rödhamn is a popular overnight harbour for boaters from Åland, Finland, Sweden and further afield. The harbour is sheltered by the rocks, but the Sea of Åland is open water. Use up-to-date charts and check the forecast before setting out; see the weather guide.

Good to know

Rödhamn is small and full of history, so tread carefully around the ruins and carvings. You can combine a visit with Herröskatan, Lemland’s southern tip on Rödhamnsfjärden, or read about Lågskär lighthouse further out in the Sea of Åland.