Åland Islands

A Swedish-speaking archipelago between Finland and Sweden: quiet islands, ferries instead of roads and the town of Mariehamn as the centre of everything. Prices are Finnish, housing is cheaper than in Helsinki, and much of daily life runs on the ferry timetable. Summers are mild and bright, winters damp and windy, and the sea keeps the frost away. Jobs are few and seasonal, and the right to own property or run a business is tied to a local status that takes time to obtain.