Getting to and from St. Olav Waterway

The St. Olav Waterway welcomes travelers from many directions—whether you set out from Turku, Åland’s main island, Grisslehamn, or another part of Sweden, there are multiple ways to begin and end your journey.

The St. Olav Waterway offers great flexibility for planning your journey. You can walk the entire route, combine walking with local bus transport, or divide the pilgrimage into stages and complete it over multiple visits. One unique feature of this coastal pilgrimage is the opportunity to rest during the scenic water crossings—ferries, both for cars and passengers, carry you between the islands.

Reliable local bus services are available along the entire route, making it easy to adapt your journey to your time, pace, and preferences.

Connections in Finland

Connections to and from Turku

  • By air: Turku Airport – 8 kilometers outside the city centre is a small regional airport with international connections. Helsinki Airport is the largest in Finland, with excellent train- and bus connections to Turku.
  • By trainYou can reach Turku by train from everywhere in Finland. Helsinki – Turku by train is a 2 hour trip.
  • By bus: Information on domestic routes and timetables Matkahuolto.
  • By passenger ship from Sweden: Viking Line or Tallink Silja Line

Bus service along the route

There is a local bus service from Turku along the route to Korpo. (Timetable in Finnish or Swedish only.)

Ferries along the route

The crossings from Pargas to Nagu and from Nagu to Korpo are free of charge ferries with several hourly departures. There is no booking system, passengers on foot or cyclists are always guaranteed a place on board. You can find the timetables here or on our digital maps. The ferries to the outer archipelago (optional routes) depart less frequently so please check the timetables.

Local ferry to Åland Islands

There is a ferry from Galtby in Korpo to Åland, with stops at the islands of Kökar, Sottunga, and Föglö, before reaching Långnäs on the main Åland island. The number of daily departures from Galtby depends on the season. In summer the ferry departs up to twice daily from Galtby, less frequently during spring and autumn. During winter season 5 departures per week.

Cyclists are adviced to book a place in advance during high season, this is not necessary for travelers on foot. For walkers the shuttle boat is free of charge, cyclists and other passengers with vehicles pay a small fee. More information and timetables.

Do you have practical question for planning your trip?

Please, contact visit@pargas.fi

Connections to the Åland Islands

Connections to and from Mariehamn

Bus service along the route

It is possible to take the local bus for parts or the entire way over the main land of Åland. There is a local bus service from Långnäs, the harbour where the ferry from the archipelago arrive, via Mariehamn and further to Eckerö, where the ship to Sweden departures.

Ferries along the route

There is a ferry from the islands of Kökar and Sottunga to Långnäs on the main Åland island. The number of daily departures depends with the season of the year, but on average between three and five times daily.

Cyclists are adviced to book a place in advance during high season, this is not necessary for travelers on foot. For walkers the shuttle boat is free of charge, cyclists and other passengers with vehicles pay a small fee. More information and timetables.

Passenger ship from the Åland Islands to Sweden

The route carries from Eckerö at the western part of the main Åland to Grisslehamn in Sweden. More information about the connection .

Do you have practical question for planning your trip?

Please, contact info@visitaland.com

Connections in Sweden

Connections to and from Grisslehamn

  • By bus from Stockholm: SL-bus number 676 departs from metro station “Tekniska högskolan” (red line). Change in Norrtälje to SL-bus number 637 to Singö. See timetable or search for a route
  • By car from Stockholm: Stockholm–Grisslehamn route is 114 kilometers, see Google Maps

Do you have practical question for planning your trip?

Please, contact info@visitroslagen.se, info@visitsoderhamn.se eller föreningen Pilgrimstid i Sverige