Car Hire in Mariehamn
There are two car rental agencies on all of the Åland Islands, and they're both in Mariehamn. Hertz Mariehamn is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sundays. Rundbergs Bil & Service Ab, also known as RBS Biluthyrning, is open from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sundays. Rundbergs will even deliver your car rental to Mariehamn Airport (MHQ), your ferry, or your hotel at no extra charge.
Car Hire at Mariehamn Airport(s)
Mariehamn Airport is the only commercial airport serving Mariehamn and the rest of the island of Åland. You can't hire a car at Mariehamn Airport; rather, you have to get yourself into town first in order to patronise one of the two main car rental agencies in the area. Rundbergs divides their fleet into five classes by size or type, each with a range of vehicles from Ford, Hyundai, Volvo, VW, and Opel, among others. They also rent vans and minibuses. Hertz, meanwhile, offers a massive fleet of sedans, SUVs, trucks, and minivans of all models and sizes.
Driving in Mariehamn
Before you hire a car in Mariehamn, be sure you're aware of the local driving laws. To drive on the Åland Islands, you'll need either a valid driver's license from your own home country or an international driving permit. The four primary roads on the mainland island, where Mariehamn is located, are conveniently numbered 1 through 4. Traffic laws in Mariehamn and the Åland Islands are obeyed strictly. If you do decide to rent a car in Mariehamn, just be sure to abide by all road signs you see.
Parking in Mariehamn
To protect your car rental in Mariehamn, be sure to park only in designated parking spots. Fortunately, in Mariehamn and the Åland Islands, there's a lot of them. In the downtown areas, parking discs are used. They must be placed in a visible location on your windshield dashboard when parking your car hire in Mariehamn within town limits. To know whether you are parking in a parking disc zone, look for the signs identifying these areas. There are also public parking lots throughout Mariehamn and the Åland Islands, including in Nabben, Frebbenby, Torsholma, Storby, Nåtö, Prästö, Eckerö posthus, Klinten, and Kastelholm.
Where to Go and What to See in Mariehamn
After you rent a car in Mariehamn, you're free to start exploring the rest of Åland Island. Popular day trips from Mariehamn include Finström (19 kilometres), Eckerö (32 kilometres), and Geta (37 kilometres). Also, be aware that some roads even allow you to drive your car hire in Mariehamn between the town and the other Åland islands. The conveniently well-paved and signposted main roads 1 through 4 on the islands make traversing among them easy. Starting in Mariehamn, take Road 1 to Eckerö; Road 2 to Bomarsund, Godby, Kastelholm and to the Vardo ferry; Road 3 to Langnas; and Road 4 to Geta.