TRAFFIC CONNECTIONS

BRÄNDÖ IS FAR AWAY AND STILL NEAR

Here is a description of the most convenient ways to Brändö. Mostly the names of the locations are in Swedish and you´ll find the Finnish equivalents in parenthesis, i.e. the same location has two different names.

Timetables for ferries, connecting boats and busses can be found from the following links:

-Ferries in the Province of Aland, Ålandstrafiken
-Sundqvist Buss (traffic at mainland Aland)
-Vainion Liikenne (traffic at the Finnish mainland, go via finnish reitit ja aikataulut and there look at 9 b)), 6.6-9.8.2011 Turku-Torsholma(Brändö )-Turku, all weekdays !
-Ferries (yellow / mainroad extensions) at the Finnish mainland
-Connecting boats (white-blue) from the Finnish mainland www.link
For example; Houtskär to Brändö look for Näsby - Torsholma

Telephone numbers concerning public transportation in Brändö (schedule in swedish kollektivtrafiken) and Gustafs municipalities:

* Fiskö taxi / Åberg´s (regular weeks) + 358(0)18 56292, (0)400 229454
* Åva taxi / Granberg´s (irregular weeks) + 358(0)18 56556, (0)40 504 6683
* Kustavi taxi / Ojanto + 358 (0)2 876106, (0)400 876106


From the Finnish mainland (Turku / Åbo etc.)

By car
Take highway 8 from Åbo/Turku towards Pori and turn right (on a roadsign stays KUSTAVI 59) in Raisio towards Kustavi on road 192. During the following 70 kms you´ll pass, among others, Mynämäki and Taivassalo. As a rule of thumb, the journey from Taivassalo to Kustavi takes about 20 minutes. In Kustavi, also known as Kivimaa, you´ll drive through the centre and down to the ferry-boat harbour, which is less than a kilometer from the centre. The ferry-boat ride between Kustavi/ Kivimaa and Vartsala / Osnäs takes about 7 minutes (during summerseason there can be ques, so arrive in time!). Then drive the 7 km through Vartsala to Osnäs ferry harbour where M/S Viggen departs to Brändö municipality / Åva, according to its timetable. The whole trip from Åbo/Turku to Osnäs should take around 1,5 hours.

If your point of departure is Helsinki or Tampere you´ll approch Raisio) along the Turku by-pass road. Turn right just before you cross Åbo/Turku - Raisio highway (this turningpoint is very close to Raisio city centre) and follow the driving instructions above. The Helsinki – Osnäs journey is a good 3,5 hours when driving non-stop.

When drivning from Vaasa (Vasa) or Pori)just turn right at Laitila and then continue through Uusikaupunki to Taivassalo. When reaching the centre of Taivassalo take a right turn towards Kustavi and just follow the instructions above.

By bus and by public transport
During high-season (in the summer) there is daily a bus-connection from Åbo/Turku busstation to Osnäs, in both directions. Off-season the bustrip can be combined by booking public transportation (Kustavi taxi). This comibnation works only fridays (bus leaving Turku 17.05 to the ferry Viggens departure 19.35). Return on sunday with ferry Viggen leaving 14.15 from Åva/Brändö. During summer time (from early June to the middle of August) there´s a bus-connection operating all the way from Åbo/Turku to Brändö (first arriving at Torsholma ferry harbour from where combining to mainland Aland and Mariehamn). The 11 am departure from Åbo (Turku) arrives in Brändö village around 2:45 pm and in Torsholma at 3 pm (from where the M/S Alfågeln departs at 3:10 pm). It´s possible to use public transportation (Granberg´s and Åberg´s taxis) in Brändö, whenever you wish (book in advance) – this enables you to reach a variety of the ferry departures in time.


From mainland Aland (Mariehamn etc.)

By car
Drive north from Mariehamn towards Godby and Vårdö. After Bomarsund (the road takes you through the fortress area) you´ll drive through Prästö island to the ferry-boat that takes you to Vårdö. When passing the church in Vårdö turn right, and after 3 kms you´ll arrive to Hummelvik from where the ferry M/S Alfågeln takes you via Enklinge and Kumlinge to Brändö (in this municipality the first stop is at Lappo island where there´s an alternative connecting ferry to Asterholma and Torsholma). The distance between Mariehamn and Vårdö is about 45 kms and takes around an hour and a quarter.

When driving from Eckerö (i.e. arriving from Grisslehamn in Sweden) , just drive straight across Aland, via Emkarby.

By bus and by public transport
The bus from Mariehamn busstation to Vårdö / Hummelvik operates a least a couple of times a day in both directions. In Brändö you may use public transportation (Granberg´s and Åberg´s taxis) which enables you to reach various ferrydepartures in time. Remember to book in advance !

There is yet no straight bus-connection from from Eckerö to Vårdö / Hummelvik.
The closest airports are in Mariehamn and Åbo/Turku.