Vårdö is the part of the archipelago that is most easily accessible from mainland Åland, with just five minutes of travel by ferry from Sund. Vårdö has about 450 inhabitants and is the perfect place to visit for people with an interest in history. Here you can visit the Åland school museum, the historical homesteads Erkas and Seffers as well as Lasse Eriksson's maritime museum, as well as the home of novelist Anni Blomqvist and Wennström's country store.
Vårdö is an excellent destination for bike trips. Here you can find the longest bridge in Åland, which spans 300 m between Töftö and Vargata. Many people start their biking holidays through the Åland archipelago in Vårdö.
Anni Blomqvist was the author of the Stormskärs Maja novels, which became nationally esteemed. She lived out on Väderskär in Vårdö, and her home "Strömma" today serves as a small museum, open during summer or by appointment.
In 2024 a feature length movie was produced, which was based on the books, and became a success in Finland. Compositor Lasse Mårtensons made a theme for Stormskärs Maja in 1977, which has become a beloved piece of music.
From Mainland Åland, a ferry crosses a short distance from Prästö to Töftö in Vårdö. The ferry is free and swift over the sound, departing often.
You can also reach Vårdö from the other side, through the archipelago with the Northern Line (Norra Linjen) ferries, arriving from Brändö via Lappo Kumlinge and Enklinge to Hummelvik in Vårdö. Vehicles have to be reserved in advance with Ålandstrafiken.
