Getting to and from St. Olav Waterway

Regardless if you choose to begin your walk from Turku, the main island of Åland, or Grisslehamn (or somewhere else in Sweden) there are several possibilities.

You can be very flexible when planning your journey. Do you want to walk the entire distance? Do you want to walk some of the legs and choose bus transport for others? Or would you prefer to divide the route up for several occasions? A pilgrim on the St. Olav Waterway does furthermore have the added bonus of resting during the crossings on water. During these you will be transported on board car or passenger ferries.

There are local bus services along the entire route.

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 train: You 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 upto 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